Ban Gioc-Detian Falls

Ban Gioc-Detian Falls Facts

The term Ban Gioc-Detian Falls serves as the accepted name of a truly spectacular sight. That’s because it names a set of twin waterfalls situated on the Quay Son River. Coincidentally, this marvel of Nature formed in a location almost perfectly straddling the Sino-Vietnamese border, in Asia.
Firstly, one half of the breathtaking falls sits in the karst hills of Daxin County, in the province of Guangxi, in the country of China. Meanwhile, the other half sits in Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province (Vietnam). The truly wondrous site also sits roughly 169 mi (272 km) north of Hanoi.
Furthermore, this marvel of Nature holds a very impressive position in the minds of geologists. That holds true due to the fact that these falls currently rank as the 4th largest waterfall along a national border. Only the astounding Victoria Falls, Iguazu Falls, and Niagara Falls exceed it in this.
In addition, the Vietnamese people consider the two falls comprising what many call Ban Gioc-Detian Falls to be two parts of one waterfall. They know if by the sole name Bản Gioc. Furthermore, the two parts are named thác chính, the main waterfall, and thác phụ, the subordinate waterfall.

Ban Gioc-Detian Falls Physical Description

Creating confusion for some people, Chinese texts sometimes name Ban Gioc-Detian Falls simply the Détiān falls. By either name, though, this cascade remains a site of stunning natural splendor. Further, during the summer rains, the two waterfalls sometimes join together. The waterfall drops a total of about 98 ft (30 m) and is separated into three falls by numerous rocks and trees.

This magnificent site also earns respect for a somewhat unexpected wonder. That actually holds true due to its incredible volume. In point of fact, on most days, the thunderous effect of the water hitting the cliffs remains audible from a great distance. The Ban Gioc-Detian Falls was also one of the crossing points for the Chinese army during the brief Sino-Vietnamese War.

Ban Gioc-Detian Falls Ecology

Near Ban Gioc-Detian Falls lies yet another wonder of the works of Nature. That’s the site known to man as the gorgeous Tongling Gorge. Remarkably, this remains accessible only through a cavern from an adjoining gorge. Rediscovered only recently, it has many species of endemic plants that exist only in the gorge.

In the past, this cavern itself actually served as a hideout for local bandits. In fact, numerous treasures are occasionally still found in the cliff-side caves of Ban Gioc-Detian Falls. A road running along the top of the falls also leads to a stone marker that demarcates the border between China and Vietnam in both Chinese and French.

However, to no great surprise, modern disputes arose pertaining to the accuracy of this marking. This occurs due to the fact that there are discrepancies as to the correlating legal documents on border demarcation and the placement of markers between the French and Qing administrations in the 19th century.