1. Where is O Do Waterfall?
O Do Waterfall originates from Ngoi Tha stream, in Phuc An commune, Yen Binh district, Yen Bai province, Vietnam. About 46 km northeast of Yen Bai city and about 164 km northwest of Hanoi capital.
2. How is O Do waterfall unique?
O Do Waterfall Yen Bai with its wild and poetic natural beauty. It promises to bring you a perfect destination to “escape” from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The white water stream weaves through the cliff and falls down. In all four seasons of the year, the water here flows slowly and slowly. Right at the foot of the waterfall, a small lake has formed with the water surface being calm, clear and cool green. Around the waterfall are green trees. In the distance are stretches of forest stretching as far as the eye can see.
Coming to this interesting tourist destination, you definitely do not miss the experience of relaxing and immersing yourself in the mountains and forests. Participating in interesting picnic activities. And visiting and exploring other coordinates located in the famous relic cluster.
This poetic landscape, along with the system of Thac Ong Do temples and pagodas. They have been recognized by the People’s Committee of Yen Bai province as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic. According to Decision No. 3654/QD-UBND dated December 22, 2016.
3. When is the best time to visit O Do waterfall?
Each season, O Do waterfall in Yen Binh will wear different colors. Each season also brings a unique beauty making many tourists flutter. Depending on the needs and preferences of each tourist. There will be different times to choose. Below are some times to travel to Yen Binh that you definitely should not miss:
- January – March: This is an opportunity for you to immerse yourself and connect more closely with the people and daily life of the friendly and open people of Yen Binh. On this occasion, you will have many cultural experiences, including a bustling spring festival. With many traditional games such as pound throwing, tug of war, horse racing, pot smashing,…And many attractive folk games. You will understand more about the unique culture of Yen Binh people.
- May – June: This time is the flood season, the natural scenery is extremely beautiful. When the rains appear, water begins to pour down the mountains, ponds and lakes then lead into terraced fields. It creates fields of water glistening in the bright afternoon sunlight like giant mirrors. Reflecting the rays of sunlight shining into the fields, making the water surface shimmer and fanciful, illuminating a corner of the sky.
- September – October: This is the time when O Do waterfall in Yen Binh attracts a large number of tourists to visit, this is the season of “brilliant yellow” ripe rice. The weather at this time is very pleasant, the air is cool and pleasant. Every morning, walk in the rice fields to admire the golden color of the brilliant terraced fields. You can capture these memorable moments.
- December: Traveling to Yen Binh in December, you will also have the opportunity to hunt clouds. Watching the white clouds float gently, the scenery becomes so poetic.
4. How to get to the O Do waterfall?
4.1 From Hanoi to Yen Bai city
Starting from the center of Hanoi city, you will have 2 main roads to get to Yen Bai city easily. These roads are National Highway 32 and National Highway 70. The road is not too difficult to travel, you just look up the map to see and follow them.
To get to famous locations such as Van Chan district, Mu Cang Chai and Nghia Lo town. You will follow Highway 32, this is quite a beautiful road. Riding a motorbike is also an interesting experience.
Going towards Yen Bai city and then following Highway 70. Or you can take the Hanoi – Lao Cai highway. Exiting at the Yen Bai intersection following the sign.
4.2 From Yen Bai city to Thac Ba town
When you arrive in Yen Bai city, you continue to follow Nguyen Tat Thanh street and National Highway 37 about 11 km East to reach the fork. You turn left onto Highway 70 and continue moving about 20 km northeast to Thac Ba town, the center of Yen Binh district.
4.3 From Thac Ba town to O Do waterfall
Starting from Thac Ba town center about 1.6 km east, you will see the New Bridge on the left. Turn left and cross the bridge to enter provincial road TL170. Continuing to move on road TL170 northwest about 15 km then reach the People’s Committee of Phuc An commune. You will meet a fork here, you turn right onto the inter-commune road. Continuing moving east about 1 km more to reach O Do waterfall.
5. Exploring the beauty of O Do waterfall
5.1 Admiring the beauty of O Do waterfall
O Do Waterfall is created by Ngoi Tha stream, a small stream flowing from the merger of streams in Phuc An commune and the slopes of Yen Mountain. This stream flows into Chay River, which is now Thac Ba hydroelectric lake. You can visit O Do waterfall and combine the trip with exploring the famous Thac Ba lake.
On the Yen Bai tourist map, O Do waterfall has not received much attention, and is not yet a popular “check-in” destination for tourists. For those who love to explore, this is a place not to be missed. Although the waterfall is small, it brings a very gentle and delicate beauty that can help soothe the soul.
Coming to O Do waterfall, you will experience watching the water falling from the cliff with a height of only a few meters. It does not cause a sense of danger, nor is it majestic like many waterfalls in the Northwest. However, O Do waterfall exudes a peaceful and pure beauty like a natural concert.
The white water flows over the cliff before flowing down. Through the four seasons of the year, the water always flows slowly and gently. At the foot of the waterfall, a small lake has formed. The water surface is calm, clear and cool. Around the waterfall, lush green grass grows luxuriantly, and in the distance, vast forests open up.
