Ban Gioc Waterfall – Source:  http://www.vtr.org.vn/

The Ban Gioc Waterfall Nature Reserve covers an area of ​​566 hectares, located on the Vietnam-China border. This place has many interesting natural landscapes, attracting tourists for its ecological environment, natural forests on rocky mountains with many rare plant species, many beautiful and rare orchid species.

Located in Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province, Ban Gioc waterfall is the most majestic and beautiful waterfall in Vietnam. From afar, you can hear the roaring sound of the waterfall. From a height of over 30m, large volumes of water fall down through many limestone steps. In the middle of the waterfall, there is a large rock covered with trees that splits the water into three streams like three white silk strips.

Day and night, the waterfall rolls down the flat rocks, creating countless white dust particles that obscure a large area. On sunny days, the water vapor creates a magical, shimmering rainbow. At the foot of Ban Gioc waterfall is a wide, mirror-like river surface. On both banks are green grass and forests.

Located between the border of Vietnam and China, Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang is compared to Niagara Falls. If viewed from the foot of the waterfall, there are two parts: the left waterfall (called the secondary waterfall) and the right waterfall (called the main waterfall). The secondary waterfall and half of the main waterfall on the left belong to Vietnam. The remaining half on the right of the main waterfall belongs to China.

One of the things that makes Ban Gioc Waterfall beautiful is the main waterfall, which does not flow straight down from top to bottom, but has undulating mounds of land, divided into layers like stairs, causing the water of Quay Son River flowing through here to separate into many strips, creating a white patch between the land and sky of Cao Bang, interspersed with the green of trees and leaves.

The rainy season in Cao Bang is from June to September, when the waterfall flows strongly, the water carries alluvium from the upstream area, so the foam is milky white. When autumn comes (from September onwards), Ban Gioc waterfall in Cao Bang enters the driest season, the sky becomes clearer and the climate is extremely cool. The inherently peaceful Ban Gioc landscape is now even more peaceful and quiet. The natural picture is filled with cool green, mixed with the golden color of ripe rice, creating a scene that could not be more romantic.

In the dry season, the water of Ban Gioc Waterfall is not as fast and strong as in the rainy season, but instead is more quiet and peaceful. Especially the Quay Son River at that time is shimmering with a jade green color.

Source: Department of Natural Resources and Environment