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This dreamlike cascade lies deep in one of Vietnam’s national parks

Monday, October 05, 2020, 19:53 GMT+7
This dreamlike cascade lies deep in one of Vietnam’s national parks
Visitors enjoy Kem Waterfall in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dao Tho

Kem Waterfall has long been a major draw for tourists visiting Nghe An, pulling tens of thousands of visitors to the north-central Vietnamese province each year.  

When it comes to tourist attractions in Nghe An Province, Cua Lo Beach in Cua Lo District and Kem Waterfall in nearby Con Cuong District top pretty much every list. 

While Cua Lo Beach features golden sands and pristine waters, Kem Waterfall stands tall in the province's mountainous area. 

The 500-meter-tall cascade of silky white waters cascading down its rocks captivate visitors and the turquoise pool at its base offers a refreshing swim. 

The waterfall is located inside Pu Mat National Park in Con Cuong District, about 20 kilometers from the district’s township.

According to the indigenous Thai people, the cascade is also called by the name of Bo Bo, meaning 'white strip of silk' in their ethnic language.

The white water is a stark contrast to the robust tropical forest which surrounds the area.

Visitors enjoy Kem Waterfall in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dao Tho

Visitors enjoy Kem Waterfall in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dao Tho

As part of the efforts to attract tourists, the administration of Pu Mat National Park has banned fishing beneath the waterfall, creating the perfect environment for schools of beautifully colored fish to enjoy its water. 

Tourists can dip their legs in the water and enjoy a tingling 'massage' from these fish as they swirl around their feet.

The pool of water at the base of the waterfall welcomes thousands of swimmers each year, but those who would rather stay dry can rest and picnic on the flat boulders surrounding the small lake.  

The people of Nghe An not only depend on the waterfall for tourism but for the air conditioning effect it has on Con Cuong, dubbed 'the fiery wok of Indochina' thanks to summertime temperatures that consistently hover around 40 degrees Celsius.

The area near the waterfall, however, sits at a comfortable 20 degrees thanks to the chilly vapor rising up from the falls.

Visitors enjoy Kem Waterfall in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dao Tho

Visitors sit on boulders near Kem Waterfall in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dao Tho

As impressive as the landscape is, it is not the only reason to visit Kem.

Visitors are also able to sample delicacies from the mountainous forests of north-central Vietnam.

The food is prepared by the skillful hands of the local Thai people. 

The main staples are 'xoi tim' (purple sticky rice), 'com lam' (rice in bamboo tubes), roasted chicken, and 'mooc reu' (steamed moss meatballs), all of which captivate the tastebuds of visitors to the area. 

There is a Nghe An folk tune that says, “Come to Pu Mat with me to visit the Kem cascade as high as the sky.”

Those who have visited Kem Waterwall can attest to those claims, with many awed by its infinite mightiness. 

Visitors enjoy Kem Waterfall in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dao Tho

Visitors swim at the base of Kem Waterfall in Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dao Tho

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Dao Tho / Tuoi Tre News

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