Vietnam’s Ban Gioc Waterfall among world's most beautiful: Travel + Leisure

Ban Gioc Waterfall in Vietnam's northern mountainous province of Cao Bang has been named among the 21 most beautiful waterfalls in the world by Travel + Leisure.

According to the US travel magazine, the Ban Gioc Waterfall in Dam Thu commune, Trung Khanh district comprises a series of cascades that straddle the border between Vietnam and China.

“In a stunning show of power and grandeur, water flows endlessly through pools, down tiers, and over cliffs in a unique horseshoe shape,” it described.

The recognition comes after sightseeing tours of the Ban Gioc (Vietnam) - Detian (China) Waterfall scenic area officially opened to both countries’ visitors in September 2023.

Not only one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam, Ban Gioc is also among the largest in Southeast Asia and one of the world's four largest waterfalls lying on a border between countries.

The waterfall has been a popular tourist attraction in Cao Bang. A trip to the waterfall allows visitors to admire the majestic artistry of nature, enjoy the fresh air, discover the unique culture of the local ethnic community and taste local cuisine.

The Ban Gioc Waterfall is located about 335 km from Hanoi, which would take around seven hours to travel by car. Tourists from the central and southern regions can fly to Hanoi and then take a coach to travel onward to Cao Bang province. Adventurous tourists can also drive to the place themselves.

Situated at the northernmost part of Vietnam, combined with the terrain that is exposed to the winds, the climate around the Ban Gioc Waterfall is distinctly divided into two seasons – the rainy season and the dry season.

From June to September, the locality receives heavy downpours, which cause the water flow to become even more turbulent and forceful, crashing down and generating an abundance of white foaming water. Many people believe this is the ideal time for a visit to admire the beauty and feel the majestic power of nature.

Tourists who do not enjoy the rains should visit from September through December, when the Ban Gioc Waterfall enters its driest and most autumnal season. During this time, the sky is clear and blue, and the climate is wonderfully cool and refreshing. The most spectacular scenes come when the water of the Quay Son River below reflects a stunning emerald green colour.

Visiting Ban Gioc and taking a boat to observe the powerful waterfall cascading down dozens of metres is an experience that cannot be missed. The massive amount of water pouring into the calm river below will make you feel the fierce and wild vitality of nature, amidst the tranquil earth and sky and the lush green surroundings.

Going on a picnic during the day or camping overnight next to the waterfall is also a popular activity for tourists.

“Enjoying the breathtaking mountain and waterfall scenery together with your companions, and sipping on some spicy wine, leaves me feeling refreshed and more serene than ever before,” said Nguyen Thi Lan, a tourist from Cao Bang town.

Other enticing activities for tourists here include trekking through the vast and majestic forest, immersing oneself in the expansive mountain landscape, learning about the local life and enjoying the local ethnic minority cuisine.

A must-try local dish of the area is grilled tram huong (agarwood) fish. The specialty fish, which comes from the Ban Gioc Waterfall, is named after its main food – the roots and decaying leaves of the agarwood tree.

The fish are caught directly by the local people, then cleaned and prepared, stuffed with a few types of vegetables and seasonings, wrapped in banana leaves, and grilled over a charcoal fire.

The aroma of the fish is truly mouthwatering, and the firm yet delicious meat will satisfy even the most difficult gourmets.

Other signature dishes from Cao Bang include roasted duck with seven spices – a skillfully prepared dish that combines seven traditional spices, roasted over charcoal – and banh khao (sweet shortcake made of roast glutinous rice flour), which are regularly brought home by tourists as gifts for their relatives.

From the Ban Gioc Waterfall, tourists can also visit many other famous attractions in Cao Bang, such as Nguom Ngao Cave, the Pac Bo historical relic site, and Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Temple.

Tourists are highly encouraged to bring along a smartphone or camera with a large memory capacity to capture every stunning moment.

In other news, Travel+Leisure cited the Freaking Nomads list of the best cities for digital nomads. The top five cities are Hoi An in Vietnam’s central province of Quang Nam, Delhi (India), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Vietnam’s central city of Danang and Mumbai (India).

After the Covid-19 pandemic, remote working has become increasingly popular, with more and more people looking for destinations to combine travel and work.

According to a report by WFH Research - a company studying remote working trends, as of 2023, 12.7% of full-time US workers had chosen to work remotely. The rate is expected to reach 22% by 2025.

Freaking Nomads analyzed various factors to determine the best destinations, including the remote work visa ease of access for digital nomads; the cost of living index, rent index, groceries index, restaurant price index, and local purchasing power relative to New York city; the number of coworking spaces per 1 million residents (circa 2019); average mobile data speed Mbps; and average broadband speed Mbps.

On a scale of 100, Hoi An is at the top position with 73.94. As a world heritage site recognized by UNESCO, Hoi An is home to well-preserved buildings that are hundreds of years old, and winding streets filled with colorful lanterns which create a magical atmosphere. The ancient beauty of Hoi An will attract digital nomads who want to work in a unique corner of the world.

Meanwhile, Danang got 71.32 out of 100. The city is well-known for its beautiful coastlines and amazing destinations, for example Ngu Hanh Son, that inspire digital nomads.