There are many magical places in Vietnam. Often argued that the Vietnam-Chinese border is so much more for the female solo traveler. And you know what? That may be true. Cao Bang Province in the northern most of Vietnam is beautiful in nature and wilderness. If you are backpacking in Vietnam:
Then it's why Cao Bang should be on your bucket list.
If you are planning on visiting Hanoi, then extend your visit to include Cao Bang City which is to the north. An 8-hour bus ride takes you through absolute gorgeous scenery. Now, has your interest has been piqued? Without delay let's delve deeper into why Cao Bang is such a lush holiday for backpackers.
Yes. It's perfect for the solo traveler, the wander and the adventurer. A resounding yes too for young couples in love, wanting to feel real beauty and nature. It's like Sa Pa all over again, the real Vietnam, uninterrupted. Only better, depending on your expectations. What you find when travel through the province, nearing China even, is an amazing feeling:
If this would be the first time for you going to Vietnam, then Hanoi is a top choice. Hanoi is the perfect base to start from:
The list is endless, the possibilities go on and on. You can carry yourself around the north of Vietnam for long enough and not seen it all. More than a little unsettling as left feeling troubled by that. Can you give yourself a two-week window for the north, that's our recommendation to you. Because there are so many villages in the province, some are remote and forgotten about. We can tell you with great certainty it's why you travel alone:
Traveling alone gives you the independence you seek. You'll crave for that once you find yourself far away from Hanoi City, immersed in the unknown. And yes, there are no worries either about traveling alone, especially for women. Take sensible precautions of course. Always, as you would do anywhere but there's nothing to worry or stress over.
The best time for visiting Cao Bang Province? In the springtime, when it remains cool and with little outlook for rain. Arrive in Hanoi in April, enjoy a Ha Long Bay cruise and then gear up for the drive north for a few days of natural beauty. This itinerary would be the perfect one week stay in Vietnam, before moving on with your solo journey.
The cheapest time for backpacking in Cao Bang experience can be in December and January. The winter season when the north of Vietnam is at its coldest, is the cheapest time. Only remember there are fewer attractions open, and you may need to wrap up. Temperatures fall from summer highs of 72°F to 55°F. Not the best time in our opinion, so wait for March or April. Plan ahead and book flights months in advance to reap any discounts.
Cao Bang City is the largest city in the province, northern Vietnam. Renowned for its jaw dropping beauty, the area enjoys a slower pace of life, off the beaten track. The landscape harbors many gorgeous waterfalls. One such, the Ban Gioc Waterfall is one of the largest in the world ― in the top five no less. The city is close to the Chinese border, only 30km actually. Planning on going solo backpacking into China? You will find the Cao Bang Province the ideal crossing over point.
A large part of the province is a recognized UNESCO Geopark. There are rich dense forests, flat plateau lands and mountains staunchly protected. If that isn't enough to tug at your heart strings and you settle for Sa Pa instead? That's forgivable, of course. Sa Pa is as gorgeous a holiday adventure as this and that's what is so darned difficult about north Vietnam is. There are too many beautiful places to choose from.
What Sa Pa and Cao Bang both have in common are:
You are going to enjoy staying in one of the homestays. A lot of the pleasure is the seclusion you feel, the company of the villagers and their delicious cuisine. Unsure you can hire a guide? Don't worry, the villagers are very polite and helpful to foreign tourists. There will be someone who'll offer you a grand tour. Give your guide sufficient compensation, because every dollar goes back into their community.
Buses leave in the morning and late evening. Go in the evening bus. Because the roads are a lot quieter, you'll have less trouble sleeping through the 8 hour trip. Also, there are VIP luxury coaches. They pick you up from Hanoi's Old Quarter although they're a touch more expensive:
Bus services also leave from Gia Lum bus station, if that's closer to your Hanoi hostel. Or pick the cheapest of the two at the time of online booking. On our trip, we took the local service because the seats recline fully anyway, so why pay more? You must wait for a stop before you can get to a toilet.
Hiring a motorbike for a few days may be a better option to you. Stop where and when you want for capturing photos, which is great if you are a keen photographer. You can travel with a group, new friends you've met in the Old Quarter. That, for sure is likely to happen when hanging out in the Old Quarter. A road trip at times, enhances the solo travel for company, storytelling and enjoying a beer. Expect to pay between US$5 and US$8 per day hire, not including fuel.
Costs depend on the machine you hire: the more powerful the engine the more it costs.
It depends. Solo travelers, the recommendation is 3 days. That's enough time to see the main attractions including Ban Gioc Waterfall. On the flip side, if you have hired a motorbike then you could stretch your time to a week. As you are more mobile, it's easier to see a great deal more of the province. But one day isn't enough, you'll just visit the waterfall and that's it. A real shame, and in our opinion a completely wasted opportunity for you. Plan on staying in Cao Bang the 3 days and you'll thank yourself later.
Where to move on from Cao Bang? You've a choice of either Ha Giang Province, or Lao Cai Province. Either will reward you with the natural world. Take note of where Sa Pa is, in Lao Cai Province. Want impressive, "life changing" mountain landscapes? Find them along the Ha Giang Loop. Flip a coin to decide which province you move on from Cao Bang. Either doesn't disappoint, anyway.
