Cập nhật: 01-01-1970 12:00:00 | Blogs about Vietnam | Lượt xem: 1451
If you are seeking Vietnam off the beaten track places with mesmerizing nature, just go for Cao Bang in Vietnam where located the majestic plunging Ban Gioc Waterfalls. Although the city of Cao Bang itself isn’t truly exciting, it’s a good base to explore the eponymous province – which is one of the most fascinating destinations in Vietnam geographically.
Glowing with majestic mountains, dense old-growth forests, vast rivers and splendid waterfalls, this remote land is undoubtedly a dream place for every traveler, especially globetrotters from all over the world.
Cao Bang is a distant province in Vietnam’s Northeast region. In addition to other domestic areas, it also shares a common border with China’s Guangxi province. Cao Bang Province covers an area of 6,724.6 km2, of which over 90% is mountains and forests. It features stunning landscapes, impressive biodiversity and year-round pleasant weather.
Cao Bang Vietnam is also home to many ethnic minority groups, most notably Tay, Nung, Dao, and Hmong. Its largest settlement is the same-name capital, which is placed right in the middle of the province, about 280 km North of Hanoi and 60 km from the Chinese border.
Located in the far north and having mainly mountainous terrain, Cao Bang is generally cooler than the rest of the country. Its climate is divided into two distinct seasons: the rainy one (April – September) and the dry one (October – March), with the latter being a better period for excursions and outdoor activities. Its highest and lowest temperature is respectively 30.0°C and 9.1°C, with an average yearly temperature of 20.4°C.
According to travel enthusiasts, the ideal times for a trip to Cao Bang would be September – October and December – January. September – October is the harvest season in Cao Bang, when you can admire glorious golden paddies that roll out towards grand mountain ranges. This is also the best time to visit Ban Gioc Waterfalls and other waterfalls here, as they’re at their fullest and strongest.
Meanwhile, December – January is the blooming season, when the temperature has yet to drop too low. You might be left in awe by endless fields of buckwheat flowers blooming ravishingly in the valleys, or fall in love with the gorgeous tree marigold bushes that stretch along mountainsides.
The most popular method to get to Cao Bang or Ban Gioc Waterfalls from Hanoi is catching a bus at My Dinh Station, which usually takes 7 – 8 hours and costs about $8 – 10. If you are traveling from other cities, you probably need to fly to Hanoi first. Driving a rented car is also possible, but not recommended since most routes in Nothern Vietnam are winding and dangerous.
Once you’re in Cao Bang, the most cost-saving option to move around is renting a scooter at about $8 per day. If you’re not confident with scooter riding, catching taxis is quite simple as well.
There are not many accommodation options in Cao Bang City compared to other hubs, but you still have a wide range of choices at reasonable prices, from cheap motels to a 5-star hotel. By staying in the city, you can easily move to other destinations and have better access to markets, restaurants and shops.
Another location favored among travelers is Trung Khanh District, since it’s close to nature and hosts the most popular attractions in the whole province. Prices for one night in a homestay or hotel here commonly range from $8 – 10. If you want a higher grade choice, check out Saigon Ban Gioc – the only 4-star resort in this district.
Being the world’s fourth largest cross-border waterfall, Ban Gioc Waterfalls has always been listed as one of the best tourist attractions in Vietnam, if not the entire Asia. This waterfall is 53 m high, 300 m wide and divided into three separated cascades. Together, they form a gigantic staircase that flows gracefully down the Quay Son River – which is placed along the international border between Vietnam and China.
It’s worth taking a bamboo raft trip to admire Ban Gioc Waterfalls up close, if you don’t mind getting soaked. You can even walk uphill for a panoramic view of this spectacular wonder, or camp in a spot nearby with your friends. Buses no 3 and 7 depart from Cao Bang City to Ban Gioc Waterfalls each 30 minutes at $2.8. The entry fee for Ban Gioc Waterfalls is about $1.8 per person, and the raft trip costs about $2.
Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda is an imposing structure placed on Phia Nham Mountain, only a short walk from Ban Gioc Waterfalls. Covering an area of approximately 3 ha, this hillside pagoda offers a breathtaking view of Ban Gioc Waterfalls as well as the neighboring karst valley.
Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda features traditional Vietnamese architecture with ironwood pillars, terracotta roof tiles, curved gables and pairs of parallel sentences... The highlight of the pagoda is its bronze bell tower, which weighs 1.5 tons. Inside the pagoda, there’s also a temple that worships a Nung hero named Tri Cao, who made great contributions to protecting Vietnam’s Northern border in the 11th century.
Khuoi Ky Stone Village is only 2 km from Ban Gioc Waterfalls and should be included in the same trip. The village is widely known for its 14 stone stilt houses, which have existed for over 400 years and carry extraordinary architectural style. They may look the same on the outside, but as you observe, you’ll realize each of these houses has its own distinctive structure.
Stopping by Khuoi Ky Stone Village is also a great chance to learn about local culture. The Tay living here worships stone. They believe that stone is the center of the universe, and houses made from stone will shelter and protect them. Stone is also very well presented in their everyday life. They have not only stone houses, but many daily items made out of stone as well.
