Private & tailor-made · 1–4 guests
Bach Ma National Park Day Trip from Hue, Private and Guided
Drive the old French road to 1,450 metres, walk up to the summit lookout, swim in the Five Lakes and stand at the top of a 300-metre waterfall — and be back in Hue by late afternoon. Every entry fee is paid before you travel.
A sample day at a glance
What changes when the day is yours
A private car for your group alone
Private, 1-4 guests, and it drives you all the way up the summit road — no park shuttle to wait for
Your own licensed local guide
Fluent in English and explains the forest, its wildlife and the old hill station — to your group alone, not a minibus of strangers
Collected at your own hotel
Anywhere in Hue. No meeting point to reach on your own
Every entry fee prepaid
Park tickets for your whole group are bought for you. Nothing is collected from you at any gate
No shop stops, in writing
No detour to a souvenir showroom that pays to have you delivered
Trails chosen for your legs
Your guide picks the lakes, the waterfall steps or the gentle paths on the day, by the weather and by how you feel
Duration
About 9 hours
Departure
07:30 from your hotel
Pickup
Any Hue hotel
from · $66 · / person · ›Check your price ›
Choose your group size · price is the total for the group
Solo traveller$205 BOOK →2 guests$225 BOOK →3 guests$245 BOOK →4 guests$265 BOOK →Free cancellation up to 3 days before · every tour tailored on request
The day on the mountain
This is a sample day: add, skip or linger over any stop and we will adjust it. Times assume the 07:30 pickup; on a cloudy morning your guide may swap the order to catch the clearest hour at the summit.
Hotel pickup · 07:30 · anywhere in Hue
Drive south · about an hour to the park gate at Cau Hai, then 16 km up the summit road in the same car
Hai Vong Dai summit and the old hill station
09:10 · about 75 minutes · stone path and steps
Park entry included — no ticket booth for you
4 photos · tap to enlarge
The road ends among the ruins of the French hill station; close to 140 villas stood up here by the early 1940s, and your guide shows you what is left of them in the forest. From there a stone path of under a kilometre climbs to the Hai Vong Dai tower. On a clear morning Cau Hai lagoon, Lang Co and the Truoi reservoir are all in view at once.
Five Lakes trail
10:40 · about 75 minutes · rocky trail with rope sections
No extra fee anywhere on this trail
4 photos · tap to enlarge
About 1.5 km down a mountain stream that falls through five clear pools, linked by small cascades. From February to September the pools are safe for a swim; the rocks are slippery all year, and your guide sets the pace and knows where the ropes and ladders are.
Lunch at the summit
12:15 · about 45 minutes · sit-down
Lunch included
1 photo · tap to enlarge
A set Vietnamese lunch at a restaurant on the summit road, ordered in advance so it is ready when you walk in: rice, a few shared dishes, soup and fruit, with a soft drink or tea.
Rhododendron Falls
13:15 · about 90 minutes · trail, then 689 optional steps
No extra fee anywhere on this trail
4 photos · tap to enlarge
A forest trail of about 2 km ends where the river goes over the cliff, roughly 300 metres above the valley. Anyone who wants the full view can take the 689 stone steps to the foot of the falls, about an hour down and back up. In March and April the rhododendrons that give the falls their name flower along the path; the stairs close in the wet season.
Back at your hotel · around 16:30 · About 9 hours after pickup
Summit, lakes and waterfall in one day
No stops we did not tell you about, nothing to pay at any gate, and any part of it can be changed.
Group total · everything included
Solo traveller$205 BOOK →2 guests$225 BOOK →3 guests$245 BOOK →4 guests$265 BOOK →Price is the total for the group · free cancellation up to 3 days before
WhatsApp · +84 368 938 081Want a different route, pace or group size? We will plan your day and send you an all-inclusive quote. ›What is in the price
Included
- Private car and driver, all the way up the 16 km summit road
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hue
- Licensed English-speaking local guide for the whole day
- Park entrance tickets for everyone in your group
- Set lunch at the summit, ordered ahead
- Bottled water and fruit on the trail
Not included
− Swimwear and a towel — bring your own
− Drinks beyond the water we provide and the drinks with lunch
− Anything you choose to buy along the way
− A tip for your guide and driver — never expected, always welcome
− Travel insurance, which we recommend you carry
Is this the right tour for you?
