Ba Vi National Park, Hanoi Overview

Nestled at the centre of three mountains summits, the Ba Vi National Park lies about 63 km away from Hanoi and can be reached by public as well as private transport. The park offers many hiking opportunities, especially one up the Tan Vien peak where tourists and pilgrims go to visit the Mountain God shrine. There is also a bird and an orchid garden for visitors to see.

Apart from the Tan Vien Peak, the other two peaks are called Dinh Vua which is the tallest and Nguc Hoa. However, Tan Vien remains the most popular trekking trail, due to the 11th- Century Temple of the Mountain God, frequented by pilgrims and adventure lovers alike. The national park is best known for the treasure trove of medicinal plants that it offers. These are especially loved and preferred by the Dao - An Ethnic Group in Vietnam.

The main attraction, at this National Park, is the view from the mountain peaks. It may be a difficult climb, but at the top, you're rewarded with awe-inspiring views of the Vietnam panorama and the Red River Valley below.

Activities at Ba Vi National Pak

1. Hiking to Mountaintop Temples

Ho Chi Minh Temple on Ba Vi National Park Vietnam — There is a Ho Chi Minh Temple on the Peak of King High in Ba Vi National
Park (Source)

There are two hikes available to mountaintop temples: Den Thuong and Bac Ho. Interestingly enough, the more difficult hike, Bac Ho, leads up to a temple honouring Ho Chi Minh. There are stairs leading upwards, but they can get tricky and progressively harder. At the top, however, the view is excellent.

2. Discover the Flora of North Vietnam

Garden in Ba Vi National Park Vietnam — The Garden at the Ba Vi National Park Helps Visitors Understand the Flora of the Park (Source)

Nature lovers would be happy to learn that most trees in Ba Vi National Park are marked according to species, making for a fun educational experience, but unfortunately these markings are only in Vietnamese. With an experienced guide, you'll be able to understand the flora of the park much better.

3. Explore the Winding Roads and Trails

Foggy Road in Ba Vi National Park Vietnam — Ba Vi National Park has Many Roads and Trails, But Require Expert Navigators to Move Through
Without Getting Lost (Source)

If you'd like to explore the peaks of Ba Vi National Park, there are roads and trails leading up. It can be a difficult climb, but the roads aren't any easier - they are narrow and require some skill to navigate till the top. If you aren't thoroughly comfortable driving a motorbike, this way is best avoided. The first ruins that you'll encounter on your drive up the peaks are that of a famous French church. It is gorgeous, covered in old moss and history, and definitely worth the climb. If you're adventurous enough to continue climbing past this church, there's an old French prison at the top too.

4. Visit the Waterfalls

Waterfall in Ba Vi National Park Vietnam — There are Two Waterfalls at Ba Vi National Park (Source)

Another main attraction of Ba Vi National Park is Thien Son's waterfall. There are two waterfalls here that fall down into a pool of clear, refreshing water that you can wade into, camp beside, or even go fishing for a price of VND 150,000 per person. There's an accompanying water park that has been created in this Thien Son-Suoi Nga tourism area. These are located east of the mountain range. To reach it, you will need to drive left of the entrance instead of entering Ba Vi National Park.

Accommodation at Ba Vi National Park

Due to its location at close enough proximity to Hanoi, Ba Vi National Park can easily be a one day trip or a quick weekend getaway. To fully explore all that the park has to offer, we'd suggest staying for at least one night. There are plenty of hotels and homestay options for travellers visiting the park.

1. Ba Vi Guest House:
Ba Vi Guest House has around 30 rooms available, but be sure to call before (especially if you're visiting during season time) as these can be sold out quickly. A fan room here would cost VND 150,000 (INR 460) per night while air-conditioning would be charged a higher fee, typically around VND 200,000 (INR 620) per night.

2. Tan Da Spa Resort:
If you'd like some rest and relaxation, Tan Da Spa Resort is the national park's luxury lodging. You can enjoy the steam rooms, hot springs and mud baths here with packages for individuals, couples and families too. It's believed to have been built in the style of ancient Vietnamese palaces. Here, you can enjoy the swimming pool and tennis courts if you?d like to spend the day inside the resort.

Important Information for Travellers

Ba Vi National Park opens as early as 5 AM, making it a great place to catch a beautiful Vietnam sunset. The park shuts by 9 PM. If you want to avoid crowds, it's best to go as early as possible!
Because of Ba Vi's proximity to Hanoi, it can be a great place for a day trip. However, if you'd really like to explore the national park thoroughly, we'd recommend it as a weekend getaway for at least 2 days.
Don't forget that this is a vast, wild terrain with unpredictable weather so it can be easy to get hurt or lost without someone who is familiar with the park.
There is an entry fee to get into the waterpark and water park area. Expect to pay around VND 150,000 per person, along with an additional charge for personal vehicles. This charge depends on the size of the vehicle. For motorcycles, it is around VND 10,000.
The local women typically wear t-shirts and shorts while playing in the water.
Although the Thien Son waterfall area is fine, don't put your feet or hands in any still water! There are plenty of leeches and other water insects that live there and you wouldn't enjoy spending the rest of your trip scratching them off you.
There aren't many options for eating and drinking in Ba Vi National Park or nearby Thien Son. It's a good idea to carry a picnic with you. You can purchase these supplies in Son Tay's many grocery stores.
Don't forget to withdraw enough money for your adventures in Ba Vi National Park as the closest ATM's are in Son Tay which is at least 10 kilometres from the mountain area.

How To Reach Ba Vi National Park

Ba Vi National Park is easily accessible by road. It would take you around two hours to reach from Hanoi, but keep in mind that it can be a bumpy ride due to the road's condition. In the monsoon months, the roads can be dangerously slippery.

To reach Ba Vi from Hanoi, you'll need to cross to Tran Duy Hung which, once you are past city limits, becomes Duong Lang-Hoa Lac. After some hairpins turns and an hour and a half's drive, you'll be close to Son Tay village. We wouldn't recommend leaving Hanoi through Qaun Cau Giay as the roads are not in the best condition. On reaching the park, don't forget to take a picture of the map at the entrance as the park's markings are mostly labelled in Vietnamese.

If travelling by bus, you can catch Bus Route 214 from Yen Nghia Bus Station in Hanoi to Xuan Khanh. An alternate route is taking Bus Route 71 or 74 from My Dinh Bus Station in Hanoi to Xuan Khanh. From the final destination of Xuan Khanh of either route, Ba Vi is just 5km away. You can hire a motorbike here for the rest of your trip or alternatively hire a taxi to the national park.