Ba Be Lake
Hồ Ba Bể
Three connected lakes surrounded by limestone mountains and forest. Boat trips visit Puong Cave, Dau Dang Waterfall and the tiny islet of Ba Goa.
Ba Be Lake & Bac Kan
Hồ Ba Bể, Bắc Kạn
Vietnam's largest natural lake, and stilt-house homestays on its shore.
- Region
- North · Northeast mountains
- Province
- Thai Nguyen
- Best weather
- March–April, October–November
- In this guide
- 3 places · 4 dishes
Overview
The former province of Bac Kan (now part of Thai Nguyen) is mountain and forest country in Vietnam's northeast, home to Tay, Dao, H'mong and Nung communities who still live largely from farming and fishing.
Its highlight is Ba Be Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam, set inside Ba Be National Park. Days here are slow: a boat trip along the lake to Puong Cave and Dau Dang Waterfall, a kayak at sunrise, a bicycle ride between villages, and evenings in a Tay stilt house with dinner cooked over the fire.
The best weather is from September to November and in spring (March–May). Winter nights are cold; summer is green but rainy.
Where to go
Pac Ngoi Village
Bản Pác Ngòi
A Tay village of wooden stilt houses on the lakeshore and the most popular place to stay. Many families run simple, welcoming homestays.
Cho Don ATK historic site
An toàn khu Chợ Đồn
A hidden revolutionary base used during the war against the French, now a memorial area set in quiet forest.
What to eat
Local specialties worth seeking out in Ba Be Lake & Bac Kan.
Grilled lake fish
Cá nướng hồ Ba Bể
Small fish from Ba Be Lake, skewered on bamboo and grilled over embers until crisp — a homestay dinner staple.
Smoked hanging meat
Thịt treo gác bếp
Pork or buffalo marinated with mac khen pepper and hung above the kitchen fire for weeks until smoky and dry. Delicious with rice wine.
Khau nhuc
Khâu nhục
A festive Tay dish of pork belly fried, then steamed for hours with taro and spices until it melts in the mouth.
Khau Thuy cakes
Bánh Khau Thuy
Small, rustic rice-flour cakes sold in baskets at local markets — a simple Tay snack.
When to go
The most comfortable months for sightseeing in Ba Be Lake & Bac Kan are usually March–April, October–November.
Hover a month for details. Compare with other places on the season calendar.
Vietnam season calendar arrow_forwardDaily temperature range (°C)
10°15°20°25°30°35°
Rainfall per month (mm)
0100200300400
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Score
- Great
- Good
- Fair
- Wet / extreme
chevron_right Show as table
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | Wet days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20.0 | 13.2 | 86 | 13 | Good |
| February | 21.3 | 14.2 | 79 | 12 | Good |
| March | 25.5 | 18.0 | 105 | 16 | Great |
| April | 28.9 | 21.0 | 142 | 16 | Great |
| May | 30.7 | 23.4 | 291 | 22 | Fair |
| June | 32.0 | 24.9 | 368 | 25 | Wet / extreme |
| July | 32.2 | 25.0 | 311 | 27 | Fair |
| August | 31.7 | 24.7 | 371 | 28 | Wet / extreme |
| September | 30.8 | 23.7 | 254 | 22 | Fair |
| October | 28.0 | 20.5 | 151 | 14 | Great |
| November | 25.0 | 17.3 | 82 | 11 | Great |
| December | 20.8 | 13.2 | 39 | 9 | Good |
Averages for 2016-2025 from Open-Meteo (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0). Model data can overstate light drizzle; treat wet-day counts as a guide. How the score works.
Getting there
About 230 km from Hanoi — 5 to 6 hours by car or bus. Ba Be fits naturally on a northeast loop with Cao Bang and Ban Gioc Waterfall.
Getting around Vietnam arrow_forwardPlan your stay in Ba Be Lake & Bac Kan
Compare places to stay and things to book.
