Skip to content What is Bach Ma National Park?
Bach Ma National Park protects a mountain range that rises from the coast near Lang Co to about 1,450 m, about 40 to 50 km south of Hue. “Bach Ma” means white horse, after the white mist that circles the peak. It is cool and wet, with forest trails, waterfalls and the overgrown villas of a French hill station. Entry is 60,000 to 65,000₫ in 2026. Hue is the usual base, and the park is also reachable from Da Nang.
Why go?
The park has a wide range of habitats, from lowland forest to mountain ridge, and more than 2,000 plant species. Wildlife is hard to see, but birdwatchers come for the pheasants, including the Edwards’s pheasant, and the park is known for its primates and for its butterflies. You are more likely to see forest, mist and waterfalls than animals.
A short history
The French first looked at the area in the 1920s to protect the Edwards’s pheasant, and in 1932 the summit was developed as a hill station, with around 140 villas, hotels, a post office, a market and a hospital. The French left in 1954 and the settlement was abandoned and gradually reclaimed by forest. During the war the ridge was used as a US helicopter base, and the area was sprayed with defoliants. See Agent Orange and dioxin for how that shaped the land. The park was protected in 1991 and was extended in 2008 to 37,487 hectares.
What to do in the park
Hai Vong Dai viewpoint
A viewing tower at the summit with views over the coast and the lagoon on a clear day. On cloudy days you see fog.
Five Lakes trail
A short loop of 1.5 to 2 km past a series of rock pools. Swimming is possible in the fourth lake. Take care in wet weather, when the streams rise fast.
Do Quyen waterfall
One of the taller waterfalls in Vietnam. A free viewing path leads to the base, and guided canyoning trips are offered by operators for the adventurous, with age limits.
French villa ruins
Foundations and overgrown villas are scattered through the forest near the summit, mostly signposted from the trails. They are a quiet reminder of the hill-station days.
Local villages
Some tours visit villages of the Ka Tu ethnic group, with crafts and, at certain times, festivals. Ask your guide how respectful visits are arranged.
The 2025 landslide
A landslide in October 2025 severed the single summit road at around kilometre 12, collapsing more than 100 metres of roadbed. In 2026 reports, visitors continue upward on foot or by ranger motorbike over a stretch of about 500 to 600 metres. This may have changed, so ask your operator or the visitor centre.
Getting there from Hue
There is no public transport. Options are a private car with a driver (about an hour each way), an organised tour or a motorbike. Leave before 8:00, to reach the visitor centre when it opens and to have time for the trails. From Da Nang the trip is longer, around 1½ to 2 hours, but it is possible as a day trip.
When to go and what to bring
January to August has the clearest skies. From September to December, expect heavy rain, fog and flash floods, and trails may close. Bring a rain jacket, shoes with grip, insect repellent and water. The air at the top is noticeably cooler than Hue.
Combine it with Hue
Bach Ma works well as a third day in Hue after the Imperial Citadel and the royal tombs, or as a rest from them. Read the Hue guide for where to stay, or the DMZ page if you want a history day instead.