Things to do and see in Ninh Binh North Vietnam

You may hear about Hoa Lu and Tam Coc but not Ninh Binh North Vietnam. This place is getting busier and busier and accessible from Hanoi, Mai Chau and Halong Bay.

Located 100km from South of Hanoi, Ninh Binh North Vietnam is the capital city of the Ninh Binh province which stretches from Cuc Phuong National Park in the west to a sliver of land facing out to the Gulf of Tonkin. Built on both sides of Highway 1 and the railroad connecting Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City, the city itself is a fairly uneventful place, but it is surrounded by a stunning landscape of lush green paddy fields and striking limestone outcrops and is the hopping off point for sights and attractions including Tam Coc and Trang An, Bich Dong, Hoa Lu, Phat Diem Cathedral, Van Long and Cuc Phuong National Park.

Many of the sights are within 12km of Ninh Binh city, and the land is flat, so they can be reasonably easily reached on a bicycle or motorbike. To really appreciate the scenery you need to get out and about, and — outside of the boat trips — the best way of doing that is by bicycle. Although the most direct way to most of the sights involves driving along main roads, it’s possible to find routes via the backstreets, particularly between Ninh Binh City and Tam Coc and from Tam Coc to Hoa Lu.

The paths take you through villages and alongside rice paddies and lakes, with the ever present karst formations in the background. Make sure you get a good map, but bear in mind this may not help you and you may need to resort to asking passers-by or using GPS.

Most hotels will provide a map and rent bicycles for a few dollars and motorbikes for around US$7. Alternatively, arrange a tour or guide from your hotel or book onto a day trip or longer tour from Hanoi.

The town itself isn’t especially noteworthy and while there are a couple of decent places to stay, increasing numbers of travellers are choosing to base themselves in Tam Coc to be even closer to some of the main attractions of the province. This can be a good idea if you’re planning on spending more time in the area than just the single night that many travellers decide to go for.

Tam Coc and Bich Dong Pagoda in Ninh Binh North Vietnam

There are dozen of stunning places in Ninh Binh, Tam Coc is the most famous site. 100% tourists to Ninh Binh visit this beautiful river, grottos and rice paddies.

Tam Grotto – Bich Cave is a famous ancient spot, belonging to Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh province; it is far about 100 kilometers from the South. It retains the natural creation with many cave, grottos, and historic relic such as: Thai Vi Temple, Tam grotto, Bich Cave pagoda, Tien Cave, Linh Coc pagoda…

Located on the Ngu Nhac Son Mountain, belongs to Dam Khe village, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh Province.

The zone is featured with a tropical climate, with 2 seasons. The cold and rainy season lasts from May to October, and the dry and hot season from Novermber to April. Its annual average temperature is 23.5oC. As situated at the base side of the Red River Delta Triangle, it is a half-mountain half-plain area, with a coastline of 18 kilometers.

Landscape of Bich Cave was dubbed “The Nam Thien II” (the second beautiful cave in Vietnam). In 1773, Mr. Nguyen Nghiem (the father of a celebrated Vietnamese poet-Nguyen Du) visited the cave. Sighting view of mountains, rivers, water, rice fields…with blue color so that he named the cave with a beautiful and poetic name “Bich Cave”. Here, visitors can visit the temple; a small boat will take visitors to explore the magical cave. Bich Cave is one of the most famous scenic spots of Ninh Binh, located in Ngu Nhac Son Mountains, belonging to Dam Khe village, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district. Bich Dong means “Green Grotto” or “Pearl Grotto”, which reveals its magnificient natural beauties. Colors, shapes, and sounds of the shining stalactites converges in such a captivating miracle that no one could refuse to touch, knock and contemplate them in deed.

From Bich Cave, tourists can continued use boat to visit Tam Coc. Tam Coc means three grottos: Ca grotto, Hai grotto and Ba grotto. When the boat comes into three grottos, tourists will feel cool. Stalactites from the ceiling like iridescent pearls. This grotto is adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colours that sparkle like gemstones. Now when drifting along the gentle Ngo Dong River under the Grotto, you can feel the deeply pure atmosphere with special smell of fresh rivers water and cool air from karst mountains when reaching each of the 3 caves in turns.

Tourists visit Tam grotto by only single path on the water and take about 2 hours. The small boats will take visitors to discover Ca grotto-the biggest grotto in three grottos with 127 meters length. It is under a big mountain which across the Ngo Dong river. Tourists will feel fresh and cool air. Continuing the journey, visitors can sight Hai grotto and Ba grotto. Two grottos are shorter than Ca grotto. The adventurous tourists can continue explore Tien stream and join adventurous journey with climbing into Noi Lam Temple.

