VietNamNet Bridge – It’s almost impossible to believe the geographic elements that carved the waterfalls, streams and pools into the mountains in Ba Vi District, Ha Noi, were just an accident of nature. In fact, local legend has quite a different explanation

Water meets mountain: Tourists enjoy Ao Vua’s natural landscape.

The area is famous for its five waterfalls that tumble down the mountainside, 300m above sea level. As well as having a paddle in the fresh, cool water, visitors also head to Mountain God Temple on Pine Hill, to find out more about Ao Vua’s enchanting beginnings.

Cool as cucumbers: In summer, the swimming pool at Ao Vua offers a good escape from the heat.

“That’s where the pond’s name comes from, Ao Vua, which means the ‘pond of the King,” Tuan says.

Damp down: The site, which is suitable for a one-day picnic, is a wonderful destination for students from Ha Noi.

Honouring another folk tale is a garden dedicated to Viet Nam’s 54 ethnic groups. Among displays of traditional costumes are statues of the fairy Au Co and Dragon God Lac Long Quan. According to the legend, the country’s ethnic groups are the children of a marriage between the fairy and the dragon.

There’s also the chance to get up-close and personal with wild life at the site’s animal park, where visitors can feed the resident foxes, civet-cats, bears, monkeys and lots of different kinds of birds.

To develop the site, Ao Vua JSC has invested VND60 billion (nearly US$3,75 million) since 1988. Today the annual turnover is VND10 billion (nearly US$58,900). “Tourists often stay two days at one of our hotels and one night camping,” Tuan says.

“Our latest project is to build new hotels with 30 luxury rooms for visitors. At the moment we have 30 rooms from between VND200,000 ($12) and VND250,000 ($15) per night ($15). Our aim is to develop services to get tourists staying here for longer.”

The site has certainly been a big hit with Hanoian Ha Van Trinh, who is on his second visit to the site. “I came here once four years ago with my friends and had a great time. The service was good and the sights were well-worth it. Now I’ve come back with my new wife so she can have fun here too. There’s been a lot of development, which is good for visitors, but I hope it won’t impact the natural surroundings too much.”

(Source: Viet Nam News)