Cao Bang Loop: 2-Day Ban Gioc, Rivers & Village Life

Day 1: Cao Bang City to Ban Gioc: Craft Villages, Waterfall & Cave

1. Cao Bang
   30m
   Meet your English-speaking local guide and Easy Rider at the Cao Bang Travel office in Cao Bang City. Before departure, receive a route briefing, helmet fitting, luggage check and motorbike safety inspection.
   
   The journey is led by local people born and raised in Cao Bang, offering firsthand knowledge of the mountain roads, ethnic culture and communities visited along the route.
2. 20m
   Ride through Ma Phuc Pass, one of the signature mountain gateways of the Cao Bang Loop. Stop at a panoramic viewpoint overlooking winding roads, limestone peaks, green valleys and peaceful rural villages before continuing deeper into the countryside.
3. 40m
   Visit Phja Thap, a traditional Nung An village known for handmade incense. Meet local artisans and learn how natural forest materials are prepared, shaped and dried in the sun using skills passed down through generations.
4. Phuc Sen Forging Village
   40m
   Stop in Phuc Sen to discover the village’s long-established metalworking tradition. Observe skilled Nung An artisans at work and learn how locally forged tools remain connected to everyday life, family livelihoods and ethnic culture in Cao Bang.
5. Nguom Ngao Cave
   1h 25m · Admission ticket included
   Follow your local guide into Nguom Ngao Cave and explore impressive underground chambers beneath the limestone mountains. See stalactites, stalagmites and naturally sculpted formations while learning about the cave’s geology, local names and stories associated with the surrounding landscape.
6. Ban Gioc Waterfall - Detian Falls
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Experience Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of the defining highlights of the Cao Bang Loop. The waterfall rises from the emerald Quay Son River and is surrounded by limestone mountains, rice fields and peaceful border scenery.
   
   Walk to the main viewpoints, enjoy time for photographs and, when local operating and water conditions allow, take a bamboo raft closer to the cascading falls.
7. Truc Lam Pagoda
   45m
   Walk up the hillside steps to Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda. Explore the peaceful temple grounds, hear stories about the history and spiritual importance of the border region, and enjoy panoramic views across the Quay Son River valley toward Ban Gioc Waterfall.
   
   Reaching the main viewpoint involves climbing a series of steps, but guests can walk at a comfortable pace.
8. Song Quay Son
   1h
   End the afternoon beside the Quay Son River, surrounded by limestone peaks, fields and quiet border countryside. Enjoy a relaxed walk along the river or, when seasonal weather, water levels and safety conditions are suitable, take a refreshing swim with guidance from the local team.

Day 2: Ban Gioc to Cao Bang City: Ngoc Con Viewpoint & Angel Eye Mountain

1. Dam Thuy
   30m
   Start the day with breakfast at the Ban Gioc homestay. Pack your belongings, check out and prepare for a full day through remote valleys, mountain countryside and the headwaters of the Quay Son River.
2. 2h
   Hike to Ngoc Con Viewpoint above the headwaters of the Quay Son River. The trail passes through peaceful countryside and gradually climbs toward an elevated viewpoint overlooking winding waterways, rice fields, limestone peaks and remote villages.
   
   This is a moderate hike suitable for travelers with a reasonable level of fitness. Comfortable walking shoes with good grip are recommended.
3. 2h
   Continue to Angel Eye Mountain, also known as the Eye of the Mountain God, one of Cao Bang’s most distinctive limestone landscapes. Enter the broad valley beneath the mountain’s enormous natural opening and enjoy panoramic views of grasslands, surrounding peaks and rural countryside.
   
   Depending on the season, weather and water level, explore the area on foot, by kayak or by a small local boat. The guide will confirm the most suitable activity according to conditions on the day.
4. Cao Bang
   30m
   Return to the Cao Bang Travel office in Cao Bang City between approximately 4:20 PM and 5:00 PM. The tour ends here.
   
   Guests can collect their luggage, rest, refresh and receive assistance from the Cao Bang Travel team with onward travel information or bus-ticket booking if required.

Pickup details

Our tour guide will be wearing the blue Cao Bang Travel uniform and will be waiting for you at the lobby of your hotel or at the location you requested.

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness