Cao Bang

Area: 6,707.9 sq. km.
Population: 515.2 thousand habitants (2012).
Capital: Cao Bang City.
Districts: Bao Lac, Bao Lam, Ha Quang, Thong Nong, Tra Linh, Trung Khanh, Nguyen Binh, Hoa An, Phuc Hoa, Quang Uyen, Ha Lang, Thach An.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, Nung, Dao, HMong, San Chay...

Pac Bo Cave (Cao Bang Province)

Geography
Cao Bang Province is located in the Far North- East, shares borders with China on the north and east, Bac Kan and Lang Son provinces on the south, and Ha Giang and Tuyen Quang provinces on the west. The topography is complicated so inter-transportation is limited.

Climate:
Cao Bang has temperate climate. There are 4 seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter. The average temperature is 25 - 28^oC in summer and 16 -17^oC in winter. Snow sometimes falls in winter on high mountains such as Trung Khanh, Tra Linh.

Tourism
The cool weather combines with many high mountains, beautiful sightseeings to form the convenient for relaxing tour and discovery tour. Famous sites include Thang Hen Mountainous Lake in Tra Linh, Ban Gioc Fall and Nguom Ngao Cave in Trung Khanh. Among of them, Ban Gioc Fall probably is one of most beautiful waterfall in Vietnam. Several sites where Uncle Ho lived and worked before the August 1945 Revolution include Pac Bo, Coc Bo Cave, Lenin Stream, and Khuoi Nam Stream. In Cao Bang, the traditional festivals have specific characteristics of ethnic groups, for example, Long Tong Festival, Inviting the-Moon-Mother Festival (Moi Me Trang).

Ethnic groups
Many ethnic groups live together here. It creates plentiful traditional culture. Tay group makes up a large amount of population. They have own handwriting (Tay-Nung language group). The Tay's special culture is showed in village festival, vi and then singing.

Transportation
Cao Bang is 272km north of Ha Noi following National Highway No.3. Cao Bang has National Highway No.4B and 3 linking to Lang Son, Bac Kan, Ha Giang provinces and to China. There are direct buses from Ha Noi, Thai Nguyen and Lang Son.