Cao Bang and Ban Gioc Waterfall: caves, Pac Bo and key tips

Give Cao Bang two days and base yourself in Cao Bang city. Take the overnight bus from Hanoi, then hire a motorbike or car for the falls, about 30 km from the central market of Trung Khanh district.1VnExpress (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net Go from late September to October, when the falls turn emerald.

How long have you got?

• One day: Ban Gioc Waterfall and Nguom Ngao cave, 3 km apart.
• Two days: add Pac Bo on the second day.

When are you going?

• May to September: the rainy season, hot and humid.2Vietnam Tourism (opens in a new tab)vietnam.travel
• From September: the Quay Son river turns emerald and the falls enter their most beautiful season. In October 2025 floodwater raised the river about 2 m and the site closed on 30 September to 3 October and again on 7 October.3VnExpress, October 2025 (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net
• October to April: the dry season, which Vietnam Tourism names as the best time to visit. A dam on the Quay Son river releases water daily from 10:30 to 13:00 to bring the falls to full flow.4Vietnam Tourism (opens in a new tab)vietnam.travel
• November to January: frost on Phia Oac, with temperatures below zero.5VnExpress (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net

Top things to do

• Ban Gioc Waterfall: about 300 m wide, on the China border.6Vietnam Tourism (opens in a new tab)vietnam.travel A raft takes visitors to the falls.Tip Time your visit for the 10:30 to 13:00 dam release in the dry season.7Vietnam Tourism (opens in a new tab)vietnam.travel
• Nguom Ngao cave: the system is 2,144 m long, with 948 m open to visitors.Tip Bring drinking water, as the walk can take over an hour.8Vietnam Tourism (opens in a new tab)vietnam.travel
• Pac Bo: the memorial and museum where Ho Chi Minh began his revolution, with the cave where he hid and the river where he fished.Tip The memorial and museum sit within one historical complex.9Vietnam Tourism (opens in a new tab)vietnam.travel
• Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark: recognised in 2018 and revalidated in 2026 with a Green Card, covering over 3,683 sq km.10Vietnam News, April 2026 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vnTip For the best lake level, see Thang Hen Lake in the monsoon, May to October.11VnExpress (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net

Getting there and around

• Overnight bus from Hanoi: My Dinh bus station at 22:00, arriving in Cao Bang at 05:00, for about 200,000 VND.12VnExpress (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net
• At the falls: buses seating 25 or fewer can drive down the access path. Larger buses stop at the border-station car park, and you walk the rest.13VnExpress (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net
• Bikes: homestays and hotels hire motorbikes for about 150,000 VND a day.14VnExpress (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net

If it doesn’t go to plan

• Falls closed after heavy rain? Spend the day at Nguom Ngao cave and Pac Bo, and check with the site before returning.
• Arriving at 05:00? Leave your bag at your hotel and start with Pac Bo.