Ba Be boasts magnificent fresh water lake Ba Be National Park in the northern province of Bac Kan has one of the world’s 20 biggest natural lakes, which is worth cruising to indulge into the world of crystal blue stream, magnificent limestone cliffs and mysterious caves.    Ba Be Lake in Ba Be National Park in Cao Bang Province. Ba Be Lake lies in the middle of the vast limestone mountain range of Ba Be National Park, surrounded by cliffs with attractive forms and shapes. Ba Be Lake actually consists of three smaller lakes – Pe Lam, Pe Lu and Pe Leng, stretching about eight kilometers in the north-to-south direction. The area was established as a national preserved forest and tourist center in 1978 and has been recognized as the third Ramsar site in Vietnam, an important wetland of the world, by UNESCO. To go to the lake, it takes tourists about five hours to travel from Hanoi at My Dinh bus station to Bac Kan bus station. From the local station, they should take another bus or a motorbike taxi to reach the national park. For accommodations, the park offers guest houses at VND180,000 to VND300,000 per night, but tourists are recommended to take a homestay room priced at VND60,000 per night to experience the authentic daily life of ethnic people in Pac Ngoi or Po Lu hamlet in Nam Mau Commune. Excursionists should also book meals at local households to enjoy indigenous specialties such as Ba Be Lake’s small shrimp, kitchen-smoked buffalo meat, and traditional cakes made of rice and corn wine. A whole day may be just enough for one to go to main destinations in the park such as An Ma Temple, Fairy Pond, Puong Cave and Dau Dang Waterfall. Boat is the only means to move around the lake and admire the splendid spots and surroundings. Tourists can ask hotels or travel agents to hire a boat with prices varying from VND500,000 to VND900,000 or VND1 million for haft or whole day, respectively. SGT