Tri An Lake is a vast freshwater lake within the Tri An Hydroelectric Dam complex, spanning across the districts of Vinh Cuu, Thong Nhat, Trang Bom, and Dinh Quan in Dong Nai Province. Similar to Dau Tieng Lake, Tri An Lake is also one of the artificial lakes built for flood control, agricultural irrigation, and water supply for the hydroelectric plant. Tri An Lake has a massive capacity of nearly 2.8 billion cubic meters of water, providing 400 MW of power for the Tri An Hydroelectric Plant, with an annual electricity output exceeding 1.7 billion kWh. With an area of up to 323 km2, Tri An is one of the largest lakes in Vietnam and is also home to an incredible ecosystem.

Tri An Lake in Dong Nai is a hidden gem that not many people have heard of which offers amazing opportunities to connect with nature. If camping, barbecues and fishing or simply a getaway from city life sound like your thing then this is the perfect destination for you.

What To Do At Tri An Lake ?

Camping

Camping by Tri An Lake is the perfect idea for those who want an escape from city life and all the hustle and bustle. Imagine this: you and a couple of your closest friends relaxing by the lake, a couple of cold beers, enjoying the fresh air rarely found in the city, setting up tents together, having a group bonfire to cook food, and endless conversations about life. Isn’t that just amazing?

It's totally possible to choose a vacant space near the lake and set up camp yourselves and for free as the whole area is spacious and not managed by any specific unit. You just need to prepare all the necessary equipment for your own camping trip. Remember to extinguish the campfire when not in use and clean up before leaving to not damage the area.

For convenience and added safety during camping, you can also go for campsites at Tri An Lake with full amenities. Here are some camping addresses you can consider:

- Glamping & Luxury Camping Tri An Lake

- Lac Glamping

- Tropical eGlamping

- Mada Lake View Camping

Visit O - Dong Truong Islands

Tri An Lake is home to 2 isles: Chim O island with an area of 2.1 ha, and Dong Truong island which is 22 ha big. The O - Dong Truong island tourist area, made up of these two islands, remains relatively untouched and pristine while still providing services like tent rentals, camping on the island, hammock rentals and accommodation, which allows visitors to have a serene, immersive and comfortable experience. 

During the daytime, visitors can relax on hammocks suspended over the water; in the afternoon, you can join friends for a refreshing swim or go fishing on the Tri An Lake; as the sun sets, it’s time for BBQ parties under the starry night sky.

Paddle Boarding

It’s only natural for paddle boarding to be a favorite activity among visitors when coming to Tri An Lake. Just you alone, floating amidst the emerald water as the cool breeze gently caresses your skin, fully immersed in ethereal landscape. 

As the midday sun over the lake can be quite intense, you should wait until after 3:00 PM when the weather is cooler to go on to the water to explore around and witness the exceptionally beautiful sunset at Tri An Lake. You can either bring your own board or rent one at prices ranging from 250,000 VND to 350,000 VND per day.

Biking Or Hiking

One of the best ways to explore the area surrounding Tri An Lake is by biking. Nothing quite like riding along the dirt road around the lake, enjoying the fresh air and the cool weather regulated by the lake and the surrounding forests. You can also ride a bike up to Ma Da forest and explore the biodiversity preserved here. This is a vast forest area, covering an area of up to 100 thousand hectares, including 67,000 hectares of forest land and 32,000 hectares of water surface. Cruising through the cool forest paths, you will have the opportunity to witness vibrant colored flowers, wild animal species, or giant ancient trees with a lifespan of thousands of years. 

Those who prefer to take in nature and enjoy fresh air at a lower pace can take a hike through Ma Da forest. Thanks to the topographical structure, it’s a beautiful and relatively easy trekking trail, suitable for families and trekking beginners. The most common trekking trail that people go for is the 7 km route from the Ma Da forest to Cao Minh island, enough for you to enjoy pristine nature and for all stress to dissipate with the wind.

How To Get To Tri An Lake ?

Tri An Lake is approximately 80 km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, making transportation relatively convenient and easy. Traveling to Tri An Lake by car is a good choice, especially for families, groups of friends; those who enjoy exploration can opt for a motorbike and take in all the fresh air.

- Start from Ho Chi Minh City and take National Highway 1 towards the Vung Tau intersection.

- Turn right and travel an additional 3km.

- At Vo Nguyen Giap Street, turn right.

- Encounter National Highway 1A again, then turn right.

- At the Tri An intersection, turn right onto Hung Vuong Street.

- Continue straight through Vĩnh An town, and you will reach the Tri An Lake.

Whether traveling by car or motorbike, we highly recommend going early in the morning when the weather is typically cooler and to avoid traffic congestion. Along the way to Tri An Lake, there are many markets and convenience stores where you can stop to buy essential items for your camping trip. Bring spare gas just in case and check your throttle, brakes, tires, and chains for any issues to ensure a safe and smooth trip!

Best Time To Visit Tri An Lake

Hot and sunny throughout the year, the weather in Dong Nai province allows visitors to come here in any season of their preference. Weather-wise, the period from October to June of the following year is considered the ideal time to explore Tri An Lake. During this time, the weather is dry, not excessively hot, and rarely rainy, making it highly convenient for activities like hiking and camping. You can also visit during July to September and witness the mesmerizing Tri An Lake as it steps into algae season.

Final Thoughts

Tri An Lake is the perfect place for a weekend getaway in Southern Vietnam. If you do decide to spend the night here, do remember to prepare snacks, drinks as there aren’t many shops around, bring sleeping bags, and bug repellent if needed. Once you’re there make sure to check out a specialty of the region - Ca Lang or Hemibagrus fish, which can be prepared in many delicious ways. Enjoying some grilled fish around a campfire by the beautiful Tri An Lake will surely be an incredible experience that you’ll never forget! You can also check out some of our other articles that may interest you:

=> Tri An Lake Fishing Tour

=> What to visit in Dong Nai, Vietnam