Hike Bidoup Nui Ba to See Thousand-Year-Old Ancient Trees

Bidoup Nui Ba National Park has been generously gifted by nature with majestic mountains, dramatic rivers and streams, a diverse forest ecosystem, and many distinctive landscapes. For that reason, it has become an ideal hiking route for those who want experiences of conquest and exploration. Among its most impressive sights, and one of the special things here, are ancient tree trunks that have lived through the ages, with lifespans of more than 1,000 years. Many people come to Bidoup Nui Ba simply to admire the form of these thousand-year-old giants. 

A Brief Introduction to the Bidoup Nui Ba Hiking Route

Bidoup Nui Ba Peak is known as the roof of the Central Highlands, with an elevation of 2,287m. The peak lies within Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong Province, about 50km from Da Lat. Bidoup is the largest primeval forest in Vietnam. For that reason, the Bidoup Nui Ba hiking route mainly passes through old forest and steep hillsides.

The park includes diverse forest types: evergreen closed forest, sparse coniferous forest, mixed forest, and dwarf forest on mountain summits. Its plant and animal system is extremely rich, with more than 2,000 plant species and nearly 100 notable species such as flattened two-needle pine, Po Mu, yew, five-needle pine, and nearly 300 orchid species.The forest does not only purify the air; it also purifies the soul. Returning to ancient wild nature and immersing yourself in the freedom of the mountains and forests brings a deep sense of ease. 

Ancient Flattened Two-Needle Pines

Bidoup Nui Ba is home to ancient plant species. On the Bidoup Nui Ba tour, you will see many precious conifers along the route, including flattened two-needle pine. Large trees can be 500 to 1,000 years old.Flattened two-needle pine is an ancient pine species endemic to Vietnam. It usually grows at elevations of 1,200 to 1,800m. This pine grows slowly, only about 1mm per year. That is why in Bidoup, trees with a diameter of around 2m may be thousands of years old.

After walking through wild forest, we encounter a huge 1,000-year-old pine. Moss clings to the ancient trunk, creating a solemn, timeworn beauty. The tree’s diameter is estimated at around 2m, and it takes three to four people to wrap their arms around it. At its base, small shoots and other leafy plants grow lush and green. The trunk rises straight and tall through the canopy to catch the sunlight.

The pinkish-brown bark and moss around the trunk make this thousand-year-old flattened two-needle pine in Bidoup Nui Ba feel like an elder of the forest. Around this old pine, more than a dozen smaller trees grow farther away. In the Vietnam Red Book, flattened two-needle pine is classified at level 5: vulnerable, meaning it may be threatened with extinction. 

The 1,300-Year-Old Po Mu Tree

One of the most famous destinations and check-in points on the Bidoup Nui Ba hiking route is the 1,300-year-old Po Mu tree. Its trunk is nearly 3m in diameter and requires seven people to encircle it. The tree is 30m tall. It is the largest, oldest, and most imposing tree in Bidoup forest, and it is also one of the oldest trees in Vietnam.To reach this unforgettable landmark, you must pass a steep slope, then descend gently for about another kilometer. The forest takes on a slightly gloomy and solemn atmosphere. Mist soaks your clothes. That is when you have reached the Po Mu tree, regarded as the forest spirit of this place.

Parting the veil of mist, the old Po Mu appears towering and fills an entire section of forest. At the foot of the ancient tree, the air feels quiet and old. The tree has existed for thousands of years on a cold, misty mountain, like a witness to the endurance of nature.Above, its branches stretch out in fresh, varied shapes. Many kinds of moss, algae, and parasitic plants cling around the trunk, creating a rough and weathered form. Over thousands of years, the roots have spread wide, forming mysterious hollows below. The base of the tree is surrounded by layer upon layer of forest plants, creating a fascinating scene.

The Three-Edged Oak

Another impressive ancient tree species in Bidoup Nui Ba forest is the three-edged oak. Rising above the surrounding canopy, it stands tall and overwhelming at about 28m high. The giant trunk is straight and dignified, while the wide roots gripping the ground are equally impressive.

Standing beneath this ancient species surviving from prehistoric times, you feel as if you can hear the breath of the forest and see the marks of age. Far from the noise of the city, you sense the quiet covering the forest and the light wind carrying cool air past you. 

What Makes To Ong’s Bidoup Nui Ba Tour Special?

At elevations above 2,000m, under harsh conditions, these ancient trees withstand bitter cold to grow and survive in extraordinary ways. Across thousands of years, Bidoup has become like a giant green cage, enclosed by layers of ancient trees. The forest is so dense that sunlight can only pass through narrow gaps in the leaves, creating a cool atmosphere that settles gently on the skin.

To Ong will take you to Bidoup Nui Ba to admire the beauty of these thousand-year-old giant trees, while also offering:

• Exploration of ancient, mysterious primeval forest
• Camping at 1,800m in chilly mountain air
• Reaching the 2,287m roof of the plateau
• Pulling a ferry across the Da Nhim River

 The road to Bidoup Nui Ba does more than bring us back to pure, wild, ancient nature. It also washes away worries, clears the mood, and lets us immerse ourselves in the freedom and calm of the deep forest. That is why To Ong hopes to accompany you on this Bidoup Nui Ba tour. And remember: take nothing but photos and memories, leave nothing but footprints. Go with To Ong!   

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