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The 1950 Border Victory Site is a valuable historical complex in Cao Bang. It includes 4 major clusters, each marking a key event or figure in the legendary 1950 Border Campaign that shaped the course of Vietnam’s resistance war against the French. Let’s Asia King Travel guide you through a tour of these historical landmarks!
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Thach An District - An address for historical memories
The 1950 Border Victory Site is a nationally recognized historical complex located in Thach An District, Cao Bang City. It comprises 19 relic sites grouped into four major clusters, spreading across three communes and one town: President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site in Duc Long Commune; Dong Khe Historical Site in Dong Khe Town; Khau Luong Historical Site in Duc Xuan Commune; and Coc Xa - High Point 477 Site in Trong Con Commune.
The 1950 Border Victory Site is located approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Cao Bang City. You should go to Cao Bang City first to easily access other nearby attractions and make your trip easier. The types of transportation will depend on your distance.
An airport hasn’t been established in Cao Bang yet. Therefore, the most convenient route is to fly into Hanoi, then take a sleeper bus, limousine, or private car to Cao Bang City (around 6–8 hours). Once you arrive in the city, continue to Thach An District via National Highway 4A. If you're an adventurous soul, consider renting a motorbike to soak up the serene mountain roads and ethnic villages along the way.
While the site is open year-round, the most pleasant time to explore is from August to September. This time is just after the rainy season, when the weather is cooler and nature is at its lushest. You can avoid heavy rains to ensure the best exploration. Besides, this is also when Cao Bang is mostly lively and vibrant with misty green hills, cascading waterfalls, and cool, fresh air.
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Cao Bang is at its lushest during September
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After the victory of Viet Bac in the fall of 1947, the Vietnamese army took advantage on the battlefield, and gradually switched to counterattack. Based on that situation and favorable changes in the world, the Central Party Standing Committee decided to launch the Border Campaign in June 1950, in order to destroy an important part of the French forces, liberate part of the border, and maintain the position in the battle.
Cao Bang became the main battlefield of the Border Campaign because it shares a border with Guangxi Province (China), an important junction of the strategic routes. Given the importance of the campaign, President Ho Chi Minh himself was present here, directly commanding strategy and inspiring the troops.
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The 1950 Border Campaign had a significant strategic meaning to the Vietnamese people’s fight
The victory of the Border Campaign had profound national and epochal significance. It was the first major offensive campaign of the Vietnam People’s Army in the resistance war against French colonialism. It completed all its targets: eliminating more than 8,300 enemies; liberating the entire Vietnam-China border from Cao Bang to Dinh Lap; and breaking through the French “East-West Corridor”.
The President Ho Chi Minh Relic was inaugurated in 2004, on the occasion of the 114th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday. The relic site consists of 2 parts: the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial House and the Monument Complex of Ho Chi Minh.
The memorial house is designed with modern stilt house architecture, displaying images and artifacts related to Ho Chi Minh’s activities in the campaign. There is a statue recreating President Ho commanding the battle from the Bao Dong mountain, modeled after a photo taken by Vu Nang An.
At the Observatory, visitors can view a stele engraved with President Ho Chi Minh's poem, "Going Up the Mountain." On the way up to the Observatory years ago, he was inspired and left behind a famous poem about the spirit and belief in the nation's victory.
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The statue of President Ho Chi Minh commanding the battle on the Bao Dong Mountain
In this complex, you can visit the Dong Khe Museum, which holds a rich collection of documents, videos, and memorabilia from the 1950 Border Campaign. Next, head to the Revolutionary Base Area to admire the former military base and command post of the historical border campaign. You can blend in the heroic atmosphere here and recreate the scene of the place, which was once a strategic base, in your head.
Don’t forget to visit Bao Dong Mountain. It was once the troop-placed stations for the Vietnamese army. You can climb to the top to have a panoramic view of the whole area and feel the ruggedness and majesty of the terrain under your feet.
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Dong Khe Historical Site cluster
These lesser-known relics hold deep historical value. Though not yet fully developed for tourism, they remain raw and authentic, preserved with little alteration. Visitors often come independently to walk the forested trails, visit old battle zones, and hear oral histories from locals. If you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about the stories behind the victories, it’s a great idea to visit these places.
The 1950 Border Victory Site is more than just a history lesson. It’s a meaningful encounter with the roots of Vietnam’s independence. Unlike the dry documentaries and sentences full of words, a visit to the once-been-battlefield in Thach An, Cao Bang will give a different feeling to history lovers and patriotic human beings. What are you waiting for? Don’t hesitate to contact us and let Asia King Travel tailor an emotionally-filled veteran tour for you!
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