Cao Bang’s place among the Top 10 Most Welcoming Destinations in Vietnam at the Traveller Review Awards 2026 is the sweet fruit of a long and patient journey in building sustainable tourism in this mountainous frontier region of Vietnam.

Amid layers of limestone mountains and winding emerald rivers, Cao Bang has long been celebrated for its majestic landscapes and stirring historical legacy. Yet today, the province is being spoken of in another light, as a destination defined by its hospitality.

According to the latest announcement by Booking.com within the framework of the Traveller Review Awards 2026, Cao Bang has been named among the Top 10 Most Welcoming Destinations in Vietnam for 2026, based on more than 370 million verified traveller reviews from around the world.

More than a title, the recognition reflects a long journey nurtured collectively by local authorities, businesses, and the people of Cao Bang, who have steadily cultivated a tourism model grounded in sustainability, authenticity, and human warmth.

When Hospitality Becomes a Destination’s Signature

Mr. Branavan Aruljothi, Country Manager of Booking.com in Vietnam, noted that a destination is not defined solely by its scenery or heritage, but also by the sincerity of its people, the hosts and local communities who willingly share their lives and culture with visitors.

In Cao Bang, travellers often encounter simple yet memorable moments: a homestay host preparing a meal from freshly harvested local ingredients and inviting guests to dine together; guiding visitors through bustling highland markets; or leading them along winding mountain paths to watch the sunrise over terraced fields.

Such unpretentious experiences have prompted many international travellers to remark that Cao Bang offers the feeling of being welcomed like family.

Ban Gioc Waterfall

It is therefore no coincidence that Cao Bang appears alongside celebrated destinations such as Hoi An, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, and Phu Quoc on the list of Vietnam’s most welcoming places in 2026.

While the list is not ranked, these destinations share one defining feature: a proportion of accommodation providers receiving Traveller Review Awards that surpasses the national average, reflecting consistently high levels of guest satisfaction with both service quality and overall experience.

Planting the Seeds of Sustainable Tourism

Today’s recognition did not arise from a single successful tourist season. For many years, Cao Bang has pursued a development path that aligns tourism with the preservation of nature and indigenous culture.

A significant milestone came in 2018, when the Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark was officially recognised by UNESCO. Spanning more than 3,000 square kilometres across several districts, the geopark preserves geological formations hundreds of millions of years old. At the same time, it serves as a living cultural landscape for many ethnic communities, including the Tay, Nung, Dao, and H’Mong peoples.

Tourism here therefore goes beyond showcasing landscapes; it is also about safeguarding identity. In many community-based tourism villages, residents have been trained to operate homestays, preserve traditional crafts, and organise cultural experiences such as making traditional cakes, weaving brocade textiles, or performing the ancient traditions of Then singing and Dan Tinh music. These seeds of sustainable tourism are planted by the local community itself, people who understand that tourism not only brings livelihoods, but also helps preserve their cultural heritage.

Nature Draws Visitors, Community Tourism Gives It Heart

If hospitality is the soul of the destination, then Cao Bang’s spectacular natural scenery is its calling card.

Travellers often begin their journey at Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of the largest and most beautiful natural waterfalls in Southeast Asia. Nearby lies Nguom Ngao Cave, where ancient stalactites and stalagmites form a surreal underground palace sculpted over millions of years.

Another deeply meaningful stop is the Pac Bo historical site, associated with the revolutionary years of President Ho Chi Minh, which offers visitors both historical insight and emotional resonance.

Together, these layers of nature, history, and culture create a distinctive identity for tourism in Cao Bang. Within this evolving tourism landscape, homestays and community-based tourism are playing an increasingly vital role.

According to data from Booking.com, Vietnam currently has 13,052 accommodation partners receiving the Traveller Review Awards 2026, including 6,503 holiday homes. The diversity of accommodation types, from hotels and apartments to homestays and villas, reflects travellers’ growing desire for experiences deeply rooted in local character.

In Cao Bang, a homestay is not merely a place to stay; it is a cultural bridge. Visitors may join their hosts at highland markets, cook traditional dishes together, or participate in local festivals. This sense of connection fosters warmth and familiarity - a key factor behind Cao Bang’s strong reputation for friendliness.

 

When the Sweetest Rewards Come from Simple Things

Being named among the Top 10 Most Welcoming Destinations in Vietnam at the Traveller Review Awards 2026 marks a memorable milestone for Cao Bang. Yet what makes the recognition truly meaningful is that it did not arise solely from marketing campaigns or infrastructure investment.

Instead, it grew from the simplest gestures, the smile of a homestay host, a humble home-cooked meal in a wooden stilt house, or the unassuming greeting of a highland villager.

Through millions of traveller reviews across the world, these small acts have become powerful testimony to a style of tourism built on sincerity, patience, and genuine human connection.

And in the mountainous landscapes of Cao Bang, those seeds of tourism continue to be planted, season after season, welcoming new travellers who arrive not only to admire the scenery, but also to experience the warmth of the people who call this remarkable land home.