7 Best Things to See and Do with Kids on a trip to Cao Bang, Vietnam
Cao Bang wasn’t on my family’s list of places to visit when we first arrived in Vietnam, but as we began to dig deeper into the many incredible places to visit here, there were several factors that led to us not only putting it onto our list, but making it one of our first stops!
A large part of that is because Cao Bang has an incredible amount of natural beauty, and our family loves taking every chance we can to enjoy local landscapes everywhere we go. And, especially if you plan on taking time to explore Vietnam’s vibrant cities, I feel like places like this that are beautiful, but also a bit more off the beaten path, are absolutely perfect locations to check out!
Tips for visiting the Cao Bang Area
- Bring cash with you when visiting Ban Gioc/Khuoi Ky. There aren’t any ATMs in the area, nor are credit cards accepted. Food was also more expensive than we’ve seen elsewhere in Vietnam, so expect to spend about 200-250k VND ($7-10 USD) per person per day on food, entry tickets, etc.
- It is absolutely worth spending a night (or two!) in Khuoi Ky Village. We loved that we didn’t have to feel rushed to get back to Cao Bang while looking at the waterfall and exploring the caves, and the village itself was really nice!
- If your kids are picky eaters, bring plenty of snacks. We found the food to be delicious, but there aren’t a lot of store options for buying snacks if you need them.
Explore the Majesty of Ban Gioc Waterfalls
As the largest set of waterfalls in all of Southeast Asia, the Ban Gioc waterfalls are probably the best-known of the attractions in the Cao Bang area. Located directly on the border with China, the Ban Gioc waterfalls create a natural boundary between the two countries, and is a celebrated icon in both. (In China, these waterfalls are called the Detian Waterfalls.)
Ban Gioc is a 3-tiered set of waterfalls spanning roughly 656 feet (200m) across and with a total vertical drop of nearly 100 feet (30m). Visitors can get up close to the falls either by hopping aboard one of the area’s boat or bamboo raft tours. But be ready to get wet!
These tours take you close enough to the waterfalls that you can really feel the power of all that rushing water, and the spray can get pretty intense. And, interestingly, because of the way the border works between the two countries, you technically end up on the Chinese side for part of your trip!
Most people say the best time to visit Ban Gioc is around early October, near the end of the area’s rainy season. The falls will still have quite a bit of water flowing down river from the wetter months, and the surrounding scenery will be beautiful! However, thanks to a hydro-electric dam upriver on the Chinese side of the river, Ban Gioc flows beautifully all year round, even towards the end of dry season.
This is a 2 day / 1 night tour that leaves and returns to Hanoi so your family can experience the best of the Cao Bang area without needing to book your own accommodations.
This is one of the easiest (but not cheapest) ways to check out the Ban Gioc Waterfalls, but the shorter length of the trip may leave you wanting a bit more time in the area.
Visit a Beautiful Buddhist Temple at Phật Tích Trúc Lâm Pagoda
Buddhism is the largest religion in Vietnam and, as such, there are many Buddhist temples spread across the country. However, the Tích Trúc Lâm Pagoda, in particular, has some interesting features that make it worth a visit when you’re in the area.
For one, the temple itself is only located just a short distance from the Ban Gioc waterfalls and provides an amazing view of the water falls and surrounding landscapes. Since drones aren’t allowed in the area, that means this is one of the only ways to see the water falls from above. For another, the pagoda itself has an impressive architectural style of its own, which is only made more beautiful by its mountain backdrop.
The Tích Trúc Lâm Pagoda was only inaugurated in December of 2014, which makes it a relatively new addition to the temples and pagodas in Vietnam, but it is definitely still worth a visit!
Discover Natural beauty under the ground at Ngườm Ngao Caves (Tiger Cave)
A huge part of the Cao Bang area is part of the Nuoc Non Cao Bang UNESCO World Heritage Geopark, which is noted for its unique geological heritage. A large part of that geology is related to the region’s large quantity of limestone and karst formations, including many extensive cave networks!
One such cave system that is open for tourists to explore is the Ngườm Ngao Caves. These caves are noted for their wide variety of stalactite and stalagmite formations that can be found there, including one in particular that is said to resemble an upside-down lotus blossom.
Interestingly, no one is completely sure how the caves received their name, Tiger Caves, though there are several stories. Some have said that a long time ago, several tigers lived in the caves and terrorized the local villages at night until they were slain. Others suggest that the sound of the underground rivers in the caves sounded enough like the chuffing of tigers to earn the caves the unique name. But however the caves were named, the fact remains that they are some of the best caves to visit in the Cao Bang area!
