Many times traveling to the North, but mainly Mr. Pham Quang Tuan (nickname: Tuan crazy feet) has only set foot in the Northwest regions such as: Sapa, Ha Giang, Mu Cang Chai... Never been to Cao Bang, but even though it was only 3-4 short days, he still chose to drive his motorbike from Hanoi because the roads were more convenient than other places. On the first day, he went from Hanoi to Thai Nguyen to Bac Kan, stayed one night, the next three days explored places in Trung Khanh, Ngoc Con, Ha Lang and then returned to the capital.
Fairyland in the Northeast
While the last months of the year are the peak tourist season in the Northwest with cloud hunting and mountain climbing trips, the Northeast provinces are less crowded and in the low season. However, that did not make Tuan's trip to explore Cao Bang any less interesting.
Despite limited time, the Central Vietnamese man still planned to visit some places that he commented were "stunningly beautiful" such as Phai Luong waterfall in Ngoc Con and Ba Quang grass hill in Ha Lang.
Just arrived in Cao Bang in the afternoon, traveling alone on a road winding around the rocky mountains and following the Quay Son River, Trung Khanh district. The afternoon sun was golden and sweet on the mountain tops and fields still bare of stubble after the harvest, the sun spread sparkling colors on the surface of the blue river flowing along the road. The scene made Mr. Tuan stop for quite a while to admire and take pictures.
Only 3km from Ban Gioc waterfall, from the end of November, Ban Viet lake begins to enter the season of red leaves, the canopy of the Sau Sau trees. Located in the middle of the mountains and forests covered in green, the scenery of Ban Viet lake is fresh and poetic in every season. By the end of the year, this place seems to turn into a "real-life fairyland" when the Sau Sau leaves are dyed red and yellow above, the lake surface is magically calm and jade green below. Mr. Tuan wakes up at 5am, drives from a nearby homestay to Ban Viet lake just to immerse himself in the misty lake scene.
From Ban Viet Lake, it takes about 2 hours to go to Ha Lang district to reach Ba Quang, where there are undulating grass hills, spread out between majestic high rocky mountains. Every year from October to February, Ba Quang enters the grass burning season, creating a scene that is full of poetic and impressive yellow and orange colors. Mr. Tuan was lucky to book a room in the homestay in the middle of the grass hill and arrived here at the right time to watch both sunset and sunrise. The scene of the red sun rising and setting between high mountain crevices on a clear day is not something everyone can see the first time they come here.
Nostalgia
Born and raised in a village in Quang Tri, Tuan's childhood years were associated with the scenery of rice fields, immense green flowers, and rustic bamboo fences.
He said: “After 18 years in my hometown, 15 years studying and working in Ho Chi Minh City, traveling here and there, but the first time I came to Cao Bang, a northern border province, I was “shocked” because before my eyes was the familiar countryside scene. The feeling of nostalgia for my childhood and hometown came flooding back with just those very simple images. The road running along the Quay Son River to Ngoc Con is a place that brings such special emotions.”
Ngoc Con is a commune in Trung Khanh district bordering China and the Quay Son river flowing from China into Vietnam through this commune is the most impressive highlight. The river has a characteristic turquoise color, many deep sections, the water surface is calm as if it has stopped flowing. The emerald green water, along the rice fields in Dinh Phong and Ngoc Con communes... clearly reflects the silhouettes of mountains, forests, and bamboo hedges on both banks. The shallow sections of water are so clear that you can see the bottom, pebbles, and swimming fish and shrimp.
One of the most beautiful stops in Ngoc Con is Phai Luong waterfall. The silver waterfall from the dam spreads out in an arc shape, below the waterfall there are large and small rock outcrops that make the water seem to be divided into 2 - 3 levels. Trees grow on the rock outcrops right at the foot of the waterfall, above the dam, the clear, calm water reflects the overlapping mountain ranges, creating a spacious and peaceful space.
Just following the water, visitors will encounter natural springs, on the shore people go fishing hiding under the shade of green bamboo, under the water someone has just released a flock of ducks.
“Whoever has lived in a village in the delta, after many years away from home, seeing the bamboo fences, the water, the rice fields, and not feeling nostalgic. It is even more special when seeing those things in a strange land,” Tuan shared.
For him, Cao Bang leaves an indescribable feeling of peace and there are still many beautiful scenes that have yet to be discovered, such as the 13-story pass, Pac Bo cave, traditional craft villages... Next time he has the chance to return, Tuan hopes to stay for about 10 days to make the wandering worthwhile.