5.2 Activities and experiences at O Do waterfall
Coming to O Do waterfall, there are many activities that you can participate in. The first thing to do is admire the scenery. With a peaceful, fresh and deserted space, the sightseeing experience here is truly a wonderful experience. After the pressures and worries of life, you just need to sit comfortably and watch the clouds and sky. Following the flow of water, and feeling peaceful and relaxed.
If you are someone who enjoys photography. The beautiful scenery at this waterfall provides enough opportunities for you to create vivid photos. You can take photos from near or far. But you should choose the best angle to capture the beauty of the waterfall and lake below. There is no doubt that you will bring back many impressive photos after visiting O Do waterfall.
Don’t miss visiting the nearby heart stone niche. This is a rock niche that carries the legendary story of Mr. Do’s “petrified heart”. According to legend, Mr. Do had great contributions in educating children in the village in the past. He is a person who always loves and cares for the villagers with all his heart.
6. Specialties when traveling to O Do waterfall
Traveling to O Do waterfall, you not only admire the wild and majestic natural waterfall. But also have the opportunity to enjoy the specialties of this land.
6.1. Pork Sausages
Sausage is also a Yen Bai specialty that many people choose to buy as a gift. Sausage is made from delicious pork, marinated with rich spices, then hung on a wood stove to smoke. One secret of Yen Bai people to make delicious sausage is to use firewood with fragrant essential oils. Such as cinnamon wood to add flavor to the dish.
6.2. Ant Egg Sticky Rice
Each locality in the Northwest offers visitors a different specialty. In Yen Bai, that specialty is ant egg sticky rice. When spring comes, it is also the time when black ants lay eggs. People of the Tay, Dao, and Thai ethnic groups in Yen Bai go to the forest to find ant eggs to cook sticky rice. Upland sticky rice combined with Northwest forest ant eggs creates a specialty that you will remember forever after eating once.
6.3. Smoked Buffalo Meat
Smoked buffalo meat is made from fresh pieces of buffalo meat. Mountain buffaloes are grazed naturally, eating grass and forest leaves. So their meat is very firm and sweet. After being marinated with typical Northwest spices. Such as mac hen and wild chili, will be dried on a wood stove or put in an oven. Dried buffalo meat is packaged. So it is easy to preserve and convenient for tourists to buy as gifts.
6.4. Tu Le Sticky Rice
Tu Le sticky rice is considered the “jewel of heaven” of the Tu Le valley. This is a famous specialty rice of Van Chan that anyone who has the opportunity to pass here wants to buy. From Tu Le sticky rice, Yen Bai people make many delicious dishes. Such as Tu Le five-color sticky rice, Tu Le green rice…. Every dish is sticky, every dish is fragrant.
6.5. Bamboo Shoots Rolled With Meat
Bamboo shoots are available in many places. Yen Bai bamboo shoots are still considered the most delicious and sweet. The season lasts from December to March every year. Traveling to Yen Bai at this time, you will have the opportunity to enjoy bamboo shoots rolled with meat. This is a Yen Bai specialty and being also the pride of the local people.
7. Accommodation when traveling to O Do waterfall
Yen Binh is a land with many famous tourist attractions. You do not have to worry too much about finding a place to stay here. Accommodations are also quite rich and diverse. Most of these accommodations are located in the town center. They create more favorable conditions for tourists to travel among tourist destinations.
7.1 Resort:
- Ruby Yen Bai Ecotourism Area. Address: Yen Binh Town, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
7.2 Hotels:
- Quang Thoa Hotel. Address: Yen Binh Town, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
- Thac Ba Cong Doan Tourist Hotel. Address: Yen Binh Town, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
- Hanh Hoa Vien Hotel. Address: Km9, Highway 70, Yen Binh Town, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
7.3 Guesthouses:
- Anh Thu Guesthouse. Address: Yen Binh Town, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
- Long Nguyen Guesthouse. Address: Group 6, Yen Binh Town, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
- Huong Ly Guesthouse. Address: Yen Binh Town, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
- Tuan Anh Guesthouse. Address: Yen Binh Town, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
7.4 Homestays:
- Thao Nguyen Homestay. Address: Ngoi Tu, Vu Linh, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
- Pohzau Homestay. Address: Vu Linh, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
- Dao Ethnic Homestay. Address: Ngoi Tu, Vu Linh, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
- Vu Linh Farmstay. Address: Ngoi Tu, Vu Linh, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
- Thac Ba Family Homestay. Address: Vinh Kien, Yen Binh, Yen Bai.
O Do Waterfall is a new tourist destination for guests who always love the experience of exploring poetic natural landscapes in the mountainous region of Northwest Vietnam. Please contact Origin Vietnam – a professional Vietnam tour operator for more useful information about suitable destinations and routes. You will enjoy the best services and experiences in your tours in Mu Cang Chai to explore the travel beauty of Yen Bai.
