Nguyên Bình District offers three distinct travel highlights: the high-altitude Phja Đén–Phja Oắc area, Dao culture in Hoài Khao and Bản Phường, and the Rừng Trần Hưng Đạo historical monument area. Landscape, craftsmanship and history each offer a different perspective on the region. If you are looking for a vacation rental, first decide which theme you want to shape your trip; you can then plan the rest accordingly.
Phja Đén–Phja Oắc: High Elevations, Karst and Forest
The Phja Đén–Phja Oắc area includes Thành Công, Phan Thanh and Quang Thành, as well as the town of Tĩnh Túc in Nguyên Bình District. Its elevations range from 1,500 to 2,500 meters above sea level. The geological features of Phja Oắc–Phja Đén National Park include limestone mountains with underground rivers, valleys, basins and depositional slopes between low and medium-height mountain ranges. Areas of primary forest have also been preserved in the area. Karst, underground rivers and forest offer several different points of interest for the nature-focused part of a trip.
Phja Oắc Peak is 1,931 meters high and is suitable for cloud watching and taking in views of the sunset. This peak elevation is a specific reference point within the broader elevation range of the area. In the forest of Phja Oắc, visitors can explore a moss-rich woodland landscape. This gives visitors the option of experiencing a clearly identified peak or exploring the forest as distinct nature experiences.
History and Craftsmanship in Nguyên Bình District
The memorial temple to General Võ Nguyên Giáp is in Tam Kim and forms part of the nationally significant Rừng Trần Hưng Đạo historical monument area. Phai Khắt Fort is also part of this monument area; it was designated a national monument in 1993. The fort is associated with the first battle of the Việt Nam Tuyên truyền Giải phóng quân, fought on December 25, 1944, under the command of General Võ Nguyên Giáp. The temple and fort thus offer two historical points of reference: the memory of the general and a specific battle with its date.
The surviving architectural heritage of the Phja Đén–Phja Oắc area also includes former French holiday resorts, including Tài Soỏng and the Red House (Tatsloom).
Hoài Khao in Quang Thành is a community tourism destination with 34 Dao Tiền households. The community preserves old wooden houses with traditional tiled roofs, as well as beeswax patterns, brocade embroidery and silverwork. In autumn, the beeswax-harvesting custom takes place in Hoài Khao. The architecture and crafts give the place a cultural focus, while the harvest adds a seasonal custom.
Bản Phường in Thành Công offers a different focus. The bamboo garden there covers more than 30 hectares. The bamboo forest is a tourist destination that visitors can explore and experience. Traditional bamboo weaving is also preserved in Bản Phường, and visitors can learn about it hands-on. The bamboo landscape and weaving craft make for a different travel theme from the wooden houses and textile and silverwork of Hoài Khao.
Getting There and Choosing Accommodation Based on Your Travel Focus
Visitors can reach Phja Oắc–Phja Đén National Park from Cao Bằng City via National Highway 34 or by taking a turnoff from the national highway at Côlêa Pass. A paved road connects Nguyên Bình town directly to the Rừng Trần Hưng Đạo historical monument area. These two route details apply to different destinations: the national park and the monument area. Check road conditions before setting out.
When looking for a vacation rental, first consider whether mountains and forest, Dao culture or historic sites will be the deciding factor. Choose according to your planned travel focus, and leave room in your daily itinerary for travel, meals and breaks.
Discover more destinations: Nguyên Bình, Hà Quảng.
Return to the main travel overview: Cao Bằng.
