12 Most Beautiful Lakes in Vietnam

• Lake Type: Man-Made Island Reservoir (Over 1,300 Islets)
• Location: Yen Thanh & Luc Yen commune, Lao Cai Province
• Boat Fees: Sightseeing boat tour 400,000 and 600,000 VND per trip.
• Recommended Duration: 1 to 2 Days
• Getting There: 140 km northwest of Hanoi (approx. 2.5 to 3 hours via the Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway)

Often referred to as the “Ha Long Bay on the Mountain“, Thac Ba Lake is one of the three largest artificial lakes in Vietnam, created in 1971 following the construction of the country’s first major hydroelectric dam on the Chay River. Now situated within the consolidated regional jurisdiction of Lao Cai Province, the lake covers nearly 20,000 hectares of water surface and is studded with over 1,300 green conical hill-islets emerging from azure waters.

Cruising across Thac Ba Lake by traditional long-tail boat takes visitors past secluded islands, floating fish farms, and ancient limestone caves such as Thuy Tien Cave, which served as a revolutionary army base during wartime. Along the eastern shores, villages like Vu Linh and Ngoi Tu offer peaceful cultural homestays hosted by the White-trousered Dao and Tay ethnic groups, featuring folk dance performances and herbal foot baths.

Thac Ba Lake surrounded by rolling hills and green landscapes in northern Vietnam.

3. Hoa Binh Lake & Ba Khan Valley (Phu Tho )

• Lake Type: Mountain Reservoir & Karst Fiord Landscape
• Location: Tan Mai & Ba Khan Communes, Mai Chau District, Phu Tho Province
• Activity Fees: Motorboat excursion ~800,000 VND per boat; SUP / Kayak rental ~200,000 VND/hour
• Recommended Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night
• Getting There: 125 km west of Hanoi (roughly 3 hours via National Highway 6)

Stretching for over seventy kilometers along the Da River within Phu Tho, Hoa Binh Lake is Vietnam’s largest water reservoir, formed by the monumental Hoa Binh Hydropower Dam. The lake basin weaves through dramatic limestone mountain ranges, creating towering cliffs and deep emerald fiords that rival the fjords of Scandinavia in their raw grandeur.

The Ba Khan Valley, perched on a mountain plateau overlooking the lake, has emerged as a premier retreat for eco-tourism, glamping, and water sports. Luxury boutique resorts such as Mai Chau Hideaway and Ba Khan Village Resort provide private balconies with panoramic lake vistas, infinity pools overlooking the water, and direct access for Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) and mountain biking among Muong and Thai ethnic stilt villages. It makes an ideal nature extension for travelers taking Mai Chau tours.

Hoa Binh Lake surrounded by scenic mountains and peaceful waters.

4. Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi)

• Lake Type: Historic Natural Urban Lake
• Location: Hoan Kiem District, Central Hanoi
• Opening Hours & Fees: Lake promenade open 24/7 (Free); Ngoc Son Temple entrance 50,000 VND (~$2.00 USD) per adult (07:00 AM to 06:00 PM daily)
• Recommended Duration: 1 to 2 hours (best at early morning sunrise or evening weekend walking street)
• Getting There: Centrally situated adjacent to Hanoi Old Quarter

Located in the heart of Vietnam’s capital, Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) is the cultural, spiritual, and historical centerpiece of Hanoi. Steeped in 15th-century folklore, legend recounts that King Le Loi was presented with a magical sword by the Golden Turtle God  to drive out foreign invaders, which he later returned to the giant turtle inhabiting the lake waters.

In the middle of the jade-green water stands the iconic Turtle Tower, while the northern shore is connected to the sacred Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain) via the scarlet-lacquered, classical arched The Huc Bridge (Bridge of the Rising Sun). On Friday evenings through Sunday nights, the surrounding ring road becomes a pedestrian walking zone filled with street musicians, folk games, and portrait artists, making it the most iconic stop on all Hanoi city tours.

Hoan Kiem Lake with The Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple in Hanoi.

