Hoa Binh lake was formed after damming Da river to build Hoa Binh hydropower plant, and it has become one of the largest artificial reservoirs in Vietnam, stretching 230km from Hoa Binh to Son La. Hoa Binh lake is located within the boundary of Hoa Binh city and four districts, Da Bac, Cao Phong, Tan Lac and Mai Chau. The lake covers an area of about 8,000 hectares, with many floating islands. The landscape is green with the cool climate, especially the water on the lake is always blue, making this place one of the attractive landscapes of Hoa Binh.
Da river lake is like the island of Ha Long on land. The water on the lake is always blue. There are hundreds of large and small islands covered with rich and natural carpet of vegetation, creating the scenery of four green seasons.
A large number of tourists like to walk around the lake in the summer because of the vivid and fresh natural scenery along with the cool and fresh atmosphere on the lake. But there are also a lot of others prefer to take a boat ride on the lake in the fall or in early winter. The sunshine in the late autumn is dark yellow, the color of green is a much greener, the surface of the lake is alos clearer. Among the golden sunshine, the green forest, the karst islands stand out on the lake, under the clear blue sky, creating a very impressive scene for anyone coming here.
In addition to the famous destination and always visited by visitors from far away, it is the Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Plant. Visitors can choose from many interesting and attractive destinations along the lake of Da River to visit, explore and experience. Some of these destinations are quite popular, and have been established tours or tour routes scheduled by many tour operators, or visiting groups.
If tourists who want to visit and go to temples or pagodas along the lake, they can visit Thac Bo Temple located in Cao Phong District, Da Bac. Thac Bo Temple worships Mrs. Dinh Thi Van, the daughter of Lang Muong (one kink of monk) who helped the king fight the enemy, and was awarded the title of Thac Bo Lady by Le King. The fesstival of Thac Bo Temple is held every year on the 7th of lunar Junuary, and it lasts until the end of March of lunar calendar.
In addition, there is Doi Co temple, in Hien Luong commune, Da Bac district, worshiping two maids of Ba Chua Bo Bo. And it is impossible not to mention Thac Bo cave, located in the Chu mountain range, in Ngoi Hoa commune, Tan Lac district. Thac Bo Cave is a popular destination for many experienced tours on the lake of Hoa Binh.
One of the familiar destinations in Hoa Binh lake is Thung Nai, with the highlight of the Windmill house. This is the first place combining tourism with exploring the wild nature in the lake bed. The Windmill Island long associated with Thung Nai has been a favorite destination for many young people, as well as many groups of visitors who want to have fun activities and collective experiences in the atmosphere close to the nature.
In addition to the familiar destinations mentioned above, currently Hoa Binh tourism industry is exploiting a series of new destinations along the lake of Da River. Many qualified hamlets and villages after investigation have been trained, invested and guided to become tourist destinations combining the traditional culture with ecology, and exploring wildlife.
They include the villages of Dao and Muong ethnic people, such as Bich Tru hamlet (Thai Thinh commune, Hoa Binh city), Ke hemlet (Hien Luong commune, Da Bac district), Da Bia hamlet and Mo Hem hamlet (Tien Phong commune, Da Bac district), Sung hamlet (Cao Son commune, Da Bac district), Ngoi hamlet (Ngoi Hoa commune, Tan Lac district), Tien hamlet (Thung Nai commune, Cao Phong district) ...
In these new tourism spots, visitors can experience a variety of activities, such as watching the arts of the traditional art teams from the halmets, kayaking, rafting, trekking to see the sightseeing on the mountain, exploring bamboo forests, caves, natural waterfalls, riding bicycles and motorbikes to explore the nature, visiting fish cages, exploring the daily life of the Muong, Dao Tien ethnic people ...
Along with the cool atmosphere of the mountains, the lake, the pristine and green scenery of the island, experience the idyllic peaceful life of the people here, it is certain that visitors will have a special impression on the area of the lake bed on Da river.