Cao Bang Small Loop Tour: Highlights & Hidden Gems in 3 days

Start your day with breakfast at the hostel in Cao Bang city, where your guide will meet you and go over the plan for the loop tour.

Hop on your motorbike or into your private car and begin the loop. The first part of the drive takes you through quiet countryside roads toward local villages known for traditional crafts.

Your first stops are a trio of unique villages:

• Phia Thap, where families still hand-make incense sticks
• Dia Tren, home to a traditional paper-making craft preserved by the Nung ethnic group
• Pac Rang, a blacksmithing village famous for handmade knives and tools
  It’s a relaxed drive with time to stop, meet locals, and learn about each craft firsthand.

Enjoy a hearty local meal at a well-known restaurant in Quang Uyen. This is a good time to refuel and take a short rest before continuing deeper into the loop.

Visit the Ba Quang grass hill (also called Vinh Quy hill), a wide-open green space perfect for walking and photography. It’s an unusual landscape, especially during the dry season when the grass turns golden.

One of Vietnam’s most famous waterfalls, Ban Gioc stretches across the border with China. Spend time here walking along the edge, taking photos, or just soaking up the power of the falls.

Stay overnight in a stilt house made entirely of stone, in the peaceful Khuoi Ky village near the waterfall. It’s a quiet place to unwind after a full day of travel.

Enjoy a traditional dinner cooked by your hosts, including local specialties and a glass of “happy water” (rice wine). After dinner, relax and sleep at the homestay.

Wake up in the cool mountain air and enjoy a simple breakfast with your host family. Then, pack up and continue the loop. Today’s route explores a mix of natural wonders and cultural stops.

This massive limestone cave is filled with stalactites, stone pillars, and echoing chambers. It’s considered one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam and takes about 30–45 minutes to walk through.

Just a short drive away is Truc Lam Pagoda, built on a mountainside with views overlooking Ban Gioc and the surrounding valley. A short walk uphill rewards you with sweeping views of the border landscape.

Drive through Phong Nam, a lesser-known valley that feels straight out of a postcard. Few tourists visit here, but it’s one of the most stunning sections of the loop, with limestone peaks and rice fields scattered with grazing water buffalo.

Stop for lunch in this small town and take a break before heading to your next overnight stay.

Depending on weather and availability, you’ll stay either at a homestay near Angel Eye Mountain or a guesthouse in Hung Quoc. Dinner and breakfast are provided.

After breakfast, enjoy a peaceful morning at Angel Eye Mountain, part of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark. This giant circular rock arch surrounded by flat rice fields and karst mountains is a great spot to stretch your legs and take in the scenery.

Once back in the city, have a final lunch at a local restaurant and try one of the area’s specialties before saying goodbye to your guide.

Your Cao Bang Loop tour ends with a comfortable limousine bus ride back to Hanoi or onward to Ninh Binh or Hai Phong (Cat Ba), depending on your travel plan.