Typical Natural Tourist Landscapes

The network of rivers, streams, and lakes, together with the terrain characteristics, has created a number of majestic natural landscapes with tourism value, typically Ban Gioc waterfall on Quay Son river (Trung Khanh), Thang Hen lake (Tra Linh) which have been exploited for tourism purposes. In addition, the system of short and steep rivers and streams in Cao Bang can be exploited to develop adventure tourism...

However, the mountainous terrain is strongly fragmented, so during the flood season, rivers and streams often cause floods, affecting economic activities and causing serious landslides. During the dry season, there is a shortage of water, some places do not have enough water to drink, and the most serious problem is in the highlands, where many ethnic minorities live.

2.1.2.4. Biodiversity

For tourism activities, vegetation cover, especially forests, plays a relatively important role. Forests in Cao Bang belong to several types such as evergreen broadleaf subtropical forests with chestnut and deciduous species, and evergreen tropical forests. On high altitudes, temperate mountain forests are often found, with rhododendrons being the dominant species, and coniferous forests appearing on rocky mountains.

In the forests of Cao Bang, there are many types of precious wood, pine, bamboo, rhododendron, kim giao, pơmu... Many types of precious medicinal herbs such as codonopsis, cardamom, panax notoginseng, some types of wild vegetables such as rau ngot, da hien are currently popular... and famous fruit trees of the highlands such as Dong Khe pear, Dong Mu plum, Trung Khanh chestnut, Tra Linh tangerine, mac mat,...

Maybe you are interested!

Besides the diversity of flora, Cao Bang forest has many rare animals that need to be protected, including: tigers, bears, red wolves, monkeys, mountain goats, deer, leopards; birds: red pheasants, golden pheasants, oriental peacocks, parrots, babblers; reptiles: geckos, banded kraits, king cobras, monitor lizards, golden mountain turtles, pangolins, etc.

2.1.2.5. Typical natural tourist landscapes

The natural components in general and natural resources in particular of Cao Bang are one of the bases for tourism development. In terms of territory, these components combine to create natural complexes at different levels (Figure 2.2).

Figure 2.2. Map of tourism resources of Cao Bang province

Author: Nong Thi Anh. Geography class K22A (Source: Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cao Bang province)

* Ban Gioc Waterfall

Ban Gioc Waterfall is considered one of the priceless gifts that nature has bestowed upon Cao Bang. It is one of the tallest, most majestic and most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam, the fourth largest waterfall in the world and the largest in Asia among the waterfalls located on the border between countries, located on the Vietnam - China border (in Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district), 89 km from Cao Bang city following provincial road 206 to the north, 26 km from Trung Khanh town.

The waterfall is located on the Quay Son River, flowing from China to Po Peo in Ngoc Khe Commune, then flowing through Dinh Phong and Chi Vien Communes. When reaching Dam Thuy Commune, Trung Khanh District, the stream flows around the foot of Co Muong Mountain to Dam Thuy Field. Here, the river is divided into many branches and then suddenly lowers, forming Ban Gioc Waterfall, then flows towards China. With a height of 53m, 300m wide, the waterfall has 3 levels including many large and small waterfalls with different names such as Duoi Bac, Lay San, Nga Moong, Nga Chang, Nga Vai, Nga Rang, Thoong Ang, .... Ban Gioc Waterfall with its own beauty and advantages, was ranked at the national level in 1998, has been invested in and increasingly attracts many domestic and foreign visitors.

* Nguom Ngao Cave

Nguom Ngao Cave (in Tay language means Tiger Cave) is a large cave formed from the long-standing weathering of limestone. The cave is located in the heart of a limestone mountain, 3km from Ban Gioc Waterfall (in Gun village, Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district). According to the survey data of the British Royal Survey Team in 1995, Nguom Ngao Cave is 2,144m long, including 3 main doors, the cave landscape is very beautiful with unique shapes such as human figures, "curtain-draped" rooms , giant upside-down lotus buds, pillars supporting the sky, terraced fields, cacti, golden waterfalls, silver mountains... The stalactites seem to grow from below, drop from above, horizontal stalactites, vertical stalactites, large stalactites, small stalactites overlapping, intertwined, sparkling colors. Nguom Ngao Cave still retains its beauty today.

The pristine, imbued with the Viet Bac character has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a national scenic spot and has attracted many domestic and foreign tourists to visit.

