Cao Bang Tourism - Updated with complete experience for foreigners

Here some Cao Bang travel experiences you should not miss. Let's explore with Etrip4u what's interesting and attractive about Cao Bang tourism through the following:

1. General introduction to Cao Bang tourism

Cao Bang is a mountainous province in the Northeast region of the country with a border of more than 300km with China. 90% of Cao Bang's terrain is hills and mountains divided by a dense river system, deep and dangerous valleys. It is the nature indeed of this place that captivates many tourists. In addition to natural charm, Cao Bang is also a land bearing the beauty of the resistance history of the Vietnamese people. This place is considered the origin of the Revolution where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked for 30 years to find a way to save the country.

General introduction to Cao Bang tourism

2. Which season should you travel to Cao Bang?

Cao Bang’s weather is divided into two seasons: rainy season from April to September and dry season from October to March. Each season brings its own unique beauty:

• August - September

The most ideal time to visit Cao Bang is from August to September of the year, when the weather is cool and has little rain, favorable for exploring scenic spots, landscapes and waterfalls in the country. This is also the time when buckwheat flowers and wild sunflowers bloom creating a brilliant image of the mountains. Traveling to Cao Bang around this time, tourists must definitely check-in to Ban Gioc Waterfall.

• October - December

When planning to visit Cao Bang in the last two months of the year, tourists will absolutely enjoy the blooming season. During this time, buckwheat flowers and wild sunflowers will be at their utmost attraction creating a fantastic landscape of the mountains. However, if tourists like to experience the winter and see the white ice-snow, you must go and visit Phia Oac National Park

Which season should you travel to Cao Bang?

3. Places to visit in Cao Bang

Famous for its splendid and unique beauty, tourists who come to Cao Bang will have the opportunity to admire the nature for its exceptional panorama. Here are some locations to visit in Cao Bang that you should not miss:

• Ban Gioc Waterfall is the largest waterfall in Vietnam, located in Vietnam - China border. Ban Gioc Waterfall has 30 meters high and 300 meters wide, water pouring down with white foam creating an extremely brilliant scene.
• Pac Bo is a historical relic associated with President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary activities in the years 1941 - 1942. This is the place where President Ho Chi Minh wrote many important works such as "August Revolution" and "Diary in Pac Bo Cave".
• Nguom Ngao Cave is one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam. It has stalactites and stalagmites together with their magical shapes. The cave also consists of an underground river system with lots of small waterfalls.
• Thang Hen Lake is an artificial lake located in the middle of the majestic mountains and forests of Cao Bang. The lake has jade green color and surrounded by limestone mountains that creates an extremely poetic view.
• Phia Oac is a community in Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang. It is famous for its picturesque, terraced fields. During ripen rice season, the terraced fields turn into shiny yellow creating an extremely impressive natural panorama.
• Chieng Khom Victory Historical Site is the place marking the victory of our army and people in the 1950 Border campaign. This is one of the important victories in our people's resistance war against the French.

Places to visit in Cao Bang

4. What to eat when traveling to Cao Bang

Cao Bang cuisines have the flavor of wild mountains and forests with attractive and unique specialties. Below are some suggestions for you about delicious dishes to savor when traveling to Cao Bang:

• Pork ribs are Cao Bang's most famous specialty dish, made with pureed pork, marinated with spices and herbs and cooked on a wood stove. Cao Bang pork ribs have a rich, fatty and aromatic taste, and a favorite dish of many tourists indeed.
• Sour pho is a popular breakfast dish in Cao Bang made with pho noodles, thinly sliced meat, cucumbers, roasted peanuts and sweet and sour sauce. Sour pho has a sour, mildly spicy taste and it is very easy to eat.
• Cao Bang Banh Cuon is also a popular breakfast dish made with thinly coated rice flour and filled with minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms. Banh cuon is often eaten by dipping sauce made with fish sauce, vinegar, chili and herbs.
• Roast duck is a specialty dish of the Tay ethnic people in Cao Bang. It is made with fresh duck marinated with spices and roasted over charcoal. Cao Bang roasted duck has a rich, sweet taste and crispy skin. This is a dish loved by many tourists.
• Khau Hui is a traditional dish of the Tay ethnic people in Cao Bang made with pork belly stewed mixed with herbs and spices. The dish has a greasy, aromatic taste and it is very easy to eat.
• Banh Chao is a popular snack in Cao Bang made with glutinous rice flour, filled with duck meat and fried it until it will have a crispy golden color. Banh Chao is often eaten together with a dipping sauce made with fish sauce, vinegar, chili and herbs.
• Five-color sticky rice is a traditional dish of the Tay ethnic people in Cao Bang made with sticky rice dyed in natural colors from leaves. Sticky rice has a fragrant, nutty taste and this dish is use to do offering, praying for luck and prosperity.

