Nguyên Bình: Mountain Nature and History

In Nguyên Bình, striking mountain landscapes meet places that tell the story of Cao Bằng’s history. A visit can take you to an extensive memorial complex, to Dao Tiền villages, and to a region whose natural environment is shaped by mountains, biodiversity, and distinctive karst formations. A useful question when planning your trip—and choosing a suitable base—is which experiences you would like to focus on.

Memorial Sites Commemorating the History of 1944

Rừng Trần Hưng Đạo, in the communes of Tam Kim and Hoa Thám in Nguyên Bình District, is a special national historical memorial site. The Việt Nam Tuyên truyền Giải phóng quân was founded here on 22 December 1944. The complex includes 201.7 hectares of primary forest and four documented memorial sites: the unit’s founding place, the row of sleeping quarters and kitchen, a water source, and the summit of Slam Cao. These different locations give the site several historical points of reference, rather than limiting its commemorative significance to a single building.

The exhibition house displays and preserves photographs, documents, and artifacts relating to the unit’s founding and development, as well as to Võ Nguyên Giáp during his revolutionary activities in Cao Bằng. Phai Khắt Fort is also part of the history of the fighting: on 25 December 1944, it was the site of the Việt Nam Tuyên truyền Giải phóng quân’s first victorious battle. It was restored as an additional exhibition house within the memorial complex. Nà Ngần Fort, in what is now Hoa Thám Commune, commemorates the second victorious battle, which took place on 26 December 1944. A stele marks the historic site; the original building has not survived, and parts of the grounds are used for agriculture.

Mountain Nature and Changing Landscapes

Phja Oắc–Phja Đén National Park covers a rugged mountain area of nearly 10,500 hectares. Its average elevation is more than 1,000 metres above sea level. The protected area is home to 352 plant species and 58 rare animal species. For nature lovers, this landscape offers a different focus from the memorial sites: the emphasis is on mountains and biodiversity. Phja Oắc Peak, in Thành Công Commune, reaches 1,931 metres. In winter, a continuous layer of frost can form there when temperatures drop sharply; the peak is a popular tourist attraction.

Other distinctive landscapes include the bamboo garden in Bản Phường Hamlet, Thành Công Commune, which covers more than 30 hectares. Traces of French mining operations can be seen at the Tĩnh Túc open-pit tin mine. The area also features distinctive karst formations, sinkholes, and karst funnels. Those interested in both nature and cultural history will find different themes here, without needing to combine them into a single excursion.

Villages, Handicrafts, and Local Produce

In the Nà Rẻo residential area, in Tam Hợp Hamlet, Thành Công Commune, the Dao Tiền’s over-60-year-old earthen houses stand close together. Thick earthen walls and roofs of Yin-Yang tiles define their traditional appearance. Visitors sometimes come to see and photograph the houses. In Hoài Khao, a Dao Tiền settlement in Quang Thành Commune, a community-based tourism destination is linked to traditional crafts. These places offer a glimpse into different aspects of local life and the region’s craft traditions.

Cultivation and processing are also part of the local character. The Kolia ecotourism area in Phja Đén, Thành Công Commune, grows tea and processes various types of tea; flowers and vegetables are cultivated there year-round. The same commune is also home to Phja Đén, a traditional craft village known for dong vermicelli. Another historic point of reference can be found in Tĩnh Túc: the tin mine workers’ cell was founded at Đền Ông Búa in October 1930.

Planning Your Trip

Cao Bằng’s western tourist cluster route focuses on Nguyên Bình District and includes 16 visitor attractions. One specific road connection runs from the centre of Phai Khắt to Nà Ngần Fort: the Tam Kim–Hoa Thám intercommunal road is about 20 kilometres long. This approximate distance is a useful guide if you would like to include both historic sites in your plans; by itself, it does not indicate how long the journey will take.

When choosing a holiday apartment or house, your preferred focus can help you decide: memorial sites and exhibitions, mountain nature, Dao Tiền houses, and local produce each offer different reasons to discover Nguyên Bình. Other destinations at the same level are Hà Quảng and Nguyên Bình District.

For the broader travel overview: Cao Bằng.