Thung Nai
Thung Nai impresses anyone who
sees it from the very first time with the harmonious combination of mountains,
lakes and charming houses nestled in between the high hills.
Location
Located in Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province,
just about 110km north-east of Hanoi center,
Thung Nai is a popular destination for weekend retreat of both tourists and
upper class Hanoians who can afford the time and cost.
History
Once upon a time, Thung Nai was a
great valley covered by the vast forest, which is home to numerous deer. Hence,
the local people call it “Thung Nai” means “the Valley of deer”.
Since the 1980s when the Da River
hydropower plant was constructed, Thung Nai has become a huge lake containing
the water served for the operation of this hydropower plant. All initial
surrounding high mountains become floating green islands and create poetic and
magnificent scenery which can enchant any tourist. Thung Nai is called “the
second Ha Long Bay on land” in the North of Vietnam (the first position was
taken by Tam Coc Bich Dong in Ninh Binh province).
Visitor
Information
Most tourists traveling to Thung
Nai choose the Windmill guesthouse, which is located on Friends Island as an
ideal place for a comfortable and relaxing stay. The guesthouse area consists
of a large two-storey redbrick house and a windmill offering visitors a
breath-taking view of Thung Nai, a stilt house functioning as a communal
dinning place, and a tennis court lying in the lush orchard. The Windmill
itself is often regarded as an attraction of Thung Nai.
Activities
Staying in the Windmill, tourists
will be served local specialties like grilled Muong pork, smoked or grilled Da
River fish, or fish sour soup, and straw wine. After the dinner, tourists,
especially the youngsters often gather for the campfire in front of the
guesthouse, and watching the sparkling fishing canoe floating in the lake by
night.
Waking up in the morning,
tourists can refresh themselves by breathing the fresh air and enjoying the
natural beauty in early morning. A boat tour to discover sites around the lake
in Thung Nai like Ba Chua Thac Bo temple, Thac Bo grotto (with a lot of
stalactite in various shapes), Ngoi Hoa village of Muong people is also a good
option. Especially, tourists who luckily come here on Sunday morning can drop
by Thac Bo floating market, just 20 minutes by boat from the Windmill, where
they can buy fresh fish, shrimp caught by local people.
Best
time to visit Thung Nai
Thung Nai is said to be most
beautiful in the autumn, when the water level reaches the highest and the
valley is filled with the romantic lake water. Try visiting Thung Nai this time
to best enjoy the landscape.
How to
get there
From Hanoi, tourists can travel
to Thung Nai easily by car or motorbike.
After riding along the National Highway 6 and reaching Hoa Binh town, turn
right and keep riding 20km toward the upstream of Da River then stop at Binh
Thanh marina. From here, tourists will get on the boat and begin the trip to
discover the beauty of Thung Nai.
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