Moving 2 km further from Khuoi Ky Stone Village, you’ll find Nguom Ngao Cave. This is one of the most impressive cave systems in Vietnam with a length of 2,144 m, not to mention many unexplored branches. Stepping into the cave, you will be amazed by a miraculous collection of stalactites and stalagmites, whose unique shapes take millions of years to form.
The name Nguom Ngao means “Tiger Cave” in the Tay ethnic language, as they believe many tigers lived there back in the old days. It was created by an underground river and once used by villagers as a shelter during the 1979 conflict against China. Now, you can tour one section of the cave for $1.2.
Also known under the name Mat Than (God’s Eye), Thung Mountain is a striking destination for those who love to discover the unusual. This peak stands out with a 50 m diameter hole in the middle, which makes it a one-of-a-kind marvel you can’t see anywhere else. Along with its unique appearance, people also love Thung Mountain for the pristine landscape around it. This is said to be one of the best spots for sunrise watching in Northern Vietnam.
You can find Thung Mountain inside the Thang Hen Lake Complex of Cao Bang Global Geopark, about 25 km from Cao Bang City. Thang Hen itself is also a remarkable destination with 36 natural freshwater lakes, all have turquoise waters and are connected together through an underground cave.
Northern Vietnam is home to numerous beautiful passes, and one of the most astonishing among them is Me Pja Pass in Cao Bang Province. Also known as Khau Coc Cha Pass, this twisting mountain path is a real challenge for even the most reckless daredevils with a total of 14 sharp turns in just 2.5 km.
Sure enough, driving a motorbike up Me Pja Pass would be the best thing to do with it. But if you’re not interested in conquering the pass, you can still admire its thrilling appearance from afar by traveling up one of the surrounding peaks.
Pac Bo Relic is a famous historical site in Ha Quang district, 50 km Northwest of Cao Bang City. This is the village where President Ho Chi Minh first lived and worked when he came back to Vietnam in 1941, after the 30-year odyssey of seeking a path for national salvation. The name Pac Bo means “riverhead” in the Tay language, which also implies that this place was the start of Vietnam’s revolutionary movements.
Pac Bo Relic consists of Coc Po Cave, Ho Chi Minh Memorial House, Karl Marx Mountain, Nguom Vai Cave, Vai Lung Cave… and most notably, Pac Po Cave and Lenin Stream. You can visit the whole site at an entrance fee of about $1.
Banh cuon (steamed rolled rice pancake) is a traditional dish that originated in Northern Vietnam and differs in each region. While the common banh cuon you see in Hanoi is served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, banh cuon Cao Bang comes with a bowl of bone broth. Furthermore, besides the usual minced pork and wood ear mushroom, you’ll also find a steamed egg inside this dish.
Pho is no stranger to those who like Vietnamese cuisine, but have you tried its sour variation? Instead of the normal soup form, pho chua in Cao Bang is a dry dish that contains noodles, toppings and a special sour sauce. This sauce is often made of garlic, sugar, fish sauce and vinegar – which gives it the sour taste. Pho chua’s common toppings include fried pork, pork liver, fried pork skin, roasted duck meat, roasted peanuts, fried shallots, sage, and Vietnamese coriander.
Another renowned delicacy that’s often seen on the menus of Cao Bang restaurants is the seven-flavor roasted duck, which is super appetizing thanks to the eye-catching color and savory smell. Its name comes from 7 kinds of spices that the chef uses to marinate the duck – a secret recipe of the Tay ethnic group. This duck, after being roasted, will appear crispy on the outside while remaining soft and moist on the inside.
Banh trung kien is another specialty of the Tay you can hardly forget. As its name suggests, the main ingredient to make this bizarre dessert is ant eggs. It’s mostly made at the end of April and May of each year, as this is the breeding season of the local wild black ant. After collecting ant eggs in the forest, the cook will mix them with other ingredients like minced pork, chopped onions, ground peanuts and sesame… Finally, they cover this mixture with dough and wrap it in fig leaves before steaming the cake for about 45 minutes.
You can find banh ap chao on the streets of Cao Bang in any season, but winter is the best time to enjoy this dish. Banh ap chao is basically fried rice cake with duck meat as a filling. To make its crispy crust, the cook must use not only the regular rice flour, but also sticky rice flour and a little soy flour. Before frying, they often let the dough rest for 3 – 4 hours so it can rise firmly and beautifully.
Banh Coong Phu is quite similar to the much-loved banh troi (floating cake) usually served in Vietnam’s traditional Cold Food Festival. They’re both boiled spheres topped with shredded coconut and roasted sesame. However, banh troi is a dry desert, while banh Coong Phu comes with a sweet soup made of sugar and ginger. And while banh troi contains a piece of sugar inside, banh Coong Phu is stuffed with ground peanuts.
Thach den, or suong sao, is a tasty jelly made from a local plant in the forests of Cao Bang. This plant could be found in other regions, but the taste of thach den Cao Bang is stronger due to soil and climate. In addition to the amazing flavor, this glass jelly is also well-known for its incredible health benefits. It could be enjoyed alone with a little sugar water, in a bowl of che (Vietnamese sweet soup), or on top of a soya bean curd.
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