The Ky Son River in Cao Bang province is surrounded by golden rice fields and karst limestone mountains. Photo by Tran Bao Hoa
Lonely Planet has listed seven destinations in Southeast Asia for different purposes, and recommends Cao Bang province in Vietnam, which borders China, for those looking to avoid crowds.
An Australian travel guide praised Cao Bang as a top off-the-beaten-path tourist destination.
One of the must-see sites in Cao Bang is the Ban Gioc Waterfalls, the largest in Southeast Asia and the fourth largest border waterfall in the world after Iguazu, Victoria and Niagara.
The waterfall is 53 meters high, 300 meters wide and has three small tiers.
September to October is the best time to visit the falls as it is rice harvesting season, when the paddy fields along the Ky Son River turn golden yellow.
The best way to get close to the falls is to take a bamboo boat, which costs around VND50,000 ($2) per person.
Three kilometers away from Ban Gioc Waterfall is Nguom Ngao, a spectacular cave with stalactites of various shapes and sizes.
The walk through Nguomgao takes about an hour. Locals discovered the cave in 1921 but it was closed to tourists until 2006, when a visitor’s trail was built.
“Cao Bang is very safe and has good infrastructure for tourists,” the guide said.
It takes about 6 hours by car from Hanoi.
Other destinations on the list include Siargao Island in the Philippines, voted best for surfing; Amed Island in Bali, chosen as a diving and snorkelling spot; Khao Sok National Park in Thailand, chosen for animal lovers; Luang Prabang in Laos, chosen for Buddhist culture; Penang Island in Malaysia, chosen for history and culture; and Gili Air Island in Indonesia, chosen for relaxation.
