At the Origins of the Vietnamese Revolution

The province of Cao Bang holds a special place in Vietnam’s contemporary history.

It was in Pac Bo, near the Chinese border, that Ho Chi Minh settled after living abroad for thirty years. From this region, in the early 1940s, the Revolution began to take shape, eventually leading to the Declaration of Independence in 1945. Later, during the First Indochina War, the region became a stronghold of the Viet Minh. In 1950, the Viet Minh inflicted a major defeat on the French Expeditionary Corps when the latter attempted to withdraw from Cao Bang. From then on, supported with weapons and training by the People’s Republic of China, the Viet Minh transformed into a conventional army, gradually regaining control over all of Northern Vietnam.

Today, many Vietnamese travel to the region in the footsteps of their national hero. Visitors can see the Coc Bo Cave, where Ho Chi Minh is said to have lived during his time in Pac Bo. This site is also known as Km 0 of the “Ho Chi Minh Road” (not to be confused with the Ho Chi Minh Trail), which stretches from Pac Bo to Ca Mau in the Mekong Delta—a distance of 1,235 kilometers.

But Pac Bo is far from the only attraction! Cao Bang is home to Ban Gioc Waterfall, the most impressive in Vietnam, which also forms a natural border between Vietnam and China.

The region also offers encounters with diverse ethnic cultures, such as the Nung people. On the way to Ban Gioc from Cao Bang, you can visit Phuc Sen village, known for its traditional knife-making. Finally, some may have heard of the Black Lolos, made famous by a French television program on France 2 in 2012. This ethnic group lives just a few kilometers from Bao Lac, a town located 120 km southwest of Cao Bang.

Discover the region with our 8-day tour of Northeast Vietnam!