Ta Nung Lake, a hidden gem nestled in the highlands of Lam Dong, has long been a favorite destination for those who love to explore and seek tranquility. Unlike the bustling and noisy atmosphere of Da Lat, Ta Nung possesses a pristine, peaceful beauty, captivating visitors with its poetic natural scenery and unique travel experiences. This article will take you on a journey to discover Ta Nung Lake by bicycle, an exciting and memorable experience, recounted from a real trip to the area near Dak Nong, which boasts a similar beauty to the renowned Ta Dung Lake.
The Journey Begins: From Saigon to Gia Nghia, Gateway to the Central Highlands
To begin our journey exploring the beauty of Ta Nung Lake and the Central Highlands, we chose Saigon as our starting point and traveled to Gia Nghia, the central city of Dak Nong province. There are several route options from Saigon to Gia Nghia; you can take National Highway 14 or National Highway 20 through Di Linh, then turn onto National Highway 28. Each route offers different landscapes, but they all bring you closer to the majestic nature of the Central Highlands.
We decided to travel at night to enjoy the cool air and arrive in Gia Nghia at dawn. However, we were quite surprised to find that it was not easy to find a hotel that would allow early check-in. Perhaps many hotels are reluctant to rent rooms for just a few hours as it doesn’t bring significant profit. Nevertheless, after searching for a while, we found a place to rest and prepare for our journey to explore Ta Dung Lake, a location with beauty similar to Ta Nung Lake that we wanted to experience.
Bicycle touring at Ta Nung Lake – Dak Nong, the peaceful land of the M'Nong people
Exploring Ta Dung Lake: The “Ha Long Bay of the Central Highlands”
Before officially heading to Ta Dung Lake, we spent some time wandering around Gia Nghia. Honestly, this city doesn’t have too many remarkable attractions, but it’s an important stop on the way to the beautiful natural landscapes of Dak Nong. After lunch, we started moving to Ta Dung Top View homestay, considered to have the most beautiful view of the lake.
Ta Dung Lake is likened to “Ha Long Bay of the Central Highlands” because of its unique beauty with a series of large and small islands rising from the blue lake surface. According to locals, the lake has about 36 islands of various sizes. We visited during the rainy season, when the lake water level is high, creating a clear turquoise color and a misty haze covering the lake surface in the early morning. That scene truly overwhelmed us and made all the fatigue from the journey disappear.
Evening in Ta Dung is a wonderful time to enjoy the peace and freshness of nature. Because it is quite far from the center and sparsely populated, there are not many nightlife entertainment activities here. Instead, we chose to enjoy the quiet space at the homestay, sipping some beer and fruit, chatting, and breathing in the fresh air. If you love peace and want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, Ta Dung is definitely an ideal destination. To add to the fun, we brought a mini speaker and played our favorite music, creating a truly chill space amidst the pristine nature.
An unmissable experience when visiting Ta Dung Lake is renting a boat to cruise around the islands on the lake. However, the rainy season weather can be inconvenient for this activity. If you have the opportunity to visit Ta Dung in the dry season, don’t forget to experience the feeling of floating on a boat, exploring the beauty of each island, and enjoying the cool breeze from the lake.
Nearby Destinations: Nam Kar Volcano and Lieng Nung Waterfall
From Ta Dung Lake, we continued our journey to explore other interesting destinations in Dak Nong. The next destination was Nam Kar Volcano, located in Krong No district. Hearing about a volcano, we were curious and excited, especially after seeing stunning photos of this place online. However, when we arrived, Nam Kar Volcano was not quite what we imagined.
From the foot of the mountain looking up, Nam Kar looks like a normal hill. There are a few households living around the volcano and growing bananas on the hillside. Only when you climb to a higher position can you clearly see the crater inside the volcano. Although not as majestic as imagined, Nam Kar Volcano still has a unique beauty and is an interesting destination for those who want to explore geology and learn about the history of the Central Highlands.
The next destination on our journey was Lieng Nung Waterfall, also known as Dieu Thanh Waterfall, located in Dak Nia commune, Gia Nghia town. Lieng Nung Waterfall is known for its majestic and pristine beauty. However, when we arrived, the only road leading to the waterfall was severely landslide due to heavy rain. Although somewhat disappointed that we couldn’t admire the beauty of Lieng Nung Waterfall, we still felt that this trip brought many memorable experiences.