* Bat Cave

Bat Cave (local language: Nguom Ca Khao) is a beautiful landscape created by nature over thousands of years, located halfway up the mountain in Lung Rum hamlet, Dong Loan commune, Ha Lang district, 20 km from the district center. The cave is located in the heart of a limestone mountain range about 700m from the residential road; the cave is relatively large, nearly 1,000m deep, with an average height of about 40m. In 2014, Bat Cave was ranked as a national scenic spot by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

* Thang Hen Lake

Thang Hen Lake is located in Quoc Toan Commune, Tra Linh District, 25 km from Cao Bang City. Regarding its origin, it is possible that this rocky mountain area was eroded or eroded by water and collapsed into valleys with sedimented clay that did not drain, forming a lake. The lake is about 500 - 600 m above sea level, diamond-shaped, about 3000 m long, more than 1000 m wide, consisting of 36 lakes, including 7 large lakes named Thang Ghi Rang, Thang Long, Thang Luong, Thang Nam Cha, Thang Ghieu, Thang Hoi, the main and largest lake is Thang Hen Lake (in the local language, it means a water retention lake) [19], the water is green all year round even during the flood season and never runs out of water. The lake has its source in Thang Hen Cave, from which water flows out day and night. In 2002, Thang Hen Lake was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as an ecological tourist area of Cao Bang province.

* Phja Den - Phja Oac

The total natural area is 24,631 ha [43], including Thanh Cong commune, Phan Thanh commune, Quang Thanh commune and Tinh Tuc town in Nguyen Binh district. With an altitude of 1,500 m - 2,500 m above sea level, the climate is cool and fresh, the average temperature is from 18 - 25 0 C. Many caves and still retain the area

The primeval forest area, diverse ecosystem with high biological value with many rare flora and fauna such as red polygonum multiflora, ginseng, black chicken, temperate fruits and vegetables, insects used for scientific research and collection, has created an important premise for the development of many different types of tourism such as: ecological tourism, cultural tourism,... The ethnic minorities living here are mainly Dao ethnic group with rich culture, strong national identity, separate housing structure and occupations, can exploit the cultural identity of the community.

* Khuoi Lai Lake

Khuoi Lai Lake is 72 hectares wide, with clear blue water, calm all year round, and poetic scenery. It is possible to exploit eco-tourism programs, fishing, hunting, and boating around the lake...

In addition to the typical natural tourism spots above, there are also places that can develop ecological tourism combined with other types of tourism such as: Pac Bo area (Ha Quang), Tran Hung Dao forest (Nguyen Binh), Ma Phuc pass (Tra Linh), Nguom Khu, Nguom En (Ha Lang), Nguom Lam Nam Khao ecological area (Phuc Hoa).

2.1.3. Human tourism resources

2.1.3.1. Cultural and historical relics

With a long history and through many eras, Cao Bang has many valuable historical relics. According to statistics, up to now, there are 92 ranked relics in the province, of which 25 are ranked at the national level. This is an important source of natural resources that can attract domestic and foreign tourists to visit and research. (Appendix 2)

The relics with tourism value are mainly concentrated in Hoa An district (10 relics), Cao Bang city (4 relics), Nguyen Binh district (4 relics) and scattered in the districts [15]. (Figure 2.2)

The ranked relic system is divided into two groups with different tourism exploitation values: historical - cultural relics and historical - revolutionary relics.

* Historical and revolutionary relics

DTLS group - networks: is the main relic group of Cao Bang. Among 25 relics ranked at national level (2 DTQGDB), there are up to 20 revolutionary DTLS, accounting for more than 70% of national relics, which are significant in orienting the exploitation and development of tourism products for source, sightseeing, and learning. In which, the most notable is Pac Bo DTQGDB, this is 1 of 9 especially important relics of national significance.

Most of the revolutionary relics are concentrated in Hoa An district (8 relics), Cao Bang city (2 relics), Ha Quang district (2 relics) on a unified spatial axis.

