Cao Bang is a province in northeastern Vietnam, where the climate is relatively mild. Cao Bang has many ethnic groups such as Tay, Nung, H’Mong, Dao, Viet, San Chay, etc. in which the Tay accounts for a majority, about 41%.
What is the best time of year to go to Cao Bang?
Cao Bang is divided into two distinct seasons: rainy season which lasts from April to September and dry season is from October to March. If you intend to travel to Ban Gioc waterfall, should go around August to September, this waterfall will be very breathtakingly beautiful.
If you like to go to Cao Bang to see flowers, you can go to the end of the year around November, this is the Trichet flowers season (equivalent to Trichet flowers in Ha Giang)
If you like snow, you should go in winter months (last months of year to early next year), Pia Oac Forest’s temperature lowers in this time, so this phenomenon of snowing is likely. Combined with the journey schedule from Cao Bang to Lang Son (along the That Khe road), you can drop by Mau Son tourism, where almost every winter has ice or snow.
How to travel to Cao Bang?
From Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang or Can Tho to Cao Bang, you will have to fly to Hanoi and then continue to Cao Bang.
By Bus
Cao Bang city is about 280 km away from Hanoi capital because the distance is quite far so you should pick up bus from Hanoi. You can catch the bus daily at My Dinh or Luong bus station and it takes about 8 hours to go to Cao Bang. The travel cost of this daily bus is around VND 200,000 which is definitely affordable to visitors and keep you safer than riding your own motorbike. Later in Cao Bang you can rent motorbikes to continue exploring the place.
By motorbike
If the 280-km way long does not stop yourself from getting adventurous riding experience, you can certainly travel by your own motorbike.
Cao Bang has a relatively complex terrain. The existing road system only has four national highways including 3, 4A, 34 and 4C, while national highways 3 and 4 have been upgraded. Up to now, the transportation system has temporarily met the needs of passenger .
You can follow one of the three suggestions below:
- Traveling from Hanoi along National Highway 3 through Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan. On this road you can also drop by Thai Nguyen or Bac Kan, especially there is the well-known chilling place Ba Be Lake.
- Traveling from Hanoi along Highway 4 to Lang Son, combine to visit Mau Son and follow the direction of Dong Khe and That Khe to Cao Bang.
- If you go to Ha Giang by motorcycle from Hanoi, when coming back you can follow the direction of Dong Van to Meo Vac, go through Bao Lam, Bao Lac, Tinh Tuc (Nguyen Binh) and turn toward Bac Kan, crossing the Ba Be Lake resort before returning to Hanoi
Things to note
When traveling to Cao Bang, you should bring with you all the identification documents because this is the border area. In particular, respect the customs of the local people, do not affect the trees, flowers, keep the general hygiene and do not go into the prohibited areas or cross the border.
Trang Dam