reLocation: Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower, Pham Hung street, Tu Liem district, Hanoi (11.5 km from Old Quarter) Opening hours: 6:30 am - 10:30 am, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm; 6 pm - 10:30 pm. Phone: 02436988888 Price: VND 300.000 - VND 1.000.000 Answer 1 of 6: Hello I will be traveling this august to vietnam hanoi with my 10 year old son. If I book a hotel without a swimming pool what will be my options if we like to cool down in a swimming pool considering the heat? Can we go for a swim in an other Having surveyed the swimming pools around Hanoi, here are my suggestions: (1) Hanoi Horison Hotel (40 Cat Linh Street), 2nd fl. (pic 1) - Beautiful outdoors pool for lounging and swimming. Open to the public. Entrance fee, USD 12. Use of sauna, whirlpool and gym included. Swim here from March until October when it is warm outside. Our Swim School. At Aqua-Tots Hoang Cau, children of all abilities from 4 months-12 years old become safe and confident swimmers in our indoor, 90° pool. With flexible class schedules, make-up lessons and a fully stocked changing room, we're here to make swim lessons convenient for your family. So, sit back and relax in the comfy red chairs Lion's House Falls Great for a quick hike and a refreshing dip at cold river waters. 7. Overflow swimming pool. Albay Tourist Spots Day 2: Outside-the-City Adventures. For this trip, we rented a motorcycle of PHP 800 a day (not including gas) to take us to these remote locations outside. Daranak Falls Swimming Area. zAVwdj. A Guide To The Ban Gioc Waterfall Ban Gioc waterfalls are one of Vietnam’s natural gems. As the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia, As Asia’s answer to the Victoria Falls or Niagara Falls, Ban Gioc’s pristine waters sit amidst insane natural beauty, making this a must-visit destination if you are in Northern Vietnam. Read on to discover the best way to visit this mesmerising spot! Where Can I Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall? Ban Gioc waterfall is in Vietnam and China as the waterfall straddles an international border like the Iguazu Falls between Argentina and Brasil. The Chinese side is known as the Detian falls, and collectively they are sometimes referred to as Ban Gioc Detian Falls. On the Vietnamese side, Ban Gioc sits within the Trung Khanh district of Cao Bang Province, around 286km north of Hanoi. Most visitors choose to stay in Cao Bang town, which is 25km from the falls, from where they can make a day trip. Fractured historical relations between Vietnam and China once made the border region a contentious location, and in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese war Chinese forces used Ban Gioc as a crossing point into Vietnam. Fortunately, despite somewhat frosty relations today, you don’t need to get any special permit to visit. But have your passport handy just in case. Ban Gioc is one of our top waterfalls in Vietnam, how about the others? Check them out here What To Do When Visiting Ban Gioc Waterfall Ban Gioc waterfall is famous for its tiered falls, which are some of the widest on the continent. Water from the Tay Son river plunges over multi-tiered terraced cliffs that sit amongst luscious greenery and impressive karst peaks. You can enjoy the province of Ha Giang first before visiting Ban Gioc waterfall. 1. Find Your Picture Perfect Photo Spot The path towards the falls goes through rice fields and a grassy bank, whereupon you’ll meet the misty spray of the majestic Ban Gioc waterfall. There are calmer sections where the water flows gently over the edge, giving visitors a refreshing mist; whereas, at others, the deluge is immense. Several picturesque viewing points lie along the tree and boulder-lined sides of the falls, giving you the perfect shady vantage point to take in one of Vietnam’s most romantic spots. There is also a great aerial view from the newly constructed pagoda opposite the falls. Cameras at the ready! Ban Gioc – 1 of the top 10 waterfalls in the world // Photo by Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin on Shutterstock 2. Rent A Bamboo Raft For Closer Look At The Falls To get closer to the action, rent a bamboo raft. For about 50,000 VND, the rower will take you right up to the main waterfall and around beautiful blue pools of water where you’re almost bound to get soaked – either from the waterfall’s spray or the irresistible urge to jump into the blue pools of water. If you decide to go for a dip, be careful and stick to the shallow rockpool areas. You can also walk and get quite a close-up photo with the waterfalls in full flow. Tourist visiting Ban Gioc Waterfall using bamboo raft // Photo by Muslianshah Masrie on Shutterstock 3. Walk