Cao Bang Loop Tour: 3-Day Motorbike, Car, or Self-Ride

Four hundred years of stone villages, caves carved by water, and a waterfall that straddles two countries.

A 3-day loop tour through Cao Bang in northern Vietnam with a local guide, visiting mountain passes, limestone caves, waterfalls and traditional craft villages. Small groups travel by motorbike, car or self-guided bike, staying in homestays near Ban Gioc Waterfall and a riverside village. Pickup from your Cao Bang hotel is included. You choose whether to ride your own motorbike, hire a private driver, or travel by car.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Cao Bang natural highlights

• Pick up from hotel in Cao Bang city
• Visit Ma Phuc Pass and noodle village
• See Mountain Angel Eye natural hole
• Explore Phong Nam Valley landscapes
• Hike to Ngoc Con panorama viewpoint
• Optional swimming in Quay Son River
• Visit Khuoi Ky stone village
• Travel to homestay near Ban Gioc Waterfall
• Dinner with local specialties at homestay

Day 2: Visit caves, waterfall and pagoda

• Visit Nguom Ngao Cave
• Boat trip at Ban Gioc Waterfall
• Visit Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda
• Explore Ba Quang Burnt Grass Hill
• Stay overnight at riverside homestay

Day 3: Discover traditional craft villages

• Visit Black Forging village at Phuc Sen
• Explore Paper village at Ban Dia Tren
• Visit Incense village at Phia Thap
• Return to Cao Bang city for lunch
• Tour ends at 14:00 in Cao Bang city

The experience

The tour starts with a hotel pickup and climbs into the Northern Mountains through Ma Phuc Pass, a limestone corridor that opens onto views of Phong Nam Valley's rice fields and the "Mountain Angel Eye": a natural hole through the rock face that frames the landscape beyond. A 20-minute hike takes you to Ngoc Con panorama, where the Quay Son River winds through terraced fields below. Swimming in the river is optional. By evening you reach Khuoi Ky stone village, over 400 years old and part of the UNESCO Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark, where you sleep in a homestay and eat dinner with local specialties.

Day two centers on Nguom Ngao Cave, where stalactites shaped like tigers, lotus flowers and jellyfish rise from the cave floor, and Ban Gioc Waterfall: the world's fourth largest, straddling the Vietnam-China border. A boat ride brings you close enough to feel the spray. Afterward you visit Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda, set against the mountains, and Ba Quang Grass Hill, where golden-brown slopes offer views and photography in the dry season. You sleep at a riverside homestay.

The final day visits three working villages: Phuc Sen, where blacksmiths forge knives and tools by hand using centuries-old techniques; Ban Dia Tren, where artisans make handmade paper from natural materials and you can try the craft yourself; and Phia Thap, famous for incense production, where you watch the entire process from ingredient prep to drying in the sun. The tour ends by 14:00 in Cao Bang city, with the option to stay or catch a 14:30 bus back to Hanoi.

What’s included

• All entry tickets to attractions.
• motorbike with fuel (or your choice of private rider or car).
• one 500ml water bottle per day.
• private room accommodation for two people.
• local English-speaking guide.
• meals with local specialties at the homestays.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Child (1 to 9 years)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 23 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by LV Travel

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the pace relaxed and the experience authentic, so you move through villages and caves without crowds. Choose the motorbike option if you want to ride independently. Hire a private driver or car if you prefer someone else to navigate the mountain roads.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

26 verified traveler reviews

5 ★26

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 9 years).

Can I ride my own motorbike on this tour, or do I need to hire a driver?

You can ride your own motorbike if you have a valid International Driver License. Otherwise you hire a private rider for 20 USD per person per day. A private car costs 50 USD per day and is shared among the group. The price quoted covers the motorbike option, so check which vehicle suits you before booking.

Where do you stay on this 3-day tour?

Night one is at a homestay in Khuoi Ky stone village near Ban Gioc Waterfall. Night two is at a riverside homestay. Both are private rooms for up to two people, and meals with local specialties are included.

Is Ban Gioc Waterfall really on the border between Vietnam and China?

Yes, Ban Gioc Waterfall is the world's fourth largest and sits on the Vietnam-China border. The middle of the river marks the boundary. A boat ride brings you close to the falls and the spray, and the border crossing is part of what makes the site distinctive.

What happens on the final day after the craft villages?

After visiting the blacksmith, papermaking and incense villages, you return to Cao Bang city for lunch, and the tour finishes by 14:00. You can stay in the city or take a 14:30 bus back to Hanoi if you prefer.