Best hotels in Northeastern Highlands

Tucked into the pristine forests of Ba Be National Park – a genuinely off-the-beaten-track corner of northern Vietnam – this charming jungle retreat sits on the shores of a remarkable lake. Ba Be happens to be the country's largest natural freshwater lake and the world's only freshwater karst lake, ringed by towering limestone peaks and home to the Tay, Dao and Hmong ethnic communities. What started life as Mr Linh's Homestay has evolved into a collection of traditional stilt houses, built with wood and woven palm-leaf roofs in true Tay style. Days are spent kayaking across emerald waters, drifting through bat-filled caves, and trekking to remote villages – returning each evening to home-cooked feasts around a crackling campfire.