Ban Gioc Waterfall
Located on the border between China and Vietnam, Ban Gioc is the fourth largest waterfall in the world. Measuring 300 meters wide, the falls are absolutely breathtaking in size. The vast area and range of different falls and pools within the park is captivating. Set in a striking valley and surrounded by lush jungle, Ban Gioc feels like a paradise of its own.
The best time to visit is during the dry season from October to April. At the end of the dry season, a daily release of water from the dam-controlled Quay Son River takes place between 10:30am and 1:00pm, bringing the falls up to their full flow.
Pac Bo Cave, President Ho Chi Minh’s Hide-Out
Most sights dedicated to Ho Chi Minh are geared to Vietnamese tourists and are of little interest to Westerners. Pac Bo follows the party line. Pac Bo is the site where, returning to Vietnam after more than 30 years of exile, a fired-up Ho Chi Minh began planning the revolution in 1941, living in caves and protected by local people.
The approach to the site is lined with big concrete pavilions and walkways. An open parking area gives way to paved paths along the picturesque Lenin River at the foot of the Karl Marx Mountain (Ho Chi Minh named them himself). Paths take you to some small cave sites, and signs lead the way to places where Ho wrote, slept, and ate; but the real business at Pac Bo is family swimming and picnicking.
Nguom Ngao Cave
This is a large cave formed from the ancient weathering of limestone. Nguom Ngao means tiger cave or cave between rock valleys in Tay language, one of the ethnic groups in Vietnam. It was discovered by local people in 1921. This cave is classified as the most beautiful cave in Vietnam. The system of stalactites and stalagmites has created an extremely magnificent and interesting scene.
Truc Lam Phat Tich Pagoda
Considered as the first pagoda in Northern Vietnam, Truc Lam Phat Tich is built based on the traditional Vietnamese architecture with a three-door gate, Guan Yin statue and a temple of national hero Nung Tri Cao, who led the locals to protect the northern border of Vietnam. The appearance of the pagoda perfects the panoramic view of Cao Bang with natural beauty and religious place.
Phia Oac – Phia Den
Spread over three communes including Thanh Cong, Quang Thanh, Phan Thanh and Tinh Tuc, Phia Oac – Phia Den is a special-use forest, a valuable heritage of the northeast. With a peak of 1,931 meters above sea level, Phia Oac is the roof of Cao Bang province and the northeast of Vietnam. Surprisingly, Phia Oac receives snow which creates a unique vegetation for this land.
Phia Oac – Phia Den attracts tourists with its beautiful landscapes of diverse forests, nature reserves, national parks with more than 300,000 hectares, and huge salmon aquaculture. Phia Oac is also the source of five large rivers in the area. Water from the mountainous rivers of the Phia Oac special-use forest is an endless source for Ta Sa Hydropower Plant.
Thang Hen Lake
The Thang Hen Lakes are made up of 36 miniature lakes that are all connected through caves and underground passageways. In the rainy season, water levels rise to form a single lake, which meanders through a valley of karst peaks for over 300 kilometres. While the lake is picturesque, it is the rock formations and scenes of daily life that make Thang Hen worth visiting.