VIETNAM – BA NA HILLS

FEBRUARY 27, 2026

BA NA HILLS is a nature preserve and resort complex located high in the mountains. It got its name from the numerous banana trees that once graced this area. At an elevation of 1487 m (5879 ft) above sea level, it has a cool year-round climate. The French developed this area as a respite from the heat of the low lands after WWI. After the August Revolution of 1945, the place was deserted. The Americans later used the mountain as an observation post. The Americans built some roads, which helped the post-1975 initiative to re-establish the mountain to a resort. The government paved the 15 km (9.3 mile) road and supplies were brought to facilitate the dream. However, poor management failed to meet the needs of the tourists. The project was turned over to Sun Group, a diversified business conglomerate. They grabbed the concept by the horns and turned it into something magnificent.

SIDE NOTE: Sun Group does not have a good reputation for ecological preservation around Vietnam. When they took over the Ba Na Hills, they even got control of the only road going up there. The government has to ask permission for its forest rangers to use the road. So much for a Communist Government telling corporations what to do. Money talks, BS walks.

We caught the 5,771.61 m (3.58 mile), 25 minute cable car to the top. We were above the clouds.

The first stop was the GOLDEN BRIDGE. It is a 150 m (490 ft) long pedestrian bridge that looks like a pair of giant hands are holding it up. Although they look old, they were built in 2018.

The Golden Bridge was not the only sight. There were several gardens on different levels nearby. The JARDIN D’AMOUR was filled with tulips. The tulips are replaced every week to keep the display fresh.

Another garden had a peacock with flowers acting as the tail.

A fence looked like a dragon.

A fountain cascaded down a hill with the Golden Bridge seen above.

The LINH UNG PAGODA has a gate that seems to just fall into the abyss when you stand in front of it.

A huge 27 metre (88.5 ft) Buddha peacefully sits on an 8-sided pedestal nearby.

We had about an hour to take in this first stop. We then headed back to the gondola to continue the remaining 690 m (2264 ft) to the next level, a short 5 minute ride.

Honestly, I thought the Golden Bridge was all that we would see. I had no idea the site was so big. The highest point is is fashioned to resemble a 19th century FRENCH VILLAGE. It has Gothic castles, cobblestone streets, fountains, squares and a cathedral. It is a “fairy tale in the clouds”.

The hotel in the French Village offers 494 furnished rooms at a cost of $187 / night, breakfast included. (No, we did not stay.)

There is an amusement park, with a MOUNTAIN COASTER. It was a short ride, which would have been faster and more fun if the person in front of us had not crept along so slowly. What’s the point of riding this thing if you are not going to GO!? We were strapped in and the cart was secured to the track. All you really had to do was hang on.

Other attractions were an ARCADE that was entirely free, except for the games where you got a prize. There was a 4D CINEMA as well as a FLYING EYES theatre.

There were huge sculptures seemingly carved into the cliffs.

FANTASY FANS would not be disappointed.

There was something for everyone. Even the inner child Princess!

Lunch at the FOUR SEASONS was included in our tour. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of people at the buffet lines. Numerous tables had a variety of dishes. One section had nothing but Vietnamese food. Another had American food. Another had only salads. Another had only fish, desserts, drinks, etc. It seemed like mayhem, but if you looked at the signs you knew where to go. People dished up and moved to the massive seating area. It was efficiency like I had never witnessed for feeding the masses. The government may not have been able to give the tourist what they wanted, but Sun World sure did!

We had several hours to spend on our own, yet I wish we had more. It was not at all like the VinWonders we saw the day before. This place was bustling with tourists, and absolutely a fun and wonderous place to spend a day.