Around The Ban Gioc Waterfalls – At Your Own Risk! If you want to get the best views of the waterfalls, head up one of the side paths leading to the higher tiers of the waterfall. The lush greenery and sheer scale of the falls – some 30 metres high and 300 metres wide – will have you in awe. But do bear in mind these paths are wild and filled with shrubs, and there are no handrails – so go at your own risk, and don’t go when it’s rainy! A tourist walking on a bamboo bridge near a part of Ban Gioc waterfall // Photo by Asia Images on Shutterstock 4. Explore The Quay Son River & Nguom Ngao Cave The Quay Son, a stunning 89km long jade-blue river, snakes its way down from China and along the border with Vietnam, before feeding the Ban Gioc waterfall. Flowing through spectacular limestone casts and rice terraces, the Quay Son river is a spot worth visiting in its own right. A kayak or canoe trip is a great way to see it. Quay Son River // Photo by Quang nguyen vinh on Shutterstock Another site to check out before reaching Ban Gioc waterfall is Nguom Ngao cave, which is just 2km from Ban Gioc Falls. A breeze and an underground river run through the cave, which is full of beautifully twisted stalactites and stalagmites, making it the perfect spot to escape the summer heat. Nguom Ngao cave // Photo by Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin on Shutterstock How Much Does It Cost To Visit The Ban Gioc Waterfall? The entrance fee for Ban Gioc Waterfall is 45,000 VND roughly USD This includes basic entry to the waterfall area. To visit the Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Vietnamese side, tickets are purchased from a small ticket booth as you approach the area. Other Ban Gioc activities like rafting and cave tours are separate tickets but cost roughly around the same as entry to the waterfall around $3. Can I Swim At Ban Gioc Falls? Yes, you can but it is not advised. There are many signs in Vietnamese advising that swimming is dangerous. Those wanting to swim should stay close to the shore and wear a life jacket available onsite. If you want to get up real close to the beautiful waterfalls, then book a raft tour! Water buffalo eating grass on the field near Ban Gioc waterfall // Photo by Olga Savina on Shutterstock How To Get To Ban Gioc Waterfall From Hanoi? Hanoi to Cao Bang City Buses If you’re starting in Hanoi, you’re best off using public transport. Get the bus to Cao Bang city, which is around 286kms away from Hanoi and takes between 8-10 hours and costs roughly 200,000 VND. These buses are coach style and not like the small local buses which we don’t recommend for this kind of journey. To take the bus, head to the My Dinh bus station in Hanoi, where Hanoi to Cao Bang buses depart regularly throughout the day. A sleeper bus is also available, meaning you can save time and money on an overnight stay. Seats on an overnight bus recline almost all the way and provide a very comfortable experience compared to the small local buses! Read Hanoi transport if you’re planning your trip in Hanoi. Cao Bang Bus Companies There are two major bus companies Kim Dung Travel and Hung Thanh and bookings can be made direct or through trusted comparison websites such as Cao Bang to Ban Gioc Waterfall From Cao Bang, it takes about 90 minutes to reach the falls. It’s best to arrange a Ban Gioc waterfall day tour with your hotel or a tourist company, which includes a privately hired car with pick up and return. For a cheaper alternative, take the local bus, which leaves every 30 minutes from the Cao Bang bus station. Bus tickets cost about 60,000 VND. If you’re doing the Ha Giang loop or in the surrounding area on a motorbike trip and looking to get off-the-beaten-track, then Ban Gioc falls are well worth the visit. Need more exciting things to do in the North? Read these Hanoi day trip ideas! Ban Gioc waterfall from the air // Photo by Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin on Shutterstock Best Time To Visit Ban Gioc Falls Temperature in Ban Gioc Waterfall and Cao Bang Province The average temperature at Ban Gioc Waterfall ranges from 30 degrees in Summer to lows of 11 degrees in January. Sitting in the mountains, the weather is often temperate and milder than lower altitude areas. Due to its location in Northern Vietnam, Ban Gioc experiences four distinct seasons. Temperatures are cool and cloudy from November-March, and snow is not unheard of. This is also the dry season, which makes it a good time to visit – just as long as you bring a fleece or two. Thien Vien Truc Lam Ban Gioc ” pagoda on Trùng Khanh town, Cao Bang province // Photo by Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin on Shutterstock Temperatures warm up in April, reaching