5. West Lake / Tay Ho (Hanoi)

• Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Oxbow Lake
• Location: Tay Ho District, Northern Central Hanoi
• Best Activities: Renting a bicycle for the 17 km perimeter loop, visiting Tran Quoc Pagoda, sunset dining at Quang An peninsula
• Recommended Duration: Half-day or leisurely late afternoon into evening

Covering an expansive 500 hectares with a shoreline of roughly seventeen kilometers, West Lake  is Hanoi’s largest natural body of freshwater, formed centuries ago from a meandering oxbow of the Red River. For dynasties, the lakeside was favored by Vietnamese kings and mandarins as a summer palace retreat, leaving behind a wealth of historic pagodas and shrines.

Key landmarks along its shores include Tran Quoc Pagoda (Hanoi’s oldest Buddhist temple, founded in the 6th century on a small eastern island) and Quan Thanh Temple (one of Hanoi‘s Four Sacred Guardians). Today, the lake is celebrated for its breezy scenic ring road, cycling paths, fragrant lotus ponds in early summer, and vibrant sunset dining scene featuring open-air cocktail lounges and lakeside cafes along Quang An and Yen Hoa.

Panoramic view of Tran Quoc Pagoda at sunset on West Lake in Hanoi.

Central highlands: Volcanic craters, glamping & ethnic heritage

6. Ta Dung Lake (Lam Dong)

• Lake Type: High-Altitude Island Reservoir (40+ Karst & Basalt Islets)
• Location: Ta Dung commune, Lam Dong Province
• Boat Tour Fees: Sightseeing boat tour ~150,000 to 200,000 VND per person (or 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 VND private boat charter for 10 to 15 passengers)
• Recommended Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night
• Getting There: 45 km from Gia Nghia; roughly 3.5 to 4 hours by car from Buon Ma Thuot or Da Lat

Tucked away in the South-Central Highlands within Ta Dung National Park, now part of the consolidated Lam Dong regional jurisdiction, Ta Dung Lake has exploded in popularity as one of Vietnam’s most breathtaking geological wonders. Dubbed the “Ha Long Bay of the Central Highlands”, this massive reservoir was formed by the construction of the Dong Nai 3 Hydropower Dam, flooding a vast mountain valley and transforming mountain summits into over forty lush green islets rising from cobalt-blue waters.

Perched high on the surrounding mountain ridges, boutique glamping campsites and ecolodges feature infinity pools and panoramic viewing decks overlooking the island archipelago. Visitors can take guided boat expeditions navigating between secluded islands, hike to hidden waterfalls, and explore coffee and pepper plantations in the cool highland air.

Ta Dung Lake featuring emerald waters and numerous green islands in Lam Dong

7. Bien Ho – T’Nung Lake (Pleiku, Gia Lai Province)

• Lake Type: Prehistoric Volcanic Crater Lake (Caldera)
• Location: Bien Ho Commune,  Gia Lai Province
• Entrance Fee: 10,000 VND (~$0.50 USD) per adult
• Recommended Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Getting There: 15 minutes by taxi or motorbike from Pleiku Airport / City Center

Revered by the indigenous Jrai people as “The Sea of the Highlands” and immortalized in Vietnamese poetry as “The Eyes of Pleiku”, Bien Ho (T’Nung Lake) is an awe-inspiring volcanic crater lake formed hundreds of thousands of years ago. Situated roughly seven kilometers north of Pleiku center in Gia Lai at an altitude of nearly 800 meters, the lake fills an extinct volcanic caldera with crystal-clear, deep blue freshwater that never runs dry.

The approach to Bien Ho is a scenic spectacle: a winding pedestrian avenue shaded by century-old three-needle pine trees leading to a cliffside pavilion housing a statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The view opens onto mirror-flat waters reflecting blue skies and distant forested rims. In late autumn (November to December), the slopes surrounding the crater burst into a sea of golden wild sunflowers (Hoa Da Quy).

T’Nung or To Nung Lake, also known as Bien Ho, surrounded by volcanic landscapes in Pleiku.

8. Lak Lake (Dak Lak Province)

• Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Highland Lake
• Location: Lien Son Lak commune, Dak Lak Province
• Activity Fees: Wooden dugout canoe trip ~150,000 VND per person; Bao Dai Palace entrance 20,000 VND
• Recommended Duration: Full-day trip or 1 Night stay at a lakeside ecolodge
• Getting There: 55 km south of Buon Ma Thuot City (approx. 1 hour via National Highway 27)

Covering approximately 500 hectares in Dak Lak Province, Lak Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the Central Highlands and the second largest in all of Vietnam after Ba Be Lake. Fed by headwaters from the Krong Ana River and surrounded by lush mountain ridges, the lake is the ancestral homeland of the indigenous M’Nong ethnic minority.

