Ba Ho Stream rises in the mountains west of Ninh Hoa and runs down a bed of heaped boulders before reaching the sea. The name refers to three natural pools strung along its course, each separated from the next by a scramble over rock.
The first pool is closest to the trailhead and the busiest. Reaching the second and third means climbing over large boulders, occasionally hauling yourself up by hand — and the higher you go, the quieter, clearer and colder it gets.
The stream is about 25 km north of Nha Trang, some forty minutes by road and then a walk in. From the gate to the first pool is easy going; above that it becomes real climbing.
This one needs preparation: shoes with grip — not flip-flops — drinking water, and dry clothes to change into. The rock in the streambed is mossy and slick year-round, and that, rather than height, causes most of the accidents here.
Take the weather seriously. After heavy rain the flow rises fast and the water level can climb quickly — this is a headwater stream, and rain falls on the mountain before it reaches you. If it is raining or has just rained hard, don’t climb. If the terrain is unfamiliar, stopping at the first pool is a sound decision rather than a retreat.
