Bach Ma National Park
Bach ma is a national park in the Hua Thien Hue province of Vietnam.
Understand
Bach ma is a 22,000-hectare national park w:Bach_Ma_National_Park Bach Ma is also the name given to the highest 1450m mountain in the park. Bach Ma mountain is 18 km away from the coast.
Within the park are ecotourist, forestry and science departments. There is also a community centre for the local communities who live in the park.
History
Protected by the government of South Vietnam in 1962, the area was established as a national park around 1991.
The forests of the park suffered from the use of Agent Orange and the likes during the Vietnam War.
Landscape
300-m drop waterfall, five-tier cascade lake. Forests, tropical and sub-tropical.
Wildlife
High biodiversity; over 350 bird species and 132 species of mammals. Rare red-shanked Douc langurs live here as do eight other species of primates.
Recently discovered in this area are the muntjac (a type of small deer), and also some of the worlds rarest mammals, the saola.
It is thought that leopards and tigers may still live in the remote parts of the park
Flora and fauna
The park employs 40 forest rangers to detect and prevent illegal activities such as poaching and logging.
The park has a science department to carry research the ecosystems, flora and fauna.
Despite the decimation of many species during the Vitnam war, there are still an incredible amount of plants to discover or investigate with potential for use medicines etc.
Climate
Bach ma Mountain is the wettest area of Vietnam: 8,000 mm of annual rainfall. The foothills have less rain: 3,000 mm annually. September to December have the most rainfall. February is cool with very little rain. March and April are Dry but high in humidity. Typhoons are a possibility between September and December.
Get in
Buses between Hue and Da Nang stop at Cau Hai if you ask the driver top let you out (public bus from Hue is 20k) . Train from Cau Hai. Private motorcycle taxi from Cau Hai to the park's entrance. Unfortunately there are not many grab drivers around. The park entrance is off Highway 1 The entrance is 3 km from the small town of Cau Hai, 40 km south of Hue, 65 km north of Danang and 90 km south of Hoi An, where the park road meets National Route 1. Cycling and motorcycling to the summit are prohibited.
Fees and permits
- Adults over 16 years old: 60,000 dong
- Children, students: 30,000 dong?
- Children under 5 years old free
English (and one French) speaking guides can be hired for 150,000 dong per day.
Get around
Motorbikes and bicycles are not allowed to use the steep 16-km summit road, because it's dangerous. Unless you want to walk, you'll need transportation to reach the guesthouses at the summit and most of the trails. This can be arranged by contacting the park. Car+driver cost 750k per day (groups can save money)
- Bach Ma National Park, Phu Loc, T.T. Hue, ☎ +84 234 3871 330, +84 054 3897360 (Representative Office), +84 054 3871330 (the Centre of Ecotourism and Environmental Education), fax: +84 54 871 329, e-mail: bachmaeco@dng.vnn.vn.
See
Plenty of insects and fish. There are five waterfalls in the park.
Do
Trekking. Visit Bach Ma Zen monastery. Organised tours often include things like flower lantern displays, martial art displays, five-lake cascades trail, and the Pheasant trail.
Buy
Eat
Canteen near the park entrance
Restaurants at the summits ecotourism centre
Drink
Sleep
Lodging
Lodging and other services are available in the park via this link Info in Vietnamese only as of Feb 2014.
Rooms from 100,000 dong.
Camping
- 🌍 Campsite. There is a small campsite near the summit of Bach Ma.
Backcountry
Stay safe
For your safety, cycles and moterbikes are prohibited on the 16-km Bach Ma mountain road.
Go next
- Hue, former national capital
- Hoi An, ancient port city
- Da Nang, famous for beaches and seaside resort
- Lang Co, peaceful sand beach by the Hai Van Pass