Bach Ma National Park

A cloud-forest summit at 1,450 metres less than 20 kilometres from the coast, with rainforest trails, the Five Lakes cascade, Do Quyen waterfall and French hill-station ruins.

Bach Ma, the White Horse mountain, rises steeply from the coastal plain south of Hue to a summit ridge at 1,450 metres, and its national park protects some 37,000 hectares of forest that ranks among the most biodiverse in Vietnam, with hundreds of bird species and rare mammals. In the 1930s the French built a hill station of villas near the top to escape the summer heat; their ruins now emerge from the mist along the trails. From the summit road, short walks lead to Hai Vong Dai viewpoint over the coast and Cau Hai Lagoon, the Five Lakes trail of swimming pools linked by cascades, the 300-metre Do Quyen waterfall, and the Rhododendron trail that blooms in spring. Access is by park vehicle from the entrance up a 16-kilometre road; private cars are not allowed. Expect cool temperatures, leeches after rain and frequent cloud, and note that the park may close in the wet season from roughly October to February. A full day or a night in a guesthouse near the top does it justice.