Ban Gioc Waterfall: Vietnam's biggest falls on the China border
Around two hundred metres wide, three tiers of cascades, and an international border running straight down the middle. Entry 45,000 VND (~$1.80). About 7–8 hours from Hanoi.
Thác Bản Giốc, in Cao Bằng province, is often called the fourth-largest transnational waterfall on earth — after Iguazu, Victoria and Niagara. The difference here: no crowds. It is quiet, green, and 45,000 VND (~$1.80) to get in.
The Vietnamese call it Ban Gioc; the Chinese call it Detian (德天瀑布). It is one waterfall on the border, and you can see both sides from the Vietnamese bank. Crossing to the Chinese side needs a Chinese visa, so most travellers stay put and take it all in from the raft.
Getting there is 7–8 hours from Hanoi. Not close. So people set aside 2–3 days: the falls, Nguom Ngao Cave and Ba Be Lake.
- Ban Gioc Waterfall (Thác Bản Giốc): Entry 45,000 VND (~$1.80) — ~200 m wide, 3 tiers
- Nguom Ngao Cave (Ngườm Ngao): Stalactites, 4 km from the falls — Entry 40,000 VND (~$1.60)
- Cao Bang (Cao Bằng): Transport hub, hotels — 90 km from the falls
- Trung Khanh (Trùng Khánh): Homestays, nearest town — 20 km from the falls
- Phuc Sen village (Phúc Sen): Nung blacksmith village — Hand-forged knives
- Ba Be Lake (Hồ Ba Bể): Vietnam's largest natural lake — ~125 km southwest as the crow flies
What Ban Gioc Waterfall is
Three tiers of white water drop about 30 metres into the emerald Quây Sơn River. In the rainy season the falls stretch around 200 m wide in total, the streams merging into one sheet. In the dry season it splits into two separate falls — the Vietnamese one on the left (wider) and the Chinese one on the right.
The falls are part of the Non nước Cao Bằng geopark, which UNESCO added to its Global Geoparks network: karst peaks, river valleys and mountain villages spread across several thousand square kilometres.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Width | ~200 m (in the rainy season) |
| Height | ~30 m, 3 tiers |
| Entry | 45,000 VND (~$1.80) |
| Bamboo raft | 50,000 VND (~$2), 10 min |
| Hours | Daytime, check hours on site |
| Province | Cao Bằng, northeast Vietnam |
The border runs along the water — the left half is Vietnam, the right half is China. The bamboo raft carries you to the very foot of the cascades: 50,000 VND buys 10 minutes in a cloud of spray and the roar of falling water.
How to get there from Hanoi
About 330 km from Hanoi. There is no direct bus to the waterfall itself — you go via Cao Bằng (Cao Bang) with a transfer, or you take a tour.
Route options
| Option | Time | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus + transfer | 10–12 h | ~$14 | Budget travellers |
| Private car with driver | 7–8 h | $100–150/day | Comfort and flexibility |
| Tour, 2 days / 1 night | 2 days | $130–200 | All-inclusive, no hassle |
| Tour, 3 days + Ba Be Lake | 3 days | $200–320 | The full programme |
| Motorbike | 7–8 h | $20–25/day | Experienced riders |
By bus, step by step
- Mỹ Đình bus station (Hanoi) → bus to Cao Bang. About 8 hours, ~200,000 VND (~$8). Departures morning and evening.
- Cao Bang → local bus to Trùng Khánh or straight to the falls. About 2–2.5 hours, ~80,000 VND (~$3.20).
- If there is no bus all the way to the falls — a taxi from Trung Khanh is 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8).
A tour is the simplest option. They pick you up from your Hanoi hotel, drive you out, show you the falls and the cave, put you up in a homestay overnight and bring you back. You pay a little more and save yourself the logistics.
Best time to visit
The waterfall lives and dies by the rain. The difference between seasons is enormous.
| Period | Water flow | Roads | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| September–November | Maximum | Wet but passable | Best time |
| May–August | Full | Slippery, downpours | Powerful, but risky roads |
| December–February | Weak | Dry, good | Photogenic, thin cascades |
| March–April | Minimal | Excellent | Not recommended |
September and October are the peak. The waterfall runs at full power, all three tiers merge, and you can hear the roar a kilometre off. There is a bonus, too: the rice terraces around the valley turn golden right about now — white water against yellow fields. The catch: the roads are slippery, and in the heaviest downpours the falls can be closed.
Heavy rains caused the water level to surge about two meters above normal. … On the morning of Oct. 7, the tourist area was temporarily closed to ensure safety. It was the second closure in a weekVnExpress International, 2025
One thing to know: October is peak season, and rooms nearby sell out early — book a couple of weeks ahead.
