Thac Ba Lake is one of the unique destinations in Yen Bai Province. Though an artificial lake, its landscape harmoniously blends nature with human craftsmanship. It promises to be an ideal stopover in your upcoming vacation, likened to a precious gem, a “Ha Long on the mountains” of the Northwest region.
Recognized as one of the three largest artificial lakes in Vietnam, the lake spans nearly 20,000 hectares of water surface, including over 1,300 large and small green islands and a beautiful cave system hidden deep within the limestone mountains. Let RuudNguyen.com help you explore this super beautiful site.
About Thac Ba Lake
Thac Ba Lake is a vast artificial lake located in Yen Bai Province, about 140km west of Hanoi’s city center. The construction of Thac Ba Lake began in 1962 and was completed in 1970 to serve the Thac Ba hydroelectric power station. Visiting Thac Ba Lake, you will drift on the lake’s surface, enjoying the picturesque natural scenery. Moreover, you can visit many other attractive places such as Thuy Tien Cave, Xuan Long Cave, Thac Ba Temple, and more.
Thac Ba Lake has become a quite ideal eco-tourism destination (Photo collected)
Visiting Thac Ba Lake, tourists can enjoy boat rides on the water, immerse themselves in nature, and feel the cool, fresh air. Visitors can explore the Mau Temple and continue their journey to discover the magical beauty of stalactites, the curious natural rock formations that encapsulate human aspirations in the limestone cave complex on the lake such as Thuy Tien Cave, Xuan Long Cave, Bach Xa Cave, Thac Ba, and Thac Ong…
Along with the cave system, visitors can climb Cao Bien mountain, the largest and longest mountain range in the Thac Ba Lake scenic area, stand on the mountain peak to gaze at the mist-enshrouded lake with its mysteriously enchanting beauty, and relive the old traces of the once bustling Ngoc and Nga markets famous in Thac Ba.
The lake’s water is supplied by the Chay River and a system of large rivers, featuring clear blue waters surrounded by lush vegetation. Visiting Thac Ba Lake in Yen Bai, guests can enjoy the cool, fresh atmosphere amidst vast expanses of sky and water, take boat tours of the lake, and visit clusters within the ecological zone. Exploring and touring Thac Ba Lake will provide visitors with unforgettable experiences.
When to Visit Thac Ba Lake?
The climate at Thac Ba Lake is always cool and pleasant. Even in the hottest summer days, the temperature around Thac Ba Lake is always about 2 degrees Celsius cooler than the surrounding area. According to travel experience to Thac Ba Lake, you should visit in the summer. This way, you can combine visits to many other attractive tourist spots in Yen Bai.
Additionally, if you are interested in spiritual tourism, you can visit during the 8th and 9th days of the first lunar month each year. This is when the Thac Ba Temple Festival takes place with many vibrant and unique activities.
Thac Ba Lake on a Sunny Day (Photo collected)
With a large water surface area, the climate around Thac Ba Lake is very cool and pleasant, even in the middle of summer, temperatures around the lake are always 1-2 °C lower than the general temperature, making it comfortable and pleasant even on the hottest days.
How to Get to Thac Ba Lake
Currently, the transportation system is quite convenient, so it is easy for tourists to explore the beautiful scenery of Thac Ba Lake. For distant tourists or international visitors, you can fly to Hanoi, then continue the journey to Yen Bai to explore Thac Ba Lake.
If you want to ensure safety, convenience, and speed, you can buy bus or car tickets for travel. Thac Ba Lake is 50km from Yen Bai city, you can rent a motorcycle for self-travel or hire a taxi to go to Ngoi Tu village, find accommodation and start the journey to explore Thac Ba Lake Yen Bai.
If you like adventure, you can choose to motorbike with a group of friends, if you take a shortcut from Hanoi to Thac Ba it’s just over 30 km. Motorbiking will make you more flexible in moving, upon arriving at Thac Ba, you can rest and then continue the journey.
