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Located in the northwest province of Yen Bai, Thac Ba Lake is one of the largest man-made lakes in Vietnam – along with others like Dau Tieng Lake and Ba Be Lake.
With over 1,300 evergreen islands and a system of caves deep inside the mysterious limestone mountains, the lake has long been considered “Ha Long Bay on the mountains”.
So, let’s go with Asia King Travel to see what Thac Ba Lake has to offer.
Thac Ba Lake is a freshwater lake stretching between Luc Yen and Yen Binh Districts of Yen Bai Province, in the mountainous northwestern part of Vietnam. It’s about 150 kilometers from Hanoi following Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway, and 30 kilometers from Yen Bai City following National Highway No. 37.
Thac Ba Lake resulted from the dam that was built to draw water from the Chay River to supply the Thac Ba Hydropower Plant. It was also the first structure of its kind to be built in Vietnam, being the predecessor of many later hydropower plants, like the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant with Hoa Binh Lake.
A corner of Thac Ba Lake (Source: Local Vietnam)
“Thac Ba” means “Grandma’s Waterfall”. It’s the name of one of the two waterfalls in the area, with the other being “Thac Ong” – “Grandpa’s Waterfall”.
These two waterfalls existed before the lake was built, however, disappeared after the whole area was submerged under the water from the Chay River.
To pay tribute to the waterfalls, locals used “Thac Ba” to name the then newly-formed lake, and “Thac Ong” for the bridge about 1 kilometer downstream from the lake.
Thac Ba Lake with the Thac Ba Hydropower Plant (Source: Thac Ba Hydropower, JSC)
Taking a boat trip is the best and often the only way to explore Thac Ba Lake. You can arrange boat trips from various locations, but the village of Huong Ly in Yen Binh District is a popular starting point. Just be sure to discuss the trip duration and price in advance.
The trips typically include stops at islands and caves along the lake. As you cruise, you'll get a glimpse into the lives of local fishermen and be captivated by the lake's beauty.
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The first stop of the boat trip would often be Thac Ba Hydropower Plant – the first hydropower plant in Vietnam. Coming here, you can not only see the majestic structure of the factory for yourself, but also listen to the stories about its construction process in the flow of Vietnam’s history, including the formation of Thac Ba Lake itself.
A closer look at the Thac Ba Hydropower Plant (Source: Mia Retail, JSC)
Another stop on the boat trip is Thuy Tien Cave on an island in the middle of the lake. While the cave itself may not be particularly remarkable, its location offers a significant advantage. A staircase leads visitors to the island's peak, where they're rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the lake.
In addition to that, Cao Bien Mountain also brings great views. Being the highest mountain around the lake, a 3.5-hour trek to its top might sound a bit tiring, but it’s totally worth the effort to see yourself surrounded by the blue sky and the sparkling water surface under the sun, dotted with numerous islands.
Beyond the serene boat trips, Thac Ba Lake is a hub for active travelers as well. The choices range from a refreshing dip in the lake, to a kayak trip, and even a fishing session to test your patience. Hiking enthusiasts can choose from several trails that weave around the lake, rewarding them with stunning landscapes.
The entrance to Thuy Tien Cave (Source: Vulinh Family Homestay)
To get to Thac Ba Lake, you can either drive the motorbike, take the car/passenger bus, or take the train. But for the 150-kilometer distance, we think that you'd better choose a car, a bus, or the train for your safety, since the mountains of northwestern Vietnam can be very dangerous.
A section of the Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway (Source: Vietnamnet)
Thac Ba Lake is suitable to visit throughout the year. However, it would be best to come here during summer to enjoy the cool weather, brought by the vast area of water here.
If you are more into exploring the religious aspects, Thac Ba Temple’s festivals are waiting for you, with the spring festival being the most important one. Come here on the 9th day of the 1st lunar month of the year (around late January to mid-February) to try experiencing the festive atmosphere from many ethnic minorities living around the area.
Thac Ba Lake is a part of the Chay River, therefore, it’s known for many types of freshwater fish like carp, grass carp, chub, barb, etc. After seasoning, they can be fried, grilled, braised, and even made into soups and salads.
Another choice could be the fragrant “xoi ngu sac” (5-color steamed sticky rice), dyed with natural colors from turmeric, magenta plant (la cam), and gac fruit, etc.
Grilled fish made with fishes from Thac Ba Lake (Source: Postum Travel)
Thac Ba Lake doesn’t really have hotels around – the closest ones would be in Yen Bai City. However, you can find some homestays in the neighboring Ngoi Tu Village. which offers a better connection with the magnificent nature and unique culture here. The price for a typical room in these homestays will start from VND 200,000/room/night, pretty much a reasonable price for your trip to Thac Ba Lake.
A homestay on one of the islands in Thac Ba Lake (Source: Thac Ba Paradise Islands)
Being one of the most notable destinations on Yen Bai’s tourism map, Thac Ba Lake gives you a chance to immerse yourself in both the stunning nature landscapes and the vivid life of the locals here.
We hope this post helped you in uncovering a part of northwestern Vietnam, and even more than that, motivated you to give this rather untouched part a try.
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