Vietnam Confronts Environmental Crisis As Bach Ma National Park’s Infrastructure Is Ravaged By Floods, Grounding Tourism And Disrupting Forest Patrols

Published on December 28, 2025

Bach Ma National Park in Vietnam is facing significant challenges after historic floods and landslides severely damaged its access roads, halting tourism and forest protection efforts. The park, known for its stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity, has become nearly inaccessible, with key roads collapsed and forest patrols disrupted. As a result, tourism has been suspended, and authorities are focused on urgent repairs. The damage caused by the flooding, which was among the worst in Vietnam’s history, has prompted immediate restoration plans to rebuild the infrastructure and resume vital conservation work.

Bach Ma National Park in central Vietnam, a popular nature tourism destination, is grappling with significant challenges following severe damage to its infrastructure caused by historic floods in October. The floods, which led to catastrophic landslides, have nearly halted tourism activities and disrupted forest protection operations in the area, according to local authorities.

The park, covering over 37,400 hectares, straddles the administrative boundary between Thua Thien-Hue Province (now part of Hue City) and Quang Nam Province (currently part of Da Nang City). Situated near the Hai Van Pass, Bach Ma is renowned for its breathtaking mountain landscapes, dense forests, and diverse wildlife, attracting trekkers and nature enthusiasts eager to explore its rich biodiversity.

However, on December 26, the park’s director revealed that repairs on the critical road leading to the park’s summit, which was severely damaged by landslides, had not yet begun. The road, which connects National Route 1 to the park’s peak, is vital for both tourism access and forest patrols. After 23 days of relentless rainfall in late October, the region saw the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Vietnam, and the second heaviest in the world. The massive downpours resulted in devastating flooding, triggering landslides along the park’s access road.

At the most affected point, kilometer 9+500, the downhill embankment collapsed over a stretch of about 25 meters, creating deep cavities beneath the road surface, ranging from 0.5 to 1 meter in depth. The most severe damage occurred at kilometer 12, where the entire uphill slope, stone embankment, and road surface were swept away over a stretch exceeding 100 meters. The landslides here reached depths of 30-50 meters, completely cutting off the road and leaving no viable way for vehicles to reach the summit.

In addition to the road damage, the flooding also severed an underground power cable that supplied electricity to the summit area, further complicating operations at the park. The disruption has impacted daily park activities, including forest ranger patrols, as power supply was critical for their equipment and communication needs.

While the rains have now subsided, the road remains impassable, and repair work has yet to commence. The sheer volume of landslide debris at kilometer 12 has made it impossible for authorities to begin restoration efforts. In the interim, the park has created a narrow temporary path alongside the landslide area, allowing forest rangers to cross on foot and continue their essential patrol work.

The park’s management has also made the difficult decision to suspend tourism temporarily, announcing that access to the summit will remain off-limits until repairs are completed and the area is deemed safe. This suspension affects the flow of visitors who previously flocked to Bach Ma for its eco-tourism offerings and trekking experiences.

The landslide’s impact extends beyond just the summit road. Forest patrol routes along the La Son-Tuy Loan expressway, which also passes through the park, have been disrupted at more than 10 locations, primarily at stream crossings. These disruptions have led to the closure of two ranger stations at the start of the route, further impeding the park’s ability to monitor and protect the environment effectively.

In response to these challenges, park authorities have proposed the installation of a pulley system at the kilometer 12 landslide site to help transport food and supplies to forest protection teams in the short term. The idea is to ensure that essential provisions can reach the rangers, allowing them to continue their work despite the road blockages.

Looking ahead, local officials are considering long-term solutions to prevent further damage and restore full access to the park. Among the proposed measures are the construction of a bridge across the landslide area and the reinforcement of embankments to stabilize the slopes and minimize the risk of future landslides. Surveys have been conducted by the city’s construction department to assess the best repair options, but a timeline for the completion of these efforts remains uncertain.

As the authorities focus on rebuilding and restoring the park’s infrastructure, tourism to the Bach Ma summit will remain suspended. Local officials are committed to addressing the current challenges while ensuring that the park’s natural beauty and biodiversity can once again be enjoyed by visitors once repairs are completed and the area is safe to access.