Accommodation at Thac Ba Lake
Tourists visiting Thac Ba Lake often choose to stay in Ngoi Tu village in Vu Linh commune, right next to Thac Ba hydropower lake. Ngoi Tu village attracts tourists not only because of its beautiful location but also because it is a convergence of the unique traditional cultural values of the Dao, Cao Lan, and Nung ethnic groups.
Most tourists choose homestay accommodation when visiting Thac Ba Lake (Photo collected)
In Ngoi Tu, besides enjoying local dishes, you will also experience a serene life under the roofs of stilt houses nestled among palm forests, learn about the traditional shrimp basket weaving craft, and admire the Dao young women with rosy cheeks in their vibrant ethnic costumes.
What to Do When Visiting Thac Ba Lake
Thac Ba Hydropower Plant
This is a key project in the first five-year socio-economic development plan of our country (1960 – 1965). It is the foundation of material and technical infrastructure for the country’s construction of socialism.
Thac Ba Hydropower Plant on the Chay River (Photo collected)
Since its inception and operation, the plant has quickly stabilized its organization, rapidly absorbed operational management techniques to work independently. The capacity and electricity output of the plant during the war period and after peace was restored accounted for 70% of the electricity production of the Northern power system, contributing significantly to the socio-economic development effort.
Ngoi Tu Cultural Village
The Ngoi Tu community tourism village is a location in Vu Linh commune, Yen Binh district, Yen Bai province. Ngoi Tu Village lies along the Thac Ba hydropower lake, about 4 km northwest of the center of Vu Linh commune. It is about 16 km north of Thac Ba town and about 35 km northeast of the center of Yen Binh district (by road).
Ngoi Tu Cultural Village (Photo Collected)
Visiting Ngoi Tu, besides enjoying the local delicacies, you will immerse yourself in the charming scenery, be captivated by the folk songs, and traditional dances like Lam Chay, Xuc Tep, and Ruoc Dau… For those who love exploring, you can engage in trekking up Yen Mountain, Cao Bien Mountain, or cycling around the village to discover the culture of the Dao people.
Thac Ba Lake
Located within the territories of Yen Binh and Luc Yen districts, Thac Ba Lake spans nearly 23,500 hectares with over 1,300 large and small green islands reflected in the water, alongside a system of beautiful caves hidden deep within the limestone mountains. This mysterious beauty gives Thac Ba a mesmerizing and enchanting appearance, yet it remains very friendly and serene.
Thac Ba Lake (Photo Collected)
Boating on Thac Ba Lake, you not only feel the cool air from the water, the breeze of Thac Lake but also immerse yourself in generous nature, letting your soul drift into the vast expanse of sky and water, endlessly undulating mountains and islands.
Thac Ba Lake is one of the unique destinations of Yen Bai province. Although it is a man-made lake, its landscape harmoniously blends nature with human intervention. A green, interesting destination that will surely be an ideal stop for you on your next holiday. Pocket your Thac Ba Lake travel experience for a smooth journey. The lake is tranquil, with clean air, green, cool surroundings, and lush forests undulating to infinity.
Among the lake, Mong Son cave is where the Yen Bai provincial authorities resided during the American imperialist war, and Vietnamese archaeologists have discovered traces of historical relics like Dai Cai, Ma Mut cave, Sao pagoda, and Vua Ao Den mountain…
Thac Ba Mother Goddess Temple
Thac Ba Mother Goddess Temple is located on Hoang Thi Mountain at an altitude of 70m above the base of the mountain. The temple, covering an area of 1,800m2, faces Northeast, backs against the mountain, and overlooks the Chay River. Crossing 365 stone steps to the temple’s front yard, one can overlook the entire scenery of the country’s first hydroelectric project and gaze at the vast, affectionate expanse of Thac Ba Lake.
Thac Ba Mother Goddess Temple (Photo Collected)
According to legend, in the era of the 18th Hung Kings, there was a princess named Minh Dat whom her father appointed to oversee the Troi Thuy area (now the Chay River area) to teach the people to reclaim land, cultivate rice, weave fabrics, develop fishing and forestry, forming the prosperous regions of Chau Thu, Chau Vat, and Binh Phu.
