Ba Be Lake from Hanoi: boat, Puong cave, prices and how many days (2026)
Ba Be Lake, in Bac Kan province, is the country's largest natural lake and the heart of a national park, about 240 km from Hanoi. Allow 6 to 7 hours by public bus (Hanoi, Bac Kan, then taxi); 2 days / 1 night with a boat ride and a homestay is the minimum. Benchmark prices: entry about 45,000 VND for a foreigner, boat from 600,000 VND (1.5-2 h: pier, An Ma temple, Widow Island) to 1,200,000 VND (4.5-5 h: Puong cave and Dau Dang waterfall) per boat, with a 20% surcharge on public holidays (one booking site, undated).
Highlights
The lake by boat
The basic tour passes An Ma temple and Widow Island. Leave from Pac Ngoi pier, the closest when coming from Bac Kan or Hanoi; do not start after 2:30 pm if you want to avoid dusk on the water.
Puong cave
Added to the tour, it raises the bill to 1,000,000 VND; with Dau Dang waterfall, 1,200,000 VND (4.5-5 h).
Dau Dang waterfall
On the Nang river, added to a longer tour.
A night in a Tay homestay
In a stilt house in the village; tours include it.
Practical info
Tips
- The boat is shared among several people: form a group to cut the price per head. Among online bookings, compare: 2 days with homestay and Puong cave visit from 90 USD per person, boat day from 65 USD, private 3 days with Ban Gioc falls at 420 USD (4.9 rating from 11 reviews) and group from 289 USD (3.9 from 14 reviews) (offers seen in October 2026). For Ban Gioc falls: Ban Gioc waterfall and Cao Bang. Another 2-day nature trip: Mai Chau.
How to get there
About 240 km from Hanoi: bus from My Dinh bus station to Bac Kan, then taxi or minibus to the park (6-7 h in all, sources), or a tour with transfer.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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