Cao Bang province, located in the northeastern part of Vietnam, has borne significant importance during the independence war against the French. This is where Nguyen Sinh Cung (also called Nguyen Ai Quoc, meaning “The Patriot”) became Ho Chi Minh. This mountainous area is home to 9 different ethnic groups.




This region is home to many natural treasures: stunning mountain scenery, caves with beautiful mineral formations, amazing waterfalls like in Ban Gioc, valleys with rice terraces and deep forests. If you make a trip to Cao Bang, you can go visit villages of ethnic minorities and interact with these warm and welcoming people. Thanks to its richness, Cao Bang has been chosen by the Skyscanner as one of the five ideal destinations for hiking in Southeast Asia. The best time to visit Cao Bang is between August and December (rainy season), when Ban Gioc waterfalls are just formidable to see.

Ban Gioc waterfalls & Nguom Ngao cave
Ban Gio waterfalls, on the Sino-Vietnamese border, is certainly the most spectacular destination in Cao Bang province. The biggest falls in Vietnam are situated in the middle karst peaks,  and they are probably the most impressive and beautiful waterfalls in the country. The rumble is audible from several kilometers away. French people started visiting this beautiful place in the 1920s and build bungalows nearby. Nguom Ngao Cave, ranked by some as the second best cave in the country after Phong Nha, is located on the way leading to Ban Gioc waterfalls.

Pac Bo village
This village is where the Mang and Tung rivers meet. Pac Bo is a very famous place in Vietnam: in 1941, after 30 years of exile, Ho Chi Minh decided to take up residence there, most precisely in Coc Bo cave. He created the Viet Minh, a national coalition fighting for the independence of Vietnam and largely dominated by the Communist Party. Several sites are worth visiting in the vincinity of Coc Bo grotto: the Karl Marx Mountains, Lenin River, Bo Dan grotto, Co Rac beach and Khuoi Nam, where important meetings were held.

Dong Khe and That Khe
These are two historic destinations related to the battles that took place along the colonial road No4 - a former Indochina road that had major strategic importance during the Indochina War.

Bao Lac and the village of the Lo Lo
Bao Lac is a district of Cao Bang province, located along road No32 linking Meo Vac to Cao Bang. Thanks to a French television program that showcased the ethnic minority of the Lo Lo, this destination has gained a lot of recognition. The Bao Lac weekly market is also interesting, as you can meet the Lo Lo, the Tay and the San Chi tribes, always dressed in original costumes.

Activities:
  • Hiking
  • Visit Nguom Ngao cave
  • Go to Ban Gioc waterfalls
  • On the footsteps of past battles that occurred during the Indochina War