Upon her passing, to honor her significant contributions, the people established the Mother Goddess Temple on the waterfall in Dao Ngan commune, now Thac Ba town. Annually, the princess is believed to manifest, blessing the people with favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and aiding them in overcoming rapids and enhancing trade.
Legends also recount that during the Tran dynasty, General Chieu Van Vuong Tran Nhat Duat, on a mission to combat the invading Yuan Mongols, paid homage at the temple, receiving the Mother Goddess’s aid to vanquish the enemy. Victorious, the general bestowed the title of My Tu Thac Ba to the temple.
Over the dynasties, six royal decrees were issued to the temple. It has become a tradition to celebrate the Mother Goddess on the 9th day of the first lunar month, the full moon of the fourth month, July 17th, and the full moon of the twelfth month, with the 9th day of the first lunar month being the main festival day. On this day, the community gathers for the procession of the Mother, offering her fresh flowers, fruits, dried tea, and fish as a sign of respect and praying for her blessings for peace, favorable weather, and prosperity for all households.
Thuy Tien Cave
Drifting on Thac Ba Lake for over an hour, admiring the islands large and small that create enchanting scenery, visitors reach Thuy Tien Cave – one of the beautiful caves in the Thac Ba Lake area.
Inside Thuy Tien Cave overlooking the lake (Photo Collected)
Xuan Long Cave
Xuan Long Cave lies hidden among the limestone mountains. Venturing deeper into the cave, visitors are amazed by the fascinating natural rock formations.
Dat O Do
The name of the Thac Ong Do Temple and Pagoda originates from Ong Do, a person credited with teaching the local script to the villagers. Subsequently, a Buddhist temple was also established by the villagers near the waterfall, creating the Thac O Do Temple and Pagoda complex. Annually, during the first and second lunar months, villagers pay homage at the Ong Do waterfall, silently invoking the sacred name “O Do Dat upper, O Do Dat lower,” and remember the red, blue, and yellow dressed princesses symbolizing three princesses.
Cao Bien Mountain
Located beside Thac Ba Lake, within the territory of Phuc An commune, visitors often enjoy climbing Cao Bien Mountain. Although not very high, reaching the summit offers panoramic views of the lake and an opportunity to learn more about the culture and customs of the local people living around the lake.
What to Eat When Visiting Thac Ba Lake
Grilled Fish from Thac Ba Lake
Originally a river with a strong current, the Chay River is home to many types of good swimming fish with firm flesh, such as “chày,” “bống,” “chiên,” “carp,” and “trắm” fish. At the mouths of major streams flowing into the river like Ngoi Biec, Ngoi Tu, people have caught “bong” fish weighing up to several dozen kilograms and “chay” fish of 7 – 8kg using trapping, angling, and net fishing.
Grilled fish, a Thac Ba specialty (Photo Collected)
The “bong” fish, closely resembling the “tram” fish in body but with a belly and fins like a carp, has a slender mouth, consuming both plant and animal feed. The flesh of the “bong” fish is particularly delicious when grilled or fried until golden. It can also be cooked with sour “tai” leaves to be eaten hot, offering a rich fish flavor without a fishy smell.
Bottom-dwelling fish include “nheo,” “trach,” “tre,” “bo,” and “nganh” fish. Fried “trach” fish, “tre” fish stewed with ginger leaves. “Nheo” and “bo” fish cooked in a pot, or stewed with green bananas, tasting somewhat starchy like fish meat. “Nganh” fish cooked with sour vegetables offers the best flavor in its broth, sweet fish meat dissolving deeply into the eater’s body.
Surface-swimming fish include “muong” and “thau dau.” In Thac Ba Lake, when the water level has risen for a few years, “thau dau” fish gather in large schools, and a single sweep of a “te” (a fishing tool) might yield up to a kilogram of fish. These small fish, about the size of a finger, cleaned and dried or cooked in banana flower soup with fermented fish paste. The soup turns milky white, slightly bitter, offering a unique yet delicious taste.
