Cao Bang – a province in the Northeast of Vietnam, is known as the “land of the Fatherland’s headland” with limestone mountains, vast primeval forests, majestic waterfalls and simple villages of ethnic minorities. This place has long been an ideal destination for those who love to explore and experience challenging and spectacular backpacking routes. In this article we will share some experiences of safe downhill driving in Cao Bang and some of the most popular backpacking spots in the past year.
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Prepare for a motorbike trip to Cao Bang
1. Ideal time to travel to Cao Bang
The most ideal time to travel to Cao Bang is in the fall (from September to November) or spring (from February to April). At this time, the weather is cool, not too hot or too cold, suitable for sightseeing and exploring activities.
2. Means of transport to Cao Bang
If you depart from the center of Hanoi, go towards Nhat Tan Bridge and exit to National Highway 3. This route is easy to travel and has little traffic. In addition, you must ensure that the vehicle is in good condition and has all the necessary documents! The journey is quite long, so don't be subjective with the familiar motorbike you often use. You should take it to the dealer for inspection and maintenance or rent a motorbike in Hanoi
If you want to travel on a tour, you can choose to travel by bus. There are many reputable bus companies operating the Hanoi - Cao Bang route with ticket prices ranging from 150,000 to 200,000 VND/trip. If you travel with family or friends, you can choose to travel by self-driving car. This is the most comfortable but also the most expensive means of transportation.
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3. Prepare your luggage
When traveling to Cao Bang, you should fully prepare the necessary luggage to avoid bad situations. Below are some tools that you should bring on your trip:
Clothes: You should bring clothes suitable for the weather, including a thin jacket, long pants, t-shirts, hats, caps, gloves.
Personal items: You should bring necessary personal items such as sunscreen, mosquito repellent, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, shampoo, shower gel.
Medical supplies: You should bring some common medicines such as cold medicine, digestive medicine, antiseptic.
Vehicle repair tools: You should bring some basic vehicle repair tools such as wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, tire pumps.
How to safely travel Cao Bang Pass for first-timers
1. Traveling by motorbike uphill in Cao Bang
With the difficult slopes of Cao Bang, you must pay attention to the following points:
- Do not gain momentum to overcome the slope, if the slope is not too high.
With steep slopes, with a large slope, shift down to a lower gear according to the speed you calculate can reach the top of the slope. - But be decisive, you absolutely must not change your decision and change gears in the middle of the shock.
Reduce the throttle when the vehicle is near the top of the slope. When the vehicle has reached the top, keep the same gear but let go of the throttle to let the vehicle slide over the top. - If you encounter another vehicle going in the opposite direction, you must quickly shift down to avoid losing momentum or stalling the engine.
- In the case of braking in front and behind but the vehicle still slides backwards; it is better to let the vehicle fall over (if the road is empty) than to try to fight with your feet. If you keep trying to carry the vehicle, it will be easy for everything to slide to the edge of the cliff or worse.
- In addition, when traveling to Cao Bang, you must prepare a full tank of gas. Climbing uphill will make the gas drain very quickly and many times faster than normal roads.
2. Motorbike touring downhill in Cao Bang
When riding a motorbike down a long and steep slope
- For those who ride a manual motorbike, you should shift to a low gear (1 or 2) to use the engine's braking force.
- Do not brake too much and make the brake pads heat up quickly. If you do, the brakes will become inert and ineffective.
- If the slope is near a bend, you must brake many times to slow down the vehicle.
- In any case, do not turn off the engine to let the vehicle roll downhill and try not to let the speed drop below 15km/h and do not drive over 40km/h. The safe speed when going downhill is about 15 - 20km/h.
For less dangerous slopes
- For moderate slopes, use the engine's compression and release the throttle to reduce speed. In fact, no matter how much you brake, it won't be effective when going downhill. Not to mention, this will cause the brake pads to burn if you continuously apply the brakes.
- For steep slopes, you should shift to the lowest gear when you start going downhill. This skill will help the engine brake to be effective. However, you must concentrate if the road is rough, with the steep slopes of Cao Bang, just a small rock or pothole can make the car fall over immediately.
- For roads like Me Pia Pass - Cao Bang, the slopes are quite similar; you should use the same gear as when going up and don't change gears in the middle of the slope. However, when necessary, you still need to be flexible and quickly shift to a lower gear before the car accelerates too quickly.
- Do not drive in the wrong lane, especially on hidden turns. But you should not drive too close to the right lane because the goat might lose control of the wheel and hit the negative-positive slope.
Cao Bang Motorbike Tour Itinerary You Can Refer To
Day 1
Hanoi - Pac Bo: Depart from Hanoi, travel along the Hanoi - Lang Son highway, then turn onto QL3B to Pac Bo. On the way, you can stop to visit places such as: Doc Lap Hill, Lenin Stream, Pac Bo Cave - where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked during the French resistance war.
Pac Bo - Ban Gioc Waterfall: After visiting Pac Bo, you continue to Ban Gioc Waterfall - the most majestic waterfall in Vietnam. On the way, you can stop to visit places such as: Phia Oac, Khuoi Ky.
Ban Gioc Waterfall - Khuon Khet: Stay overnight at Khuon Khet - "Ha Long on the mountain" of Cao Bang.
2. Day 2
Khuon Khet - Thang Hen Lake: In the morning, you visit Khuon Khet, then move to Thang Hen Lake - an ideal destination for kayaking.
Thang Hen Lake - Dong Van Ancient Town: In the afternoon, you move to Dong Van Ancient Town - a world cultural heritage. On the way, you can stop to visit places such as: Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Ma Pi Leng.
Dong Van Ancient Town - Lung Cung Community Cultural Tourism Village: Stay overnight at Lung Cung Community Cultural Tourism Village.
3. Day 3
Lung Cung Community Cultural Tourism Village - Dong Van Market: In the morning, you visit Lung Cung Community Cultural Tourism Village, then move to Dong Van Market - the most unique market in Vietnam.
Dong Van Market - Hanoi: In the afternoon, you move back to Hanoi.
Note:
- This itinerary is only a suggestion, you can adjust it according to your preferences and time.
- You should book a hotel room before going, especially during peak season.
- Bring all your personal documents, cash and necessary items.
- Be careful when traveling on the road, especially on steep mountain passes.
- Respect the environment and local culture.
Cao Bang - the land at the head of the country with spectacular backpacking routes, majestic landscapes, heroic historical relics and unique ethnic culture is welcoming you. Come to Cao Bang to experience the best that nature and people here have to offer!
If you want to book a tour in Vietnam, you can contact: +84329196074.
