Ban Gioc Waterfalls

Ban Gioc Waterfalls or Thác Bản Giốc and Thác Đức Thiên are 2 waterfalls on the Quây Sơn River between Vietnam-China border. The waterfalls are located in the Karst hills of Daxin County in the Chongzuo prefecture-level city of Guangxi Province, on the Chinese side, and in the district of Trung Khanh District, Cao Bằng province on the Vietnamese side. It is around 300 km north of Hanoi.

What to see

The sight in Ban Gioc Waterfall bears a poetic, fresh, quiet beauty of water, forest and cloud area mixed with village atmosphere of mountainous ethnic minorities. As the falls have three levels, which creates a sort of giant staircase, and there’s enough water any time, throughout the year, it will make your trip worthwhile. At the same time, enjoy walking across paddy fields to reach the base of the falls. Or enjoy its famous  fish named “tram huong”. In the early 1920s, French people started building cottages on the river banks. They would come here to relax, fish for “tram huong”, and hunt deer.

Tourist facilities

There’s been some development of tourist facilities in recent years, but almost nothing except a bamboo footbridge and a couple of bamboo rafts on the Vietnamese side. At the moment, Saigontourist is building a four-star Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, covering a total of 31.15 hectares. It will consist of two main sections, with one adjacent to Provincial Road 206 and the other facing Ban Gioc Waterfalls. The resort will have 60 hotel rooms, 24 bungalows with 29 rooms, a 200-seat restaurant, a 200-seat meeting room, sport and entertainment facilities, spa and areas for picnicking and other outdoor activities.

How to get to Cao Bang

Hai Van open bus is the best one, offering sleeping berth running daily at 20h30PM between Hanoi (My Dinh bus centre) and Cao Bang town.

My Dinh - Tel: 3722 3588

Cao Bang – Tel: 01686.242424

Tailor made tour idea

Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be Lake

In the morning, tour guide and driver will pick you up at your Hanoi hotel around 7:30 – 8:00 and drive to Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan province (250km). Stop over for visiting the Tay minority. Arrival in Ba Be, take a boat on the Nang River, visit Ba Be Lake, Puong Grotto, Dau Dang waterfall, Window Island and Pac Ngoi Village (Tay minority). Overnight home-stay in Pac Ngoi Village

Day 2: Ba Be – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc

After breakfast, depart for Cao Bang (110km). Arrive in Cao Bang, visit Phuoc Sen village of Nung people, a small village famous for producing farming tools. Then transfer to Ban Gioc Waterfall (85km). Arrive in Ban Gioc waterfall, at leisure for relaxing, taking photos and enjoying the most beautiful waterfall of Vietnam. Overnight at hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 3: Cao Bang – Hanoi

Leave Cao Bang and transfer back to Hanoi (300km) in the morning. On the way back, stop for visiting the village where tobacco is produced. Visit the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s ethnic groups in Thai Nguyen. Lunch en route and drop off at your hotel upon arrival.

Cost Estimate: 240 USD per person.