In 1932 the summit of Bach Ma was chosen as the location of a hill station for the local district. A 19 km path was created by 500 coolies to get to the top. At first it was just a foot path that one could use to hike the 4.5 hours to the top. Sedan chairs could also manage the path provided people could be found to carry the sedan chair. Tourists soon arrived and by 1939 over 139 villas had been built as well as hotels, a post office and all the makings of a town. The summit is at 4757 feet and the entire area is much cooler than the surrounding areas. It's popularity declined abruptly after the end of WW2. France returned to re-assert its colonial power, Vietnam declared itself independent and war broke out. Since the people living in Bach Ma were mostly the French elite, this area was targeted by the Vietnamese forces. The villas were mostly destroyed and the area virtually abandoned. Activity in the area again picked up during the US involvement in the war and a helicopter landing pad was cleared. A tunnel dug by the Viet Kong is on display as well as a typical camouflaged bunker. The helicopter pad saw limited use as the frequent cloud cover made landing too difficult.
At the visitor center a tiger skeleton, but no tigers still remain in the area
Welcome!
The clouds are already building
A bear rescue center
Striped Necked Bulbul
We are still climbing
Getting up into the clouds
On the edge of the mountain
You can see the road
Nearing the top
The clouds are chasing us up the mountain
We pretty much have the road to ourselves
It is very pretty
Tree Ferns
Steep Inclines
Long way down
Stopped to see some monkeys
A shrine or two on the way
Timber!
We were not able to make good time, only 14 mph but a 4300 foot increase in elevation might have had a part in this. I had the workout tracker on while we were driving
No straight lines!
We are at the summit
Now we go on foot
A few villas are still standing
But they have an abandoned creepiness to them
The Viet Kong Tunnel
A bunker
Ring that bell!
Bell shaped trees were recently planted
The new trees along the path
And just like that we are engulfed by cloud
A turtle monument
Contented to have reached the top
A informative summit building
Rolled down the sleeves in the chilly air
With horses
Neigh it ain't so
Looking down a villa can be seen at the cloud line to the right
Karo took pictures of me
The edge of the world
Turtle monument
Contemplating the many stairs in front of me
It is all down hill from here
Uncle Bay is tasting local plants
But not this mushroom
We did not go down this path
A new building that is still empty
Stately pine trees
Eco friendly trash bins
An abandoned chicken restaurant
Where all the chickens go to drink
The sign says Gala dinner 2023, so it was in operation fairly recently
Old villa ruins
A long downhill ramp
Here I saw a Blue Whistling Thrush, but could not get a picture lifebird #2 for the day
On a switchback
Classic tree silhouette
Pea soup
Uncle Bay is not too happy with the birding opportunities in this weather
Wet wet wet
This is how a river begins
It is picking up steam very quickly
Lifebird #3
A Bronzed Drongo
Lifebird #4 for the day the Puff Throated Babbler is #21 for our month in Vietnam
Burial plots
Most fancy
Unknown substance on the ground
A church back at sea level
We stopped for a snack
Some cakes and a banana leaf wrapped shrimp bit
Translucent paste, ginger and a shrimp
Moo mowing
Who hears a hoo?
I an not sure if this is a rock or some leftover concrete
Passing a few more cemeteries
Brightly decorated
Exotic chickens on the banks of lagoon #2
It is not as nice as lagoon #1
Oyster shells everywhere
These are all shells!
A huge net
A canoe made out of blue barrels that were cut up and riveted together
Fish cages
Ousters are growing out here
A common Kingfisher
More cages
A lady was shucking oysters out on the sidewalk
A fancy seafood restaurant seemed out of place
Nothing to say on this giant sign
Heading back into the 7 km tunnel
Back in Da Nang
The spirit of Vietnam statue
A huge load of rice in the rain