their peak in July and August. Summer also sees the monsoon season hit the region, and heavy rainfall can cause flooding and landslides. You generally should be okay travelling in summer, but keep an eye on weather forecasts, which can change quickly in the rainy season. Perhaps the best time to visit Ban Gioc Waterfall is from September-November. This period is the sweet spot – stable temperatures, humidity, and low rainfall make this the perfect time to go. Peak Tourist Time At Ban Gioc Waterfall When it comes to crowds, fortunately, mass tourism has yet to hit Ban Gioc falls. If you go there on a weekday when there are very few tourists, it’ll feel like an oasis you’ve just discovered. Do try and avoid weekends and public holidays, however, which can get a little busy. Aerial view of “ Ban Gioc “ waterfall, Cao Bang, Vietnam // Photo by Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin on Shutterstock Where To Stay Near Ban Gioc Waterfall Closest to Ban Gioc Whilst most tourists stay in Cao Ban city, there is also limited availability of hotels around Ban Gioc falls, including The Saigon Ban Gioc resort the closest hotel to the falls offers comfortable rooms for around 1,100,000 VND / night. The Saigon Ban Gioc resort // Photo on saigonbangiocresort Motels Near Ban Gioc For a cheaper option, head to one of the local guesthouses nhà nghỉ in Vietnamese in the area. Ha Vuong Hotel and Kieu Thanh Nguyet Guest House offer simple but clean rooms for around 200,000 VND a night. Stay Nearby Cao Bang You’ll find far more options in Cao Ban city, where most tourists choose to stay. Cao Bang Eco Homestay A budget-friendly choice, this homestay offers dorm rooms from around 120,000 VND / night. LươngSơn Homestay Cao Bằng a great option for those intrepid travellers looking to be more in touch with nature. Khách Sạn Sông Hiến hotel a more conventional and mid-range option, this hotel offers decent and clean rooms for around 5-600,000 VND a night Tourist boats by the Detian Ban gioc waterfalls on China and Vietnam border // Photo by Creative Family on Shutterstock Food To Try From Cao Bang Province Every region in Vietnam has its own special foods worth trying, especially food from Hanoi in the North. The Cao Bang area is no different. Food in and around the waterfalls is tasty and basic – think food stalls selling simple rice and noodle dishes. These tend to pepper the roadside leading to the falls, so keep a lookout for them. The Saigon Ban Gioc resort offers a decent range of quality Vietnamese dishes, but expect to pay a bit more. Cao Bang city has a host of restaurants, especially on Vuon Cam street and around Cho Xanh Market. 5 Must-try Dishes While Visiting Ban Gioc Waterfalls 1. Vit quay bay vi – roasted duck, seasoned with 7 flavours – garlic, ginger, pepper, dried onion, honey, tofu, and dried clausena. The duck is deliciously crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. 2. Trung Khanh chestnuts – Northeastern Vietnam has the ideal climate for chestnuts, and the Trung Khanh variety is great roasted, steamed or dried. Chestnut tree heritage and Chestnut garden at Trung Khanh town, Cao Bang, Vietnam // Photo by Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin on Shutterstock 3. Banh Cuon – a famed dish in Northern Vietnam, the Cao Bang Banh Cuon steamed rice roll comes with a delicious pork bone broth and egg Banh cuon – Vietnamese steamed rice paper meat // Photo by JoannaTkaczuk on Shutterstock 4. Khao cake – made from glutinous rice and sesame, peanut, sugar and fat filling, the Khao cake is a delicious sweet treat that features heavily in the Tet Lunar New Year festival. Head to our food and beverage page for more on Vietnamese food! Think you know it all? Check out this food list to check! Get To Ban Gioc Waterfall Before The Masses Do! If you’re in the region, Ban Gioc waterfall is a must-see along with other affordable places near Hanoi! The majestic waterfall is perhaps Vietnam’s most underrated natural wonder, and it’s only a matter of time before the masses of tourists find out about this long-kept secret. So, what are you waiting for? Get on that bus or motorbike! Ban Gioc should be on your bucket list in 2022, wonder where else should be on it? check out Vietnam’s 12 best places in 2022. Our publication is powered by our community. Join the conversation on Facebook. Hanoi is one of the best places in Vietnam to make the most of being outdoors all day. This city hosts a number of different types of activities for tourists to decompress themselves, from visiting well-known sites to playing at modern entertainment hubs. So, if your holiday in Vietnam is ahead, check out our list on to find the most interesting outdoor activities in Hanoi to prepare to enjoy. 