NA NGHE – INTO THE HEART OF BA BỂ FOREST.
Nà Nghè is a small Dao village hidden deep within the core zone of Ba Be National Park.
The shortest route to the village begins at the foot of Dau Dang Waterfall, on the opposite side of the river from the main trekking trail that leads to the waterfall.
It is a beautiful 8-kilometre forest trail, perfect for trekking.
But riding a motorcycle along it is an entirely different story.
The trail winds deep into the forest, following narrow paths beneath the trees, crossing uneven ground and climbing through sections where there is barely enough room for a motorcycle to pass.
For us, it was a real challenge.
Fortunately, we had Mr. Hung, a local Dao man from Na Nghe, leading the way.
Mr. Hùng is what you might call a son of the forest.
He knows these mountains intimately — every trail, every turn, every stream and seemingly every tree along the way.
For years, he has guided foreign travelers through the forest and into his village, taking them along trails that only local people truly know.
But there was something different about this journey.
It was the first time Hùng had ever led a group into Nà Nghè by motorcycle, using the same narrow trekking trail he knew so well on foot.
What was familiar terrain for him suddenly became a completely different challenge.
For us, every bend in the trail was an adventure.
For Hùng, it was home.
And with him leading the way, we could ride deeper and deeper into one of the most remote corners of Ba Bể National Park.
A trail known to the locals.
A forest unknown to most riders.
And a journey into the heart of Ba Bể.