Booking accommodation in advance, most definitely secures a roof over your head. Expect to pay anywhere from US$8 a night for a hostel. A reasonable hotel with breakfast will set you back US$21 a night. Once out of the city, you can book yourself into a guesthouse or homestay. Often you simply phone ahead a day or two before you may arrive.
Who is Cao Bang best suited for? If you love shopping, glitzy upmarket cafes and restaurants, then you may not favor Cao Bang. Cao Bang is for you if you have an uncontrollable passion for nature, wild beauty and wide-open spaces. The only manmade structures you'll come across are likely old temples and pagodas. The most famous of them is Truc Lam. Many symbols of religious belief held dear to those you meet; you'll want to see. Top attractions you'll want to experience are all natural wonders:
With so many rivers and lakes, water plays on your mind leaving Hanoi for Cao Bang. You can feel the excitement rush through your veins as your imagination flares. Traveling is addictive. Ban Goic Waterfall is the fourth largest in the world, on the border with China. It's the "big ticket" item for tourist coming to the north of Vietnam, not only the solo traveler. Ban Goic Waterfall is roughly 90km distant from Cao Bang City. Your best option is to arrange travel to the waterfall with your Cao Bang accommodation. That's the most convenient and sensible approach in our experience.
Usually, it's a small bus the locals use, shared with other tourists. Or you can hire a taxi if you prefer, there and then as you please. The journey out of Cao Bang to the nearest village to the waterfall can be as long as 2 hours. Expect brief delays though.
The largest and most wild waterfall in Asia has many pleasures for all travelers. The 30m tall Ban Gioc Waterfall has many tiers, each with a pool. The water finally falls to flow into a large open pool below. The water is crystal clear and pristine, turquoise hued. Although there is only one waterfall, it's considered there are two though. You have the main waterfall, which is tiered, and to the side of it is another waterfall that has no tiers.
The river responsible for the waterfall is Quay Son River. Dare yourself to visit during the monsoon season (middle of June until September). This waterfall is even more spectacular then, amazing and a joy to see in person. In fact, for most waterfalls in Asia, fighting jungle humidity is always worth it. The higher the waterfall, the more thunderous the sound during monsoon.
Entrance to the waterfall, you pay a ticket fee of 40,000VND with an extra 50,000VND if you want a boat too. Prices are per person. It's a few US dollars, which isn't a lot to expect to pay as a traveling foreigner. It's best to go before or after the rainy season to enjoy the water clarity, the sunshine and feel-good factor. It's a place you could spend all day at, exploring the jungle and village close by and hanging around for the sunset. The waterfall can be noisy and crowded by mid-morning, so arrive as early as you can. When we arrived, a queue had already formed shortly after opening time, 07:00 hours.
The atmosphere of the waterfalls, the scenic views and water activities are all fun and a joy. Having found your bearings, you can splash around and go swimming. Even a boat trip. Later you learn of a trail leading to Nguom Ngao Cave. The cave is only 6km away. You will make it to the cave within an hour provided you are reasonably fit and healthy. The cave is to the west of the waterfall. A traditional Vietnamese built Buddha pagoda nestles a kilometer distant of the waterfall.
Light into the cave from the entrance creates an eerie stillness. Those walking in front of you create the silhouetted alien like figures, worrying you. Beautiful setting though, inside. It's when looking towards the entrance from the back of the cave that's the magic you feel. And the luminescence inside the cave wholly depends on the time of day, and level of sunshine outside.
Pack a picnic or buy snacks in Cao Bang City before setting off. Although there are a few vendors selling snacks, you are not guaranteed they are reliable. That is more the case during the dry season (winter months), vendors go elsewhere. More sights to explore and look out for include:
There are many tourist spots in Cao Bang, which is why a few days is a recommendation. Arriving at Thang Hen Mountain Lake you immediately want to set off walking around the lake. Towering high mountains, the thick dense forests clinging to the slopes. The landscape is breathtaking in every respect. It's even better once on the lake, a local boat service ferries people from one end to the other. The lake is therapeutic to everyone who comes for tranquility and peacefulness.
You are spoilt in so many ways, that's how you truly feel at the lake.
Your essential packing list varies depending on which southeast Asian country you're traveling to. For Vietnam, typically you are thinking about the essential items such as:
A camera is optional if you've a smartphone, don't lug around both. Also, you'll need a portable powerpack when it's not possible to charge your devices. Pack your passport and visa documents, and travel insurance documentation. Any details about medication you take, take with you. Don't rely on finding suitable alternatives to your prescribed medicine when abroad.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacy about getting an extra supply, to sustain you for your entire trip.
We are positive our Cao Bang travel guide has shed more light on your thoughts about a trip to the north of Vietnam. It's not only the Ban Gioc Waterfall, the only thing worth venturing to the Chinese border for, of course. The wilderness of Vietnam's north is what motivates the solo traveler to come. Are you looking for adventure with a passion? Plan a trip to Coa Bang otherwise you will forever regret you hadn't.
Few places are so special on bringing you back a second time; Cao Bang is such a place.
Vietnam is one of the most affordable country destinations to come to in southeast Asia. Sure, it's not as cheap as Thailand or Cambodia. But neither has the natural world what north Vietnam has. What else you won't experience in Thailand or Cambodia are centuries old villages. There are a few things as awesome not found elsewhere, such as the high rising rice terraces. Vietnamese people are also the friendliest you'll ever meet.
Put Cao Bang on your travel bucket list, it'll make you super happy guaranteed.
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