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Cao Bang travel experience from A to Z for a successful trip

Cao Bang is famous for its extremely attractive tourist destinations. This area is especially attractive to intrepid travelers who want to explore new horizons. Peaceful and romantic, Cao Bang is like an impressive picture with mountains, lakes and waterfalls. If you are planning to explore this area, let's join HoaBinh Tourist to explore the most famous tourist destinations in Cao Bang!

Where is Cao Bang located?

Located just 300 km from Hanoi, the Cao Bang region in northeast Vietnam is a must-see destination for nature and history lovers. The region offers an exceptional diversity of landscapes, from rugged mountains and green hills to deep valleys and mysterious caves.

Visitors will also discover exceptional flora and fauna, as well as clear waterfalls and streams that blend harmoniously with the landscape. It is therefore no surprise that much of Cao Bang is now classified by UNESCO as a Global Geopark, a recognition that speaks to the exceptional richness and diversity of this area.

When should you go to Cao Bang?

Cao Bang province has unique natural beauty that is well worth a visit. The climate is characterized by two distinct seasons: the rainy season lasting from April to September and the dry season from October to March of the following year. According to experienced tourists, each season brings its own beauty to Cao Bang.

The best months to explore the area's natural wonders are August and September, when the weather is cool and dry. The waterfalls are especially impressive at this time of year, providing a breathtaking sight.

In November and December, the Cao Bang mountains are adorned with wildflowers, such as wild pear flowers, creating picturesque, breathtaking scenery. In early spring, when the temperature is neither too cold nor too hot, peach and apricot forests bloom, providing a particularly brilliant scene.

How to get Cao Bang?

If you live in the northern provinces of Vietnam, you have many options to travel to Cao Bang: sleeper bus or private car. However, if you travel with the elderly or children, you should take a private car with a driver for more comfort and safety. Young adventurers looking for adrenaline will probably prefer to travel by motorcycle. If you want to save money and travel conveniently, you can choose a sleeper bus from Hanoi to Cao Bang.

If you come from the south or central part of the country, you can fly to Hanoi and then continue your journey to Cao Bang using the same means of transportation mentioned before. If you plan to stay in Hanoi before going to Cao Bang, we recommend booking an airport pickup service in advance to avoid wasting time searching for taxis or public transportation.

What activities and locations are not allowed?

Ban Gioc Waterfall

Ban Gioc Waterfall is one of the largest natural waterfalls in Southeast Asia. Located on the border between China and Vietnam, it offers an impressive sight with its height of over 60 meters and rocks at many levels.

The roaring waters of the Quay Son River flow through the beautiful green mountain landscape, creating a peaceful and majestic scene. It is the 4th largest waterfall in the world, located at a national border after Iguaçu Falls, Victoria Falls and Niagara Falls.

To fully enjoy this place, the best time to visit is from September to October, when the water is abundant and the white waves create a breathtaking sight. It's a special place to recharge your batteries and reconnect with nature. Here, you can hear the distant gurgling sound of Ban Gioc waterfall while being surrounded by majestic green mountains.

Khuoi Ky ancestral stone village

Located less than 3 km from Ban Gioc waterfall, Khuoi Ky ancestral stone village reveals itself as a unique cultural destination that you should not miss when coming to Cao Bang. Home to 14 Tay ethnic households, this thousand-year-old village has stone stilt houses that have stood the test of time and retained their charm over the centuries.

The cult of stone genius has existed for centuries in people's ancestral customs. A stop at Khuoi Ky promises to enrich your trip by allowing you to participate in countless activities with the locals. Life surrounded by mountains and forests will soothe your soul.

Phia Thap Village: Traditional incense village

This is also a peaceful village with typical stilt houses of the Nung Cao Bang people. This village is famous for traditional Vietnamese incense-making. Coming here, you feel like you are immersed in the majesty of nature and the daily lives of residents in remote parts of the country.

When walking through the village, you will see buffaloes grazing, farmers working in the fields, and undulating mountains in the distance, creating a scene that is both peaceful and authentic. More importantly, this place has not been exploited much by tourism, so it is truly a strange place.

Nguom Ngao Cave

The mysterious Nguom Ngao Cave is considered one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam after Phong Nha Ke Bang. It was discovered in 192 AD and was formed more than 300 million years ago! It is a little over 2 km long; however, only 1 km is accessible to the public.

The cave has three entrances and is divided into several areas: the “Four Heavenly Pillars” area with its impressive pillars or the “Jewels” area so named because of its sparkling stalactites and stalagmites, etc. Entering Nguom Ngao Cave, you will be overwhelmed by the unique rock formations and captivating colors dotted inside this natural wonder.

Mat Than Mountain (God's Eye Mountain)

Located near Cao Bang town, Mat Than Mountain (God's Eye Mountain) is another natural wonder worth exploring. The scenic complex has a complex hydrological network of 36 lakes interconnected by surface and subsurface flows, called Thang Hen Lake.

