Ha Long Bay is highly appreciated for its unique and rare topography, with limestone islands rising above the blue water, creating a majestic and magnificent scene. However, few people know that, in addition to Ha Long Bay, Northern Vietnam also has many other tourist destinations with similar beauty, known as "Ha Long on land".
Ngoi Hoa Bay, a hidden gem in the Northwest mountains and forests, is a unique highlight in the core area of Hoa Binh Lake tourist area. This place is known as "Ha Long on land" or "a hidden gem in the mountains" because of its wild, majestic beauty and peaceful, fresh space.
Few people know that just about 2 hours drive from Hanoi, tourists can find a place with beautiful landscapes, called "heaven on earth".
In addition, this location also has another special factor, which is located in the middle of a hydroelectric lake. This is Thung Nai commune, Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province, located in the heart of a hydroelectric lake. Hoa Binh Lake, with the advantage of a lake area stretching over 200km from Hoa Binh city to Son La, has long become an attractive tourist destination. The lake has an impressive length of up to 100km, with 47 large and small green islands, and a poetic and charming landscape.
Ngoi Hoa Bay, a pearl on the mountain
This vast lake is not only an important hydroelectric project but is also favored by nature with majestic scenery, a blend of mountains, rivers, water and clouds.
The local people from ancient times called the landscape of Ngoi Hoa “Bua jungle” (Bua is flat land, jungle is dense forest). This bay has now transformed into a mountainous bay of immense beauty, and tourists often call it “miniature Ha Long Bay” or “pearl on the mountain”. Thanks to its unique terrain, the climate here is cool, fresh and peaceful all year round.
"Miniature Ha Long" in the middle of Hoa Binh Lake
According to local people, Ngoi Hoa Bay has a unique and rare terrain. Located on a high mountain, in the heart of a lake, the bay is vast, the water is clear as jade, reflecting the clouds and majestic mountains. The scenery here is extremely diverse, from towering limestone mountains, lush green forests to rich vegetation, creating a beautiful natural picture. The climate in Ngoi Hoa Bay is also very cool and fresh, covered in mist all year round, giving visitors a feeling of relaxation and comfort.
Tourists fondly call this bay "the pearl on the mountain" or "Ha Long Bay on land" because of the beautiful things that exist in the bay.
The most unique experience in the bay that almost every tourist chooses is rowing a boat around the blue lake, breathing the fresh air. Traveling by boat also helps tourists conveniently stop at the islands in the hydroelectric lake, admiring the wild scenery that nature has bestowed upon this place.
In addition, visitors can visit many nearby destinations such as Trach stream, Thac Bo cave, Ba Chua Thac Bo temple... to make the trip more complete.
The scenery is as beautiful as if it came out of a painting.
The beauty of Ngoi Hoa Bay changes with each season, each season has its own unique features. Many tourists emphasize that, especially on the full moon or the 16th day of the lunar month, those who stay overnight here will have the opportunity to admire the bright, round moonlight shining down on the magically beautiful surface of the hydroelectric lake.
This highland, with its wild natural beauty and fresh air, is home mainly to two ethnic communities, the Muong and the Thai. The blending of these two unique cultures has created a colorful picture, attracting tourists to explore and experience.
Indigenous culture becomes a very unique charm of this destination.
When arriving here, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the traditional cultural space of the Muong people, with ancient stilt houses, colorful ethnic costumes, and unique folk art forms. Sweet lullabies, graceful Muong dances, or the resounding sound of Muong gongs will take visitors into a fascinating cultural world.
Not only that, visitors can also enjoy delicious specialties with the rich flavor of the mountains and forests. Grilled local pork on charcoal, fresh lake fish, sweet and chewy hill chicken, or crispy bamboo shoots will satisfy even the most demanding diners. Each dish is the crystallization of local culinary quintessence, prepared from the freshest ingredients, giving visitors unforgettable culinary experiences.
Ngoi Hoa Bay is romantically beautiful with clear, charming blue water.
In addition, visitors can also participate in community cultural experiences, such as joining local people in traditional festivals, learning how to weave brocade, or participating in folk art performances. These activities not only help visitors better understand local culture but also create memorable memories during the trip.
Realizing the tourism development potential of the lake area, since 2017, Hoa Binh province has issued Resolution No. 14-NQ/TU, setting the goal of turning Hoa Binh Lake tourist area into one of the 12 key tourist areas of the Northern midland and mountainous region by 2030. These criteria include building a modern technical infrastructure system, improving service quality, promoting cultural and ecological development, based on the existing advantages of the lake and Muong cultural identity.
Strong potential for tourism development
In more than 7 years of implementing the Resolution, Hoa Binh Lake has achieved three of the five criteria needed to become a national tourist area. First, Hoa Binh Lake has been recognized as having at least two national-level tourism resources, including natural landscapes and spiritual tourist attractions such as Ba Chua Thac Bo Temple, Thac Bo Cave, and Ngoi Hoa Bay. In addition, Hoa Binh Lake is also on the list of potential areas for developing national tourist areas approved by the Prime Minister. Finally, the traffic infrastructure system connecting Hoa Binh Lake with neighboring provinces has been significantly improved, with the Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh Expressway and many inter-provincial routes, creating favorable conditions for tourists to travel from neighboring areas to the tourist area.
