Want to uncover Cao Bang’s waterfalls, caves, borderland scenery, and local craft villages in one journey? This 4-day, 3-night Cao Bang Discovery tour takes you from Hanoi to Nguom Ngao Cave, Ban Gioc Waterfall, Phat Tich Pagoda, Ha Lang grass hills, Phia Thap incense village, Phuc Sen forging village, Holy Eye Mountain, and Cao Bang City before returning to Hanoi.
View Itinerary Book This TourThis Cao Bang Discovery tour is designed for nature and culture lovers who want to explore Northern Vietnam’s borderland landscapes, waterfalls, caves, craft villages, and local homestays. Travel from Hanoi to Nguom Ngao Cave, Ban Gioc Waterfall, Phat Tich Pagoda, Ha Lang grass hills, Phia Thap incense village, Phuc Sen forging village, Holy Eye Mountain, and Cao Bang City.
Explore a 300-million-year-old cave set within Cao Bang’s dramatic mountain landscape.
Take a boat trip beside one of the world’s largest waterfalls on the Vietnam–China border.
Visit the first pagoda built in Cao Bang, located near Ban Gioc Waterfall and Phia Nham Mountain.
See open grassland scenery that shifts in color and creates a poetic borderland landscape.
Learn about Nung incense traditions in Phia Thap and blacksmithing history in Phuc Sen Village.
Stop at the mystical mountain known locally as “a mountain with a hole pierced through.”
Follow the journey from Hanoi to Nguom Ngao Cave, Ban Gioc Waterfall, Phat Tich Pagoda, Ha Lang grass hills, Phia Thap incense village, Phuc Sen forging village, Mat Than Mountain, Cao Bang City, and back to Hanoi.
Your guide and driver pick you up at your hotel lobby at 7:30 AM. Start the long journey north to Cao Bang Province, then continue toward Trung Khanh District near the Vietnam–China border.
Stop at Nguom Ngao Cave to explore a 300-million-year-old cave nestled in an enchanting limestone landscape.
Spend the first night at a local homestay in Nguom Ngao, giving you time to rest after the journey from Hanoi.
After breakfast, continue the discovery journey with a boat trip beside Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of the largest waterfalls in the world and a famous borderland landmark between Vietnam and China.
Visit Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda, the first pagoda built in Cao Bang. The pagoda sits near Ban Gioc Waterfall and leans against Phia Nham Mountain.
Continue to Ba Quang Grass Hill in Ha Lang District, where carpets of grass shift into yellow and orange tones, creating a poetic natural landscape.
Return to your homestay in Nguom Ngao and spend the second night in the same local accommodation.
After breakfast, continue your Cao Bang discovery. Stop at Phia Thap Village to learn about the incense craft of the Nung ethnic minority and a spiritual tradition preserved through many generations.
Visit Phuc Sen Village, known for blacksmithing methods that trace back to the 10th and 11th centuries, when villagers produced weapons for local soldiers.
Before heading to Cao Bang City, stop at Mat Than, also known as Holy Eye Mountain. Local Tay people call it “Phja Piót,” describing a mountain with a hole pierced through it as if the wind blew from one side to the other.
Travel to Cao Bang City to rest and spend the night after a full day of craft villages, cultural stories, and mountain scenery.
After breakfast at your hotel, prepare for the return trip to Hanoi. Your guide will arrange a short walking break part-way through the drive so you can stretch your legs.
The tour finishes around 5:30 PM when you are dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi, ending your Cao Bang Discovery tour.
This itinerary includes long-distance car travel, limestone cave access, a Ban Gioc Waterfall boat trip, craft village visits, grass hill scenery, and mountain roads. The route may change or be cancelled due to weather, road, cave, waterfall, or local safety conditions.
Review the main inclusions and exclusions before sending your request, so you can better understand what is covered in this 4-day Cao Bang Discovery tour.
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Real stories from travelers who explored Northern Vietnam with YESD through flexible planning, warm local hospitality, and meaningful travel experiences.
I had a chance to experience a 3-day, 2-night tour to Cao Bang and Ba Be with Yesd and it was one of the most memorable travel experiences I’ve had in Vietnam. The landscapes were absolutely breathtaking, from the green Ba Be Lake to the awesome Ban Gioc Waterfall very close to the Chinese border, every stop is like a picture come to life.
The limestone karsts and peaceful ethnic villages created a picture-perfect setting. We stayed in local homestay in Nguom Ngao and Ba Be, where the hosts were warm and welcoming, rooms are clean and the home-cooked meals were a real treat.
Our tour guide, Ms. Ying was knowledgeable, friendly, and spoke English well. If you are looking to escape the crowds and explore Vietnam’s nature and culture, this Cao Bang – Ba Be tour is an absolute must.
We did two trips through YESD: Mai Chau – Pu Luong – Ninh Binh and Ha Giang – Cao Bang.
Our trip looked like this: arrival in Vietnam → trip 1 → few days Hong Kong → trip 2 → Cat Ba → end of the trip.
We travelled with grandpa and grandmother and our family with two children aged 4 and 7. The trip actually went exactly as we had hoped. We were also able to adjust the program a bit to our wishes. Grandma, who has a bit of difficulty walking, sometimes skipped the hikes and then stayed behind with the children when they didn’t feel like it either.
The stays were quite basic, but that also had something. Sometimes in places with the most beautiful views. We also didn’t feel like we were coming to very touristy places, which we really liked.
All staff were super friendly and the contact by email was always quick and smooth.
All in all, this was really a journey with memories for life.
Practical answers to help you understand the route, main sights, homestays, borderland scenery, craft villages, inclusions, and whether this 4-day Cao Bang tour is the right fit for your Vietnam itinerary.
This tour lasts 4 days and 3 nights, starting from Hanoi and traveling through Nguom Ngao, Ban Gioc, Ha Lang, Cao Bang City, and back to Hanoi.
The tour starts with pickup from your hotel lobby in Hanoi at 7:30 AM.
Yes. The itinerary includes a boat trip beside Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of the world’s largest waterfalls and a major highlight of Cao Bang.
The tour includes Nguom Ngao Cave, described on the itinerary as a 300-million-year-old cave near the Vietnam–China border area.
The itinerary includes Phia Thap incense village and Phuc Sen forging village, where you can learn about Nung incense traditions and local blacksmithing history.
Yes. The tour includes local accommodation, including homestay nights in Nguom Ngao and a night in Cao Bang City.
Holy Eye Mountain, also called Mat Than, is a distinctive mountain with a natural hole through it. Local Tay people call it “Phja Pióť.”
Yes. Accommodation, activities, and meals mentioned in the itinerary are included.
Yes. The itinerary may change or be cancelled due to weather conditions.