These landscapes are part of the ruins of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark, which is full of exceptional historical and archaeological sites as well as a rich cultural heritage of national and international significance. international.

Walk or hike through the breathtaking landscapes of Cao Bang

Explore the area's stunning landscapes by hiking or trekking through the hills, valleys and rice fields, as well as the picturesque limestone rocks that form a loop. The rocky trail can be dizzying at times, but the breathtaking views of the sugar-cake-like peaks in the background are worth it.

Bao Lac is an essential destination to explore the villages of ethnic minorities such as H'mong, Tay, Nung, Dzao, Sanchay and Lo Lo. Don't miss a trip to Bao Lac Market, where these ethnic groups meet every five days according to the lunar calendar. Nearby is the village of Lolo Noirs, where rugby player Frédéric Michalak stayed during an episode of the French show “Rendez-vous en terre Strange”.

Stay with locals

Staying with locals in Bao Lac is an authentic and enriching experience, allowing you to explore the area in a unique way and live an unforgettable cultural experience. The region's residents, such as the Hmong, Tay, Nung, Dzao, Sanchay and Lo Lo, are famous for their warm hospitality and sincere welcome. When staying with locals, you will be able to share special moments with your hosts, such as preparing traditional meals, participating in local agricultural activities, or simply talking to them about their culture and lifestyle.

In addition to experiencing local culture, this is also an opportunity to explore unique and hidden places in the region that only locals know about. A walking tour will take you through the craft villages of the Tay and Nung ethnic people, little changed by modern life, with typical houses roofed with "m Duong" tiles. You can also visit the village of Phia Chang, which specializes in the production of knives made from a special type of steel, as well as Thac Phia, an expert in incense.

Visit important historical sites in Cao Bang

Cao Bang is where many historical events of the Franco-Vietnamese War took place. Pac Bo, a national revolutionary historical relic located in the village of the same name, 52 km from Cao Bang city center, is a place of special importance to the country. Indeed, this is the starting point (km 0) of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Road. It was at Pac Bo Cave that revolutionary leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, also known as Ho Chi Minh, decided to live and lead the revolution after 30 years of fighting to save the country.

Pac Bo is the place for political and military training for revolutionary cadres in Cao Bang province, where Ho Chi Minh taught, translated the history of the Soviet Communist Party into Vietnamese, and wrote and published revolutionary documents. This relic area includes a number of important locations, such as Ho Chi Minh Memorial, Coc Po Cave, Lung Lan Cave, Nguom Vai Cave, Lenin Stream, Ho Chi Minh Stone Table,...

What are local culinary specialties?

Stuffed pancake is a local specialty of Cao Bang. Although you can find them all over Vietnam, the dishes in Cao Bang are unique thanks to their sauces.

Pancako is thin, flexible and has the delicious flavor of rice grown in Cao Bang fields. The bowl of hot dipping sauce is decorated with ground meat, eggs, small pieces of ham, chives and fresh cilantro. For the perfect touch, add a pinch of soaked bamboo and salt.

If you travel to Cao Bang in winter, don't miss out on tasting the delicious Ap Chao cake! At first glance, it looks like a donut, but the sticky rice crust inside is filled with duck meat, making it different from classic donuts. To enjoy, people often cut it into small pieces and accompany it with sweet and sour sauce, green papaya salad and fresh herbs.

You also don't miss the ant egg cake in Cao Bang. This dish is best from April to May, when black forest ants are growing strongly, making the eggs of this insect very delicious and rich in flavor. Ant eggs are thoroughly cleaned and cooked with dried onions, then mixed with ground pork, roasted peanuts and small basil leaves. Everything is wrapped in sticky rice flour and then steamed.

Or enjoy the delicious Xoi Tram dish, only available in July and August. This dish is made with soft, sticky rice combined with the unique, slightly sweet flavor of local Canarium fruit. This combination coats your palate and invites you to eat again and again.

Cao Bang tourism can be combined with which itinerary in the North?

A visit to Cao Bang can be combined with several itineraries in Northern Vietnam, depending on your preferences and trip length. Located near the Ha Giang Road, a famous mountain road that passes through remote and scenic areas in Northern Vietnam, Cao Bang gives you the opportunity to experience breathtaking views while exploring the history and culture of the region.

Ba Be National Park, about a three-hour drive from Cao Bang, allows you to enjoy an unforgettable wilderness experience. Combining a tour of Cao Bang with a tour of Ba Be, you can admire waterfalls, lakes, and caves and experience the traditional life of local ethnic minorities.

It can be seen that Cao Bang is the ideal destination for a complete experience of Northern Vietnam. Depending on your schedule and preferences, you can choose from several itineraries to make the most of your trip.

In short, Cao Bang is the destination of choice for those who want to explore the richness of nature while immersing themselves in the unique local culture. lost. HoaBinh Tourist hopes this travel guide has given you an insight into what Cao Bang has to offer and that you will be inspired to plan your next trip to this remarkable region of Vietnam. If you have any questions, please contact our hotline at 0939.311.911 - 0913.311.911 for dedicated advice and support.