Waterfalls in Vietnam

Vietnam's two waterfalls on this site sit at opposite ends of the country, in very different terrain. Ban Gioc, in Cao Bang province in the far north, straddles the border with China's Guangxi region, where it is called Detian: the Quay Son River drops about 30 metres over a broad set of limestone steps roughly 300 metres wide, split by rock and trees into several falls, in a valley of karst towers and rice fields. Bamboo rafts carry visitors close to the spray on the Vietnamese side, and a marker on the rim shows the border line. Pongour, in Lam Dong province in the Central Highlands south of Da Lat, is a wide fall on the Da Nhim River, around 40 metres high and 100 metres across, stepping down a series of broad rock shelves locals liken to seven tiers.

When to go

In the north, Ban Gioc runs fullest in the rainy season, roughly May to September, and August to October combines strong flow with ripening rice and clearer skies; by winter the flow thins and the weather turns cold and grey. Pongour peaks during the Central Highlands rains, from about July to October, though its flow is also regulated by a dam upstream and can drop sharply in the dry season.

Getting around

Ban Gioc is about seven hours by road from Hanoi, with sleeper buses and limousine vans running to Cao Bang town and on to the falls; most people stay a night nearby or join a two- or three-day tour. Pongour is around an hour's drive south of Da Lat, not far from Lien Khuong airport, and is usually visited by motorbike, taxi or day tour.

Entry requirements

UK citizens and those of many EU countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Spain, can visit visa-free for up to 45 days. US and Canadian citizens, and those from EU countries such as Ireland, Austria and Portugal, need an e-visa from the official site evisa.gov.vn (US$25 single entry), valid for up to 90 days. A multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) is the one to get if you plan to cross into China and come back.

Entry rules checked September 2026. They change without much notice — confirm with the official government source before you travel.