February is a different kind of beauty. Two separate streams with a visible rock between them, and the border line between the two countries is sharper. Less water, but dry and sunny.
Fast Track — no queue at the border
5–10 minutes instead of an hour in the immigration queue
from$11per passenger
What to see nearby
Driving 8 hours for one waterfall is a waste. Within a 150 km radius there are a few more places worth lingering for.
Ngườm Ngao Cave (Nguom Ngao)
4 km from the falls. A stalactite cave about 2.1 km long. Entry: 40,000 VND (~$1.60). Lit stalactites, a cool +18°C inside. Set aside an hour.
Ba Bể Lake (Ba Be)
About 125 km southwest as the crow flies, over 200 km by road, in Thai Nguyen province. Vietnam's largest natural lake. Boat trips, caves, waterfalls. The national park charges an entry fee. Worth a day of its own.
Phúc Sen Village (Phuc Sen)
Almost 40 km from the falls as the crow flies, further by road. A blacksmithing village of the Nung people. Craftsmen forge knives and tools the traditional way. Free to visit, and you can buy a handmade knife. More places like this are in our guide to Vietnam's craft villages.
Mã Pí Lèng Pass
About 140 km to the west as the crow flies, over 250 km by road. One of Vietnam's most beautiful mountain passes. If you are riding a motorbike, build it into the route — it links up with the Ha Giang Loop.
The classic 3-day route: Hanoi → Cao Bang (night) → Ban Gioc + Nguom Ngao → Ba Be (night) → Hanoi. This corner of the country also suits an off-the-beaten-track itinerary.
Where to stay and what it costs
Accommodation
| Option | Price/night | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort | $40–80 | By the falls, cascade view |
| Homestay in Trung Khanh | $10–20 | Village 20 km away |
| Cao Bang hotels | $15–30 | In town, basic comfort |
Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort sits about half a kilometre from the waterfall. Worth it if the budget allows. Homestays in Trung Khanh are cheap and authentic, and the hosts feed you home cooking.
Trip budget (2 days / 1 night, per person)
| Item | Budget | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| Transport (round trip) | $14 (bus) | $75 (car, split by two) |
| Accommodation, 1 night | $12 | $50 |
| Entry + raft | $4 | $4 |
| Food (2 days) | $8 | $20 |
| Total | ~$38 | ~$150 |
A 2-day / 1-night tour is $130–200 all in. Pricier than doing it yourself, but it covers the driver, guide, hotel and entry. If you would rather not wrangle bus timetables, it is simpler and safer.
Practical tips
Take the raft. For 50,000 VND it carries you right up to the cascades. You will get sprayed, but you will hear and feel the waterfall instead of just looking at it from the bank.
Arrive at opening. Fewer people in the morning, and the best light for photos.
What to bring: a waterproof case for your phone, sunscreen, comfortable shoes (the paths are slippery) and cash — cards are not accepted everywhere.
Best photo spots — take the path right from the car park, and shoot from the bamboo raft. A rainbow appears over the falls often when the sun is out.
Honest downsides: the drive from Hanoi is tiring (7–8 hours each way), the infrastructure is modest — a handful of cafes and stalls. In October there can be a queue for the raft. Mobile signal is weak, and drops out in places.
FAQ
The falls sit in a border zone, so carry your passport. Whether you need a separate permit, check before you go with the Cao Bang provincial police or your tour operator. On an organised tour the operator handles any paperwork.
- Entry to the site45,000 VND~$1.80
- A bamboo raft to the foot of the cascades50,000 VND~$2for about 10 minutes
- Parking10,000–20,000 VND~$0.40–0.80
All in, around $4 per person for the falls. Prices are a July 2026 guide, check at the ticket office
No — you cannot cross without a Chinese visa. From the Vietnamese bank and from the raft you can see both sides of the falls. The Chinese side is called Detian (德天瀑布), and the view from the raft is good in both directions.
At least 2 days / 1 night. Day one is the drive from Hanoi to Cao Bang or Trung Khanh. Day two is the falls, Nguom Ngao cave and the drive back. Ideally 3 days / 2 nights with a stop at Ba Be Lake. Doing it from Hanoi and back in one day is physically possible, but 16 hours on the road is not worth it.
Yes. Two-day tours run roughly $130–200 all in (transport, guide, hotel, entry). Three-day tours that add Ba Be Lake run about $200–320. Book via TourRadar, Viator or local operators in Hanoi. Check departure days with the operator.
September–November is peak flow. All three tiers merge into a single wall of water around 200 metres wide. The most impressive view is in October. In the dry season (March–April) the waterfall is much thinner — the streams separate and the width shrinks.
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