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Thac Ba Lake is located about 160 km from Hanoi and covers an area of around 23,400 hectares (about 58,000 acres). It is one of the largest hydropower reservoirs in northern Vietnam. The survey and construction of the dam took about 12 years, from 1959 to 1971, with support from the USSR.
Before the lake existed, there were already quite well-developed communities in the area that is now covered by the reservoir. According to historical documents, 39 communes with a population of around 25,000 people had to be relocated to make way for the Thac Ba hydropower project.
Today, Thac Ba Lake is not only an important source of electricity for the national grid, but also an interesting destination for travelers, especially motorcycle travelers. Local people here have been welcoming tourists since the 1990s, and there are now many homestays around the lake run by local Dao families.
At Thac Ba Lake, you can enjoy the fresh air and natural surroundings, with rice fields, villages, and the lake itself, while discovering the lifestyle of local ethnic minority communities. After a long day of riding, you can take a lively boat trip on the lake, enjoy a cold beer, and swim in the clear water.
But perhaps the coolest thing to do here is staying at a homestay run by a local Dao family, talking with them about local culture and everyday life around Thac Ba Lake, and watching a traditional art performance by Dao women. A warm dinner with your homestay hosts, accompanied by locally made rice or corn wine, can become one of the most memorable experiences of a motorcycle tour.
Want to experience this amazing place by motorcycle? Check out our motorcycle tours visiting Thac Ba Lake:
