On the journey from Pleiku to Kon Tum, most
tourist groups stop at T'Nung Lake. This is a splendid landscape and is even
more charming when you arrive early in the morning, when the sun has not yet
risen high. In the typical cold of the plateau, the silvery lake surface, the
morning sunlight reflecting down makes you feel like you are lost in a peaceful,
quiet place.
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T'Nung lake - A window into the soul of the Central Highlands
T'Nung Lake (T'Nung, in the local language means "sea on the mountain"), also
known as Ia Nueng Lake, is located in the North of Gia Lai province, about 7 km
from the center of Pleiku city, in Bien Ho commune, Pleiku city. People often
call it Bien Ho because of its large area - up to 230 hectares, surrounded by
pine forests and mountains. In the rainy season, the water surface can spread to
more than 400 hectares, making exploring the lake extremely interesting.
The depth of the lake is equally fascinating - in some places up to 30 meters.
Legend has it that there is an underground stream flowing into the East Sea. It
may take many days to travel across the lake. On November 16, 1988, Bien Ho was
ranked as a National Landscape by the Ministry of Culture and Information.
However, until now, this place still retains its pristine beauty, not yet
exploited for tourism - which makes the lake even more attractive to those who
love wild beauty.
The name of the lake originates from the ancient village of T'Nung. Legend has
it that, in ancient times, there was a village named T'Nung, where the boys and
girls were all beautiful, living in harmony and happiness. One day, the earth
and sky changed, a fierce storm arose, and then a fire broke out from the
ground, burning down the entire village. When the fire died down, there was only
a deep hole left. The survivors of the village stood around the hole and cried,
and their tears gradually filled up, turning into today's T'Nung Lake.
The road leading to T'Nung Lake is dotted with two rows of three-leaf pine trees
that provide shade all year round. The road is sloping, winding, fragrant with
pine resin, cool even when the sun is up. On the cape jutting out into the lake,
there is a solid house for visitors. Before stepping into the house, you can
stop below, among the lush green grass and trees to take a few photos or quietly
watch the lake shimmering in the sunlight. Forest after forest, the clear water
reflecting the clouds and sky, giving people an indescribable feeling.
From that tall house, looking far away, you can see the whole lake from many
different angles - spacious, open and filled with light.
However, a quick glance only gives you a sense of the surface beauty. The
adventurous journeys of discovery will give you a truly different experience.
You can get on a dugout canoe (a type of boat made from ancient tree trunks) to
follow the lake surface, weaving through the majestic mountains and forests.
Along the way, you will see many species of wild birds living naturally: Sin
Sitt, Cuckoo, Le Le, wild geese... They fly around the boat without any fear of
humans.
In the corners of the lake, lotus and water lilies bloom, adding pink and purple
to the space.
Just bring a fishing rod, you can leisurely drop bait into the water. The lake
has many types of fish: carp, silver carp, grass carp... and sometimes you will
see turtles, soft-shell turtles that live for hundreds of years occasionally
rising to the surface of the water, curiously watching people.
Going deeper into the lake, you will encounter villages of the Ba Na, Gia Rai…
They live on the resources of T'Nung Lake and are always hospitable. If you
want, you can stay overnight, light a campfire, grill freshly caught fish and
sip rice wine - to fully experience the soul of the Central Highlands mountains
and forests.
Otherwise, just follow the steps leading to the solid house for tourists, you
can still take in the vast beauty of T'Nung Lake in the full sunlight. From
here, each small boat glides gently on the water surface, flocks of birds fly
by, all creating a scene that is both majestic and poetic - making it difficult
for anyone who has come here to forget.
Source:
https://packagevietnamtours.com/blog/unveiling-the-splendor-of-tnung-lake-in-gia-lai.asp