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 located 18 km away from the coast. Bach Ma is also the name given to the highest 1450m mountain in the park.

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.

In this area, the muntjac (a type of small deer), and also some of the world's rarest mammals, the saola, have be found.

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 Vietnam 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 20,000 dong).

Train from Cau Hai.

Private motorcycle taxi from Cau Hai to the park's entrance.

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
English- (and one French-) speaking guides can be hired for 150,000 dong per day.
 * Adults over 16 years old: 60,000 dong
 * Children, students: 30,000 dong?
 * Children under 5 years old free

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 750,000 dong per day (groups can save money).

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.

Eat
Canteen near the park entrance

Restaurants at the summits ecotourism centre

Lodging
Lodging and other services are available in the park.

Rooms from 300,000 dong.

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