Ba Góa Island – The Small Island Associated With The Legend Of Ba Bể Lake.

Amidst the clear blue water and vastness of Ba Bể Lake, Góa Island appears as a small but captivating highlight. The island is not too large, nor does it have grand structures, but it possesses a very unique beauty: tranquil, fairy-tale-like, and linked to the legend of the formation of Ba Bể Lake.

If Ba Bể Lake is a vast landscape painting, Puông Cave is the mysterious feature of the limestone mountains, and Đầu Đẳng Waterfall is the epic song amidst the wilderness, then Góa Island resembles a gentle pause in the heart of the lake. This is a stop worth visiting on the journey to explore Ba Bể, especially for those who love natural landscapes and local folklore.

1. Address

Góa Island is located in the middle of Ba Bể Lake, within the Ba Bể National Park area. This small island rises in the middle of Pé Lèng Lake of Ba Bể Lake, resembling a natural miniature landscape amidst the clear blue water.

Local people also call Góa Island Pò Giả Mải. Although it is just a small island, it holds a very special position in the Ba Bể Lake area, serving both as a viewpoint and a landmark associated with the familiar legend of kindness and helping people in distress.

2. Getting to Góa Island

To visit Góa Island, tourists usually travel to the Ba Bể Lake area first, then rent a boat to follow the sightseeing route on the lake. This is the most common way to travel because the island is located in the middle of the lake and cannot be accessed by road like the attractions on the shore.

If starting from Hanoi, you can take a bus, limousine, personal car, or motorbike to the Ba Bể area. After that, tourists often stay at the lakeside villages like Pác Ngòi, Bó Lù, or Cốc Tộc for convenience in renting a boat to explore Ba Bể Lake.

During the boat journey, Góa Island is often combined with other prominent points such as An Mạ Temple, Tiên Pond, Puông Cave, and Đầu Đẳng Waterfall. As the boat glides across the lake, tourists can admire the island from afar, take photos, and listen to the boatman recount the legends associated with this landmark.

3. Characteristics of Góa Island

The most distinctive feature of Góa Island is its small, serene, and very natural beauty. The island is formed by large and small stones stacked upon each other. On the rocky slopes, trees grow lushly year-round, with roots weaving and clinging tightly to the stones, creating an image that is both wild and resilient amidst the waves.

From a distance, Góa Island looks like a “miniature landscape” in the heart of Ba Bể Lake. The space around the island is very peaceful, with blue water and surrounding mountains and forests, making the small island a prominent highlight in the natural scenery of Ba Bể.

Especially, the best time to admire Góa Island is usually in the evening. As the sunlight gradually softens, the lake changes color, and the island's shadow is cast upon the water, the entire scene becomes poetic and somewhat nostalgic. This is also when tourists can most easily feel the tranquil, fairy-tale beauty of the small island in the lake.

4. The legend of Góa Island

Góa Island is not only a natural scenic spot but also linked to the legend of the formation of Ba Bể Lake. The story goes that, long ago in Nam Mẫu commune, there was a large festival, and the local people eagerly went to see the festival. Among the crowd appeared a poor old beggar woman, dressed in rags, with a leprous body and an unpleasant smell. Wherever she went, people shunned her, and no one wanted to help.

At the end of the day, the old woman met a poor widow and her child who had kind hearts. Seeing the old woman in distress, the mother and child brought her into their home, fed her, and let her rest. Touched by their kindness, the old woman gave them a packet of ash and instructed them to sprinkle it around their house to avoid a great flood that was about to occur. When the mother asked how to save others, the old woman added rice husks and said that this would help them do good deeds. After that, she disappeared.

The mother and child hurried to inform the villagers of the impending disaster, but no one believed them. That night, heavy rain fell, and water rose everywhere, submerging the entire region. Only the small house of the mother and child remained safe. Feeling sorry for everyone, they threw the rice husks into the water; those rice husks immediately transformed into two boats for the mother and child to rescue people during the flood.

According to legend, the floodwaters of yesteryear are now Ba Bể Lake, while the place where the small house of the kind mother and child once stood has become Góa Island. Therefore, the island is not only a beautiful sight in the lake but also a symbol of kindness, sharing, and the spirit of helping others in distress.

5. Experiences when visiting Góa Island
5.1. Admiring the island from a boat on Ba Bể Lake

The most popular experience is sitting on a boat on Ba Bể Lake and admiring Góa Island amidst the clear water. From afar, the island appears small, quiet, but very prominent in the vast lake. The feeling of the boat slowly drifting past the island, surrounded by mountains and calm water, creates a very relaxing moment.

5.2. Taking check-in photos

Góa Island is a beautiful photo spot on the Ba Bể sightseeing route. Tourists can take photos from the boat, capturing the entire island amidst the lake or recording the moment the island's shadow is cast upon the water. The photos taken here often convey a gentle, poetic feeling and are very characteristic of Ba Bể tourism.

5.3. Listening to the legend of Ba Bể Lake

One of the most interesting experiences when passing by Góa Island is listening to local people or the boatman recount the legend of the widow and her child and the flood of yesteryear. The story makes the visit not just about sightseeing but also a journey to understand the folklore of the lake region.

5.4. Combining visits to other points on the lake

Góa Island is often included in the Ba Bể sightseeing route, so tourists can combine it with many other destinations such as Tiên Pond, An Mạ Temple, Puông Cave, and Đầu Đẳng Waterfall. This way, the trip becomes more complete, featuring lake scenery, caves, waterfalls, spiritual relics, and folk legends.

6. The best time to visit Góa Island

Góa Island can be visited year-round, but the ideal time is on clear, sunny days when the lake is clear and the scenery reflects clearly on the water. Early mornings bring a fresh, quiet feeling; while afternoons are suitable for admiring the island in soft sunlight, creating a more poetic scene.

If you want to have beautiful photos, you should choose times when the light is not too harsh, especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon. At that time, the island, the lake, and the surrounding mountains will appear soft and have more depth in the photos.

7. Notes when visiting Góa Island

When taking a boat to visit Góa Island, tourists should wear life jackets as instructed, maintain safety when standing up to take photos, and limit movement on the boat. It is advisable to prepare a phone or camera with a strap and a waterproof bag if you want to take many photos during the trip.

Additionally, please keep the common hygiene, do not litter in the lake, and respect the natural landscape. Góa Island is a destination associated with legends and the spiritual values of the local people, so tourists should visit gently and civilly to preserve the peaceful beauty of this place.