“Thieu gu” fish, after being cleaned of its head, fins, and tail, is ground into a fine paste mixed with aromatic herbs to become a favored fish paste dish. The fish is marinated with spices such as annatto oil, honey, ginger, lemongrass, chili, pepper, garlic, then grilled over charcoal.
Fish Salad
The fish used for the salad must come from the lake itself; after cleaning, it is thinly sliced and marinated with spices, mixed with ground roasted rice and finely chopped aromatic herbs.
From the fish caught in the lake, locals can prepare a fish salad dish (Photo Collected)
Thac Ba Lake Shrimp
The lake boasts a rich shrimp population, known for its delicious and aromatic meat. Shrimp from Thac Ba Lake are favored by diners for their quality and taste. At homestays along Thac Ba Lake, guests can enjoy the irresistible aroma of stir-fried shrimp during their meals.
Thac Ba Lake Shrimp (Photo Collected)
Ant Egg Spring Rolls
Ant egg spring rolls are made from the main ingredient of ant eggs combined with traditional spring roll ingredients, creating a unique new dish while retaining its distinct flavor. This is a specialty of the ethnic groups in Northern Vietnam, where the creamy taste of ant eggs wrapped in the crispy spring roll shell leaves a lasting impression on the palate.
Five-Color Sticky Rice
For generations, Muong Lo in Yen Bai province has been hailed as the “rice pot” of the Northwest provinces. Visitors not only enjoy the pristine, poetic scenery of the mountains and forests but also have the opportunity to taste famous rustic dishes such as grilled bamboo rice, horse meat stew, smoked pork… Especially, the sweet-flavored, visually appealing five-color sticky rice is a dish that tourists cannot miss.
Five-Color Sticky Rice in Nghia Lo (Photo Collected)
Yen Bai’s five-color sticky rice is made from quite special ingredients. From selecting ingredients, attention must be meticulous, only selecting quality rice can the sticky rice be chewy and aromatic (Tu Le rice; large grains). Moreover, for coloring the rice, people use various forest leaves (magenta plant leaves…) or turmeric, gac fruit (purple rice; red rice; black rice; orange rice; yellow rice; white rice).
Elderly people in Muong Lo share that for five-color sticky rice to be truly aromatic, delicious, and have a sweet flavor, one must use spring water for cooking. To prevent colors from mixing, when cooking, each color of rice is layered sequentially. Constant attention is needed to keep the fire even, and if one does not want the rice too greasy, a thin layer of chicken fat can be added.
For the people of Muong Lo – Yen Bai, five-color sticky rice holds significant meaning. It symbolizes the theory of Yin-Yang and the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth). Red rice signifies life aspirations; purple rice for fertile, valuable land; yellow rice for prosperity; green rice for the beautiful scenery of Northwest mountains and vast blue skies; white rice for pure, faithful love…
In 2008, five-color sticky rice was recognized in the Vietnam Guinness Records as the largest sticky rice dish in Vietnam, weighing 1.3 tons, with a diameter of 2.8m, and a thickness of 30cm. Nowadays, Yen Bai’s five-color sticky rice is often prepared for major festivals such as the Long Tong Festival (crop praying), Lunar New Year, Tet Xip Xi (July 14)…
Bamboo Tube Rice
Fresh glutinous rice, possibly mixed with a bit of purple glutinous rice (for color), with a touch of salt and ginger, soaked overnight, then filled into bamboo tubes, added with a bit of water and sealed at one end with banana leaves. Bamboo, nua, or vau tubes (a kind of bamboo) can all be used to make bamboo tube rice; the key is freshness and thickness. According to those with experience, tubes around 25 – 30 cm long are most suitable for making bamboo tube rice.
Bamboo Tube Rice from Yen Bai (Photo Collected)
The bamboo tube is grilled over charcoal or buried in a fire pit, constantly turned to ensure the rice cooks evenly and doesn’t burn. Perfectly cooked bamboo tube rice is when peeling off the hard outer layer still leaves a silky layer of bamboo on the rice, which should be evenly cooked, chewy, and fragrant with a hint of fresh bamboo.
