WORDS ON THE STREET 70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day Vietnam - Asia 2023 Smart City Summit Hanoi celebrates 15 years of administrative boundary adjustment 12th Vietnam-France decentrialized cooperation conference 31st Sea Games - Vietnam 2021 Covid-19 Pandemic
Home / Travel / Attractions
The beauty of time in French architecture in Ba Vi
VNN 17:04, 2013/10/27
Immersed in the quiet spaces are the remaining vestiges of French in Ba Vi, such as the colonel mansion, the collapsed church and the political prison.



The French villas in Ba Vi are now only ruins.

Located at an altitude 1,100 m above sea level, the climate in Ba Vi, Hanoi is fresh and cool all the year round. Only 70 km away from Hanoi so right from the early 40s of the last century, Ba Vi was chosen by the French to build resorts for senior military officers.

Today, with over an hour by vehicles, such as motorcycles and buses, Ba Vi becomes a compelling destination for weekend for visitors who want to find the oasis of peace.

For young people who are passionate about photography, the remaining French architecture in Ba Vi becomes the creative inspiration.

There are many paths to Ba Vi but if you depart from Hanoi, the Highway 32 through Son Tay town is the fastest route. Through the 0km landmark of the ticket checkpoint of the Ba Vi National Park, you will begin the journey through the winding tree-lined road, with steep bends.


The collapsed Ba Vi church is a favorite destination of many young people.

Like Da Lat, Sa Pa and Tam Dao, the French built many villas in Ba Vi, at landmarks 400, 600 and 1,000. The only difference is that they have been destroyed by the vicissitudes of time and life. Therefore, visitors will be surprised about the architectural foundation left from over hundred of years ago before going into the woods. The resorts, the stoves, the walls, all are covered by forest and mountain dew.

At landmark 600, the colonel palace is a typical French-styled work in Ba Vi, which is still quite intact. It has a barbed wire fence, stone walls of over 2 m high, 0.5 m thick and some submachine gun emplacements.

Going up a little more is the summer camp for children of France and the colonial government officials, including four rows of houses built with rock. Located amid the natural forests with big trees such as oaks, chestnuts, ca lo, khao, etc, with hanging orchids above, the landscape here is poetic and magical, attracting tourists to visit and take photograph.

The collapsed church is located at an altitude of 800 m, amid the jungle. Abandoned for years, the roof of the church has gone, leaving the bare cathedral in the forest. On the walls, the cross covered with the color of nostalgia, with afternoon sunlight through the window. Here, the fog always exists, occasionally swooping down and engulfing the church. The green color of moss, the gray color of mold, and the silver color of mist create a magical space.


The vestiges of the Ba Vi mountain prison.

Only moss walls are left, covered by grass and trees, but with what is left, one can still imagine the wild beauty of the church in the pine forest in the heyday. Today, thanks to the crumbling beauty, the collapsed church in Ba Vi becomes a favorite site for photographers.

At landmark 800, the French also built an orphanage with doorways and arches of distinctive architecture.

In particular, at an altitude of 1,000-1,100 m in the western slope of the Tan Vien peak is the system of political prisons which are built solidly to imprison revolutionaries. The prison is arranged into three zones: zone 1 for the wardens; zone 2 and zone 3 for prisoners. With a total area of nearly 1,000 m2, the prison system in Ba Vi can detain 100-200 prisoners.

Covered with dust and leaves, the French works in Ba Vi always have their own charm, leaving good impression in the eyes of visitors.

Other news
15:00, 2024/11/18
Explore priceless artifacts at the new Vietnam Military History Museum
For history buffs, the Vietnam Museum of Military History is a must-see in Hanoi. It provides a thorough overview of Vietnamese patriotism.
08:22, 2024/11/13
Relations between travel businesses and locals key to grow agrotourism: Hanoi specialists
Better links between local residents, travel companies and OCOP producers are the key to boost sustainable agricultural tourism.
18:23, 2024/10/08
City for Peace designation boosts tourism in Hanoi
By capitalizing on the advantages of its millennia-old culture and products with a strong local flavor, tourism in Hanoi is expected to take off.
21:31, 2024/09/29
Huong Pagoda complex recognized Hanoi's tourist destination
Built in the 15th century and renovated multiple times, the Huong Son complex has preserved its historical and scenic value.
15:42, 2024/09/02
Suggestions for day trips in Hanoi
Many people opt for day trips during the four-day National Day holiday to save money on lodging and transport, and to spend time relaxing and enjoying themselves with loved ones.
14:06, 2024/07/31
Hanoi received 16.44 million visits in seven months
The Jan-Jul figure rose 11.8% on year, including 3.43 million international visitors and 13.01 million domestic arrivals.