Conquering 400km of Mountainous Roads: Challenges and Unforgettable Memories
A memorable experience on this Dak Nong trip was traveling nearly 400km through Dak Nong, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong provinces in just one day. After visiting Nam Kar Volcano, we decided to go towards Dak Lak to explore Buon Tua Srah Lake and a part of Ta Dung Lake. The long distance and unfavorable weather created a significant challenge for our trip.
During this journey, we got lost several times because the roads here are quite complicated and easy to confuse, even though we used online maps. Once, we strayed into Lam Dong province, increasing the travel distance by about 50km. By the time we found our way back and followed National Highway 28 to return to the homestay in Ta Dung, it was already dark.
In the enveloping darkness, with a vast lake on one side and high mountains on the other, the headlights only illuminated a short section of road ahead. We were glad that it wasn’t raining, but suddenly a drizzle began. Rain and cold air created a thick fog, in some sections the fog was so dense that we couldn’t see anything ahead just 1 meter away.
Winding mountain roads with curve after curve, long bridges that seemed endless. There were sections of road without street lights or reflectors, making nighttime travel even more difficult and dangerous. In that moment, the fear didn’t come from external factors but from worrying about unexpected situations that could happen on the deserted road. Fortunately, everything went smoothly and we returned to the homestay safely. This was truly an unforgettable memory on the Dak Nong trip.
The next morning, sitting on the bus towards Da Lat, traveling back the road from last night, we had the opportunity to admire the surrounding scenery. The natural landscape that appeared was both majestic and a bit scary, but also full of charm and urging us to explore.
Folding Bikes: A Flexible Companion on Every Road
On this trip, we experienced traveling by folding bike, a relatively new and convenient type of bicycle. For those who are new to bicycle touring and want flexibility in transportation, a folding bike is a worthwhile option to consider.
The biggest advantage of folding bikes is their compact size and ease of portability. When traveling from Saigon to Gia Nghia and Ta Dung, we could fold the bikes and put them in the luggage compartment of the bus without taking up too much space. However, disassembling and assembling a folding bike also takes a bit of time, about 30 minutes to disassemble and pack before sending the bike, and another 30 minutes to reassemble it upon arrival. Despite this, the convenience that folding bikes provide is still very worthwhile, especially on trips that combine multiple means of transport.
Things to Note When Traveling to Dak Nong in the Rainy Season
Our Dak Nong trip took place in the rainy season, and the weather significantly affected our travel experience. Here are some things to keep in mind if you plan to travel to Dak Nong in the rainy season (usually from August to December):
- Continuous rain: The rainy season in the Central Highlands is often long and the rain is very persistent, sometimes raining all day and night. This can cause temperatures to drop low and become humid, affecting health and sightseeing experiences.
- Road landslides: Infrastructure in some areas of Dak Nong is not yet developed, and roads are prone to landslides due to heavy rain. This can make travel difficult and disrupt sightseeing schedules.
- Few entertainment spots and long distances: Dak Nong does not have many entertainment spots like other famous tourist destinations. The main attractions are natural landscapes and are often far apart, moving between destinations can take a lot of time.
- Homestays at Ta Dung Lake: Homestay options at Ta Dung Lake are limited in number and quality. Some homestays may be under construction or renovation, affecting the rest experience of tourists.
Conclusion: Ta Nung/Ta Dung and an Invitation to Explore the Central Highlands by Bike
Ta Nung Lake in Lam Dong and Ta Dung Lake in Dak Nong are both precious gems of the Central Highlands, possessing pristine, peaceful beauty and unique travel experiences. Although our trip focused on exploring Ta Dung Lake and Dak Nong, these experiences also partly suggest the beauty and tourism potential of Ta Nung Lake and Lam Dong.
If you are a backpacker, don’t like crowded, noisy places, and want to seek experiences close to pristine nature, Ta Nung or Ta Dung are both ideal destinations. In particular, the experience of cycling to explore mountainous roads and admiring the majestic natural scenery will be an unforgettable memory in your Central Highlands travel journey. Choose the right time, prepare carefully, and set off to discover the hidden beauty of Ta Nung Lake and the charming Central Highlands!