We are currently travelling by bus and motorbike in the north of Vietnam and today we explore the northeastern province of Cao Bang, with Ban Gioc-Detian Waterfalls as final destination on the border with China.
SLEEPER BUS FROM HANOI TO CAO BANG
CAO BANG PROVINCE
They let us check-in super early at 7 am so we can get a few hours of rest, the sleeper bus isn’t really the best way to get a good night’s sleep.
When we wake up, we rent a motorcycle (for 200,000 VND, almost double the price compared to Da Nang) and leave eastbound towards Ban Gioc Waterfalls. The road is in good conditions, many twists and turns at first, with long straight roads after. Plus some rewarding views!
A road with a view!
BAN GIOC WATERFALLS
Ban Gioc Waterfalls are in fact so wide they have a side diving into Vietnam, and the other into China. The fall is “only” 30 meters high, what is impressive is the overall width that reaches 300 meters!
On the Vietnamese side there’s relaxation and laziness, some stands sell souvenirs, but their owners lie on hammocks. Whereas the Chinese shore is super busy, rafts go up and down to bring tourists closer to the falls. This goes to describe the different organisation and mentality between the two countries in tourist matters, Chinese do it better in this case.
Indeed, as on the Chinese side a wooden stairway leads to the top of the falls to appreciate them from above too, on our side the muddy and forgotten uphill path is blocked by an iron fence. Still we look at the bright side and make the most of the Ban Gioc waterfalls, being almost by ourselves here!
NGUOM NGAO CAVES
We get into the caves at about 2 pm, and we’ll get out almost two hours later! A breathtaking scenery that leaves us speechless, hard to describe. Stalagmites and stalactites of huge dimensions, of all shapes, continuously evolving. Water is everywhere, the drops that form the stalagmites come down as pouring rain, we hear the underground rivers flowing all around. Speleologists have discovered that the grottoes are linked with the Ban Gioc waterfalls 4 km away, but these recently discovered caves aren’t open to public just yet…
Stalactites rain
We have been to few caves in Vietnam, including Da Nang’s Marble Mountains to Ha Long Bay’s Thien Canh Son Cave, (unfortunately we missed Phòng Nha in central Vietnam) but these ones have been undoubtedly the most impressive. Surely the fact we were alone with no people around had deep impact. As usual, photos can describe better than words, so check them out and try to picture the feeling being there, just 100 times better than in photo!
Nguom Ngao Caves, Ban Gioc, Cao Bang province
WHERE TO STAY:
- Primrose Homestay Cao Bang: the most established place in Cao Bang, the young staff is very friendly and welcoming, cheap prices!
- You can pre-book all your accommodation in Vietnam with free cancellation here.
HOW TO GET AROUND:
- Head to Hanoi My Dinh bus station to buy tickets to Cao Bang, from 150.000 VND;
- Direct bus Hanoi-Ha Giang: 300,000 VND.
- Motorbike rent: from 200.000 VND/day.
- Book your tickets to travel in Vietnam on amt.12go.asia
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
- Never leave home without a reliable travel insurance. Even if you trust yourself, you can’t always trust others. Better safe than sorry! Get your quote here.