Trang An

As many movie goers may know the name Trang An in the recent Hollywood movie Skull Island (new King Kong), the beauty of the site cannot be experienced until you visit it in person.

Trang An Eco-Tourism Complex is a complex beauty – landscapes called as an ‘outdoor geological museum’ with numerous caves, mountains, valley water, trees and the historic relic. Trang An cave ecosystem almost belongings to Hoa Lu District and a part of northwest city of Ninh Binh province.

According to statistics, Trang An eco-tourism complex has over 310 species of higher plants, many algae and fungi. In particular, there have some rare woods and amount of valuable trees using for food, medicine. In addition, there has about 30 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, dozens of species of reptiles and some rare animals such as: chamois, leopard, phoenix…

Trang An cave has thousands of hectares belongings to Truong yen, Ninh Xuan, Gia Sinh, Gia Hai commune with more than 100 caves, tourists can go from this cave to other cave. Run longer than 20 kilometers next to the cave is connected valleys. It is said that this place is the rear of the reign of Dinh Tien Hoang over a thousand years ago. Bai Dinh pagoda is located in Trang An eco-tourism belonging to Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district including a population of Tam The Temple, Phap Chu pagoda, La Han, Bell tower… Tourists can visit Trang An by boat. Trang An has 31 valleys, 48 caves and it has some cave with 2000 meters length such as: Dia Linh Cave, Sinh Duong Cave, May Cave…

Trang An has limestone system and natural various caves. Hoa Lu limestone mountain-Ninh Binh is also known as “Halong Bay on land”. This feature creates a beautiful landscape with limestone mountains, surrounding the valley is many lakes.

Coming to Trang An eco-tourism complex, tourists can enjoy the grandeur of the mountains, explore majestic caves and have a pure of relaxation with the spiritual culture of Bai Dinh Pagoda.

Hoa Lu

Hoa Lu ancient capital was the first capital of feudal state of Vietnam, Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu Distric, Ninh Binh Province. It is far 100 kilometer from Hanoi to the south. Since 968, Dinh Bo Linh throne in Hoa Lu, the Hoa Lu Capital has existed 41years (968-1009) in which 12 years is dynasty of Dinh and the next 29 years is dynasty of Le. Over thousands of years ago, Hoa Lu is magnificent capital. The mountains surrounded the capital as the painted veil, Hoang Long River is meander and Nho Quan, Gia Vien field has many deep trenches that are advantageous for military.

Hoa Lu ancient capital is 300 hectares width, including outside area and inside area, surrounded by a series of rocky arc mountains, spectacular scenery.

Outside area has 140 hectares width, belonging to Yen Thanh village, Truong Yen Commune. This is the main palace area with Dinh, Le Temple is the center and this is where Dinh Tien Hoang built the nation. Before the palace, there has Ma Yen Mountain.

Inside area belongs to Chi Phong Village, Truong Yen Commune which reared children and maids in the palace.

The South (to the south, opposite and connect with outside area) is surrounded by high mountains and is guarded the back, from here, it can quickly withdraw by the water.

In 1010, Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long. Hoa Lu capital becomes ancient capital. The reign of Le Hoan, he built many magnificent palaces: Bach Thao Thien Tue palace, Phong Luu palace, Bong Lai palace, Cuc Lac palace, Hoa Van palace, Truong Xuan palace, Long Loc palace which has silver roof.

Through rain and sunshine more than 10 years, the historic relics in the Hoa Lu ancient capital are almost destroyed. Currently, it remains temple of Dinh and Le built in the 17th century.

Dinh Temple was built on the background of the ancient palaces with “Ngo Mon”, lotus lake, Gia Mountain, flower garden… There has “Long Sang” made by monolithic stone is very beautiful. Next is the place that worships people who established the nation. The inner place, there has statue of Dinh Tien Hoang and his son. The carved images in stone, wood are dragon, clouds, fairies, flowers… They are sophisticatedly decorated.

