Cao Bang Day Tour by Motorbike or Car: Ban Gioc Waterfall
See four of Cao Bang's most dramatic landscapes in a single morning-to-evening loop
A full-day guided tour of Cao Bang visiting Ban Gioc Waterfall, Angel Eye Mountain, Nguom Ngao Cave and a traditional Nung ethnic village, all within the UNESCO Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark. You choose how to travel: ride your own motorbike (with valid international permit), hire a local driver, or book a private car. The tour includes breakfast, lunch, a local guide speaking English or Vietnamese, and entrance fees to all sites.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Cao Bang's natural and cultural sites
- Meet local guide and enjoy breakfast
- Scenic drive through UNESCO Global Geopark
- Stop at Ma Phuc Pass viewpoint
- Visit Dia Tren paper-making village
- Visit Truc Lam Ban Gioc Zen Monastery
- Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
- Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall and optional boat ride
- Follow Quay Son River through Phong Nam Valley
- Discover Angel Eye Mountain and grasslands
- Return to Cao Bang City
The Experience
Start at 7:30 with a traditional Cao Bang breakfast—rice rolls, roasted duck noodles, or sour pho—before heading into the geopark. The route follows one of the region's most scenic drives, opening with Ma Phuc Pass, a limestone gateway that frames the mountains ahead. At Dia Tren, a paper-making village where Nung families still work by hand, you'll walk through stilt houses and try shaping handmade paper yourself, the kind of craft that has not changed in centuries.
By mid-morning you reach Truc Lam Zen Monastery, perched high enough to see Ban Gioc Waterfall from above—the world's fourth-largest cross-border waterfall, straddling Vietnam and China. After lunch at a local restaurant, you stand at the base of the falls themselves, where the water drops in a single dramatic sheet into emerald pools. An optional boat ride takes you closer, into the mist and out to the middle of the river where you can see the border from the water. The afternoon follows the Quay Son River through Phong Nam Valley, a landscape of rice fields and limestone peaks, before reaching Angel Eye Mountain—named for the giant natural hole at its summit, ringed by grasslands where horses and buffalo graze.
The tour runs about nine to ten hours door-to-door. You'll need to decide your travel style before booking: if you hold a valid International Motorbike Driving Permit, you can self-ride a Honda Wave Alpha 110cc with fuel included; if you prefer not to ride, you can hire a local motorbike driver for an extra charge, or book a private car instead. Either way, a friendly local guide handles the stops, the stories and the logistics. Contact the operator at least 24 hours ahead to confirm which option suits you.
What’s included
- Breakfast featuring Cao Bang specialties such as rice rolls and duck noodle soup.
- entrance tickets to Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, Truc Lam Zen Monastery and Dia Tren paper village.
- lunch at a local restaurant.
- a local guide fluent in English or Vietnamese.
- one 1.5-liter bottle of water per person.
- basic rain gear, bungee cords and plastic bag covers.
- motorbike with fuel (if self-riding) or a local driver (if you choose that option instead).
Operated by Cao Bang Adventure
Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving with a free day and want to see Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, and Angel Eye Mountain in one trip—choose self-riding on a motorbike if you hold an international permit and want to set your own pace, or hire a local driver if you'd rather focus on the sights.
Traveler reviews
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What is Ban Gioc Waterfall actually like when you get there?
Ban Gioc is the world's fourth-largest cross-border waterfall, dropping in a single sheet into emerald pools on the Vietnamese side, with China's mountains visible across the water. You see it first from above at Truc Lam Zen Monastery, then walk down to the base; an optional boat ride takes you out into the mist for a closer view and a perspective from the middle of the river.
Do I have to ride a motorbike myself, or can someone else drive?
You have three options: self-ride if you hold a valid International Motorbike Driving Permit; hire a local motorbike driver to ride while you sit as a passenger; or book a private car instead. You choose at checkout and confirm with the operator at least 24 hours before departure.
What is Angel Eye Mountain and why is it worth the visit?
Angel Eye Mountain is named for the giant natural hole at its summit, surrounded by untouched grasslands where horses and buffalo graze freely. It sits in one of Cao Bang's most remote and photogenic valleys, visited in the late afternoon as the final major stop before returning to the city.
What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?
Breakfast and lunch at local restaurants, entrance fees to all sites, a local guide, water, basic rain gear, and—if you self-ride—a motorbike with fuel are all included. You'll need to bring your International Motorbike Driving Permit if you plan to ride yourself, and the operator provides bungee cords and plastic covers for bags.
How long is the full day, and what time does it end?
The tour runs nine to ten hours total, departing at 7:30 am and returning to Cao Bang City around 5 pm, giving you time to settle back before dinner.
Is this tour suitable for children or people with physical limitations?
Children are welcome from age 6. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health due to the motorbike or car travel and the walking involved at each stop.
Cao Bang Day Tour by Motorbike or Car: Ban Gioc Waterfall
9h–10h · EN · VI · at your hotel
from US$ 66 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.9970 reviews

















































