Ba Vi National Park is the nearest "green world" to the capitalcity of Hanoi, where nature-lovers can find an ideal escape from thehustle and bustle of city life in all four seasons. In spring, the forest is highlighted with striking colours of wildpeach blossoms and apricot flowers, while in summer the dense forest isdryer and brighter with light sunshine beaming down through thick layersof leaves. Autumn covers most of the trees with yellow coats and winterseems to bring a fresh cool air to the space. Locatedin the middle of the northern plain, Ba Vi (Three Peaks) ismentioned in the ancient legend of the Mountain God Tan Vien, and issaid to be his final resting place. The highest peak,known as King Peak, is 1,296m, followed by Tan Vien Peak(Mountain God) at 1,227m and Ngoc Hoa Peak at 1,131m. There is atemple dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh on King Peak and anotherto worship the Mountain God on Tan Vien Peak. At the entrance to the park is Tien Sa Tourism Site, where a 20ha lake is surrounded by a 120ha forest. The site is divided into several themed zones to suit various ages,including a water park of 3,000sq.m with three swimming pools and nineslides and a games area of 2,500sq.m. Young people can enjoy boating or play tennis, football, volleyball and badminton. Following the sloping zigzagging 12km road from the park gate,visitors will have a chance to see the rich local flora and fauna. Thepark is home to more than 1,200 kinds of plants, 21 of which arementioned in Vietnam 's Red Book of rare and threatened species.There are also 63 species of animals. Some oldvestiges of the French occupation have recently been opened to thepublic at 1,000m above sea level thanks to the upgraded road leading tothe ruins. According to a French document dating backto the 1930s, the French planned to build three resorts at heights of400, 600 and 1,000m above sea level, and were particularly keen ondeveloping the highest one. Between 1932 and 1944, they built variousfacilities like a hostel, playground, church, orphanage and militarybasement which can still be seen today. A jail wasalso built in the 1930s capable of holding up to 200 prisoners, and someof the implements used to torture the prisoners are now on display. A new trekking route has been opened leading up to some of the parksoldest trees, mostly Bach Xanh (calocedrus macrolepis). Hundreds of themflourish at an altitude of 1,000m, and the tree offers fine wood with agentle fragrance which is easily processed into furniture and houses. At the end of the road, climbing over 1,000 steps leading to thetemples on King Peak or Tan Vien Peak is anotherunforgettable experience. From King Peak, thescenery looks like a huge painting with giant "strokes" of green grassfields, yellow rice crops and the Da River zigzagging through theundulating hills.-VNA