DeirdreBach Ma is a biodiverse national park located in the Annamite Mountain range in central Vietnam, covering 220 square kilometers. Its well-marked trails make it an accessible and popular spot for eco-tourism and nature exploration. If you’re a hiking enthusiast looking to avoid intense humidity, Bach Ma is an ideal destination.
This guide offers key information for a day trip to Bach Ma National Park, including logistics to entering the park, the ideal times to visit, and top hiking trails to explore.
Climate and Best Time to Visit
Despite Vietnam’s typically high temperatures and humidity, Bach Ma National Park provides a welcome climate relief. With the summit sitting at 1,430 meters, temperatures are cooler and more temperate.
Most of the popular trails are located around the 1,000-meter elevation, which offers a more comfortable and manageable hiking experience.
As someone sensitive to humidity, I found the conditions here much more tolerable. This was a noticeable contrast to my experience walking the 3km to Lady Buddha, which, on a flat, exposed road, felt physically demanding and left me drenched in sweat.
The best time to visit Bach Ma is during the dry season, between the months of December to April. The rainy season can make the trails muddy and treacherous.
I visited in the end of May but found the trails to be dry and experienced little rain during the day. I found myself alone on most of the trails, so if you prefer the quieter trails, try opting for the shoulder season.
How to Visit Bach Ma National Park
Hue is the nearest major city to Bach Ma National Park, located about a 1-hour drive away.
Da Nang is about a 1.5-hour drive from the national park. Visitors can either take the scenic Hai Van Pass or use the tunnel to save some time.
There are 3 ways of visiting Bach Ma National Park: tour, private transfer, or park transfer.
Organized Tours
The most cost-effective way to visit Bach Ma National Park is by booking a tour. Prices typically range from $60 to $100 CAD and generally cover roundtrip hotel pickup (either from Da Nang or Hue), a bottle of water, lunch, park entrance fees, and the services of a tour guide.
I made several attempts to book a last-minute guided tour, but on each occasion, I was informed the tours were unavailable that day. This can be quite common during low season, as operators need a minimum number of attendees to join.
Private Driver
Another alternative is to hire a private driver, offering greater flexibility and the freedom to explore at your own pace. I was able to arrange a transfer through one of my previous motorbike tour operators, securing a ride for around $85 CAD from Da Nang.
This price did not cover the park entrance fee or a guide, but it included plenty of water and enjoyable company.
Park Provided Transfer
The park provides a transfer to the summit and surrounding trails. This option is pricey but may be used as a last resort for some. This only includes transport within the park, not to the actual park entrance.
Internal transfer (2025 prices):
- 1-3 people: 900,000 VND
- 4-5 people: 1,000,000 VND
- 5-8 people: 1,200,000 VND
While self-driving is an option, I wouldn’t recommend it. The road is narrow and parking is limited around the trailheads. Most of the trails are point-to-point rather than loops, so returning to your car can be challenging.
Vehicle Restrictions in the Park
Motorbikes and vehicles larger than 16 seats aren’t allowed on the 19km winding road up to the summit. The road is narrow, with barely enough space for two vehicles to pass. While it’s paved, you can still expect a few bumps along the way.
If you’re prone to motion sickness, I’d recommend taking anti-nausea pills before the drive. I started feeling a bit queasy around the 10km mark myself.
National Park Fees
Everyone visiting Bach Ma National park will have to pay in order to enter. The exception being visitors who have joined a tour, which is normally included in the total price.
For a single entry into the park for adults, the current price is 65,000 VND.
Children, students and seniors pay 25,000 VND.
If you wish to hire an English-speaking guide (though no compulsory), the price can range from 700,000 to 900,000 VND for the day.
The park is opened daily from 7am to 5pm.
Guides
Guides aren’t required to explore Bach Ma National Park. While they can be useful, I personally think it’s totally manageable to navigate the park on your own, especially the main hiking trails.
The paths are clearly marked with signs, ropes, or yellow footprints on the ground. You can grab a free map at the information center when you arrive.
I’d suggest using a map app like AllTrails while hiking as well. It’s great for tracking your progress and can be a lifesaver if you need extra help finding your way.
Trails
There are many beautiful trails in Bach Ma National Park, ranging from easy to difficult. I’d recommend three trails to complete during your visit:
Hai Vong Dai (Bach Ma Summit)
- Location: km 19
- Distance: 2km
- Difficulty: easy
Hai Vong Dai is an easy, out and back route that takes visitors to the summit of the national park at 1430 m above seas level. This trail is flat, clearly marked and family friendly.
On route you will encounter the Summit House, a house with two distinct white horse statues. This provides spectacular views of the park and is a great first stop and introduction into the park.
Thac Nhu Ho (Five Lakes Trail)
- Location: km 17
- Distance: 2km out and back
- Difficulty: Moderate
This trail is the one of the most popular routes in the park. The trail takes visitors along 5 different lakes (more like rock pools) at different levels.
Swimming is possible at lakes 4 and 5. The trail can be either done as an out and back or combined with the Thac Do Quyen Trail (Rhododendron Falls) as a partial loop.
Thac Do Quyen Trail (Rhododendron Falls)
- Location: km 16
- Distance: 3km out and back
- Difficulty: To the falls-easy. Base of falls- hard
This trail begins as an easy flat approach, until it reaches the spectacular falls, standing at a height of 300m.
Those brave enough, can attempt to decline down 700 stairs to the base of the waterfall. The stairs are almost vertical at points and 30cm high, making it challenging for both ascent and descent. Be prepared to go slow and sweat on the return journey.
Route Details
As you follow the narrow, winding road toward the summit, you’ll find a series of small pullouts and trail access points tucked along the way. These stops are marked by their kilometer positions on the map, helping hikers and sightseers locate them easily (ex: a trailhead located at km 19).
My driver dropped me off at km 19, the access point for the short walk to the Bach Ma Summit. After taking in the views at the top, he picked me up and drove me down to km 17, where I began the Five Lakes Trail.
This path wound through the forest and eventually linked with the Rhododendron Falls Trail, which descended to km 16. My driver met me there at the end for pickup.
Internet may be spotty, so make sure you arrange your drop off/pickup locations ahead of time. The whole route took me about 2-3 hours to complete, with many breaks in between.
Travel Tips
- Arrive early. Morning hours offer cooler temperatures, clearer summit views, and quieter trails.
- Plan your transport. Private drivers are the most convenient option since trailheads are spaced by kilometers.
- Wear proper footwear. Trails like Five Lakes and Rhododendron Falls can be steep, slippery, and wet
- Bring water and snacks. There are limited food options inside the park.
- Carry cash. Entrance fees and shuttle tickets are usually cash-only, and ATMs are not available in the park.
- Respect wildlife and stay on marked trails. The park is home to sensitive ecosystems, following signage helps protect both you and the environment.