The people of Northwest Vietnam often enjoy hot bamboo tube rice with sesame salt, grilled stream fish, or grilled wild pork presented in banana leaves. The Thai ethnic group dips bamboo tube rice in cham cheo (a special sauce made from salt, chili, garlic, and mac khen seeds). Restaurants serving bamboo tube rice to tourists also offer honey-grilled free-range chicken, beef grilled in bamboo tubes, and rice wine drunk from communal jars. Gathering around the fire and savoring these mountain delicacies creates unforgettable memories in the journey to explore the Northwest.
Grilled Hill Chicken
The chicken is raised by homestay operators or on farms in the areas surrounding the lake. Typically, chicken is prepared only when tourists place an order. Grilled hill chicken is a common dish in daily meals across the country and is prepared in many ways. Each region has its unique flavor and preparation method, but Thac Ba’s chicken has a very special taste, just so you know.
Grilling Chicken on Thac Ba Lake (Photo Collected)
Chicken with Sour Bamboo Shoots
Chicken, free-range around the lake, combined with sour bamboo shoots here tastes better than in other places because it’s pickled with spring water. It can be preserved for a year, and when eaten, the bamboo shoots remain white and retain a delicious sour flavor without any slime.
Chicken with Sour Bamboo Shoots (Photo Collected)
When eating, diners can feel the crispness of the bamboo shoots, the lightly sour taste of the broth. Each tender piece of chicken melds with the aroma of the bamboo shoots and the scent of dổi seeds, making it irresistible.
Banana Blossom Salad
Speaking of wild banana flowers, one immediately feels the familiarity, closeness, and simplicity of this gift from the villages of the Northwest mountains.
Wild Banana Blossom Salad (Photo Collected)
The method of making banana blossom salad is quite simple but requires meticulousness and care. Choose young banana blossom leaves, thinly sliced like vermicelli. To prevent the banana blossom from turning dark, soak them in water mixed with a bit of vinegar right after slicing. The purple strands of banana blossom curl in the water.
To enhance the flavor of the banana blossom salad, it is commonly mixed with pork ear. After cleaning, the pork ear is boiled, cut into small pieces the size of a finger to mix with the banana blossom. The final step is mixing the spices.
Like other salads, banana blossom salad needs the addition of roasted sesame seeds. A delicious salad must have the sourness of lime, the sweetness of sugar, the spiciness of chili, and of course, cannot miss herbs like kinh giới, mint, and perilla. The herbs add a captivating green to the purple of the banana blossom, the white of the meat, and the bright red of the chili.
The distinctive flavor of the banana blossom salad is the crunchy texture of the banana blossom with the aromatic scent of herbs, the spiciness of chili, and the nuttiness of roasted peanuts… All blend like a multi-tone symphony, tasting once makes you crave for more.
Smoked Buffalo Meat
Smoked buffalo meat (also known as dried buffalo meat, smoked buffalo, dried buffalo) is a traditional dish with the culinary style of the Thai ethnic group. With its rich flavor and attractive aroma, Northwest buffalo meat is not only a delicious dish for family feasts but also a unique and meaningful gift for relatives and friends during the Tet holiday and spring season.
Smoked Buffalo Meat is a specialty of the Northwest mountainous region (Photo Collected)
Buffalo meat is marinated with spices (including essential Zanthoxylum rhetsa, known locally as “mắc khén”) following a unique recipe before being dried. If smoked over a wood fire, the buffalo meat will have a slightly burnt, smoky aroma but is very delicious. This item often needs to be pre-ordered as it may not always be readily available.
Thac Ba Lake Shrimp Paste
Thac Ba Lake is likened to a reservoir of shrimps and prawns, making the Thac Ba Lake shrimp paste famous throughout the region. This shrimp paste can be served with green bananas and boiled pork, star fruit, and gynura leaves, or can be steamed with rice and chicken eggs to make a delicious and unique dish that’s as special as any delicacy.
