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Cao Bang – The Natural Wonder in Vietnam Border

Cao Bang, a mountainous province in the North with a cool climate all year round, has a bunch of magnificent and wild landscapes. Expect mountains, forests, rivers, streams, waterfalls, and more. Not only that, many historic relics that mark a history-rich period of Vietnam can be found here too, this is especially appealing if you’re interested in learning more about the Vietnam War. The following places are the most interesting and famous in Cao Bang, if you are lucky enough to spend time here, do not miss these points of interest.

Ban Gioc Waterfall

Ban Gioc is the fourth largest waterfall in the world that is situated on a border between two nations, Vietnam and China. It’s also the most majestic and beautiful waterfall in Vietnam. It is more than 30 meters tall and it flows through many layers of limestone.

Ban Gioc Waterfall

The waterfall is divided into two branches. The large branches have low elevation and flow over limestone steps. The smaller branches are higher up and cascade just like a young girl’s hair. Turquoise is the feature color of the waterfall in autumn. At the foot of Ban Gioc Waterfall is a wide and flat river with green grass and forests covering the banks. Tourists can sit on floating rafts on Quay Son River and observe local people fishing.

Nguom Ngao Cave – The Mysterious Beauty under the Ground 

Just 2 km from Ban Gioc waterfalls, Nguom Ngao is one of the most wonderful grottoes in Cao Bang. The name “Nguom Ngao” means “the cave of the tiger” according to the language of Tay ethnic minority. The cave is about 3000 meters long with the height up to 60 meters taking 2 hours for a full discovery tour. This cave is famous for its colorful stalactites with the exotic shapes and sizes in which some of them can make eco as well. The stalactites were formed by the activities of water and wind in the limestone mountain through million years. Many of them have human, tree, flower or folkloric animal forms hanging down from the ceiling or standing in the floor creating an outstanding look that people would seldom see in their lifetime.

Nguom Ngao Cave

Nguom Ngao cave has a length of 2,144 meters, with three main gates. Nguom Lom gate is cool all year and hidden under rocks at the foot of the mountain, Nguom Ngao gate is a few hundred steps from the foot of the mountain, and Ban Thuon gate is behind the mountain, adjacent to the Thuon village of the Tay people.

Thang Hen Lake – The Masterpiece of Nature

Located in Quoc Toan commune, Tra Linh district, Cao Bang province has an altitude of thousands of meters above sea level. And situated here is Thang Hen Lake, a beautiful lake among 36 lakes located in the mountains of Vietnam. Thang Hen Lake means bee tail because the lake looks like one from above. Its width is about 100 meters to 300 meters and about 500 meters to 1,000 meters depending on the water level. There is a large cave in front of the lake and water flows all day and night from it.

Ho Thang Hen

This lake has a beautiful landscape with green trees stretching out over the cliffs, shining down to the blue water, and bending around the valley of boulders. With a huge river and majestic mountains, you can enjoy your time in beautiful nature on the boat in the ripples of the lake and eat the traditional food and wine of the Tay people.

Pac Bo Relic – The Secret Heaven in the Mountainous Area 

Pac Bo is a famous revolutionary relic, where Ho Chi Minh worked and led the revolution of Northern Vietnam. Before that, he visited many foreign countries such as France, Russia, and China to learn about communism. China was the last country he visited, after which he left for Pac Bo. He chose Cao Bang because most of the people were on his side and Cao Bang is adjacent to China. 

Pac Bo Relic

There are many famous relics in this area which all mark a historical period of Vietnam:

Le Nin Stream is famous for its turquoise color and it looks like a long swatch of silk hidden in the green forest.

Lenin Stream

Coc Bo Cave has a narrow path leading to the other side of the border between Vietnam and China, and if you position yourself inside the cave, you can safely retreat on this path when the cave is exposed. You will also find an old bed which was once the working place of Ho Chi Minh during the war.

Coc Bo Cave

Cac Mac Mountain is in front of Coc Po Cave. It’s named after Karl Marx in Vietnamese, a thinker, and philosopher that has had a great impact on Ho Chi Minh’s career.

Cac Mac Mountain

Khuoi Nam Shed is a place where Ho Chi Minh lived for four years. It is built in the style of the local ethnic minority stilt houses. It’s pretty small, only twelve square meters in area with two small rooms. The canyon leading to the shed was once covered in dense forest but it’s since been transformed into consecutive terraced fields.

House of Ly Quoc Sung

House of Ly Quoc Sung is the first place where Ho Chi Minh stayed in this area before moving to Coc Bo Cave and Khuoi Nam Shed. It is also built in the style of the local ethnic minority stilt houses.

Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda

Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc is the first pagoda built in the northern frontier of the country, on Phia Nhu mountain, Dam Thuy commune, about 500 meters from Ban Gioc Waterfall.

Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc

The pagoda was built in the style of Vietnamese architecture, including a three-door gate, bell tower, drum tower, steles, temples of national heroes, Hung Kings, guest houses, and a beautiful landscape.

Border Gates and Markers

Border Marker Cao Bang

In addition, there are many border gates between Cao Bang and China such as Ta Lung, Tra Linh, Po Peo, Ly Van, and Soc Giang. Not only that, out of the 1,971 border makers in the seven northern border provinces, Cao Bang has the most border markers (634 markers). Therefore, you can visit them and check in as much as possible. With all the interesting places above, Cao Bang is really an amazing travel destination in the north of Vietnam. Pack your bag and get here as soon as possible. Keep reading our articles below to prepare for your next trip.