Cao Bang:

Cao Bang town is in the proximity of the Chinese border which recently made it a veritable boom town with quite new flash development. The only reason to stop at Cao Bang is to recharge your batteries for a bit before reaching other sightworthy points in the neighbourhood, of which Ban Gioc Waterfall is the best. Located right on Quy Son river which divides the two countries, from where you can either see and reach China.

Ban Gioc is a bone of border contention. At over 90 km from Cao Bang and more than 2 hours driving each way, it worths a full day's outing and looks spectacular in the rainy season from May to September, but not so exciting in the rest of the year. Another attraction is Pac Bo Cave, 54 km to the Northwest of Cao Bang, also next to the Chinese border. It was the base of Ho Chi Minh and his comrades after he returned to Vietnam in 1941 after 30 years living and acting in revolutionary movements overseas to encourage all supports for the Vietnamese patriots.

Thai Nguyen

Without being sarcastic, the only reason you would want to stay in Thai Nguyen was if there was a flood and all the roads were impassable! Yet, if did want to or happened to be in Thai Nguyen, there are the remains of an old citadel from the early 1800s, and a Museum with exhibits of the various ethnic groups of the Northern region. Thai Nguyen also plays an important part in Vietnam's steel industry.

Bac Kan

Bac Kan is a mountainous province, and has considerable natural resources (particularly in mining and forestry) and also generates a certain amount of tourism with the mountains, rivers, and lakes of Bac Kan being considered quite scenic.

The best place to visit in Bac Kan is Ba Be Lakes. It is situated 230km from Hanoi and 80km to the Northwest of Bac Kan town. "Ba Be" means "three seas", an ornate - expression when one considers that in this context it means the three big lakes. It is set in a picturesque national park and made up of three lakes surrounded by vertical walls of rock, from which many water currents fall into the lakes with all sorts of creepers clinging to the walls and a wild forest where many species of birds abound. Through influenced by 3 rivers flows discharging their water into the Lake, lake water remain always blue and its current velocity is kept on at 0,5m/sec. giving the take both lake and river characteristics

Lang Son Province

Lang Son is the chief town of the province under the same name, yet it mainly serves the travelers as a point to stop off on their way to somewhere else. This is a popular place to cross to and from China, esp. after the two countries reopened the border. The town still contains the rem ains of a citadel built in 18^th century, and there are numerous hilltribe villages around this area, particularly those of the Tay, Nung and Zao. The Vietnamese tourists also stop here to visit Buddhist pagodas built inside Nhi Thanh and Tam Thanh Caves, which are believed to have echo twice (Nhi Thanh) or three times (Tam Thanh). Lang Son is also famous for winter fruits like peaches, pears, plums and persimmons and for grilled ducks and porks, which evidently bear the influence of Chinese Guangdong cuisine. 

To cross to China from Lang Son is passing over Dong Dang bordergate which is 20 km from Lang son. If you are entering Vietnam from here, you MUST have the correct entry point (Dong Dang) marked on your visa, otherwise you may be turned away. This can create a problem as you would have already officially left China.