Le Temple is far about 500meters from Dinh Temple. Le Temple has small scale but there has three areas: Bai Duong, worship of Pham Cu Luong- people helped Le Hoan throne, the main area: in the middle: Le Dai Hanh, on the right: Le Ngoa Trieu and on the left: Duong Van Nga. Le temple still retains many vestiges of ancient architecture with sophisticated decoration. Here, people found background of ancient palace and some ancient ceramics. They were kept at room on the left of the temple. Hoa Lu relic has some beautiful temple such as: Ngan Xuyen, Nhat Tru… which attracts a number of tourists to visit. Coming to Hoa Lu, tourist will have opportunity to sight the architecture, the majestic beauty of the whole relic.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh pagoda is a large population known as many records such as: the largest pagoda of Vietnam, the biggest gold – plated copper of Asia and the longest lobby in Asia. The pagoda is located at the western of the ancient capital Hoa Lu, belonging to Gia Sinh commune, Ninh Binh. It is far about 15 kilometers from Ninh Binh province and 95 kilometers from Hanoi. Bai Dinh Pagoda population has the area of 539 hectares including 27 hectares of ancient Bai Dinh pagoda, 80 hectares of new Bai Dinh area.

More than 1000 years ago, in Ninh Binh, there have 3 dynasties: Dinh, Tien Le, Ly. Three dynasties are very interested in Buddhism and Buddhism and used Buddhism as the state religion so that in Ninh Binh, there has many ancient pagodas, including Bai Dinh pagoda in the Dinh Mountain.

The population of Bai Dinh pagoda includes ancient pagoda area and a new pagoda area. New pagoda has monumental architecture but having traditional identity consistent with Vietnam today. Therefore, this place became a popular destination in Vietnam. New Bai Dinh pagoda is honored as the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia.

Ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda is far about 800 meters from Tam The temple alongside Dinh Mountain. This pagoda is located near the top of a quiet forest area, including Buddhist cave, the temple of God Cao Son, and the temple of Nguyen. The pagoda was recognized as historical-cultural of the nation. There are many architectural details and antiques marked of reign of Ly.

The new pagoda’s architecture highlights with large cubes marked architectural Vietnamese. The most difference in Bai Dinh Pagoda architectural is in dark roof of phoenix shape, it is not the same the pagoda in China. Especially, the detail also carries the famous traditional handicraft villages of Vietnam.

Bai Dinh Pagoda is a famous temple for its Asian and the region record. The records of Bai Dinh Pagoda are established:

Gilt bronze statues of Asia’s largest: 100 ton statue in the French electricity Owner

Largest bronze Buddha in Southeast Asian: 100 ton statue outside.

The largest bell Vietnam: Great bell weighs 36 tons in the Bell Tower.

Largest pagoda in Vietnam: total 539 ha (27 ha own ancient temples, pagodas new 80 hectares.

Pagoda is the longest corridor Asian Horn: Horn corridor approximately 3 kilometers.

Park has many statues Arhat Temple in Vietnam: 500 the blue stone about 2m high.

Area wells jade pagoda in Vietnam.

Area Bodhi temple of most Vietnam: 100 is extracted from the Bodhi Bodhi India

Thung Nang and Thung Chim

Thung Nang or Sunshine Valley is located nearby Bich Dong pagoda. This is a new tourism route that connects Bich Dong with Voi Dai temple, Nang valley, Nang grotto, and trekking trail to Doi Nham Resort. Thung Nang Valley is a complex of historical relics and natural beauty, which shall give tourists new discovery tours, for example Ecology tour, sightseeing, grottoes discovery, mountain climbing…

Thung Nang valley is in the middle of the ever green forests on limestone mountain reserved un-spoilt sceneries and diversity of flora and fauna. This is not only a good place for sightseeing, but also an ideal challenging possibilities for new experience lovers. On the way to Thung Nang valley, tourists take the rowing boat about 3,5 kilometers, they will arrive at  the holy hundred years temple called Voi. The temple was built of stone and decorated with stone altar, stone incense throne, stone flower vase and stone a tray. After visiting the temple, tourists will reach the Nang valley’s namesake, a valley of never-ending green fields that usually make spectacular colors when the sun rays shine through clouds.

Smoothly floating down the river with a rowing boat to the valley, sound of birds, wooden oars making contact with water and goats calling their friends make this isolating space more heavenly and refreshingly.

Thung Chim

Thung Chim or Valley of birds is a hidden treasure of Tam Coc – Bich Dong. This new eco tourist site has untouched landscapes, well preserved forests and nature friendly services modeled upon eco farm with fruit gardens, fish ponds, bonsai…

Coming to Valley of bird, visitors have chance to boat around the wet landed forest discovering the wild life of birds, egret, night heron, land eagle, etc. and after the journey, visitors are invited to enjoy local specialties at the Nham Hills Stilt House, which are prepared from clean vegetable, fish and mountainous goat. The un-spoilt natural beauties, local food and friendly staff will give unforgettable memories to visitors.