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Ban Gioc Falls
WHERE: CAO BANG, VIETNAM
Ban Gioc isn’ t your typical waterfall. Its splendor lies not in its height, but in its expansive breadth: the vertical drop is a relatively small 98 feet, but the horseshoeshaped cascades sprawl horizontally over around 980 feet.
Also known as the Detian Transnational Waterfalls, Vietnam’ s largest falls are located on the Quay Son River in far northern Cao Bang province. Though it can also be seen from the Chinese side of the border, it’ s the viewpoint 170 miles northeast of Hanoi that attracts most visitors.
The tiered waterfall was formed over millions of years through limestone erosion, with each layer revealing a different stratum of bedrock and mineral deposits. Technically, it’ s not one single cascade, but two separate waterfalls that merge at the height of the rainy season( between May and September).
For a distant view of Ban Gioc draped over the misty hills, aim for the lookout at the Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda. More intrepid visitors can sign up for a rafting tour of the emerald pools. It’ s best to use one of the traditional homestays in the area as a base to explore the falls, the rice paddies in the Phong Nam Valley and the nearby network of karst caves.
summer 2025 • 11