By bus
Day coaches and overnight sleeper buses leave My Dinh bus station in Hanoi for the Cao Bang provincial centre every day, taking about 6 – 8 hours depending on the bus and time. A night bus saves a day and arrives early in the morning. Many operators pick up in the Old Quarter or elsewhere in the city – ask when you book.
Private car or tour
Hiring a car with driver from Hanoi is the most comfortable option for families and small groups: you can stop for photos and go straight to Ban Gioc. Travel companies in Hanoi and Cao Bang also run shared tours.
Self-drive
- Follow National Road 3 via Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan, or go via Lang Son on National Road 4A.
- The 121 km Dong Dang (Lang Son) – Tra Linh (Cao Bang) expressway is under construction; as of September 2026 it had not opened, with the Dong Dang – Dong Khe section due in 2026.
- Foreign visitors riding motorbikes need a valid International Driving Permit (IDP); there are many passes, so ride in daylight.
Linking with Ha Giang
A road links Meo Vac (Ha Giang) with Bao Lac (Cao Bang), about 2 – 3 hours of mountain road, then on to the provincial centre via Nguyen Binh. Many travellers do Ha Giang first and continue to Cao Bang in a 7-day trip.
Onward from the provincial centre
Ban Gioc Waterfall is about 85 km from the provincial centre, Pac Bo about 50 km and Phia Oac about 50 km. Local buses run to Trung Khanh, Ban Gioc, Ha Quang and Bao Lac; motorbikes, cars and cars with drivers can be hired in town.
Tip: Foreign visitors can enter on an e-visa at the Tra Linh international border gate in Cao Bang (Government Resolution 389/NQ-CP, 2 December 2025); check the latest rules.
See our independent travel guide
Compiled from the Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark management, Vietnam’s official tourism portal and the press; updated October 2026. Schedules and rules can change, so check before you travel.
