About

About Cao Bang

Vietnam’s north-eastern border highlands: karst peaks, jade rivers, more than 20 peoples and a long history.

6,725 km²province area

333 kmborder with China

20+ethnic groups

56communes and wards since 1 July 2025

Land and water

Cao Bang lies in the mountains of north-eastern Vietnam, with more than 333 km of border with China. It has five major river systems and 47 lakes, and much of the province lies within the Non nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark.

The west is the high country of Phia Oac – Phia Den, rising to 1,931 m; the east is limestone peaks, caves and rice valleys along the Quay Son River, home to Ban Gioc Waterfall.

People

More than 20 ethnic groups live here, with ethnic minorities making up nearly 95% of the population. The eight largest are the Tay, Nung, Hmong, Dao, Kinh, Hoa, San Chi and Lo Lo; the Tay and Nung account for about 70%.

Then singing with the tinh lute, the Long Tong field festival, market days, blacksmithing, incense, paper making, brocade and beeswax printing are still part of everyday life.

History

The legend of “Cau chua cheng vua” tells of the kingdom of Nam Cuong under Thuc Che and Thuc Phan (later King An Duong). In 1499, under Emperor Le Hien Tong, Cao Bang became a separate administrative region.

From about 1592 to 1677 the Mac dynasty ruled from Cao Bang; traces remain at Na Lu citadel, King Le Temple and Da Quan Pagoda.

In 1941 Nguyen Ai Quoc (Ho Chi Minh) returned to Vietnam and lived and worked at Pac Bo. On 22 December 1944 the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army was founded in the Tran Hung Dao Forest. The province has three Special National Relics: Pac Bo, the Tran Hung Dao Forest and the 1950 Border Victory site.

New administrative units

Since 1 July 2025 Cao Bang no longer has districts; it has 56 commune-level units – 53 communes and 3 wards. The provincial centre (former Cao Bang city) consists of Thuc Phan, Nung Tri Cao and Tan Giang wards.

Sight	Now in
Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, Khuoi Ky stone village	Dam Thuy commune
Ngoc Con – Phong Nam valley	Dinh Phong commune
Pac Bo relic site	Truong Ha commune
Phia Den, Hoai Khao village	Thanh Cong commune
Tran Hung Dao Forest	Tam Kim commune
Phia Thap incense and Phuc Sen blacksmith villages	Quang Uyen commune
Provincial centre (former Cao Bang city)	Thuc Phan, Nung Tri Cao and Tan Giang wards

Awards and tourism figures

UNESCO Global Geopark since 2018, revalidated in 2022, with a second “green card” certificate in 2026.
In 2026 Booking.com named Cao Bang one of Vietnam’s 10 most welcoming destinations (Traveller Review Awards).
US magazine Travel + Leisure listed Ban Gioc among the world’s most beautiful waterfalls.
In 2025 Cao Bang received about 2.54 million visitor arrivals, including more than 108,000 international arrivals – up over 124% on the previous year.