Published:  16:06 Thursday - March 01, 2012

Thac Ba lake is not only one of the three largest artificial lakes in Vietnam, but is also named “Ha Long bay on a mountainous area”.

Thac Ba lake is a beautiful landscape and a historical evidence recognized as a nationally cultural and historical monument since 1996. 180km far from Hanoi to the west, Thac Ba lake locates on both Luc Yen and Yen Binh districts, Yen Bai province and was formed in 1970 when Thac Ba hydro-electronic dam was created, blocking the water flow and creating this lake. Its area is 23400 ha, 80km in length, 10-15km in width and 45-60m depth. The lake is a charming landscape with clear blue water surface reflected by surrounding old forest flaps as well as 1300 islands and many caves.

In the high water season, the natural scenery picture of Thac ba becomes more splendid. Thuy Tien and Xuan Long caves have numerous shapes of stones; Cao Bien, Chang Re mountain, Trinh Nam island, Thac Ba and Thac Ong temples closely related to the mysterious legendary look more and more sparkling and fanciful to the tourists.

Ms Hoang Lan, a visitor to Thac Ba Lake in the Festival “Thac lake Echo” shared: “It is really fascinating to go on boat among the immense water through the small islands looking like raspberries shapes with original green color of northwestern mountain forest. If standing on the Cao Bien mountain peak-the largest and longest mountain of the Thac Ba lake, the tourists will contemplate the whole lake landscape in sparkling and blurred dew”.

The naturally beautiful Thac Ba lake is closely regarded to the well known historical events. In 1285, Tran Nhat Duat led the Thu Vat battle, destroyed Nguyen Mong enemy at this place. Moreover, some places at the upper lake are military base of the central agency at French war period. At the middle of the lake is Mong Son cave, which was the former operational base of Yen Bai Provincial Committee in the war against American imperialism.

Thac Ba Lake

Tourists' Cruise on Thac Ba lake

Thac Ba lake

This region still remains its wildness character and cultural identity of ethnic Tay, Nung, Mong, Phu La, Cao Lan...Some special festivals usually take place such as: New Rice Festival of ethnic Tay people organized on lunar October 9 when the harvest season begins with the aroma of the sticky rice permeating the whole village. In the moonlit night, the jubilant festivals start, the village boys and girls pound green rice flakes, sing and dance in the unique suits.

Particularly, at the middle of the last November, the Festival “Thac lake Echo” 2011 was held jubilantly to inspire the cultural profile of ethnic people at Chay river with many cultural values such as costume culture, art and cuisine culture. This is a big opportunity to promote a tourism heritage, and the chance for the tourists to study more about customs, habits, emotions, friendliness, hospitality and natural beauty of Thac Ba lake.

With the potentials of Thac Ba lake, Yen Bai authorities and related agencies identified to develop Thac Ba tourism into one of the Northwestern keys.