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Bac Kan
Area: 4868.4 sq. km.
Population: 301.5 thousand habitants (2006).
Capital: Bac Kan Town.
Districts: Ba Be, Ngan Son, Cho Don, Na Ri, Cho Moi, Bach Thong, Pac Nam.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, H'Mong, Dao...
Introduction: Geography, Tourism, Transportation.
Attraction:
- Historical & Cultural Vestiges: ATK.
- Scenic Landscapes: Ba Be Lakes.
- Cultural Travel: Long Tong Festival, Xuan Duong Festival.
Geography
 Bac Kan is a mountainous province, sharing its border with Cao Bang Province to the north, Tuyen Quang Province to the west, Lang Son Province to the south-east, and Thai Nguyen Province to the south. The topography is mainly midland, mountainous. The province has a complex network of rivers and springs.
Climate: There are two seasons: dry and cold lasts from April to October and hot and rainy from November to December. The cold season lasts longer in the north region. The annual average temperature is 25ºC. The annual rainfall is about 1,400mm - 1,800mm. The weather has drizzling rain and high humidity in March, April and August.
Tourism and Economy
Bac Kan has natural of mineral and forest, especially primitive forests with rich of flora and faune. Aside that,  natural gives the province many interesting sights such as Ba Be National Park, Dau Dang Waterfall, Ba Be Lake, Puong Cave. Bac Kan used to be a cradle of Vietnam revolution so it has many revolutionary relics as ATK in there.
Bac Kan is famous for Ba Be Lake Spring Festival with many rituals and activities as boat racing, wrestling, dancing, nem con (con throwing). The festival attracts a lot of people arround the region.
Transportation
Bac Kan Town is 166km from Hanoi. It is located on the Hanoi - Cao Bang inter-provincial No. 3.
Attraction
1) Historical & Cultural Vestiges
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ATK
Location: In Bang Lung Townlet, Cho Don District, Bac Kan Province.
Characteristics: ATK consists of a network of underground tunnels with strong defense works able to withstand bombs and bullets.
ATK is the abbreviation for “An Toan Khu”, meaning "safe zone". This zone was built during the war against the French and consists of a network of underground tunnels with strong defense works able to withstand bombs and bullets. These relics will be restored to become an attractive tourist site.
2) Scenic Landscapes
Location: Lie in the middle of a vast limestone mountain range of Ba Be District, Bac Kan Province, 240km from the north-west of Hanoi.
Characteristic: Being dubbed a "precious jade of Vietnam and one of 500 lakes recognised as worthy of attention.
 Ba Be itself is actually three smaller lakes joined together – Pe Lam, Pe Lu and Pe Leng. The climate is cool with an average temperature of 22ºC. The best time to visit the area is during the dry season, which is during winter and spring. The area was established as a national preserved forest and tourist center in 1978.
Ba Be Lakes area has a lot to offer, including waterfalls, rivers, valleys, lakes, and caves all set amidst picturesque landscapes. Ba Be Lakes are surrounded by many ancient trees, from which several varieties of precious wood are obtained. Up to 30 animal species such as wild pigs, bears, panthers, monkeys, and birds inhabit the area.
Ba Be Lakes, located 145m above sea level, are among the largest natural lakes in Vietnam with a total surface area of 500ha. The surface of the lake was tranquil – a beauty spot if ever there was one, in this land of so much beauty. Visitors will have an unforgettable stay in the mountains by the lakes, enjoying sightseeing boat trips, hikes, and water sports.
From Ba Be, tourists can visit other neighboring scenic attractions such as Dau Dang Fall, Puong Cave, and Tien Pond. Passing by Puong Cave (30m high, 300m long), cruise past the villages of Tau, Cam and Hua Tang, and navigate the way through the river’s forks and brooks, tourists will reach Dau Dang Falls. Catch the breath: it’s worth it. They fall, they drip, they cascade. Take a pick of superlatives. Take a pick of times of day for paying a visit. The falls laps over 1,000m on three levels, each bursting with energy from the mountains that help fuel them.
3) Cultural Travel
Time: 10th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Nam Mau Commune, Ba Be District, Bac Kan Province.
Characteristics: Spring festival annual of the ethnic minorities usually arranged near Ba Be Lake, attracts many people.
The typical folk games for spring festival of the ethnic minorities of North-East mountainous area: sticks pushing, tug of wars contest, còn throwing, giao duyên singing. In recent years, people arranged the contest of village singing between two hamlets of Tay and Dao minorities.
Time: 25th day of the third lunar month.
Place: Na Ri District, Bac Kan Province.
Characteristics: The festival of the Tay, Nung, Dao; traditional cultural activities: folk song singing.
(Source: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) |