1. Have A Stroll at Hoan Kiem Lake One of the most typical places in Hanoi is Hoan Kiem Lake, which is located in the center of the city. This lake is called the heart of Hanoi and it is related to a legend of a magic sword that helped King Le Loi and his troops to defeat the enemy out of the country. Hoan Kiem Lake is an ideal attraction to throw a walk. It has cool air, beautiful sightseeing and some historical temples and pagodas around, which is very suitable for a photographer to do his job. In addition, walking along Hoan Kiem Lake, tourists can have a chance to see many live performances by young people as well as join many traditional activities in Vietnam. 2. Ride A Boat in West Lake Believe or not, West Lake is the biggest one in the capital of Vietnam. This benefits the lake to be able to organize so many different outdoor activities. If you like boating and want to gain memorable experiences with your family, hire a pedalo boat to enjoy Hanoi’s views from the lake. This kind of entertainment is quite new in West Lake but it is totally fun and safe for everyone, even the children to enjoy. The slight wind along with the cool air of the West Lake can make you feel relaxed after a long day. You can bring water and some snacks along but remember to throw trash in the right places in order to save the environment. 3. Visit Temple of Literature Temple of Literature is known as the first university of Vietnam. In the past, only the talented doctors were able to enter this university to study but now the temple remains a tourist attraction where people can witness all the fine arts representing education in Vietnam in previous years. The first courtyard of the Temple of Literature contains a gate leading to the second one. Here, a Khue Van pavilion was constructed as a symbol of present-day Hanoi. In the third courtyard,people will see Thien Quang well and over 80 doctors’ steles with names of those successful at the royal exams on the right side. In the fourth and fifth courtyard, people honor Confucius, scholars and sages. 4. Visit Bat Trang Pottery Village If you have ever heard about Bat Trang Pottery Village, you may know that is a traditional village where people produce ceramics to make different things in the house such as bowl, plate or even some pretty decorations. You can ask the local people if you can try to make these products on your own, normally they will guide you from the simplest steps. If you like your products, you can bring them home. But before that, you need to ask the artists here to burn the products for you and when the burn process is finished, you will decorate your accomplishments following your imagination. Bat Trang Pottery Village attracts both domestic and international tourists coming to experience making ceramics themselves. Thus, do not miss a trip to this village when you are in Hanoi. >> Join with Us at Cycling day tour to Bat Trang Pottery and Thanh Tri Villages! 5. Visit Perfume Pagoda Perfume pagoda is famous for being a religious site and a beautiful sight-seeing spot not only in Hanoi but also in Vietnam. Drive 60 km southwest from Hanoi, you can reach the complex of shrines and pagodas in Perfume Pagoda. There is an annual festival in Perfume pagoda, which happens from the middle of January to the middle of March. During the 3-month festival, the pagoda is full with people from different provinces in the country. Therefore, if you want to avoid the crowd, do not come to visit perfume pagoda at this time. 6. See Animals at Thu Le Zoo If you love animals and you want to see different types of them in different countries to compare with each other, you can go to visit Thu Le Zoo on Kim Ma street. This zoo contains a variety of animals such as crocodiles, tigers, elephants, rhinos, birds, monkeys and so on. There are also a lot of green trees inside the zoo so tourists can take a seat under the shadow to relax when they feel tired of watching the animals. 7. Visit One-Pillar Pagoda beckyeliad Another unique attraction in the capital of Vietnam is the One Pillar pagoda. This pagoda was constructed in the 11th century under the Ly dynasty. At that time, King Ly Thanh Tong dreamed of the Buddha sitting on a lotus and handing him a baby son. After that, he got married and had a son like in his dream. Then, in gratitude for this event, the King decided to build a temple in the middle of the lotus pond. Visiting this temple, tourists will know more about Vietnamese architecture, culture, rituals, and beliefs. Opening hours 8 am to 5 pm Location Ong Ich Khiem Street, Ba Dinh District 8. Play Golf If you love playing golf, Hanoi is truly an ideal place for you with golf clubs offering players of all levels. Thus, even