Noong U Lake is as beautiful as a watercolour painting because it is surrounded by mountains and forests and located next to pine forests that are more than 20 years old.

According to Thai ethnic people, Noong U means quiet pond, while the Mong people call it Dragon Pond.

It is about 30km from Điện Biên Phủ City in Điện Biên Province and is located at more than 1,000m above sea level in Tia Lo B Village, Pu Nhi Commune, Dien Bien Dong District.

The lake has an area of ​​4 hectares and is surrounded by the Phu Lung mountain range. It is a highlight of eco-tourism and sightseeing in the area. According to Thai ethnic people, Noong U means quiet pond, while the Mong people call it Dragon Pond.

Surrounded by mountains and forests, located next to pine forests over 20 years old, with the advantages of climate, natural landscape, and surrounding geomorphology, both wild and lyrical, Noong U lake is as beautiful as a painting which creates a very important highlight of ecotourism and sightseeing in the area.

In this season, from the Muong Thanh basin (Dien Bien Phu city) to Noong U lake, the two routes leading to this tourist spot have been covered with a yellow color by a vast array of wild flowers blooming on both sides of the road.

The surrounding landscape of Noong U Lake is blooming flower gardens.

The two main roads from the city to Noong U lake have an increasing height, creating a clear view of the mountains and hills. The villages of ethnic communities lie peacefully at the foot of the mountain or hang in the middle of the mountain like a colourful picture.

At the lake, visitors were impressed as soon as they relaxed under the green pine forest and enjoyed the fresh air. The pine forests and regenerating forests here embrace Noong U lake. There are small wooden bridges to help explore the lake. The carpets of flowers around the lake were blossoming, bringing the visitors surprise and excitement.

The poetic walking path at the Noong U natural lake.

At the area near the shore, grass rafts, water-plants, moss and floating rock mounds were scattered, giving us a feeling of being lost in the ecological landscape of a coastal mangrove forest.

According to Mr. Cu Chu Tu, former the secretary of the Party Committee of Pu Nhi Commune, village patriarch of Tia Lo B Village and owner of the Noong U Lake Eco-Tourism Area. Noong U lake was discovered during the process of finding land to grow rice, maize and cassava after the war against the French. Spiritual stories associated with the lake were handed down in the community so at that time no one dared to go to the lake. Therefore, the lake had been forgotten for a long time.

In 1994, having knowledge about freshwater fish farming from conferences organised by the provincial agriculture sector, Mr.Tu looked for a place to start his business with gardens and forests. Mr Tu decided to use the potential of Noong U lake to raise fish. At that time, as a local leader, Mr. Tu also encouraged people in the village to join hands in raising fish with him.

With his great efforts, he proved to everyone in the village that Noong U lake was a precious asset that nature gave to people to get rid of hunger and poverty. After the abundant fish harvests at the lake, the mysterious stories that existed before in the villages were removed.

Noong U natural lake is as beautiful as a water-colour painting.

Households in the village have renovated their houses to meet the need of accommodation of tourists and ready to introduce traditional food of Mong and Thai people for tourists. 

The village patriarch Mr. Cu Chu Tu shared: "Noong U Lake is located in the middle of a majestic natural area, diverse topography, geomorphology, fresh climate, very suitable for travel, picnics and discovery. Two roads from Dien Bien Phu city leading to the area have deteriorated. In the rainy season, landslides or slippery events occur, causing traffic congestion, so Noong U Lake has not yet attracted a large number of tourists as expected. If the traffic is favorable, we will invest in this tourist area to be more synchronous, diversified types of services as well as service quality, creating unique products, bearing the characteristics of the ethnic community to serve the needs of tourists".

From: TTXVN