Mount Angel Eye & craft villages tour by motorbike from Cao Bang

Ride through craft villages to a limestone valley shaped like an eye

A half-day motorbike tour from Cao Bang that visits three working craft villages (Phuc Sen blacksmith, Dia Tren papermaking, Phia Thap incense), then climbs to Mount Angel Eye, a rare limestone formation overlooking a 15-hectare valley. A local driver handles the bike and route. You ride as passenger, meet villagers at their homes, and hike the final stretch to the viewpoint. English-speaking guides are available for an extra fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore villages and Mount Angel Eye

• Pickup from hotel/homestay
• Finalize motorbike gear at office
• Visit Phuc Sen blacksmith village
• Visit Dia Tren paper village
• Visit Phia Thap incense village
• Drive to Mount Angel Eye valley
• Hike or raft to Mount Angel Eye
• Return to city and end tour

The experience

The tour starts with pickup at your hotel or homestay in Cao Bang, where you collect protective gear (helmet, knee and elbow pads, rain jacket) at the Green Riders Adventures office before heading out on the motorbike. Your driver navigates the route while you sit as a passenger, which means no riding experience is needed. The bike and fuel are included, as is full damage insurance if anything goes wrong.

The first three stops are working villages where you see the craft in progress. Phuc Sen is a blacksmith village; Dia Tren has 65 households making traditional paper from May Sla tree bark, a process the Nung An ethnic group has preserved for generations: on sunny days the paper dries across the roads; Phia Thap produces incense sticks from natural materials, an important part of Vietnamese daily life. You walk through the villages, meet people at their homes, and can buy souvenirs like handmade fans, notebooks or paper for calligraphy.

The final leg takes you to Mount Angel Eye, a limestone formation that rises from a valley. Depending on the season, you either drive partway down into the valley or hike from the start. In the rainy season (June–August) the valley fills as Nam Tra lake and you may take a raft or SUP to the hike's starting point, while in the dry season (September onward) local farmers graze cattle across the grassland. The whole tour runs 5 to 6 hours, ending with a drive back to the city.

What’s included

• Motorbike with experienced local driver and petrol.
• 3/4 helmet with visor, rain gear, and protective knee and elbow pads.
• full bike damage insurance.
• one 500ml bottled water per person.
• free luggage storage at the office.
• hotel or homestay pickup in Cao Bang.
• travel insurance up to VND 30,000,000 per case.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (4 to 70 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

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 29 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cao Bang Green Riders Adventures

Is this one for you?The tour runs 5 to 6 hours, leaving the rest of your day free for other activities in Cao Bang. If you want an English-speaking guide to explain the villages and the mountain in detail, add the English-speaking rider option at checkout for $15 per person.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

8 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Mount Angel Eye and what will I see when I get there?

Mount Angel Eye is a rare limestone formation in the mountain system around Cao Bang, shaped by geological processes millions of years ago. From the viewpoint after the hike, you see a 15-hectare valley below: in the rainy season it fills as a lake called Nam Tra. In the dry season it becomes grassland where local farmers graze horses and water buffaloes. The landscape looks like a postcard.

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

No. You ride as a passenger on the back of the motorbike. The driver handles all the riding. The driver is an experienced local who knows the route, and the bike, fuel and full damage insurance are all included in the price.

What happens at the craft villages and can I buy anything there?

You visit three villages where artisans work at their homes and craft sites. At Phuc Sen blacksmith village you see metalwork; at Dia Tren papermaking village (65 households) you can watch the Nung An people make traditional paper from tree bark if you're lucky; at Phia Thap incense village you see how they dry incense sticks on the roads during sunny days. All three villages sell souvenirs (fans, notebooks, sheets of paper for drawing or calligraphy), and you have the chance to buy.

What protective gear is provided and what should I bring?

The tour includes a 3/4 motorcycle helmet with visor, basic rain gear, and protective knee and elbow pads. Bring a moderate level of fitness, as the day involves riding and hiking. One 500ml bottle of water per person is provided. Excess luggage can be stored free at the Green Riders office.