Walk through time in Ba Be National Park

Once upon a time, 200 million years ago, the birth of a natural gem that would become Vietnam's largest natural lake: Ba Be. Nestled 230 km north of Hanoi in Bac Kan province, this extraordinary site hides many secrets. Let me tell you its story...
 

"Slam Pe", or "Three Lakes" is better known as Ba Be lake - Source : Mr Linh's Adventure

Ba Be National Park, located in Bac Kan province, is a natural site of great ecological richness. Ba Be Lake, at its heart, is the country's largest natural lake. In fact, it consists of three interconnected lakes, known as Ba Be, which means "three lakes" in the local dilect. Sometimes called "Slam Pe", this magical place is the meeting point of three rivers: Pe Lam, Pe Lu, and Pe Leng. Archaeologists tell us that these places were already inhabited 15,000 to 20,000 years ago - no less than 73 tribes have left their traces here!

It was in 1992 that the modern history of the park truly began. On November 10th, the Vietnamese government decided to protect this natural treasure by officially creating Ba Be National Park. Within its 7,610 hectares, it is a true festival of biodiversity: 1,300 plant species including 200 orchids, some of which are found nowhere else in the world! Not to mention the 80 mammal species, 234 bird species, and a bustling world of reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

► Ba Be National Park: an exceptional biodiversity reserve in the heart of Vietnam

International recognition was not far behind. In 1995, Ba Be joined the very exclusive club of the world's 20 exceptional freshwater lakes. The following year, it became a national historical and cultural site. Then in 2004, ASEAN awarded it the title of "heritage garden."

In 1997, the UNESCO-Vietnam Committee proposed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to recognize the park as a World Natural Heritage site.
 

Hiking around Ba Be lake - Source : Mr Linh's Adventure

This story with UNESCO is more complex and exciting.
In 2006, Vietnam knocked on the door of world heritage, but in 2007, UNESCO - during its 31st session - adopted decision no. 31 COM 8B.13 which states: "Defers the examination of the proposal for the inscription of Ba Be National Park, Viet Nam, on the World Heritage List to allow the State party to consider submitting a new proposal for the inscription of a larger property focusing on criterion (x)."

This is how the Ba Be-Na Hang project was born, uniting the park with the Na Hang Nature Reserve, another ecological treasure of 33,000 hectares. Meanwhile, Ba Be was awarded the Ramsar label in 2011, recognizing its importance as an international wetland.
Dis you know ? Na Hang in the language of the Tay ethnic minority group means “the last field”.
To ensure the site's integrity and value, the provinces of Bac Kan and Tuyen Quang have been cooperating for years in forest protection and management, as well as the management of the region's natural and cultural resources. They have simultaneously strengthened research and planning efforts to create links between the regions within the heritage site, with the goal of continuing the objective of nominating the Ba Be - Na Hang Natural Heritage Area as a World Heritage site.

Less publicized than Ba Be, the Na Hang Nature Reserve covers over 33,000 hectares in Tuyen Quang province. It hosts one of the richest ecosystems in the world according to the World Wildlife Fund. To date, it has recorded over 2,000 plant species, 263 bird species, 61 reptile species, 35 amphibian species, and 90 mammal species.

But back to our story... In February 2011, Ba Be was designated by UNESCO as a Ramsar site, meaning it is classified as an internationally important wetland.

More recently, in 2017, the Vietnamese government began preparing a dossier to inscribe the Ba Be-Na Hang site on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Deputy Prime Minister requested coordination between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National UNESCO Committee to advance this nomination.

In 2021, efforts were intensified to complete this dossier to accelerate the inscription process. UNESCO recognition aims to protect not only the park's biodiversity but also to promote its tourism potential while preserving local cultures.
 

Trekking in Ba Be National Park - Source : Mr Linh's Adventure

As I mentioned earlier, the park is now part of a larger group including four protected areas, forming the Ba Be - Na Hang Natural Heritage Area. It is a living site that evolves with the times: tourists flock to admire its natural wonders, hike in its forests, visit ethnic villages, and explore its mysterious caves. Here are the protected areas for your information:

But like any beautiful story, this one also has its challenges. The park must balance between welcoming visitors and protecting its natural treasures. This is the challenge of the 21st century: allowing everyone to enjoy this natural paradise while preserving it for future generations.

► Ba Be National Park: A natural and scientific jewel in North Vietnam

Now considered a natural and scientific treasure, Ba Be National Park continues to have its story written. Efforts for its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List continue, driven by the desire to protect this unique place where nature tells us a 200-million-year-old story.
To be continued...