Published:  15:21 Wednesday - November 30, 2011

As a small commune beside Da River, of Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province, Thung Nai is about 25 km far from Hoa Binh city and about 110 km from Hanoi. Once upon a time, Thung Nai was a great valley covered by the vast forest, which is home to numerous deer. Hence, the local people call it “Thung Nai” means “the Valley of Deer.”

• Nam Dinh - a beautiful landscape along with hiden charming and cultural value
• Hai Duong - a beautiful landscape together with hiden charming and cultural value

Thung Nai has become a huge lake containing the water served for the operation of the hydropower plant on Da River since the 1980s when this hydropower plant was constructed. All initial surrounding high mountains become floating green islands and create poetic and magnificent scenery which can enchant any tourist in Vietnam travel. Thung Nai is also considered the inland Ha Long Bay in the North of Vietnam (the first position was taken by Tam Coc- Bich Dong in Ninh Binh province.)

Thung Nai is considered "The second Ha Long Bay on land"

Traveling to Thung Nai, most tourists choose the Windmill guesthouse, which is located on Friends Island as an ideal place for a comfortable and relaxing stay. The guesthouse area consists of a large two-storey redbrick house and a windmill offering visitors a breathtaking view of Thung Nai, a stilt house functioning as a communal dinning place, and a tennis court lying in the lush orchard. Now, the Windmill itself is one of tourist-attractive destinations to Thung Nai in Vietnam tourism.

When staying in the Windmill, tourists will be served local specialties like grilled Muong pork, smoked or grilled Da River fish, or fish sour soup, and straw wine. After the dinner, tourists, especially the youngsters often gather for the campfire in front of the guesthouse, and watching the sparkling fishing canoe floating in the lake.

Rowing a boat to discover the wild beauty of Thung Nai

Tourists waking up in the morning can refresh themselves by breathing the fresh air and enjoying the natural beauty in early morning. Making a tour by boat is regarded as a good option for tourists to discover sites around the lake in Thung Nai like Ba Chua Thac Bo temple, Thac Bo grotto (with a lot of stalactite in various shapes), Ngoi Hoa village of Muong people. Especially, tourists who luckily come here on Sunday morning can drop by Thac Bo floating market, just 20 minutes by boat from the Windmill, where they can buy fresh fish, shrimp caught by locals here.

Ngoi Hoa village of Muong ethnic group in Thung Nai

It is said that Thung Nai to be most beautiful in the autumn, when the water level reaches the highest and the valley is filled with the romantic lake water.

A peaceful Thung Nai in Hoa Binh province- Vietnam travel

Try visiting Thung Nai one time, tourists joining tours in Vietnam can enjoy the beauty of wild nature and witness the life of ethnic minority people living on the mountainous areas. Thung Nai promises to bring great tourism potential to Hoa Binh Province in the near future.