Bien Ho Lake (T'Nung Lake)

Bien Ho Lake, also known as T'Nung Lake or Sea Lake, is a natural freshwater crater lake in Bien Ho commune, about 7 km north of Pleiku city in Gia Lai Province, Central Highlands, Vietnam. Formed in the crater of an extinct volcano, it covers about 230 hectares with an average depth of 12-19 meters. Surrounded by pine forests and hills, it is a National Scenic Site and the main freshwater reservoir for Pleiku.

Visitors can expect a large, clear blue freshwater lake set in a volcanic crater surrounded by pine forests and rolling hills. A paved road leads to the lake with a stone entrance, pine-lined approach, and a viewpoint area with statues overlooking the water. The shoreline is largely natural with forested slopes. Visitors can walk along the dam road, enjoy panoramic views, photograph the lake and pine scenery, and experience a tranquil, cool highland environment.

Bien Ho Lake was formed in the crater of an extinct volcano that has been dormant for hundreds of thousands of years. The crater filled with water to create a natural lake. It was recognized as a National Scenic Site by the Vietnamese government in 1988 due to its natural and landscape value.

The lake is associated with the folklore of the Jarai ethnic group, particularly the legend of the village of T'Nung that was said to have been submerged to form the lake. The name T'Nung derives from the Jarai language. The lake holds cultural importance for local communities in the Central Highlands and is a symbol of Pleiku.