Thac Ba Lake Shrimp Paste (Photo Collected)
The bowl of shrimp paste is incredibly appealing due to its salty, sweet, mildly sour taste, and distinctive aroma. Additionally, the shrimp can be braised with sour starfruit or can be steamed with rice and chicken eggs to make a delicious and unique dish, no less special than any delicacy. Braised shrimp eaten with sticky, soft white rice, even the pickiest eaters can’t stop halfway. The shrimp paste, when fully cooked, turns a dark red color, and when fried with minced pork and eaten with Tú Lệ sticky rice, one can never get enough of it, only afraid of being too full.
Dai Minh Grapefruit
Yen Binh is famous for its delicious Dai Minh grapefruit. Scientists rate Dai Minh grapefruit as one of the seven prestigious and delicious grapefruit varieties, comparable to famous types such as Nam Roi, Phuc Trach, Dien, and Thanh Tra grapefruits.
Dai Minh Grapefruit, a specialty from Dai Minh commune, Yen Binh (Photo Collected)
Dai Minh grapefruit is famously delicious and has long become a specialty of this rural area, as well as a source of pride for the people of Yen Bai. The Dai Minh Grapefruit Festival and the exploration of the national scenic site, Thac Ba Lake, take place annually.
Travel Itinerary for Thac Ba
Hanoi – Thac Ba – Hanoi
Thac Ba is an ideal relaxation destination when traveling in Yen Bai (Photo Collected)
Day 1: Hanoi – Thac Ba Lake
Depart from Hanoi in the morning to Yen Bai City. Around noon, you will arrive in Yen Bai City, where you can have lunch along the way before heading to Thac Ba. Afterward, visit the Thac Ba hydropower plant, then move to your pre-booked accommodation. In the evening, you can enjoy the specialties of Thac Ba, some delicious specialties in Yen Bai.
Day 2: Thac Ba – Hanoi
Wake up early to watch the sunrise, after breakfast, you can rent a boat to visit Thac Ba Lake, Thac Ba temple, Thac Ong, Thuy Tien cave… Return to the homestay for rest and lunch, then check out and head back to Hanoi.
Hanoi – Thac Ba – Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai
Day 1: Hanoi – Thac Ba
Depart from Hanoi early (around 4am to 5am) taking the Lao Cai expressway towards Yen Bai City, an advantage of the expressway is its speed, taking about 2 hours to reach Yen Bai. There, you can stop for breakfast or eat at rest stops along the expressway.
Continue to visit the Thac Ba hydropower station, rent a boat for a tour of the lake. Stop for lunch and remember to try grilled fish from Thac Ba Lake. After lunch, proceed to Van Chan, Nghia Lo. Depending on the situation, you can visit Suoi Giang or head straight to Nghia Lo.
Day 2: Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai
After breakfast, from Nghia Lo town head to Mu Cang Chai. The journey is over 100km on this segment and incredibly beautiful with long golden rice fields (if traveling during the ripe rice season). Passing Tu Le, remember to buy com and sticky rice, especially you can admire the scenery of Khau Pha Pass – one of the four great passes of the North.
You can have lunch at the Khau Pha restaurant on the pass, where you can taste the specialities of salmon and sturgeon raised right on the pass. One of the large farms raising these two types of fish in the North.
Across the pass, a bit further is Mu Cang Chai, where you will continue to admire the Cao Pha fields, La Pan Tan terraced fields, Che Cu Nha, De Xu Phinh… These are all incredibly beautiful locations within the scenic terraced fields of Mu Cang Chai.
In the afternoon, you will arrive in Mu Cang Chai, where you can rest in the town or book a homestay in Mu Cang Chai to enjoy the delicious dishes here. Note, if traveling around September during the ripe rice season, you should book your room in advance.
Day 3: Mu Cang Chai – Hanoi
The last day is entirely dedicated to returning to Hanoi, following QL 32 through Nghia Lo, Thanh Son – Thu Cuc back to Hanoi.
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