Ban Gioc Waterfall in turquoise color through the lens of a photographer.

Tristan Huynh is a Frenchman currently living and working in Hanoi. He is passionate about travel and has visited many places around the world. Tristan has a particular fondness for the landscapes of Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam. He shares that whenever he has enough free time, he is ready to pack his bags and hit the road to experience new and exciting places.

Speaking to Travellive, Tristan Huynh chose early October to visit Ban Gioc Waterfall. This is the time when the area has clear blue water and golden ripe rice fields, creating a picturesque scene. Furthermore, Tristan Huynh chose Ban Gioc Waterfall because, although famous, it is less crowded with tourists. He could comfortably take photos without worrying about crowds.

"Being surrounded by nature made me feel free and relaxed. However, I also felt tired because of the urge to explore this area as much as possible. Besides, spending hours taking photos repeatedly until I got the right shot wore down my energy," Tristan Huynh said about his feelings when he came to Ban Gioc and captured many majestic natural landscapes.

At Ban Gioc Waterfall, his favorite place is the temple above the waterfall. This is the Truc Lam Ban Gioc Buddhist Temple, built in 2013. The temple's various structures, such as the main gate, the Bodhisattva statue pavilion, the main sanctuary, and the ancestral hall, are built in the style of traditional Vietnamese Buddhist architecture.

Here you will also find the temple dedicated to the hero Nùng Trí Cao – a figure and cultural symbol of the 11th century in Cao Bằng, a man of great military and diplomatic talent, who made significant contributions to safeguarding the northern border of Vietnam. The Trúc Lâm Bản Giốc Buddhist site at sunset features the temple nestled against the mountain, facing a vast area below, including Bản Giốc waterfall.

"When taking photos here, I feel a special excitement. Because I'm not just capturing a landscape, but also the time, the weather, the composition. Especially, these photos are where I convey my emotions in a particular moment," said Tristan Huynh.

When discussing the difficulties in creating the photo series, Tristan Huynh attributed the weather to its most significant factor. The lighting in the area is always unpredictable, requiring Tristan to spend hours waiting before capturing a suitable shot. However, the French tourist was still not satisfied with his work. Furthermore, Ban Gioc is located close to the Chinese border, making the use of drones prohibited. Tristan was forced to find higher ground to capture a panoramic view.

"Not far from there, visitors can go to Quay Son, which has a very beautiful water wheel and panoramic views of the valley. Co La Waterfall is smaller but also a unique tourist destination," Tristan Huynh shared. In the near future, he plans to travel to Pu Luong and Bac Quang before going to Mui Ne.

Ban Gioc Waterfall is one of the most famous waterfalls not only in Vietnam but also internationally. Ranked among the top four largest transnational waterfalls in the world, this location is increasingly attracting many tourists to Cao Bang to admire its beauty. The waterfall consists of two parts: the High Waterfall, a smaller waterfall due to its lower water volume, and the Low Waterfall, the main waterfall located on the Vietnam-China border marker. According to the 1999 treaty, the smaller waterfall belongs entirely to Vietnam, while the main waterfall is divided in two.

Anh Thi