Ban Gioc Waterfall in the northern province of Cao Bang

According to Lonely Planet, Cao Bang has some of the most impressive natural sites in the country, but without the crowds. Start at Phat Tich Truc Lam, a temple near the Chinese border that offers wonderful views over the region's rolling hills.

Ban Gioc Waterfall–one of the most magical waterfalls in Southeast Asia and the largest in Viet Nam–cascades over multiple tiers and can be visited on a boat trip or bamboo raft. The nearby Nguom Ngao Cave system extends for several kilometers underground and is home to many breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites, the website highlighted.

Earlier, Cao Bang province has for the first time entered the list of the friendliest destinations in Viet Nam voted by Booking.com, an online booking platform.

Its Ban Gioc Waterfall is in the top 21 most beautiful waterfalls in the world selected by the international travel magazine Travel+Leisure.

In the first half of 2024, more than 1 million tourists visited Cao Bang, up 23 percent against last year and fulfilling 53 percent of the plan.

Between 2020 and August 2024, Cao Bang hosted over 5.4 million tourists, surpassing its target by 8 percent. Key tourism indicators for the 2020–2025 period have already been met or surpassed.

Lonely Planet is known as one of the most successful travel guides in the world, with over 145 million copies published since 1973.