Bach Ma National Park is one of the biggest and most important protected areas in Vietnam (Photo: baothuathienhue.vn) Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – Bach MaNational Park, one of the biggest and most important protected areas inVietnam, boasts vast, untapped eco-tourism potential and, as such, the centralprovince of Thua Thien-Hue is working to capitalise on this advantage.
The park covers nearly 37,500ha across ninecommunes and two towns in Thua Thien-Hue province’s Phu Loc and Nam Dongdistricts, as well as Da Nang city’s Hoa Vang district.
With a favourable geographic location and mountingto heights of 1,000-1,440m, it has a stable temperature (16-22 degrees Celsius)and humidity all year round with annual rainfall averaging 3.4-4m.
Home to 16,900ha of primeval forests, it harbours1,406 species of flora, including many rare types like cho chi (parashoreachinensis), kien (hopea pierrei hance), and go (afzelia xylocarpa). More than300 precious herbal plants have been found here such as ba gac (rauvolfiaverticillata), binh voi (stephania glabra miers), and la khoi (ardisiasilvestris).
Bach Ma National Park is also home to 931species of fauna – including 83 rare mammal species such as bear, leopard,tiger, and sao la (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis); 333 bird species; 31 reptile species;21 frog species; 39 fish species; and 218 butterfly species.
Upon visiting the park, tourists will have achance to explore nature trails such as the Tri Sao Trail that leads to Tri SaoWaterfall, whose vicinity is home to many tri sao birds (rheinardia ocellata),and the Ngu Ho (Five Lakes) Trail that leads to a group of interconnectedlakes.
Moving along the Vong Hai Dai (Sea Watch Tower)Trail, visitors will reach an observation tower on Mount Bach Ma, and from herethey can have gain a view of the scenic Hai Van Pass, Mount Tuy Van, Cau HaiLagoon, Tu Hien Estuary, Chan May Port, as well as the cities of Hue and DaNang.
In 1932, French colonialists built a resort areain Bach Ma that included 139 villas, a market, a bank, a post office, a swimmingpool, a tennis court, and a 19km-long road system linking the centre of Bach Mawith what is now National Highway 1A.
Those villas have been renovated for tourismpurposes and now bear such names as Do Quyen, Sao La, and Kim Giao.
To improve the management, conservation, andutilisation of the park’s values and to attract investment in eco-tourismservices, the People’s Committee of Thua Thien-Hue is outlining key areas fordeveloping eco-tourism area within the park.
Vice Chairman of the committee Nguyen Van Phuongdescribed Bach Ma National Park as a “sleeping beauty”, with unique eco-tourismpotential and advantages. Authorities are also working to assess possibleenvironmental impact so as to develop tourism in the most sustainable manner.–VNA
VNA
