We were preparing the last stage of our trip to Vietnam. We had spent two weeks in the central region, and the next on the list was Ba Na Hills. Discovered by French settlers in the late 19th century and turned into a resort for the colonial elite, then abandoned for nearly a century, Ba Na Hills today attracts visitors from around the world with a replica of a medieval French town with lush gardens. and impressive views over the area. If it is clear, you can look from Da Nang to the Son Tra peninsula, Ngu Hanh Son and Hai Van Pass.

A Buddhist mountain refuge, a French resort and Disney Epcot, we discovered them all in Sun World Ba Na Hills, the complex that Golden Bridge, the famous "golden bridge", put on the map for foreign tourists, starting with June 2018. In addition, here you will find four seasons in one day. You will be pampered by the spring sunlight in the morning and the summer heat of the afternoon. Towards evening, the autumn breeze will hit you on the shoulder, warning you that you have to put on another coat so that you don't feel the cold of winter, at night. The resort is located near Da Nang, the town known for its beaches, where we settled in the second part of our vacation.

At the foot of the hill, just after the entrance, we recognized a copy of the old Hoi An. We tried to relive the atmosphere of the fairytale town where we spent much of our vacation, then we continued on our way. To the cable cars.

Located in the Truong Son Mountains, at 1487 m above sea level, the only access road to the top is the cable car. Known as one of the 10 most spectacular cable car systems in the world, an attraction in itself, it holds 4 Guinness world records: the longest cable car route (5771m), the largest altitude difference between the departure station and the destination (1369m), the longest cable (11587m), the heaviest cable (141.24t). With a speed of 6m / second, the 86 cable cars that can accommodate 10 people each, spread over 3 routes, have the capacity to transport 1500 visitors per hour.

The waterfalls and the surrounding virgin forest, home to hundreds of species of animals and birds, accompanied us along our journey to the top of Mount Chua. Everything was green and raw. In some places, the sound of water rolling wildly on the bare rocks was muted, while we couldn't help but exclaim at the greatness of nature. Alongside, three young Chinese tourists were enjoying the experience. The forest below us came to life when the eagles crawled out of the bushes and furrowed the height, only to then hide in the middle of the wild.

First stop, Marseille station. Nine gardens with unique architectural styles: Love, Mystey, Legendary, Memory, Heaven, Grape, Suoi Mo, Sacred delight you with unparalleled landscape details and intoxicate you with a dizzying scent.

The iconic Golden Bridge would soon rise. Inaugurated in June 2018, it arrived in the spotlight in just a few days, becoming a must for any tourist in the central region of Vietnam. I found it fixed as in the images I had studied carefully at home: gold, supported on two giant stone stones but full of piety. It almost turned to give you a chance to see the surroundings from all possible angles. We crossed it on foot (it is 150m long), sneaking among the hundreds of tourists eager for unique snapshots.

Le Jardin and D Amour followed. A labyrinth of walks on the walkways or with the funicular reveals you more and more attractions.

Then I took the cable car from Debay to Morin. When we left the station, we woke up in the middle of a medieval square. I was confused. Dream or reality ?! Gothic architecture and Asian culture went hand in hand. Here. A beautiful church whose design was inspired by the cathedral of St. Denis in France, a fountain, a castle, from cafes to florists, all made their way on the cobbled streets we walked. We enjoyed the medieval atmosphere and calmed our longing for France with a hot croissant, while the fresh mountain air cooled our temples.

Time passed unnoticed. We left behind the French story and headed to the Indochina station. We boarded the cable car that made its way back. This time we were alone. We watched without saying a word, fascinated by the landscape unfolding below us, accompanied by the whisper of the waterfalls that penetrated through the slightly cracked glass. A wild view, of rare beauty, rocky walls dotted with abundant vegetation, the image of a huge Buddha (27m), almost as big as the famous statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, the alpine coaster that caught our eye snatching our promise that next time we will not miss the thrilling experience, all in one story told under 'non la', the Vietnamese hat.

Transport Tips:

Ba Na Hills is 40km from Da Nang city centre, so it can be reached in about an hour by car. You can opt for a taxi (the price starts from 350,000 VND to 500,000 VND, depending on the number of seats) or a rented car with a driver. You can choose the road you want to travel. We preferred the latter option because we wanted to be flexible in terms of time management. I paid around 600,000 VND. We were very pleased and the trip was very funny, because the driver, a nice old man, not knowing any English, called the hotel reception (where we were staying and which had arranged our transport), whenever he thought we needed clarification, for to get in touch with a person to answer our questions.

How much is the entrance ticket and what does it include?

The price of an entrance ticket is 700,000VND (30USD) for adults and 550,000VND (25 USD) for children with a height of more than 1m. For others, admission is free. It includes a two-way cable car trip, a funicular ride, a visit to the winery and games in the Fantasy Park area.

You can also turn to an agency to purchase a tour package that includes transportation, entry and guide services. The price varies from 700,000VND to 1,200,000VND.

Take at least 6 hours to discover all that Ba Na Hills has to offer!

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