- Pac Bo Special National Monument (Ha Quang):

The relic is located in Truong Ha commune, Ha Quang district, close to the Vietnam - China border, about 55 km from Cao Bang city. It is a priceless historical - cultural complex, especially important and meaningful to the people of all ethnic groups in Cao Bang province, the whole country and internationally. The relic complex with more than 50 relic sites [8], associated with the revolutionary life of President Ho Chi Minh and many important political events of the Vietnamese Revolution in the period of 1941 - 1945, is divided into 4 relic clusters. Of which, there are 42 original relics [8] such as milestone 108 - where Uncle Ho first set foot on the country after 30 years of wandering abroad, Karl Marx mountain, Lenin stream, Ly Quoc Sung's house foundation and Pac Bo cave - where Uncle Ho chose to live and work, Lung Lan cave, Nguom Vai cave (on Karl Marx mountain), the "unsteady translation of Party history" stone table,

With its importance and historical significance, Pac Bo has become a special historical relic site of President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam. On May 10, 2012, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 548/QD-TTg on recognizing Pac Bo as a national historical relic site, a Red tourist destination attracting domestic and foreign tourists to study, visit, pay tribute, and enjoy ecological tourism.

- "Uncle Ho's Footprints" relic

Many relics associated with Uncle Ho's activities in Cao Bang have been invested in and restored by the Party and the State, such as: Na Sac revolutionary relic site; Ma Van Han's house relic site; Bo Thay cave relic site; Keo Quang relic site; La Van Ho's house; Cam Garden relic site; Hoang Van Thong and Nong Van Luong's houses; and President Ho Chi Minh Monument.

- Special National Monument of Tran Hung Dao Forest (Nguyen Binh)

Including relics: Phai Khat post (Tam Kim commune), Na Ngan post (Hoa Tham commune), exhibition house, Tran Hung Dao forest (4 relics) of Nguyen Binh district, 50km southwest of Cao Bang city. On December 9, 2013, the Prime Minister ranked it as a special National Relic in Decision No. 2383/QD-TTg.

This is a primeval forest that still retains its wild beauty, with a cool climate all year round with an average annual temperature of about 15 - 20 0 C. The natural landscape of Tran Hung Dao forest is an ideal location for research programs, historical tourism, and ecological tourism. With the meaning of being the place where the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army, the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army, was established (December 22, 1944), the relic site is a very valuable destination for "back to the source" tourism tours.

- Kim Dong heroic martyrs relic site :

Kim Dong (aka Nong Van Den), was born in Na Ma village, Truong Ha commune, Ha Quang district. Kim Dong was the Captain of the National Salvation Children's Team. In August 1942, Kim Dong had the honor of meeting Uncle Ho at Noc En cave on the mountain behind Na Ma village. As a quick-witted, resourceful, and brave teenager, at 5:00 a.m. on February 15, 1943, while on duty guarding a meeting of the Viet Minh Committee, when he discovered the enemy approaching, Kim Dong quickly distracted them to protect the revolutionary cadres and heroically sacrificed himself when he was just 14 years old (1929-1943). The relic site was built in Kim Dong's hometown, including the following works: Kim Dong's tomb

Bronze, Kim Dong monument, in front of the statue there are 14 stone steps and 14 tall green trees, every year teenagers and children of Cao Bang province, the whole country often gather here to camp and participate in cultural activities.

- President Ho Chi Minh relic site with the victory of the 1950 border campaign

60 km from Cao Bang City, following National Highway 4, at Na Lan, Duc Long Commune, Thach An District. The relic site was jointly built by the Military Region Command, Military Region I, Military Region II and Cao Bang Province, and put into use on May 19, 2004, demonstrating the noble morality of "When drinking water, remember its source" for the genius leader, the beloved father of the nation.

The area consists of two parts: the Memorial House, designed with modern stilt house architecture, displaying images and artifacts related to Uncle Ho's activities during the campaign and the Monument Cluster of Uncle Ho sitting and observing the battle on Bao Dong Mountain in Na Lan village, Duc Long commune, Thach An district. This is where President Ho Chi Minh directly observed and commanded the 1950 border campaign front. The relic was ranked at the national level in 2004. To reach the monument on Bao Dong Mountain, you have to go through 845 stone steps, divided into 79 levels, symbolizing Uncle Ho's 79 springs, and experience the journey through the forest and climbing mountains; at the dangerous mountainside positions - the place where Uncle Ho chose as the observation and command position for the border campaign.

- Hoang Dinh Giong Memorial Site

This relic is in Na Toan village, De Tham commune, Cao Bang city, where comrade Hoang Dinh Giong was born and raised. He was a Tay ethnic, born in 1904, one of the first communist party members of Cao Bang province and also the person who directly trained and built the Cao Bang Party Committee. The relic was ranked in 1998.

* Historical and cultural relics

The cultural relics group is mainly related to the Le and Mac historical periods such as King Le temple (Hoa An), Na Lu citadel (Hoa An), Mac Dynasty citadel, Ky Sam temple,

Comment