People say that Cao Bang Province is one of the most beautiful places in all of Vietnam, nestled around 300 km north of Hanoi city (the capital) that was our first place to visit. There are nine ethnic minorities living in this province. The town itself has not something special to be proud of, it is an interesting spot to follow the Vietnamese primitive country lifestyle, but more than that it is a useful base to explore the surrounding countryside.
Ban Gioc Waterfall:
One of Vietnam's best known waterfalls, its image adorns the lobby of many a cheap guest houses throughout Vietnam. it's a very scenic spot, marking the border with China, it surprised us we were the only foreign visitors here, unlike the Chinese side.
The waterfall is the largest in the country, the vertical drop is 53 meters and it has an impressive 300 meters span, one end of the falls is in China, the other is in Vietnam.
The falls has 3 levels, creating a sort of giant staircase.
Ngoum Ngao Cave:
Nguom Ngao is one of the largest cave located inside a mountain among the range of limestone mountain in the area. The cave was formed due to weathered process of limestone mountains over a long time. Stepping in the cavern, we seem to see a miraculous world.
From high stone cliffs, hanging wonderful sparkling seven-colored stalactites.
Electricity has been installed in the main cave and the lightening is quite beautiful.
Thang Hen Lake:
It was suppose to be one of the most beautiful attractions in the area, but it turned out to be a disappointing place, the lake itself looks like a big green pond and nothing more.
The real attraction for us was to see an extinct vanishing world:
The Villages:
At the same day we rented a motorbike and cruise around Cao Bang area, by that we experienced what we have seen behind the glass of the bus at the previous day (the bus to Ban Gioc waterfalls).
We stopped at minority villages, the communication with the locals was challenging with a great joy since the people are very friendly and we became an attraction for them as they for us. While observing the countryside traditional lifestyle we felt very fortunate as we know it is a vanishing world which will extinct in the future.
Generally - Cao Bang is not touristic yet and the integration with the locals was very authentic, real, mutual and interesting (and not commercialized).
That kind of atmosphere we didn't experience for a long time.
No doubt, in the western world you can't see this kind of lifestyle.
working in the rice fields:
Have fun,
Efrat and Yoni.
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1 comment:
Hi! I'm so glad to have found your blog - someone who has actually been to Ban Gioc. I am myself planning to go there sometime in the middle of next year, and I was wondering if you could help me out with a few suggestions on how to get there from Hanoi? My email is jesais77@hotmail.com. Thanks!!
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