The shoreline is dotted with traditional M’Nong wooden longhouses in Jun and M’Lieng villages. Travelers can board a traditional hand-carved wooden dugout canoe steered with long paddles to glide among blooming pink lotuses. On a gentle hilltop overlooking the southern shore stands the former Bao Dai Lake Palace, a two-storey French-colonial villa built in 1951 where Vietnam’s last emperor relaxed and hunted game.

Scenic Lak Lake surrounded by mountains and traditional M’nong villages in Dak Lak.

9. Tuyen Lam Lake (Da Lat, Lam Dong Province)

• Lake Type: Mountain Valley Eco-Resort Lake
• Location: Da Lat center, Lam Dong Province
• Activity Fees: Lake grounds free; Motorboat cruise ~300,000 to 500,000 VND per boat; Kayak / SUP rental ~250,000 to 350,000 VND/session
• Recommended Duration: Half-day to full-day excursion or weekend resort getaway
• Getting There: 15 minutes by taxi from central Da Lat or via Robin Hill Cable Car

Situated six kilometers south of Da Lat city center at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain in Lam Dong Province, Tuyen Lam Lake is an expansive 320-hectare body of water widely celebrated as the most scenic eco-tourism sanctuary in southern Vietnam. Created in the 1980s by damming the Tia Stream, the lake is ringed by dense, pine-covered hills where mist hangs over the surface at dawn.

The northern shore connects to the majestic Truc Lam Zen Monastery, accessed via a scenic cable car from Robin Hill. Tuyen Lam Lake is a premier hub for outdoor recreation: travelers can rent kayaks and Stand-Up Paddleboards (SUP) to paddle into secret pine creeks, go horseback riding along forest trails, or stay in five-star luxury resorts.

Tuyen Lam Lake surrounded by pine forests and mountains near Da Lat.

10. Xuan Huong Lake (Da Lat, Lam Dong Province)

• Lake Type: Historic Urban Highland Lake
• Location: Central Da Lat, Lam Dong Province
• Activity Fees: Lake promenade open 24/7 (Free); Swan pedal boat rental ~80,000 to 120,000 VND/hour; Tandem bicycle rental ~50,000 VND/hour
• Recommended Duration: 1 to 2 hours (superb at sunrise mist or late afternoon twilight)

Formed in 1919 by French urban planners damming the Cam Ly Stream, Xuan Huong Lake is a romantic, crescent-shaped body of water that serves as the geographical and social heart of Da Lat in Lam Dong Province. Named after the famous 18th-century Vietnamese classical poetess Ho Xuan Huong, the lake covers roughly thirty-two hectares with a gentle five-kilometer perimeter road lined with weeping willows and cherry blossoms.

Walking or cycling around the lake in the crisp mountain air is one of Da Lat’s quintessential pleasures. Visitors can rent vintage swan-shaped pedal boats to paddle across the water, take a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride along Tran Quoc Toan Street, or relax at lakeside cafes like the iconic purple-themed Thanh Thuy Cafe or Bich Cau Cafe while sipping hot artichoke tea.

Enjoy lakeside coffee by the peaceful Xuan Huong lake in Da Lat.

Central coast & southern Vietnam: Coastal lagoons & weekend escapes

11. Lap An Lagoon (Lang Co, Hue City)

• Lake Type: Brackish Coastal Mountain Lagoon
• Location: Lang Co commune, Hue City
• Best Highlights: Low-tide sandy walkway, wooden photography piers, fresh oyster dining at floating restaurants
• Recommended Duration: 1 to 2 hours (ideal lunch and photo stop along the coastal heritage drive)
• Getting There: 30 km north of Da Nang (approx. 45 minutes via Hai Van Tunnel or 1.5 hours via the scenic Hai Van Pass)

Nestled between the majestic Bach Ma mountain range and the turquoise waters of Lang Co Bay within the Hue City regional boundary (formerly Thua Thien Hue), Lap An Lagoon (also called An Cu Lagoon) is an 800-hectare brackish water lagoon located just north of the famous Hai Van Pass. Fed by mountain streams and tidal ocean currents, the lagoon is renowned for its oyster farming, bamboo fishing nets, and glassy surface that mirrors towering green peaks.

