Cao Bang is beautiful in every season because waterfalls and streams are usually not affected much by the weather. Even though many people come to Cao Bang on rainy days, it is still beautiful, especially in the ripe rice season, which lasts from September to early October. At this time, the weather is pleasant, so you could travel more easily. And no camera is as good as our eyes, so experiencing it for yourself and seeing it in real life is always so much better.
A review of 3D3N Cao Bang Journey – The green pearl of the Northeast region
We departed from Saigon for Hanoi and stayed in Hanoi for a day. In the evening, we took a car from Hanoi to Cao Bang City (bus company: Hiep Giang, Thanh Ly, Khai Hoan, Vinh Dung, etc.). The fare for the bus with room is VND 350,000/way, departing at 21:30 from My Dinh Bus Station to the bus station in Cao Bang city within 7 hours. The car reached the destination at around 5:00 or 6:00.
Means of transport: You can find many motorbike rental services in Cao Bang. We rented a motorbike from Eco Homestay in Cao Bang with a dedicated shuttle service. I gave it 10 points because the motorbike rental quality is excellent, with full accessories and a wide range of helmet options. The motorbike rental fee is from VND 180,000 to VND 550,000 per day, depending on the type of motorbike. We rented for 3 days.
Day 1: Cao Bang City – Khau Coc Cha Pass (15 floors pass) – Bao Lac – Me Farmstay
At first, we had planned to go to Lung Pan Bamboo Forest, but the locals told us that the journey was too long, so we skipped the bamboo forest. Fortunately, on the way to Bao Lac, we met another gorgeous bamboo forest.
Khau Coc Cha Pass is 86km from Cao Bang city. You can follow the roads DT203 and DT204, and remember to use Google Maps for car. Instead, if you follow the motorbike route, you will get lost 2-3 times like we did. The journey is breathtaking; passing through Bao Lake is as gorgeous as in the West.
We headed to Nong Van Ngoan grocery store, located right below the foot of the pass where we had to climb up. We ate instant noodles, then continued to climb. We walked for about 25-30 minutes. The road was quite easy for trekking. From the rocky slope upwards, it was a bit tiring. You should wear comfortable walking shoes, and if it rains, you should not go because the road will be very slippery, making it easy to fall. At the check-in point, there are an adorable ethnic grandfather and his grandchildren who sell water and make the route easier to travel, so remember to support them.
Leaving the pass, we went back to Me Farmstay. Here is our lodging for the trip to Lenin Stream and Coc Po Cave, which is located 58 kilometers from the pass. I really like the space of Me Farmstay with the green river meandering around the distant mountains, bamboo groves, a small house, and a rose garden. At Me Farmstay, you can go rafting, watch the sunset, etc. Me Farmstay’s dinner is hearty, with deep-fried stream fish, wild vegetables, wild chicken, sour bamboo shoot soup, Ban pig, and Me’s specialty, delicious sausages. It’s perfect to enjoy sausages with a cup of warm corn wine.
Day 2: Lenin Stream – Ban Gioc Waterfall
After breakfast, we went to Lenin Stream and Coc Po Cave. These locations are only 3 kilometers away from Me, making traveling very convenient. Tickets to the Coc Po area are VND 45,000, including tram tickets. We went to visit the stream, where Uncle Ho lived and worked, etc. Until noon, we checked out at Me Farmstay and then moved to Ban Gioc.
From Me, we followed the shortcut on Google Maps in the direction of DT210 road to go straight through Ban Gioc. It is very convenient, and the newly constructed road is very nice and empty. It took about 2 hours and a half to 3 hours to reach the destination, saving a lot of time compared to the old road that went back to Cao Bang city.
We stayed at Tay’s homestay in Khuoi Ky stone village near Ban Gioc waterfall. Therefore, we went to the homestay to check in and rest first, then went to the waterfall. Khuoi Ky stone village is also an interesting tourist destination to visit. There are numerous excellent homestays in the village, with the room price ranging from VND 500,000 per room. In addition, you can stay at Lan’s Homestay or Nasan Green Farm; both of them are lovely.
In the afternoon, around 15:00, we went to Ban Gioc waterfall, 3km away from the stone village. Ban Gioc waterfall is a tourist symbol of Cao Bang. The main waterfall is exploited by both Vietnam and China,however the Chinese side is temporarily blocked (perhaps due to COVID), so it is also quite empty. The waterfall is breathtaking and majestic. It is said that China opens the dam in the afternoon, so the waterfall has more water at this time and the sun is more gorgeous.
In addition, we paddled SUP at Nasan Green Farm, which is about 15 kilometers from the waterfall and about 30 minutes away. Rowing and watching the sunset on the Quay Son River is a romantic experience. The SUP price is VND 150,000/SUP for 2 hours. In Nasan, there are also lovely homestays and restaurants, quite similar to the style in Me.
In the evening, we had dinner at homestay with familiar Highland specialties. There is a well-known chestnut speciality in the Chongqing region that you may enjoy at the homestay.
Day 3: Nguom Ngao Cave – Co La Waterfall – Thang Hen Lake – Mat Than Mountain – Cao Bang City
The homestay is near Nguom Ngao Cave, about 1km away, so we went to the cave in the morning. The ticket price is VND 45,000 for the old route. The cave also has a new route for those who want to explore the full cave, with a ticket price of VND 195,000.
After leaving the homestay, we stopped at Co La waterfall, a pristine waterfall located next to ripe rice fields. The scenery is extremely gorgeous. The waterfall is near Nasan Green Farm, so if you stay here, you can row a SUP to the waterfall for convenience. From Co La waterfall, we arrived at Thang Hen Lake around noon, which is 66 kilometers from Co La waterfall and takes approximately an hour and a half by motorbike.
After eating and resting, we went to God’s Eye Mountain around 15:00 to watch the sunset. The God’s Eye Mountain, also known as Thung Mountain, is as picturesque as a miniature “Mongolia” with green grasslands. The camping service of Mr. Loc Tran’s team from Eco Camping is available here. If you have time, you can choose to camp for an extra night, which is very relaxing. The best time frame is from 16:00 to 18:00, or in the morning.
Back in Cao Bang city, about 23km away, we returned the motorbike, had dinner, and then took a bus back to Hanoi. The trip was fantastic because the weather was nice and moderate during our journey.
Đăng bởi: Bích Ngọc
