Ba Be National Park Vietnam, Northern Vietnam

Established as a National Park in 1992, Ba Be National Park has become a gem of Northern Vietnam. Sited as being some of the most beautiful ecotourism to be found within Vietnam, Ba Be National Park is home to large limestone mountain ranges, deep lakes filled with schools of shimmering fish, and hundreds of different species of plants, animals, and butterflies. And dotted alongside the emerald, green valleys are small villages belonging to the ethnic minorities of Northern Vietnam – Tay, Dzao, and Hmong tribes to note a few.

There are a lot of outdoor activities available to visitors of Ba Be National Park such as multi-day hikes, boat tours, cave explorations, and cycling. If you go in the dry season (October through May), then you can often catch colorful festivals (like the Long Tong festival) in the villages; filled with songs, dances, and parades showcasing Vietnamese history, pride, and culture, these festivals are always a blast to attend.

If you’re looking for a more long-time stay in the rural tropical forests, then doing a homestay within one of the villages is a definite must.