Ba Vi National Park

Ba Vi National Park
Travelling 50 km from the central city to the west of Ha Noi city, visitor will have chance to visit Ba Vi national park. The park is centreled on mount Ba Vi. The mountain rises steeply out of a plain that rarely exceeds 30 m in elevation. Generally, slopes on the western side of Ba Vi mountain, at an average of 25°, are steeper than those on the east. Above 400 m, the slopes on the western side may reach a gradient of 35° and rocky cliffs are present.

Mount Ba Vi has three peaks: the highest is Dinh Vua at 1,296 m, followed by Tan Vien at 1,226 m and Ngoc Hoa at 1,120 m. Because of the mountainous topography, the climate at Ba Vi varies with altitude. Above 500 m, fog enshrouds the top of the mountain on most days. Ba Vi has a large river only, it is Da river on the western side of the national park. Streams in the international park are small and fast flowing. In rainy season, the volume of water flowing through these small watercourses and over the surface of the ground is sometimes sufficient to cause landslides. In the dry season, however, many of the streams are dry.

The natural forest at Ba Vi is mainly distributed at elevation above 600m. Most of them are evergreen forest, lower montane evergreen forest and lower montane mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest. Ba Vi has 812 species of vascular plant, several species were described for the first time from the site, for example Ixora balansae, Litsea baviensis and Lasianthus langkokensis.  Also according to the investment plan, Ba Vi supports 44 mammal species, 114 bird species, 15 reptile species and nine amphibian species.

Ba Vi national park brings a lot of advantages for people here. For instance, medicinal plant collection is a major economic activity in the area. It is also an important source of income for local people, especial Dao people. While French was here on colonial period, they used to make Ba Vi become a station, they also built about 200 villas. In addition, a road was built up the mountain to an elevation of 1,100 m. With the convenience of geographical location, favourable climate, and good infrastructure Ba Vi becomes more attractive to tourist. Ba Vi National Park is also an important site for education and scientific research. Further major tourism resorts are planned in and around the national park.

The beauty of time in French architecture in Ba Vi National Park
Immersed in the quiet spaces are the remaining vestiges of French in Ba Vi, such as the colonel mansion, the collapsed church and the political prison. Located at an altitude 1,100 m above sea level, the climate in Ba Vi, Hanoi is fresh and cool all the year round. Only 70 km away from Hanoi so right from the early 40s of the last century, Ba Vi was chosen by the French to build resorts for senior military officers.

Today, with over an hour by vehicles, such as motorcycles and buses, Ba Vi becomes a compelling destination for weekend for visitors who want to find the oasis of peace. For young people who are passionate about photography, the remaining French architecture in Ba Vi becomes the creative inspiration. There are many paths to Ba Vi but if you depart from Hanoi, the Highway 32 through Son Tay town is the fastest route. Through the 0km landmark of the ticket checkpoint of the Ba Vi National Park, you will begin the journey through the winding tree-lined road, with steep bends.

Like Da Lat, Sa Pa, Sin Ho, Bach Ma, Ba Na, Puluong and Tam Dao, the French built many villas in Ba Vi, at landmarks 400, 600 and 1,000. The only difference is that they have been destroyed by the vicissitudes of time and life. Therefore, visitors will be surprised about the architectural foundation left from over hundred of years ago before going into the woods. The resorts, the stoves, the walls, all are covered by forest and mountain dew.

At landmark 600, the colonel palace is a typical French-styled work in Ba Vi, which is still quite intact. It has a barbed wire fence, stone walls of over 2 m high, 0.5 m thick and some submachine gun emplacements. Going up a little more is the summer camp for children of France and the colonial government officials, including four rows of houses built with rock. Located amid the natural forests with big trees such as oaks, chestnuts, ca lo, khao, etc, with hanging orchids above, the landscape here is poetic and magical, attracting tourists to visit and take photograph.

The collapsed church is located at an altitude of 800 m, amid the jungle. Abandoned for years, the roof of the church has gone, leaving the bare cathedral in the forest. On the walls, the cross covered with the color of nostalgia, with afternoon sunlight through the window. Here, the fog always exists, occasionally swooping down and engulfing the church. The green color of moss, the gray color of mold, and the silver color of mist create a magical space.

Only moss walls are left, covered by grass and trees, but with what is left, one can still imagine the wild beauty of the church in the pine forest in the heyday. Today, thanks to the crumbling beauty, the collapsed church in Ba Vi becomes a favorite site for photographers.

At landmark 800, the French also built an orphanage with doorways and arches of distinctive architecture. In particular, at an altitude of 1,000-1,100 m in the western slope of the Tan Vien peak is the system of political prisons which are built solidly to imprison revolutionaries. The prison is arranged into three zones: zone 1 for the wardens; zone 2 and zone 3 for prisoners. With a total area of nearly 1,000 m2, the prison system in Ba Vi can detain 100-200 prisoners. Covered with dust and leaves, the French works in Ba Vi always have their own timeless charm, leaving good impression in the eyes of visitors.