Ba Be Lake National Park – ASEAN Heritage Park & Ramsar Wetland

Category: ASEAN Heritage Park & Montane Freshwater Wonder | Location: Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan Province

Cradled amidst rugged limestone karsts within Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan province at 145 meters above sea level, Ba Be Lake is Vietnam’s largest natural montane freshwater lake, listed by UNESCO among the world’s top 20 special freshwater lakes requiring urgent preservation. Recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Park and Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, this tranquil 500-hectare aquatic jewel is ringed by vertical karst ramparts swathed in dense evergreen rainforests. The name "Ba Be" (meaning Three Lakes in the Tay tongue) derives from three interconnected water bodies: Pe Lam, Pe Lu, and Pe Leng. The lake nurtures exceptional biodiversity with thousands of flora and fauna species, including globally endangered primates such as the Francois’ langur. Surrounding highlights include Puong Cave, where the Nang River carves through a 300-meter karst tunnel filled with stalactites and bats, the roaring tiered cascades of Dau Dang Waterfall, and the legendary An Ma and Widow Islets. Drifting aboard a traditional Tay wooden boat or eco-motor craft through morning mists drifting over jade-green waters offers sublime spiritual serenity. Travelers love staying at traditional stilt-house homestays in Pac Ngoi or Bo Lu villages, savoring wood-smoked river fish, hill-tribe bacon, and listening to soul-stirring Then lute melodies performed around crackling hearth fires under starlit highland skies.