Spot the sky through the hole in Nui Thung (Angel Eye Mountain)
I’ve already mentioned that the geology in the Cao Bang area is unique enough to have earned it a UNESCO Geological park designation, but even among the beautiful limestone mountains of the region, Nui Thung manages to stand out.
Also called Angel Eye Mountain, Nui Thung is a mountain with a hole directly through its heart. Essentially, a cave formed in the side of the mountain and continued erosion eventually carved out a hole all the way through. Today, visitors to the mountain can stand at ground level and look clear through the mountain to the sky beyond.
The hole measures about 50 meters (165ft) in diameter, and it makes the mountain look like something straight out of a video game like Minecraft, with trees growing up into the huge gap to be back lit by the sky. While I had seen stone arches before visiting Nui Thung, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite as dramatic. It’s definitely worth a stop!
Thang Hen Lake Complex
Not far from Nui Thang is a network of 36 small lakes that are all interconnected thanks to the porous limestone that makes up much of the land in the Cao Bang area.
During the rainy season, the water levels of all 36 lakes rise until the merge into a single, large lake until dry season returns and the levels drop again. Interestingly, because the main water source of Thang Hen is ground water filtered through the surrounding limestone, the lake’s water retains a consistent blue-green color all year round, even during rainy season when most of the area’s rivers change to a muddy red.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot to do in the area apart from admiring the beauty of the lake, but the area has been designated as an ecotourism site by the government, so more development may occur in the future. At the moment, though, it is a beautiful place to take in the scenery or to spend a night camping.
Full disclosure: My family skipped this one. I do think that it would make a beautiful area for camping, but if you’re just passing through, there’s not a lot here for you. (Other than incredible scenery.)
Explore (and sleep in!) Traditional Stone houses in Khuoi Ky Village
Khuoi Ky is a small village of around 14 houses located not far from the Ban Gioc waterfalls. But despite its small size, this village has an impressively long history, dating back to the 1590s! However, unlike the wooden houses of many traditional villages, Khuoi Ky’s houses are made from stone.
This unique building style came from a traditional belief in a Stone God who would look over and protect the people of the village. But it has resulted in beautiful and lasting stone houses that have been serving the families in Khoui Ky for centuries.
While Khoui Ky is traditionally a farming village, tourism in the area is seen as a way of helping to increase the villager’s quality of life, and many of the families have turned their traditional houses into homestays. Especially if you don’t already have accommodations booked, staying in one of these stone houses and learning about the local people can add a lot to your trip!
Note: Khuoi Ky village is home to one of Vietnam’s minority indigenous people groups, the Tay people. The Tay are the 2nd largest ethnic group in Vietnam, and can be seen throughout the country’s north, but even among other Tay people, Khoui Ky village is unique!
Stays in Khuoi Ky Village
- Khuổi Ky Eco Homestay (Booking)
- Hoàng Công Bản Giốc Homestay (Booking)
- Yen Nhi Homestay Ban Gioc (Booking – We stayed here!)
Top-rated tours in the Cao Bang Area
While it is definitely possible to visit Cao Bang without pre-arranging tours (like we did), there’s a lot to be said for letting someone else do the leg work for you. Tourists aren’t as common in this part of Vietnam as they are in the larger cities, which means there are a lot fewer resources in place for tourists to lean on. But that also means that if you do make it out here, you’re much more likely to have an authentic Vietnamese adventure!
While there aren’t a ton of tourism resources for expats around the Cao Bang area, there are actually a few highly-rated tours that operate there. If you’re looking to let someone else do the planning for you so you can sit back and enjoy the experience with your kids, you should definitely check out these top-rated tours.
What is the best time to visit Cao Bang, Vietnam?
Cao Bang is one of those special places that can be visited year-round without too many considerations! However, it is worth noting that Cao Bang does have a rainy season from May until August where it rains significantly more than the rest of the year. Because of the area’s focus on natural beauty, heavy rains can definitely put a damper on your trip.
That said, most people agree the best time to visit Cao Bang is in the early Autumn months (September and October) when the rains have slowed down and temperatures are beginning to drop. Crops are also ripening during this time, which can give the area’s many fields a golden color that is very pleasant!
The higher elevation means that the region is cooler than the coastal regions to the south all through out the year, but even in the winter months, it’s rare for temperatures to drop below 50°F (10°C) and in the hottest months of summer it doesn’t usually get warmer than the low 90’s (33°C). That makes it a great place to visit when you need a break from Southeast Asia’s hotter locales!
