Are you tired of the bustling and chaotic streets of Hanoi?
Do you crave a weekend getaway from Hanoi in a tranquil natural setting?
If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I’ll guide you through Ba Vi National Park, a picturesque destination where you can revel in the breathtaking mountain views, explore some historic sites, and enjoy a delightful picnic.
Table of Contents
1. Where is Ba Vi National Park?
Ba Vi is a national park located 55 km away from the capital – Hanoi. This is an ideal place for an exciting picnic party with your family and friends which takes only less than 2 hours to drive, where you can get rid of the busy streets and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere.
2. When is the best time to go to Ba Vi National Park?
Ba Vi National Park is open for visitors year-round, but the summer season is considered the best time to visit. This is because big cities like Hanoi can get extremely hot during May, June, and July, prompting many people to seek a cooler escape for a weekend trip. Among the many options available near Hanoi, Ba Vi stands out as an ideal destination due to its close proximity. So, if you’re looking for a refreshing weekend getaway from Hanoi, head to Ba Vi and immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of nature.
Besides, November is also a peak season in Ba Vi because it’s the booming period of wild sunflowers. If you head to Ba Vi during this time and, especially, on the weekend, you may expect to bear with gridlocks on your way. As for me, I chose Tuesday ( in November) for my departure day, so the traffic was extremely light :D.
3. How to go to Ba Vi National Park from Hanoi?
You can go to Ba Vi by motorbike or car.
Driving a motorbike to Ba Vi might be more suitable if you are a young backpacker who is familiar with the streets in Vietnam and are able to show you driving skills on the winding mountain road with a number of blind turns. This is also the most economical option as it costs you only around 150,000 – 200,000 vnd/ day to rent a motorbike in Hanoi.
On the other hand, if you are with your family (with young kids and seniors), renting a car is obviously recommended. In this case, the cost to rent a 5-seater car (with driver) is around 1,500,000- 1,700,000vnd/ day/2 ways.
4. What to do in Ba Vi National Park?
Normally, people would go to Ba Vi for a day trip only, so what can you do within a day in this wonderful national park?
Enjoy the picnic party in the Pine Hill
This is my favourite activity – picnic. I really like the saying “it doesn’t matter where you go, the matter is who you go with”, as such, I always enjoy spending my time with my family and best friends, and the best activity to make us closer is a picnic.
The area is large with plenty of pine trees, thus, you can enjoy your lunch under the shade and in the fresh air.
Discover the historical relics
Not only can you immerse yourself in nature, but you can also see the remains of old architecture since the 20th century. With pleasant weather all year round, Ba Vi was one of the most preferable places for the French soldiers for a relaxed weekend. They built some buildings in Ba Vi such as a church, orphan house, secret palace, etc. However, after nearly a century, under fierce war battles, what you can see today are just moldy dilapidated old constructions. Among them, the ruined church is most frequently caught in pictures of visitors.
Take stunning photos with wild sunflowers
Wild sunflower blooming season is in November, so if you come to Ba Vi during this period, don’t forget to take photos of the gorgeous flower road.
Notice: You might feel infatuated by the beauty of this flower, but picking up flowers or breaking branches of trees is strictly prohibited. So be noticed of this, otherwise, you might have to deal with local authorities.
Admire the Bao Thien Tower and Ho Chi Minh Temple
Bao Thien Tower was built on King Peak at a height of 1,296 meters, completed in 2010 on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi to be the capital of Vietnam. The tower has 13 floors – 26,9 meters high. Around the tower, there are 88 Buddha statues and 9 Vajra statues put in 8 directions. From the temple, you can also catch a panorama view of the whole area. I’m sure that you will love it :D.
Not to mention, the tower is next to Ho Chi Minh temple which worships Uncle Ho, so once you reach this summit, you can pay a visit to this temple as well.
Get to know different cactus species in the Cactus Garden
The garden is the nearest stop to the ticket counter, where more than 1000 kinds of cacti are raised and preserved. Although the area is not so spacious, you will be astounded by its wild beauty with many cactus species that you have never seen before.
Explore how cow milk is produced
Other than the national park, Ba Vi is well-known all across Vietnam for cow milk production as well. That’s why you will meet tons of cow milk stores on the way to Ba Vi national park. If you are curious about the process of milk production, then why not stop by a cow farm?
5. Things to bear in mind when you make a trip to Ba Vi National Park
Bring insect spray
It’s quite obvious that there must be a ton of annoying insects waiting for us in the forest. In addition, Pine Hill where you will have a sit for your lunch might have ants. So it’s a wise idea to bring insect spray to avoid them.
Although I didn’t see many insects and didn’t feel disturbed by them, I do suggest you bring insect spray as many foreign tourists cannot bear insects.
Bring your own food
As Ba Vi has not been fully exploited for tourism, therefore, it’s hard to find food stores there. Fortunately, I prepared my own lunch beforehand, so I didn’t have to hopelessly find food in Ba Vi.
Wear a face mask if you drive motorbikes
The road to Ba Vi from Hanoi is quite dirty because there are many construction trucks passing by, so bring a face mask and a proper helmet/ sunglasses. But don’t worry, once you get to the national park, the air is very fresh.
6. How much do you need to prepare for a trip to Ba Vi?
Well, it could be considered my cheapest trip. Basically, you just need to spend less than 20usd/person on the motorbike rental fee (150,000vnd/day), entrance ticket + parking fee (80,000vnd), and food. Cheap, right?
With that expense for an enjoyable day trip, would you go?
Those are all you need to know for your trip to Ba Vi National Park from Hanoi. If you have any other inquiries, feel free to comment below.
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