Advertising 
Ngo Quang Minh
A comfortable climate, beautiful scenery, and diverse flora and fauna draw visitors to Bach Ma National Park
Tourists visiting Bach Ma National Park often receive a notice stating: “It’s advised to pre-book services and bring warm clothes as well as low-heeled shoes prior to arrival; Motorbikes and vehicles with more than 30 seats are not allowed on the road to the mountain-top; There are no luxury hotels, dance clubs, nor karaoke bars, which you may expect. Neither are there wildlife souvenirs or foods for sale.” Such straightforwardness is typical of Central Vietnam, home to beautiful and pristine Bach Ma National Park.
With its scenic location, Bach Ma Mountain resembles a white horse stretching its legs towards the vast sea. It lies about 25 miles south of peaceful Hue and 50 miles north of bustling Danang. Located at the end of the North Truong Son range stretching from the Vietnam-Laos border to the East Sea, the mountain has an altitude of about 1,444m above sea level. Bach Ma enjoys a year-round cool and refreshing climate that’s among the most pleasant in Indochina. Even during Central Vietnam’s scorching hot season, the weather remains cool and comfortable on the mountain.
Bach Ma holds spiritual meaning for Hue people. The mountain got its name from a legend about a general who rode a white horse up the mountain. When we stand on Luong Dien Bridge or Ngu Binh Mount looking at the cloud-covered peak of Bach Ma, we may see the loyal war horse that has waited for its owner for a thousand years. In 1933, the French discovered this place, and chief engineer M. Girard created a detailed plan to transform Bach Ma into a mountain resort with villas and public works, while devoting areas to reforestation and nature conservation. On the mountain top, they built a sightseeing spot called Vong Hai Station. This station offers panoramic views of Hai Van Pass, Tuy Van Mountain, Cau Hai Lagoon, Tu Hien Gate, Chan May Bay, and Truoi Lake with Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery. On cloudless days, it’s even possible to see Hue and Danang.
Wartime returned Bach Ma to oblivion, covering the unfinished buildings with green moss. In 1991, the Bach Ma National Park project was relaunched. After 15 years of expansion it reached its present scale. Today, Bach Ma is one of Vietnam’s most important national parks with the most diverse ecosystem. It has a total area of over 54,000 acres, of which primary forest accounts for 42,000 acres. The park is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna with over 900 species of animals and about 1,400 plant species. Some old French-built villas have been restored and turned into resorts for domestic and international tourists, including Do Quyen, Kim Giao, and Sao La.
Locals say: “One should visit Cuc Phuong to see trees, Cat Tien to see animals, and Bach Ma to bathe in waterfalls”. Many breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls with equally pretty names are located in the park. The most popular one is Do Quyen Falls, named after the rhododendrons that grow at the foot of the waterfall, painting the area red in the spring. Over 980 feet tall, this waterfall resembles a fine white veil worn by a beautiful woman asleep on the rocks, cradled in the picturesque forests and mountains of Bach Ma.
Nearby lies another natural wonder – the Ngu Ho Lakes. These five small lakes are set at five different heights, one adjacent to another, to form a large stream. Located deep in the forest, their water is clear and cool. Visitors can bathe and swim to their heart’s content. Ngu Ho adds a joyful tune to the mighty silence of the mountains – a sound that has emotional resonance for those who have been there.
Tourists can choose to bring their own tent and camp at the foot of the mountain instead of staying in a hotel or homestay. Along with its ideal climate, Bach Ma’s clean environment will surprise visitors, who are provided with garbage bags on arrival. Bilingual signs remind visitors to “Please take your garbage out of the forest” and “Remember why there are no rubbish cans here”. These simple methods have helped keep the trekking trail, which stretches over 10 miles from the foot of the mountain to its peak, completely garbage-free. Visitors are also reminded to: “Kill nothing but time, take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.”
Bach Ma is blessed with an ideal location and beautiful scenery that is both majestic and charming. Once forgotten, Bach Ma is now an important nature reserve rich in flora and fauna, and on its way to being Vietnam’s most promising destination for tropical eco-tourism.
