Cao Bang, you were amazing! 3 days in Vietnam’s remote northeast frontier.
Our take
Cao Bang, you were amazing! 3 days in Vietnam’s remote northeast frontier. This trip was a high-energy burst of energy, with the landscapes blowing us away. It’s a relatively small province in Vietnam’s Northeast bordering China, and we were drawn to its lack of traditional tourist attractions. Instead, it’s the rustic villages and breathtaking countryside that make it special. The local tourist organisation has developed a “Cao Bang loop” as an alternative to the more popular and developed Ha Giang-loop in the province nextdoor, but we only followed it for half a day, which was the best decision because it led us to discover villages tucked away in remote valleys that we would have otherwise missed.
It’s a reminder of the importance of stepping away from the beaten path and deviating from the norm. Traveling isn’t just about visiting must-see attractions; it’s about embracing the local culture and getting a sense of authenticity. Cao Bang is a great example of that. It’s a place where you can escape the feeling that everything around you caters towards foreign visitors, a stark contrast to the crowded beaches of Ha Long, Hanoi’s ancient town, and Ninh Binh’s scenic areas.
So, is Cao Bang worth the 8-hour bus drive up north from Hanoi? Definitely! Even more so if you dare to deviate from the loop. This experience led us to question the importance of tourist attractions and the role they play in shaping our travel experiences. We tend to think of a tourist attraction as a must-visit point, but is it always necessary? It’s a great reminder to always be open to exploring beyond the usual tourist spots. After all, the places we visit are not just destinations, but opportunities to learn about the local culture and environment.
Related articles: Travel adapter questions | Itinerary Review of Taiwan | Needing Opinions from a newbie going to Chicago
| | Went to Cao Bang, a relatively small province in Vietnam’s Northeast bordering China and was blown away by the landscapes! It has no real tourist attractions in the traditional sense of the word, except for the famous Ban Gioc waterfalls (which it shares with China, often lauded as the “longest transnational waterfall in the world”, whatever that means). This may sound disappointing but totally isn’t since the real “attraction” lies in exploring its countryside, with rustic villages and breathtaking landscapes succeeding each other at a high pace. The local tourist organisation developed a so-called “Cao bang loop” as an alternative for the much more popular and developed Ha Giang-loop in the province nextdoor, taking you through the province and all its modest attractions following a circular route by scooter. It mainly sticks to the main road though (which still ain’t a super-highway in this mountainous part of Vietnam), leading to the decision to not follow it for its entire length. In fact we only followed it for half a day (it takes three days to complete the full loop), which was honestly the best choice since it allowed us to discover villages tucked away in even more remote valleys that we would have skipped otherwise. There ain’t much to do then drive, admire the landscape, getting invited by the locals for lunch,… but that’s exactly what made this place feel so authentic and worthy of our time. It felt great to escape the feeling that everything around you explicitly caters towards foreign visitors , a long stretch from the crowded beaches of Ha Long, Hanoi’s ancient town and Nin Binh’s scenic areas. So: is Cao Bang worth the 8-hour bus drive up north from Hanoi? Definitely! Even more so if you dare to deviate from the loop. [link] [comments] |
Read on the original site
Open the publisher's page for the full experience