Moreover, Cao Bang also has other delicious cuisines like Banh Gio, Banh Chung, Banh Dao, and Sour Meat.

What to eat when traveling to Cao Bang

5. Means of transportation in Cao Bang

- Travel to Cao Bang

If you depart from Hanoi, the bus is the top choice in terms of both cost and time with ticket fare from 300,000 VND/person/way (13 USD). For those who want to experience the trip by car or by motorbike, you can rent a vehicle in Hanoi with a motorbike rental fee about 120,000 VND/day (5 USD).

A detailed route for cars, you have to follow the route from Hanoi - Lang Son highway, then continue with the Highway 4 to Cao Bang. For motorbikes, you can move in the direction through Thanh Tri bridge, Hanoi - Thai Nguyen highway, continue the road to Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi highway to Bac Kan, then follow National Highway 3 to Cao Bang.

- Traveling around Cao Bang

• Motorbike: This is the most famous means of transportation in Cao Bang, especially for tourists who want to freely explore attraction sites. You can rent a motorbike for about 150,000 VND/day (6 USD). However, you need to pay attention to traffic safety procedures when riding a motorbike on mountainous terrain.
• Taxi: Taxi is the most convenient means of transportation in Cao Bang. However, taxi fares are quite expensive ranging from 150,000 VND to 200,000 VND/km (6 – 7 USD).

Means of transportation in Cao Bang

6. Cao Bang Travel Expenses

- Transportation:

• Bus: From Hanoi, tourists can travel to Cao Bang by bus with ticket fares ranging from 250,000 - 350,000 VND/person/trip (11 – 15 USD). Travel time is about 5 - 6 hours.
• Motorbike: Renting a motorbike to move around Cao Bang is a popular choice, helping the tourists to be more flexible in managing time and exploring more spots. Motorbike rental fares ranging from 150,000 - 200,000 VND/day. (4 – 7 USD).

- Accommodation:

• Hotel: Hotel room prices in Cao Bang are ranging from 200,000 - 1,000,000 VND/night depending on room quality and location. (9 – 43 USD).
• Homestay: Homestay is a popular choice in Cao Bang, giving the tourists a possibility to experience the life of the local people. Homestay prices are ranging from 150,000 - 300,000 VND/night. (6 – 13 USD)
• Camping: If a tourist loves exploring nature, you can choose to camp at some wonderful sites in Cao Bang like Ban Gioc Waterfall, Thang Hen Lake, etc. The camping cost is quite cheap and safe for only 50,000 - 100,000 VND/person/night. (2 – 4 USD).

- Food and Drinks:

• Local cuisine: Cao Bang has many attractive specialties such as sour pho, Cao Bang rice rolls, fried rice cakes, five-spice roast duck, etc. Prices are quite affordable from 20,000 - 50,000 VND/person/meal (less than 2 USD).
• Restaurants: Tourists can find many popular eateries and restaurants in Cao Bang with various prices. Meal prices at popular eateries are ranging from 30,000 - 50,000 VND/person (less 2 USD), while meal prices at the restaurants are ranging from 70,000 - 150,000 VND/person (3 – 6 USD).

These are the basic expenses that a tourist needs to consider when traveling to Cao Bang. There are also some expenses such as visiting other sites, car repairs, and extra charge when finding a room during peak tourist season.

However, if you choose the Cao Bang package tour at Etrip4u, you will only need to pack your backpack and explore exciting places. Cao Bang tour prices at Etrip4u are rangeing from 100 to more than 250 USD for about 1 - 2 days of package tour without incurring additional expenses. Some Cao Bang package tours that tourists can consider include:

• Tour Hanoi - Cao Bang - Thai Nguyen 2D2N (Shuttle Bus/Hotel 2*)
• Tour Hanoi - Cao Bang - Pac Bo - Ban Gioc - Eye Mount - Ba Be Lake 3D2N (Bus/Hotel 2*)

7. Notes when traveling to Cao Bang

• Cao Bang has many steep and winding mountain roads, so drive safely and obey traffic rules. If possible, hire a driver or join a tour to avoid the risks of driving yourself.
• Some local specialties are highly recommended to buy as gifts such as Banh Gio, honey and Shan Tuyet Tea.
• You should travel to Cao Bang during fall season around August - October of the year for it is the best season to visit Cao Bang. The weather is cool and pleasant, and you can enjoy watching the golden rice fields.
• Some popular places to stay in Cao Bang include Cao Bang City, Phja Den town, Trung Gia and Quang Uyen Community.

Notes when traveling to Cao Bang

Hopefully the above sharing of traveling in Cao Bang will help you have lots of exciting experiences in this charming land in the Northeast region of the country.