2-day Cao Bang tour with easy rider: Ban Gioc Waterfall

A bamboo raft takes you to the base of one of Southeast Asia's largest waterfalls.

A 2-day tour of Cao Bang loops through limestone mountains, traditional craft villages and Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Vietnam-China border, with a local guide, motorbike or SUV transport, one night in a homestay and meals included. You travel by easy rider (sitting as a passenger) or by car depending on your option choice, stay overnight in a village homestay near the waterfall, and take a bamboo raft to approach Ban Gioc up close. The tour suits travelers who want to move beyond standard sightseeing and meet local ethnic communities.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Craft villages and scenic panoramas

• Pick up and breakfast at homestay
• Depart and admire mountain views
• Check in at Ma Phuc Pass
• Visit Phia Thap, Phuc Sen, Dia Tren villages
• Check in Ba Quang Panorama
• Trek or horse ride at Ba Quang
• Lunch near Ba Quang Panorama
• Move to Nguom Ngao Cave
• Visit Nguom Ngao Cave
• Check in homestay near Ban Gioc Waterfall
• Dinner at homestay

Day 2: Ban Gioc Waterfall and valleys

• Breakfast at homestay
• Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall and boat ride
• Walk to Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Trek Ngoc Con Valley
• Pass Quoc Toan Commune
• Watch sunset at Angel Eye Mountain
• Return to Cao Bang city

The experience

Two days means you fit the full loop (craft villages, mountain passes, cave exploration and the waterfall itself) without rushing. Day one starts with pickup at 7:30 am and takes you through Ma Phuc Pass into the Northeast mountains. You stop at three traditional craft villages (incense making, forging, paper production) run by local ethnic communities, then trek 20 minutes to Ba Quang Panorama for views across the grass hills. In the afternoon you explore Nguom Ngao Cave, where stone pillars rise against the sky and stalactites catch the light. By late afternoon you're checked into a homestay in Khuoi Ky Village, positioned near Ban Gioc Waterfall for the next morning.

Day two centers on Ban Gioc itself. After local breakfast you take a bamboo raft on the river to get close to the 30-meter waterfall at the Vietnam-China border, the moment most travelers come for. From there you walk 15 minutes uphill to Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda for a panoramic view of the falls and the surrounding valley. Lunch is at a local restaurant, then a 40-minute trek up Ngoc Con Valley opens onto views of winding rivers and patchwork fields. The tour ends watching sunset from Angel Eye Mountain before returning to Cao Bang city by early evening.

Your guide speaks Vietnamese and is included throughout. English-speaking guides are available as an option at checkout. You choose between traveling by motorbike (as a passenger on the back, hands-free to take photos and watch the scenery) or by SUV car: both options include the same stops and the same guide. Meals are provided (breakfast, lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two), along with a 1.5-liter bottle of filtered water per day. The homestay bed is in a dormitory. Private rooms cost extra and should be arranged in advance.

What’s included

• Local guide throughout.
• motorbike transport with easy rider (passenger seating) or SUV car depending on your option.
• one night in a homestay dormitory near Ban Gioc Waterfall.
• dinner on day one and breakfast and lunch on day two.
• 1.5 liters of filtered water per person per day.
• bamboo raft ride to Ban Gioc Waterfall.
• entry to Nguom Ngao Cave and Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda.

Options for this experience

2 options

Two-day, one-night tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall, Phong Nam Valley and Angel Eye MountainUp to 15 people · Guide in Vietnamese · 06:00Pickup is included

Two-day, one-night tour by SUVUp to 12 people · Guide in Vietnamese · 06:00Vehicle: SUV (5 to 16 seats), pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to9h before

AgesAdult (11 to 60 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideVietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 13 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cao Bang Eco Tour

Is this one for you?Choose the motorbike option if you want to travel light and sit back to photograph the scenery. Choose the SUV car if you prefer a seat with a view and more luggage space. Either way, the two-day length lets you move through the mountains without feeling rushed, and the homestay overnight puts you in the village where locals live rather than in a city hotel.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What is Ban Gioc Waterfall like when you get there?

Ban Gioc is one of the largest waterfalls in Southeast Asia, located on the Vietnam-China border with water dropping 30 meters. You approach it by bamboo raft on the river to see it up close, then later view it from above at the pagoda on the hillside.

Do I travel by motorbike or car on this tour?

You choose at checkout: the 2-day SUV car option or the 2-day motorbike tour. On the motorbike option you sit as a passenger on the back (easy rider style) with no driving required. Both options include the same guide, stops and meals.

What are the craft villages on day one?

You visit three traditional villages run by local ethnic communities: Phia Thap Incense Village (incense making), Phuc Sen Forging Village (metalwork) and Dia Tren (paper production). These are working villages where you see how locals practice their crafts daily.

Is there time to explore caves on this tour?

Yes. On day one you spend time in Nguom Ngao Cave, where stone pillars rise against the sky and stalactites glisten. The cave is one of the stops between the craft villages and the homestay check-in.

What meals and water are included?

Dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two are provided. Vegetarian options are available. Each guest gets a free 1.5-liter bottle of filtered water per day. Other beverages during meals and the trip are not included.

Where do you sleep on the 2-day tour?

You stay one night in a homestay located in Khuoi Ky Village, near Ban Gioc Waterfall. The bed is in a dormitory room. Private rooms are available for an extra fee if booked in advance.