Nui Coc Lake

Nui Coc was created in the 1970s by damming the Cong river for irrigation, and the reservoir now covers a couple of thousand hectares with dozens of wooded islands and the tea hills of Thai Nguyen around it. The name comes from a legend: a poor young man, Coc, and a mandarin's daughter, Cong, were separated, and her weeping became the river while he became the mountain that watches it - a story the resort has built heavily around. Boats run to the islands. The resort side is dated theme-park development, and the lake and the tea country around it are the better part of a visit.

What you actually see

• A reservoir with wooded islands - dammed in the 1970s.
• Thai Nguyen tea hills around it - the province's main crop.
• The Cong and Coc legend - the river and the mountain.
• Boats to the islands - from the resort landing.

When to go

September to November and March to May. A full day.

Honest expectations

The resort development is dated and its attractions are tired. Entry and boats are charged separately. It is crowded at weekends with visitors from Hanoi and Thai Nguyen. Water levels vary.

Nearby

Tan Cuong tea region is north-east; Thai Nguyen city is beyond it.