Cao Bang

A traditional Tày village known for its old stone stilt houses and yin-yang tiled roofs. Located near the Ban Gioc–Nguom Ngao area, it offers a quieter cultural stop between Cao Bằng's major natural sights. Some local households provide homestay accommodation.

Surrounded by mountains, this serene lake is at its best in the rainy season. During the dry season the lake shrinks and is not as impressive, but there are a few rafts that you can take. Walking in the nearby mountains brings you past local herders and farmers. There are no buses to Thang Hen, so the cheapest option is to hire a motorbike driver for the half-day trip. It's about 1 hour away and try to negotiate a round-trip price of 125,000 dong. No entrance fee.

This breathtaking waterfall, the largest in Vietnam, straddles the China-Vietnam border. The water is particularly thunderous in the wet season but is still beautiful during the dry. You can take a raft out into the river to the base of the falls and greet Chinese tourists doing the same from the other side. Ban Gioc is about 90 km from Cao Bằng, about 2 hours away. The cheapest way to get there is to take a public minibus to Trung Khanh for around 70,000 dong. Once in Trung Khanh, the minibus driver may offer to take you the rest of the way to Ban Gioc Falls for an extra 150,000 dong, which includes waiting time, the nearby Ngườm Ngao Cave, and the return trip to Cao Bằng. You can also rent a motorbike in Trung Khanh to take you the rest of the way to the falls (about 20–30 minutes). Those with a larger budget may consider renting a jeep for the day. No entrance fee, but you may be charged 2,000 dong to cross the bridge to reach the falls.

Ask your driver to take you to Nguom Ngao before or after Ban Gioc. This immense cave holds a series of majestic, jaw-dropping caverns, filled with delicate, intricate formations of stalactites and stalagmites. In the low season, you may even have the cave to yourself, which is an experience probably not to be had elsewhere. Optional guides will helpfully point out particularly interesting rocks and bat roosts. 5,000 dong.

An important revolutionary site about 52 km from Cao Bằng city, where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked after returning to Vietnam in 1941. The area includes the clear Lenin Stream, Karl Marx Mountain, caves, and forested walking paths, combining historical interest with striking natural scenery.

Located within the Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark, this limestone mountain is famous for the large circular hole through its center. The surrounding valley is linked to the Thang Hen lake system and changes strongly with the seasons: in wetter months, water fills the basin, while in drier periods the area can open into a broad grassland landscape.

A border commune famous for its poetic landscapes, featuring the Quây Sơn River, rice fields, and traditional Tày stilt houses. The area is especially scenic in harvest season, when the valley turns golden. Visitors can explore local village paths by bicycle, kayak on calm stretches of the river in some areas, or hike to viewpoints near Ngọc Côn for wide panoramas over the valley and surrounding limestone peaks.