if you are a beginner or a professional, you can enjoy. Some golf clubs are modern with high-quality equipment and stunning mountainous site such as Country Club, King’s Island Golf Resort or Hanoi Golf Club. These clubs are situated in spacious places and are designed very attractively. Apart from golf services, they also provide accommodation, spas, swimming pools and restaurants to treat every customer. Therefore, golfers can have the best relaxed moments when playing golf here. 9. Go Shopping dmb23 If you come to Hanoi, Vietnam, the must-not-skip thing to do is to shop at the outdoor markets on foot. Hanoi has a lot of day and night markets to cater to tourists. Here, people sell a wide range of different things such as food, clothes, and souvenirs. In the Old Quarter, you will discover that the streets are named after the products they sell, which you can’t find in other parts of the country. If you want to buy silver bracelets or necklaces, you can visit Hang Bac Street Silver Street and if you want to buy clothes, pay a visit to Hang Gai Street Silk Street. It is not too hard to find these streets around the Old Quarter, you can ask the locals and they will show you the way to your expected place. Or else, prepare yourself a map in case you get lost in these streets. The most popular souvenirs that tourists often buy when you come to Vietnam are Áo Dài Long Dress Traditional Vietnamese Dress and Nón Lá Palm-leaf conical hat. You can easily find those products in the Old Quarter and the price for them is not very high, so you can totally buy for your friends and family. 10. Have A Massage Having a massage after a long day walking and playing outside is truly a treat for visitors. Almost all the 4 or 5-star provide this kind of services to its customers. You can choose whatever therapies you want from Vietnamese, Thai or Swedish massages to the facial mask, oil treatment or body wraps. If you don’t want to experience at your hotel, you can find other spas around Hanoi like Anam-QT Spa Hanoi or Bellissima Salon and Spa. The services here are great with diverse treatments while the locations are not difficult to find. 11. Take A Cyclo Tour One of the most typical of Hanoi is the cyclo, which is hardly found in other parts of Vietnam. The busy city still offers tourists a pleasant tour with a cyclo slowly going through every corner of the streets. You can see everything that happened on the roads and take some pictures if you want. 12. Swim at West Lake Water Park Hanoi’s West Lake Water Park is open for both adults and children who love to swim as well as play watersports activities. The water park has 12 slides and tubes, a hydrotherapy pool, a wave machine, and a diving pool. While adults can enjoy roller-coaster, children can swim and play with each other in the lazy river. The most amazing activity to do in this water park is the sliding lanes. If you go alone, you can try the high-speed lanes, if you go in couples, try the black thrilling lanes and if you are such a brave person, do not skip the 14,5-meter-carpet sliding lanes. Location 614 Lac Long Quan Street Opening hours 9 am to 9 pm 13. Ride A Bike If you are not getting used to driving a motorbike along the streets in Hanoi, you can choose an easier transportation like bicycles to join the traffic. Unlike other kinds of transportation, riding a bicycle brings you an opportunity to go to some rural areas around Hanoi where you can see many paddle fields, gorgeous flower and vegetable gardens as well as ancient temples and pagodas constructed in the 12th century. 14. Try Trang Tien Ice-cream One of the most popular foods tourists should try is Trang Tien ice-cream. This ice-cream has special flavors that can satisfy different group ages of people. That is the reason why all the shops selling Trang Tien ice-cream in Hanoi are always full with people. There are many flavor options for you to choose such as vanilla, green tea, and chocolate. The price for 1 cone of ice-cream is also very cheap, so you can buy as much as you want without worrying about the money. 15. Visit Ta Hien Street to Try Some Beer sarahkwoo Ta Hien street as well as Bia Hoi Corner is known as the street that tourists, especially foreign ones come first once they set foot on Hanoi, Vietnam. Here, visitors will have a chance to experience the Vietnamese beer culture. People will sit on the pavement, chatting, eating and drinking beer happily with each other. There will be someone singing along to make the atmosphere more energetic. Hanoi has everything to offer tourists, both daytime and nighttime. Therefore, if you want to experience this city the most, try all the listed activities above.

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