At low tide, a white sandy pathway emerges across the shallow waters, allowing visitors to walk into the center of the lagoon for breathtaking photos. Wooden walkways and floating seafood restaurants built over the water serve freshly harvested grilled oysters with scallion oil, steamed squid, and sea snails.

Local fishermen working on the peaceful waters of Lap An Lagoon near Hue.

12. Tri An Lake (Dong Nai Province)

• Lake Type: Forested Island Hydro-Reservoir (70+ Islets)
• Location: Dong Nai Province
• Activity Fees: Island ferry transfer ~50,000 to 100,000 VND; Glamping package ~600,000 to 1,200,000 VND per person (includes tent, BBQ dinner, and breakfast); SUP rental ~200,000 VND/half-day
• Recommended Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night weekend camping trip
• Getting There: Roughly 2 to 2.5 hours by private car or motorbike from Ho Chi Minh City

Covering an immense 32,000 hectares with more than seventy small islands within Dong Nai Province (consolidated Dong Nai / Binh Phuoc jurisdiction), Tri An Lake is a vast artificial reservoir on the Dong Nai River, created in 1984 for the Tri An Hydroelectric Plant. Located just 70 kilometers northeast of Ho Chi Minh City and bordering the ancient primary forests of Cat Tien National Park, it has become southern Vietnam’s favorite weekend outdoor escape.

The lake is a hub for wilderness camping, Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP), island cycling, and sunset stargazing. Well-equipped glamping campgrounds offer luxury safari tents, lakeside barbecue grills, and campfire gatherings, making it an accessible nature retreat for expats and urban travelers escaping Saigon.

Tri An Lake surrounded by lush forests and peaceful landscapes in Dong Nai.

Outdoor Activities & Practical Tips for Lake Travel

To maximize your enjoyment and travel safely around Vietnam’s inland waters, keep these essential Vietnam travel tips in mind:

• Safety Equipment on Boats: Always wear a certified life jacket (Ao Phao) during boat tours, kayaking, or Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP), especially on deep mountain reservoirs like Ba Be, Ta Dung, and Hoa Binh.
• Best Lighting for Photography: The most magical photography hours on highland lakes occur during early morning sunrise (05:30 AM to 07:00 AM) when atmospheric mist blankets the water surface, and late golden hour (04:30 PM to 05:45 PM).
• Insect Protection: Lakeside areas surrounded by primary rainforests (such as Ba Be National Park and Tri An Lake) can have mosquitoes in the evenings. Pack DEET insect repellent and lightweight long-sleeved clothing.
• Respecting Indigenous Communities: When visiting ethnic minority villages around lakes (Tay at Ba Be, White Dao at Thac Ba, M’Nong at Lak Lake), ask permission before taking close-up portraits and remove your shoes before entering private stilt homes.

Plan Your Scenic Vietnam Lake Adventure with Paradise Travel

Paradise Travel is a licensed international tour operator and premier destination management company based in Hanoi. Established in 2005, the company operates under International Tour Operator License No. 01-2161/2023/TCDL-GP LHQT and has received the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award in 2018, 2019, and 2024. Our team of veteran travel specialists designs customized private journeys, luxury transfers, and outdoor eco-adventures across Vietnam.

Whether you are planning an off-the-beaten-path North Vietnam tour exploring the pristine waters of Ba Be and Thac Ba, an immersive Central Vietnam tour through the volcanic craters and pine valleys of the Central Highlands, or a comprehensive Vietnam discovery tour linking highland lakes with world heritage sites, our local travel consultants will craft an itinerary tailored to your schedule and budget.

Get in touch with our team for personalized travel planning, boat charter bookings, and a complimentary itinerary proposal.

Address: 81 Alley 12 Dao Tan Street, Giang Vo Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam

Hotline: 0989391076

Email: sales@vietnamparadisetravel.com