How to travel from Hanoi to Cao Bang?

Cao Bang is one of the largest provinces in the Northeastern region of Vietnam. About 300km from Hanoi, Cao Bang is a famous tourist attraction for both domestic and international visitors because the land is endowed with unique untouched beauty of majestic mountain ranges, primeval forests and verdant rice terraced fields. Cao Bang has a variety of interesting places for visitors and one of the most popular tourist sites in Cao Bang is Ban Gioc Waterfall. Transportation from Hanoi to Cao Bang is not abundant because there is no train, railway or airport in Cao Bang province. Therefore, travelling by bus or private car is the most convenient way to travel from Hanoi to Cao Bang province.

1. Travel by bus

• Duration: 8-10 hours

• Estimated price: 170.000-200.000 VND/ One-way bus ticket

• Time schedule: 5.00 AM – 21.00

• Advantages: low cost, safe

• Disadvantages: tourists have to take taxi from Cao Bang Bus Station to their hotel or destinations.

Travelling by bus from Hanoi to Cao Bang is the most stress-free way. Currently, there are two types of bus from Hanoi to Cao Bang, including seat bus and sleeping bus. The journey can be quite long so tourists are recommended to choose a sleeping bus. Mostly the buses depart from My Dinh Bus Station or Gia Lam Station in Hanoi and arrive to Cao Bang Bus Station or Ban Gioc Waterfall. For convenience, tourists can book bus tickets to Cao Bang in advance online.

2. Travel by private car

• Duration : 7 hours

• Estimated price: 2.000.000 VND/day ( for at least 2 day trip)

• Time Schedule: Flexible

• Advantages: proactive in time, active, comfortable and safe, and your travel routes are guaranteed with private space, no wasting time for waiting.

• Disadvantages: more expensive

Travelling by private car on long distance is obviously expensive but the comfort and personalized service come with high price. In the 2-3 day trip to Cao Bang, with trustworthy and professional driver or tour guide who know well the destinations, tourists will have a wonderful trip at all the beautiful places in Cao Bang.

Apart from travelling directly from Hanoi to Cao Bang, tourists can go through Ba Be and Ha Giang, if taking private car. On the travel routes from Hanoi to Cao Bang, passengers have chance to visit many famous tourist destinations in Ba Be and Ha Giang, which makes their journey memorable and fantastic.

On the way to Cao Bang, tourists can visit Ba Be National Park, Vietnam’s Heritage Site in Asia. Ba Be National Park is a preservation area of various flora and fauna species, in which many species have been already recorded in the Red List. Lying deep in Ba Be National Park is Ba Be Lake, one of world’s 20 largest natural freshwater lakes, surrounded by chalky karst towers and winding jade-colored rivers. On the East north of Ba Be Lake, in the hillside of the Lung Nham range, Puong cave is the magnificent limestone landscape.  With the height of 50m, the cave is the residence of many night creatures, such as thousands of bats and swallows. Stepping into the cave, tourists have chance to contemplate the majestic beauty of stalactites and the diversity of flora and fauna.

In Ha Giang, tourists can visit Dong Van Karst Plateau, a UNESCO Global Geo-park, which is known as gorgeous landscapes, biodiversity and long-standing culture of the indigenous community. Situated in the Dong Van Karst Plateau, Meo Vac village is famous for the incredibly pristine nature. Tourists have chances to get to know unique culture of ethnic people by visiting Vu Mong carnival, Khau Vai love market, Phong Luu love market. It would be a mistake if coming to Meo Vac without conquering Ma Pi Leng pass, the most famous and amazing mountain pass in Vietnam.  At an altitude of 1,500 meters, standing at the top of Ma Pi Leng Pass enables tourists to capture the whole view of limestone landscapes, green forest, and poetic Nho Que River lying at the foot. Seen from high, Nho Que River is like a long green soft silk strip, hidden in the midst of mountains. Boating on Nho Que River brings tourists the fantastic feeling to contemplate the majestic curves through gorgeous mountains and immerse themselves in the poetic setting.