A good fit if
You want a proper forest day with some walking, not only a viewpoint from the car.
You can manage a rocky trail for an hour and a few hundred steps at your own pace.
You are a couple, a family or a small group who would rather not share a minibus.
You want one price that covers the car, the summit road, the tickets and lunch.
Look elsewhere if
You are one person on a tight budget.
Anyone in the group cannot walk on uneven, slippery ground — the summit path is the only easy walk.
You are coming between October and January and swimming or the waterfall steps are the reason you are going.
You are moving on to Hoi An or Da Nang the same day.
If you are travelling between Hue and Hoi An anyway, the one-way day covers the summit and the Five Lakes and ends at your next hotel, with the Hai Van Pass on the way. See the one-way day via Bach Ma. Or tell us what you want to see, and we will plan a day around it.
Questions before you book
About the day
How long is the tour and when does it start?
It runs About 9 hours door to door, leaving 07:30 from your hotel. We start early because the forest is clearest and coolest in the morning.
Where do you pick us up?
At your own hotel, anywhere in Hue, with no meeting point to reach on your own. We can also collect you in Da Nang or Hoi An for a transfer surcharge, because it adds driving at both ends of the day; choose your pickup area when you book. Your guide waits in the lobby for 20 minutes.
How much walking is there?
About 5 km over the day, in short sections. The summit path is stone and easy; the Five Lakes trail is rocky and slippery, with ropes on the steep parts; the 689 steps below the waterfall are optional and the hardest part. Your guide can keep to the gentle paths if needed.
Can we swim?
From February to September, in the Five Lakes pools, when the water is low and clear — wear swimwear under your clothes. From October to January swimming stops, because the streams rise quickly after rain.
Can we change the route or the pace?
Yes. This is a sample day and every part of it can be adjusted: add a stop, skip one, or spend longer at the Five Lakes. Tell us before you book and we confirm the plan and an all-inclusive price in writing.
Does the guide speak good English?
Yes. Your guide is a licensed local who speaks fluent English and explains the forest, its wildlife and the story of the old hill station as you go.
Booking and practicalities
Is the price per person or for the whole group?
For the whole group, from one to four guests: four people pay less each than two, and the car is the same car. Children under 5 travel free and do not count towards the group size; from 5 a child counts as one guest; groups of five or more travel in a larger vehicle — message us for a quote.
How do I pay, and when?
Two ways: pay the full price online by card, or pay a 30% deposit online and the rest in cash on the day of the tour, in US dollars or Vietnamese dong. We can also send a secure payment link on WhatsApp. The booking is confirmed once the online payment goes through, and your pickup time and guide’s name arrive in writing.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
Yes — free cancellation up to 3 days before departure for a full refund, and free rescheduling subject to availability. Within 3 days of departure, 30% of the tour price is charged because the car and guide are already committed. Date changes are arranged over WhatsApp.
What if the weather closes the mountain?
The wet season in Bach Ma runs roughly from October to January. If the park closes the summit road on your date, we re-plan the day or move it to another date at no cost — a road closure on its own is not refunded. If a typhoon, flood or other natural disaster makes the tour impossible, you get a full refund.
What should I bring, and do I need cash?
Walking shoes with good grip, a light jacket (the summit is noticeably cooler than the coast), insect repellent, a rain layer, and swimwear with a small towel in the dry season. You do not need cash at any gate; if you chose to pay the balance in cash, bring it for your guide.
What about vegetarian meals or food allergies?
Tell us when you book. The summit lunch is ordered ahead, so a vegetarian set or dishes without a given ingredient are easy to arrange.
Book your Bach Ma day
Private car and licensed local guide, hotel pickup, every fee already settled.
Group total · everything included
Solo traveller$205 BOOK →2 guests$225 BOOK →3 guests$245 BOOK →4 guests$265 BOOK →Price is the total for the group · free cancellation up to 3 days before
WhatsApp · +84 368 938 081Want a different route, pace or group size? We will plan your day and send you an all-inclusive quote. ›