Bach Ma National Park: Guided Trek, Lakes & Waterfall Lunch

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1/13

Duration8h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN · VI

PickupAt your hotel

Guided trek in Bach Ma with lakeside lunch & waterfall views

You’ll hike through Bach Ma National Park with a local guide from Hue, ring a bell above cloud-wrapped valleys, swim or relax by one of five forest lakes after a picnic lunch, and stand at the edge of Do Quyen waterfall’s roar. Expect muddy shoes and moments of quiet awe you’ll remember long after you leave Vietnam.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bach Ma National Park Trek

Travel from Hue city to mountain foot
Hike to Bach Ma peak (1450m)
Ring peace bell at summit
Enjoy panoramic mountain views
Trek through jungle and streams
Visit Five Lakes, picnic at Lake 3
Swim and relax at lake
Continue to Rhododendron Waterfall
View mountains from waterfall
See big Buddha statue on return
Return to Hue city center

The Experience

We were already winding up the mountain road out of Hue before I’d even finished my first coffee — mist curling around the van windows, our guide Hien humming along to some old Vietnamese pop song on the radio. It’s about an hour’s drive to Bach Ma National Park, but it felt shorter with Hien pointing out little things: a farmer in a conical hat waving from his scooter, the way the air started smelling like wet leaves as we climbed higher. I didn’t expect it to feel so different from the city so quickly.

At the top, Hai Vong Dai sits at 1,450 meters — you can see rivers looping through green valleys and clouds drifting right past your face. Hien poured us hot tea (he called it “mountain fuel,” which made me laugh), and we tried ringing this big peace bell together. The sound just hung there in the fog for a second; I still think about that echo. Then we set off into the forest trails — damp earth underfoot, birds somewhere overhead, and those weirdly bright red rhododendrons popping up along the path.

The trek isn’t too tough if you’re used to walking, but there are some steep bits and slippery rocks near the Five Lakes. We stopped at lake number three for lunch — rice, stewed pork, tofu, broccoli — all packed up in little boxes. Some of us swam (the water was freezing but worth it), while others just lay on warm rocks listening to nothing but cicadas. There was this moment where nobody talked for a while; just sun on our faces and cold water drying on our skin.

After lunch we headed down toward Do Quyen waterfall — 300 meters high and loud enough that you have to shout over it if you want anyone to hear you. My legs were jelly by then but somehow that made it funnier when Hien joked about “Vietnamese stairmaster training.” On the way back I noticed my shoes were caked in mud and honestly didn’t care; everyone looked happy-tired. The drive back into Hue felt quieter — maybe because we’d all left something up there in those clouds.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Hue city center, entry fees for Bach Ma National Park, coffee or tea at Hai Vong Dai summit, a picnic lunch by one of the Five Lakes (with rice dishes and vegetables), bottled water for each person, plus guidance throughout from a knowledgeable local guide before returning in the afternoon.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by TNT Travel Hue