The 'Angel' or ''God's' Eye Mountain During the Day
Cao Bang - 6 Things You Should Know Before Visiting
Cao Bang province is home to some of the most unique and beautiful scenery in Vietnam, despite not being on the radar of many tourists visiting the country. The Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Geopark which covers the majority of the province contains over 3000km2 of outstanding natural beauty and a variety of breathtaking landmarks. Overlooked by travellers who tend to follow more well worn routes through Ha Giang and Sapa, there is less information available online to prepare prospective visitors. Our guide will provide you with all the information you need to ready yourself for awe-inspiring travel around the hidden gem of Northern Vietnam.
A Heavy Rain Storm In The UNESCO Geopark
1. The Weather
While other provinces of Vietnam experience more extreme heat and humidity, the colossal mountain ranges of Cao Bang provide plenty of shade, with cooling breezes coming the streams and waterfalls. Despite this, the weather can still be somewhat unpredictable, and there are a few more things you should know to ensure that you arrive well prepared.
Whilst the weather of Northern Vietnam is dictated by the tropical ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ seasons, visitors should know that in the far north of the country this is broken up weather patterns more similar to the seasons that they may be used to at home. It is important to be aware of this when preparing to travel the province, especially in the winter months.
Winter in Cao Bang is very cold, and travellers coming to the region often prepare incorrectly. The cold is not the dry cold many are used to. Instead, due to the subtropical climate, the chill can be very wet and feel sharp on the skin. People intending to ride motorbikes during winter in Cao Bang and other northern provinces need to bring additional clothing to cover all of their skin and stay warm.
When travelling in any other season (especially summer) motorbike riders will still need to keep their arms, legs and hands covered. Tourists may often see local Vietnamese wearing full length ‘motorbike suits’ that cover the head, face, hands and legs. This is because, due to the altitude and heat in Cao Bang, the UV is incredibly high. When riding a motorbike through the mountains, the cool breeze will often be decieving and travellers can be badly burnt if not adequetly covered. Remember to bring long clothes to cover the skin, as well as high factor sun screen.
Make sure you are prepared for the weather, check the forecasts before you arrive and keep in mind the tropical climate and mountaineous geography of the region.
The View The Ban Gioc Temple
2. Fly Cam/Drones
The gargantuan Ban Gioc falls is the spectacular tourist attraction that most people come to Cao Bang to see. Some may find phone photos down below do not capture its beauty, and may opt to use a flycam or drone instead. It is important to note that due to the falls being on the border between Vietnam and China, it is illegal to fly a flycam/drone at the falls. Security or police often patrol the falls on both sides.
For a higher vantage point for flying your flycam/drone, or to get similar birds-eye view pictures with your phone, visit the nearby temple. The Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc temple or ‘Ban Gioc Temple’ is not very far the waterfall, scalable either by foot or by motorbike. The vantage points at the top of the temple provide breathtaking views of waterfalls and the landscape beyond.
The Ban Gioc Waterfalls
3. Time Zone Changes
Another thing to note when visiting the Ban Gioc Falls is automatic time zone changes. Being so close to the chinese border, your phone may think you are actually in China and will often automatically change the time zone to be an hour earlier. This has unfortunately confused many tourists, who think they have missed buses and leave in a rush.
Ensure you check the time before you are in proximity to the border, and do not be frightened if it’s later than you think! If unsure, search ‘time in Vietnam’ on google for clarifiction.
Inside The Dong Nguom Ngao Caves
4. Staying Near The Border
If you are thinking of staying at one of the many hotels and traditional homestays near Ban Gioc Waterfalls, make sure you plan well ahead of time and spend a day or two staying in Cao Bang city beforehand. Because of the highly sensitive border area with China, you must recieve a permit the Vietnamese government to stay within close proximity to the border, including visiting the falls or caves. This is only available the Cao Bang immigration office or the police station next to the waterfalls. Ensure that you bring your passport with you to the waterfalls as they do occasionally check.
Kim Dong during the Walking Street
5. Walking Street & Markets
If you want to experience some bustling local nightlife, you can’t miss the weekend evening ‘Walking Street’. This event, often missed by tourists, happens every Friday and Saturday night on the Kim Dong street of Cao Bang City. The ends of the streets are barricaded for cars, but open for pedestrians. You will find extensive markets and shops open, with the street filled with locals. It’s the perfect time to find some traditional street food and peruse the array of local shops which are not often open so late at night.
Towns and villages near to and including Cao Bang City also have an ethnic market every 5 or 10 days. People the Tay and less commonly the Hmong ethnic groups come down their homes in the mountains to sell their wares and produce. You can often find traditional handicrafts, incredible home cooked food and fresh groceries. Each city has a distinct schedule, so enquire with your host to ensure that you don’t miss out!
Lunch At Gilu's Garden
6. Getting Lunch
Vietnamese food and eating customs are somewhat different to other countries, and this can be particularly difficult to figure out for Westerners. One key difference is how and when meals occur.
Vietnamese households eat out together when having breakfast or brunch, with the main home-cooked meal of the day occuring in the evening. You may also find that if you walk the streets of Cao Bang at lunchtime that it will look relatively empty. This is because families are eating lunch together at home - although the restaurant fronts may be open, they will not be serving customers until later in the day.
As is the Vietnamese custom away the large tourist centres, families leave work for lunch at around 12 to 1pm, often also taking a nap after eating. This means that food establishments are usually closed around 1 to 3pm. Despite this, there will still be places open where you can grab a Banh My or small supermarkets selling the usual groceries.
Angel Eye Mountain at Dusk
Whilst these tips serve as in introduction to what you can expect in your visit to Cao Bang, there is so much more to learn once you arrive! As a local, family owned business, we can ensure that you’ll receive all the information and recommendations that you need to make the most of your time in our incredible province.With Cao Bang Eco Travel services you will be provided with every resource and amenity you need to ensure an unforgettable stay.
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