Cao Bang Motorbike Tour: Ban Gioc Waterfalls & Passes

Three days on a motorbike through Vietnam's least-visited highlands, ending at a waterfall you reach by raft.

A 3-day motorbike tour of Cao Bang in northern Vietnam, ridden with a local guide who drives while you ride as passenger, staying in family-run homestays and visiting Ban Gioc Waterfalls, Khau Coc Cha Pass and Angel Eye Mountain. The tour includes the motorbike, guide, all entrance fees, and three nights of accommodation. A moderate level of physical fitness is needed for the riding and the short hikes at viewpoints.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Alpine Forests and Valley Connection

• Ride winding roads of Cao Bang
• Take coffee break at Vu Nong
• Visit Dinh Phung viewpoint
• Have traditional lunch at Ban Nga
• Explore Truc Lung Pan Bamboo Forest
• Arrive at homestay and watch sunset
• Gather around bonfire with happy water

Day 2: Switchbacks and Border Waterfalls

• Eat hearty breakfast
• Hike Khau Coc Cha Pass viewpoint
• View Na Tenh Pass valley
• Lunch in Ha Quang district
• Ride to Ban Gioc Waterfall
• Raft to base of waterfalls
• Ride along Quay Son River to homestay

Day 3: Alpine Meadows and Mountain Eye

• Breakfast by flowing water
• Scale Vinh Quy Grasshills
• Have lunch
• Visit Angel Eye Mountain
• Stroll Phong Nam Valley
• Return to Loop Hostel Cao Bang
• End tour mid-afternoon

The experience

You arrive in Cao Bang and spend the first day on the bike heading northwest toward Bao Lac, climbing through alpine forest and stopping at Vu Nong for coffee and views before dropping into the Truc Lung Pan Bamboo Forest. Lunch is a traditional meal in Ban Nga. The afternoon ride winds through tall bamboo groves along highland backroads. At the homestay in Bao Lac, you watch the valley from above as the sun sets, then gather around a bonfire with the host family and other guests.

Day two tackles the Khau Coc Cha Pass, a short hike that opens onto the famous 14-switchback road carved into the mountainside. The kind of view that explains why this route exists. You descend through Ha Quang district for lunch, then ride east toward the border and Ban Gioc Waterfalls. The water hits hardest in the late afternoon light. A traditional wooden raft takes you right to the base of the multi-tiered falls. You feel the spray and hear the roar up close. The ride back follows the Quay Son River to another homestay, this one right on the water's edge.

The final morning is slower. After breakfast by the river, you climb into the Vinh Quy Grasshills: rolling green ridges that locals call the mini Switzerland of Northeast Vietnam, with 360-degree views across the highlands. Angel Eye Mountain comes next, a surreal formation with a hole punched clean through its center. A walk through Phong Nam Valley follows, then the ride back to Cao Bang and Loop Hostel, where you return the bike and your luggage by mid-afternoon. The guide speaks English and Vietnamese throughout.

What’s included

• The tour includes the motorbike and a local guide who speaks English and Vietnamese.
• all entrance fees and activities listed in the itinerary.
• three nights of accommodation in traditional family-style homestays.
• and breakfast each morning.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Travel Hub Vietnam

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and Vietnamese, so you can follow the commentary comfortably in either language. The riding days are full but not rushed, with multiple stops for views and meals, making it suitable for travelers who are comfortable on a motorbike for several hours and have a moderate level of fitness for the short hikes at viewpoints.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

What is the Khau Coc Cha Pass and why does it matter on this tour?

Khau Coc Cha Pass is a mountain crossing famous for its 14-switchback road carved into the slope. A short hike from the pass gives you a direct view of those switchbacks snaking down the mountainside. It's the signature viewpoint of the route and the reason many riders choose this loop.

How do I get to Ban Gioc Waterfalls, and what happens when I arrive?

You ride to Ban Gioc in the late afternoon, arriving as the sun warms the cascading water. A traditional wooden raft takes you from the shore up to the base of the multi-tiered falls, where you feel the spray and hear the roar of the water hitting the rocks below.

What are the homestays like, and who else will be staying there?

The homestays are family-run traditional houses in Bao Lac and Ban Gioc. You sleep in a shared dorm room with other tour guests. The first night includes a bonfire with the host family and happy water (a local rice spirit shared communally). The second homestay sits on the water's edge, and breakfast is served by the river.

Do I need to know how to ride a motorbike to do this tour?

No. A local guide drives the motorbike while you ride as a passenger. You do not need riding experience, but you should be comfortable sitting on a bike for several hours each day and have at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the short hikes at viewpoints.

What is Angel Eye Mountain?

Angel Eye Mountain is a natural formation in the Phong Nam Valley with a giant hole running through its center, creating a surreal eye-like opening. You walk through the valley after visiting it, passing streams and grassland on the way back to Cao Bang.

How long are the riding days, and when does the tour end?

Day one and day two are full riding days with multiple stops and viewpoints. Day three is a relaxed morning and early afternoon, with the tour officially ending by mid-afternoon when you return to Loop Hostel Cao Bang.