Ba Vi National Park is a beautiful destination to visit if you live in Hanoi or want to explore the surroundings of the Vietnamese capital.
Thanks to its rainforest, its three magnificent mountain peaks, and its pleasant climate year-round, the Ba Vi mountains attract many local Vietnamese families and students for picnics/weekends—especially in the hot summer.
You can visit Ba Vi either as a day trip or as a 2-day program including an overnight stay on site.
In this article, we tell you what to see in Ba Vi.
Explore the French-era ruins
Besides its natural beauty, Ba Vi lets you discover Vietnam’s colonial history. As you walk through the park, you’ll see many ruins of buildings (prisons, villas, church) built by the French in the early 20th century. Back then, the French turned the Ba Vi mountains into a “climatic station,” similar to Sapa or Da Lat.
During summer, high-ranking French officers would rest in the mountains to escape the lowland heat. Today, these ruins are overtaken by lush vegetation, giving a mystical ambiance. Among the most beautiful ruins: the church, and also the prison where some political prisoners were held during their fight against the French.
Ruins of the church in Ba Vi, Vietnam
Conquer the Ba Vi peaks for stunning views
Hiking to the peaks of the Ba Vi mountain range is a delight for nature lovers and hikers. You’ll walk through tropical forests, breathe fresh air, and catch magnificent views of the Red River Delta and Da River winding along the mountain range.
To be honest: most of the time, Ba Vi is covered in clouds, but when the sky is clear, the scenery is spectacular.
Note: to reach the summit, you need to climb many steps, which requires considerable effort.
Steps leading to the mountain peaks, Ba Vi. Photo credit: Mathieu Arnaudet
Visit the “Uncle Ho” temple
As you may know, Ho Chi Minh is highly revered in Vietnam as the father of the modern nation. There are many places of worship dedicated to him across the country, and in Ba Vi a temple was built in 1999. Although his body is preserved in the Mausoleum in Hanoi, the government wanted to fulfill in its own way the publicized will of “Uncle Ho” by building a simple temple dedicated to him.
This temple attracts many local Vietnamese each year as a sacred site to visit within Ba Vi National Park.
Interior of the stupa at the Bac Ho temple, Ba Vi. Photo credit: Mathieu Arnaudet
Visit Tan Vien temple
A visit to the Ba Vi mountains is also an opportunity to discover ancient Vietnamese culture of the Hung dynasty—the first dynasty of Vietnam, which located its capital in Viet Tri, Phu Tho province. The Tan Vien mountain is considered the place of the mythical contest between two suitors for marriage with the daughter of King Hung.
The winner, Son Tinh (or Tan Vien), who had the power to raise mountains, is considered one of the four immortal saints in Vietnamese mythology.
If you climb to the Tan Vien peak, you’ll have the chance to visit the mountain saint’s temple built on a cliff face to worship Saint Tan Vien. It is also the highest point in Ba Vi National Park (1,227 meters).
Enjoy the cooling waterfalls
After hiking up to the peaks, it’s pleasant to “cool off” at a waterfall. There are several: Thien Son, Suoi Nga, Ao Vua, Thac Da… Many of them lie below the Ba Vi mountains, even before entering the national park proper.
Visit the cactus garden
The first place you’ll likely see when entering the park is the Cactus Garden (situated in a large greenhouse on a hill, about 1 km from the park entrance). Pay 10,000 VND per person and stroll to the glass house containing hundreds of different cactus species. A surprising experience!
Picnic and camping in the pine forest
At only 400 m elevation and surrounded by a pine forest sits the Ba Vi Resort. It’s an ideal spot for a picnic with a beautiful view over the lake and surrounding plains. You can order lunch or book an overnight here. You can also walk through this forest and visit the old French military zone.
Walk to the Ngoc Hoa cave
Under the mountain lies a hidden cave where the local population has installed a small shrine to honor Princess Ngoc Hoa. According to legend, Ngoc Hoa was the second daughter of King Hung and married Son Tinh (the mountain saint whose temple is on Mount Tan Vien).
About 3.5 km from the cactus garden, after a few turns, you’ll see the sign for Ngoc Hoa cave on your right; descend for a while, and you’ll reach the cave and the Ngoc Hoa temple.
Best time to visit Ba Vi National Park
You can visit Ba Vi National Park at any time of year whenever you want to escape city noise and enjoy natural scenery and a peaceful atmosphere. However, the best season is April to October, when the weather is most favorable. Be careful though—storms are common during this period, so bring rain gear.
From November to March, the climate is colder (especially at altitude) and the Ba Vi mountains are often cloaked in thick fog. A mystical atmosphere emerges from the surroundings.
Rays of light in the Ba Vi forest. Photo credit: Mathieu Arnaudet
