Your cart is empty.
Na Hang Lake is a vast emerald reservoir ringed by 99 limestone peaks in the far north of Vietnam — often called the “Ha Long Bay on land.” Since the 2025 provincial merger, Na Hang Lake sits in the same province as the Ha Giang Loop, which makes it the easiest, most rewarding add-on to a classic northern road trip. If you already have your eyes on the mountains of Ha Giang, the lake gives you a completely different landscape — still water, floating karsts and quiet Tay villages — just a half-day drive to the south.
This guide explains what Na Hang Lake is, why it now shares a province with Ha Giang, the best things to do there, how to get there from the Ha Giang Loop, and how to fold it into your itinerary without feeling rushed.
Na Hang Lake is a huge man-made lake formed where the Gam and Nang rivers meet behind a hydroelectric dam in Na Hang, at the northern edge of Tuyen Quang province. The eco-tourism zone of Na Hang – Lam Binh spreads across roughly 15,000 hectares, with about 8,000 hectares of shimmering water surface alone. Rise out of that water and you get the scene that gives the lake its nickname: a maze of steep, forest-covered limestone islands that locals compare to a “Ha Long Bay in the forest.”
The centrepiece is the famous 99 mountains, crowned by the pyramid-shaped Pac Ta peak, and the striking Coc Vai Pha — a lone stone pillar rising straight out of the water, tied to a local legend of a giant who once staked his buffalo there. Around the shoreline, the Na Hang Nature Reserve (Tat Ke – Ban Bung) protects primeval forest that is one of the last homes of the rare Tonkin snub-nosed monkey. For travellers, this all adds up to something the Ha Giang mountains cannot offer: a slow, watery, green world you explore by boat.
Here is the part that confuses a lot of travellers in 2026. Under Resolution 60-NQ/TW, Vietnam reorganised its map and merged Ha Giang province into Tuyen Quang province, effective 1 July 2025. The combined region kept the name Tuyen Quang, stretches across nearly 14,000 square kilometres and still borders China to the north.
In plain terms: the roads, passes and villages you think of as “Ha Giang” have not moved or changed — the region is simply administered as part of Tuyen Quang now. The Ha Giang Loop is exactly the same ride it always was. What changed is that Na Hang, once a separate Tuyen Quang attraction, is now officially in the same province as the Loop. That is great news for your trip: you can travel from the high passes of Ha Giang down to Na Hang Lake without ever crossing a provincial “border.” For the current tourism picture you can also check the official Tuyen Quang tourism authority, which now promotes both areas together.
Almost everything at Na Hang Lake revolves around the water and the forest. Here are the experiences worth your time:
Because Na Hang is still off the mainstream backpacker trail, you will often have whole stretches of water almost to yourself — a real contrast to the busier viewpoints on the Loop.
Na Hang lies to the south of the Ha Giang mountains and shares a border with the old Ha Giang districts. The most scenic connection runs from Ha Giang City through Bac Me and down to Na Hang town — roughly a half-day drive through river valleys and quiet countryside. From Tuyen Quang City in the south, the town is about 110 kilometres (around two hours) further north.
Most travellers reach the lake in one of three ways: by private car or driver (the most comfortable option after a long Loop), by local bus toward Na Hang town, or on a self-ride extension by motorbike for confident riders. Whichever you choose, this is the beauty of the merger — the drive from Ma Pi Leng Pass to the shores of Na Hang Lake stays inside one province the whole way.
Na Hang Lake follows the same rhythm as Ha Giang. The finest window is autumn, from September to November, when the air is cool and dry, the skies clear and the surrounding rice terraces turn gold. Spring (roughly February to April) is also lovely, with fresh green forest and colourful Tay festivals such as the Long Tong (going-to-the-field) festival in Lam Binh.
Try to avoid the peak of the rainy season (May to August), when heavy downpours can raise the water level, muddy the trails and occasionally disrupt boat schedules. If you are already timing your Loop for the dry months, the same trip dates work perfectly for the lake — no separate planning needed. For a month-by-month view, see our Ha Giang weather by month guide.
You do not need to rebuild your whole trip. Na Hang Lake works best as a two-day extension either before or after the Loop. A simple, unhurried plan looks like this:
Short on time? Even a single overnight is enough to see the highlights. If you would rather not plan the logistics yourself, our team can build a combined Ha Giang Loop and Na Hang Lake trip around your dates. See our Ha Giang Loop itinerary for a starting point.
For travellers who want more than mountain passes, yes — it is absolutely worth it. Having guided visitors across this region for years, we see the same reaction again and again: after days of high, dramatic scenery on the Loop, the calm water and floating karsts of Na Hang feel like a genuine change of pace. It is quieter, greener and more relaxing, and it rounds out a northern trip beautifully. If your only goal is the adrenaline of the passes, you can skip it — but if you have two extra days, Na Hang Lake is one of the best-value detours in the new Tuyen Quang province.
The former Ha Giang province was merged into Tuyen Quang province on 1 July 2025, and the combined province kept the name Tuyen Quang. Travellers still widely use “Ha Giang” for the mountain region and the Loop — the places and roads are unchanged; only the administrative name is different.
Na Hang town is roughly a half-day drive south of Ha Giang City via Bac Me, and about 110 kilometres north of Tuyen Quang City. Both the Loop and the lake are now within the same province.
The must-do is a boat cruise from Thuong Lam wharf through the 99 mountains, stopping at Coc Vai stone pillar and the Khuoi Nhi and Mo waterfalls. It is the signature “Ha Long Bay on land” experience.
Yes. Most people ride the Loop first, then add a two-day extension to Na Hang. Because both areas share one province, no extra permits or long transfers are needed.
September to November offers the clearest skies and golden rice terraces, while spring brings green forest and Tay festivals. Avoid the heavy rains of May to August for the smoothest boat conditions.
Na Hang Lake is the perfect example of how much the “new” Tuyen Quang province has to offer once you look beyond the famous passes. Pair the drama of the Ha Giang Loop with the calm of the lake and you get one of the most complete adventures in northern Vietnam. Tell us your dates and we will handle the driving, homestays and boat tickets so you can simply enjoy the ride.
📱 WhatsApp / Zalo: (+84) 787 652 333
📧 Email: info@hagiangalitravel.com
🌐 Website: hagiangalitravel.com
Don’t miss our future updates! Get Subscribed Today!
©2026. Ali Tour. All Rights Reserved.