Ba Ho Waterfall is just a short 45-minute motorbike or taxi drive from Nha Trang City. It’s a wonderful day trip with an adventurous hike along boulders and three natural pools to cool off in afterward. Read on to find out how to get there, what amenities are available, and about the challenging hike.
Ba Ho Waterfall – What to Expect
Entrance fee: 100k ($5)
Best time to go: 2 pm (no crowds)
More developed than completely wild, Ba Ho Waterfall has been developed into a park with accommodation and amenities. They have multiple restaurants, a water-sport area with free kayaks and canoes, and clearly marked trails. They also have cute bungalows and tents to rent if you wanted to make this day trip into an overnight stay.
Once you find the trail, there will be a long paved road leading to waterfalls a series of three waterfalls. Each waterfall also has its own lake for swimming.
Many people on TripAdvisor claimed that getting to the third and best waterfall was “difficult” so they stopped at the second one. However, if you climb just a little bit further, the third waterfall is totally worth it for the lack of crowds.
The waterfalls themselves humble and small, but surrounded by peaceful nature. It is definitely worth visiting. One of my favorite parts was hearing the rushing sound of the falls, like an uninterrupted stream of water on a nonstop loop.
Be sure to make to hike to the third and final waterfalls and you won’t be disappointed. It has the best views and after you can work your way down to the first and second lakes.
For more cheap nature adventures in Vietnam, check out my local guide to Da Lat!
Ba Ho Hiking Difficulty – Moderate
The trail is more like a series of big boulders with ropes and pieces of metals stuck into them to help you climb up the rocks. I felt like some parts were definitely not up to safety standards, but it’s pretty safe regardless. Even though I personally am a bit of a loner and don’t mind doing things alone, I wouldn’t recommend doing this hike alone in case you do slip and fall.
I wore Vans because I don’t have any better shoes for hiking, but I think the perfect shoes would be Chacos or Birkenstocks. Chacos are non-slip and perfect for getting wet! Or, if you’re really adventurous, go barefoot so you can better grip the crevices in the rocks.
Getting to Ba Ho Falls
I recommend driving yourself there on a motorbike since the coastal road is so nice and quiet. You can easily rent one in the center of Nha Trang for about $3 or $5 for the day.
Nhung Tran with Vietzon (+84 3378324636) is super accountable and reliable – I recommend her for all your motorbike needs.
You can also get a taxi but it will cost at least $15 one-way. Also, you risk getting scammed and overcharged, especially on the way back when the drivers know you’re essentially stranded.
Directions to Ba Ho
The road is fairly straight and easy, but there is a bit of rough gravel towards the end.
- Go North from the center of the city until you see Amiana Resort at which point the road veers left.
- Take the sharp left to continue onto Pham Van Dong, the coastal road that takes you past jaw-dropping views of the deep blue ocean.
- Turn right on the highway QL1A which is still lightly trafficked and easy to drive on.
- Continue until you see a big blue sign that says Ba Ho Tourist and turn left onto the gravel road. Keep going and you’ll find the entrance to the park.
The Best Part – Natural Pools
I have seen many great waterfalls in my life, and I have to say my favorite part is never the falls themselves or the cliff-jumping. What I really love is submerging yourself in the cool, refreshing water after a sweaty hike. There is nothing better than that feeling of jumping into a blue-green lake and swimming in the crisp, clean water.
Afterward, we laid some towels out on the rocks and had a little junk-food lunch of chips, Oreos, and party mix. Of course, not real Oreos or Lays but all the local brands that I’ve come to love because I eat too much junk food. I guess that’s the American in me.
Closing Thoughts
Every now and then, an escape from the hustle, bustle, and honking of Nha Trang is a necessity. Ba Ho Waterfalls are the perfect place to zen out and reconnect with nature. After enjoying the simplicity of basking in the sun, swimming in a waterfall, you’ll feel reset and ready for the next part of your trip.
Have you been to Ba Ho Waterfalls? Would you like to go? Let me know in the comments below!
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This looks like a great place to visit–getting there seemed like half the fun! Great info; enjoyed reading! 🙂