About 105km from Hanoi, peacefully located in the mountains and forests of Ngoi hamlet, Muong Hoa commune (Tan Lac district, old Hoa Binh province, now part of Phu Tho province after the merger of the three provinces of Phu Tho, Hoa Binh and Vinh Phuc from July 1, 2025), Ngoi Hoa Bay and Mat Ngoc lake are like sparkling green pearls in the middle of Hoa Binh lake - the largest artificial lake in Vietnam.
Unlike the bustle of the city, this place opens up a lush green space, where the Da River quietly embraces the mountain slopes, reflecting the clouds and sky like a painting of the sea.
Ngoi Hoa Bay appears in the early morning sunlight, peaceful and poetic. Floating raft houses and sparkling fish cages under the reflecting sunlight create a vivid picture of the lives of residents in the lake. On the calm water, the kayak slides gently, taking visitors to wade through each small corner of the bay - where there are limestone caves that eat deep into the mountains, and vast green grass to catch the wind.
Mr. Khanh - a resident of Ngoi hamlet said that in early June, Hoa Binh hydroelectric lake fell into an unprecedented state of exhaustion in history, leaving the lake bed cracked, the stone yard was bare, and the boat docks were quiet because they could not operate. Ngoi Hoa Bay was also in a state of disrepair at that time, many tours were forced to temporarily stop.
However, after just over a month, nature has miraculously revived. The first rains of the season help the lake water rise again, covering the entire lake. The water surface was clear, reflecting the clouds, each tourist boat group was bustling to take visitors back to explore the bay, enjoying the pristine scenery of the Northwest mountains and forests.
kayaking is a popular activity for many tourists when coming to Ngoi Hoa Bay. fully equipped with life jackets, tents and accompanied by local tour guides, visitors can leisurely dwell in the middle of the peaceful lake, admire the flock of birds spreading wings over the mountains, cages of fish floating and people roaming the fields picking and casting nets. The scenery and people here blend in a slow, peaceful life.
In addition to kayaking, visitors can also swim in the lake, forest trekking or relax at homestays along the hill. Ngoi Hoa Bay is attractive with its rustic yet vibrant beauty, where mineral rivers meet the deep mountains and forests, creating a harmonious and enchanting natural picture.
"The scenery here is so beautiful and peaceful. The photos are beautiful, and even more overwhelming. The lake water is as green as a gem, the rows of winding mountains, the old forests are dark. The service is also very friendly, the food on the boat is delicious and the price is reasonable, Ms. Le Phuong Mai (a tourist from Hanoi) shared with delight.
Not far from Ngoi Hoa Bay, Mat Ngoc Lake appears like a green gem in the middle of the world, standing out for its round shape and rare blue water. The name "Jadelight" comes from its own beauty - a quiet lake surface, reflecting the sparkling sunlight like a pearl in the pristine space.
Hiding in the core area of the primeval forest, the lake is about 10 hectares wide, surrounded by steep cliffs and steep cat-ering rocks. The water is clear and cool all year round, and you can see small schools of fish swimming at the bottom. The landscape here is almost absolutely pristine, without engine noise, no phone signal, only the sound of the wind flowing through the rocks, the sound of rolling water and the sound of wild birds calling each other silently.
Visitors can rent a small boat or row a SUP on the lake, slowly drifting in the peaceful space to the point where it seems like time has stopped, where nature remains wild and pure, rarely found anywhere else.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhat - a photographer from Da Nang expressed: "I have been to many large lakes in the Northwest, but none have surprised me like Mat Ngoc. The light here is very special, having its own color in the early morning or sunset. I plan to stay at least 3 days to take a complete photo set of the lake's changes from dawn to dusk.
Not only attractive because of its natural scenery, Ngoi Hoa Bay and Mat Ngoc Lake also open up a unique cultural experience journey of the Muong, Dao, Thai people - the long-standing communities living along the lake. Visitors can stay at homestays in the village, rowing a boat with the villagers to cast nets, learning brocade weaving, or participating in traditional festivals imbued with the identity of the highlands.
The stilt houses with palm roofs hidden on the mountainside, simple rural meals with grilled stream fish, five-color sticky rice, warm wine; the bustling bamboo dance and dance around the night sky - all contribute to creating a vivid, close and realistic cultural picture. Just sitting on the porch, quietly watching the sunset pour down on the lake is enough to feel the simple and profound beauty of this land.
According to Mr. Ngo Thanh Tung - Director of Tay Bac Media and Tourism Company, the unit exploiting the experience tour here, said: "We chose Ngoi Hoa Bay and Mat Ngoc Lake to develop eco-tourism because this place retains its rarely seen wild beauty. The big plus is that the locality is very supportive, creating favorable conditions for procedures, transportation and encouraging people to do community tourism.
According to Mr. Tung, tourists - especially young people and international visitors, love the experience associated with nature and indigenous culture. Vin Ngoi Hoa and Mat Ngoc Lake converge both of those factors.
Across the Da Giang River, coming to Ngoi Hoa Bay and Mat Ngoc Lake, visitors can not only admire the poetic beauty of nature, but also find peace and quietness in the soul - something that is increasingly precious in modern life. When the rows of water hovered gently on the water surface, when the sunset shade fell down on the lake's surface quietly, it was also the time when the pristine beauty of this land was engraved deep in each person's heart.
It is expected that, with the support of the community and the government, this place will continue to shine as a "green gem" in the heart of the Northwest - a destination not to be missed on the Vietnam tourism map.
