Everything you need to know about Ninh Binh

14/03/2019

Ninh Binh Province is located in North of Vietnam, near the southern margin of the Red River Delta. Ninh Binh is famous by vast green peddy field, quintessence sites, history and sight of World Heritage. And it takes around 2 hours by car from Hanoi.

Here are everything you need to know about Ninh Binh: Quintessence sites:

*** Tam Coc – Bich Dong Pagoda

Tam Coc & Bich Dong Pagoda is a popular tourist destination in North Vietnam. And it known as Halong Bay on land with rice fields, rivers and caves.

Tam Coc (Three Grotto) includes Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba Grottoes on Ngo Dong River. Go to Tam Coc, tourists take a sampan (small boat) along the Ngo Dong River. From Van Lam village through rice fields and limestone karsts to the caves. Rowing through the caves and then back.

Bich Dong Pagoda is a pagoda complex which was built in 1428. Bich Dong Pagoda is situated on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain and consists of three separate pagodas: Ha, Trung and Thuong Pagoda.

*** Trang An Landscape Complex

The Trang An Landscape Complex is an amazing landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys. Trang An Landscape Complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 23 June, 2014 . It is a mixed cultural and natural property contained three protected areas as Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, The Trang An and Tam Coc – Bich Dong.

*** Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries. It is located in Truong Yen Thuong Village, Hoa Lu District. The area is one of rice fields broken by picturesque limestone mountains.
The capital Hoa Lu covered an area of 300 ha including both the Inner and Outer Citadels. It included defensive earthen walls, palaces, temples and shrines, and was surrounded and protected by mountains of limestone. Today, the ancient citadel no longer exists, and few vestiges of the 10th century remain. Visitors can see temples built in honor of the emperors Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Lê Đại Hành. Their sons, and Queen Dương Vân Nga, who was married first to Đinh Tiên Hoàng and then to Lê Đại Hành. The tomb of Đinh Tiên Hoàng is located on nearby Mã Yên mountain, while the tomb of Lê Đại Hành lies at the foot of the mountain.

*** Mua Cave

The Mua Cave is located at the foot of Mua Moutain in Khe Dau Ha Village, Ninh Xuan Commune, Hoa Lu District. The mountain is shaped like a bell hanging down. Down a sleepy road between rice paddies, this cave is not terribly impressive, but there are panoramic views from the peak above.
Mua Cave is constructed following the model of miniature Great Wall in China with 486 steps up to mountains to conquer. It is a hard trek up with many of uneven limestone steps. Reach to the top of Ngoa Long Mountain offer tourist a wonderful panoramic of golden rice fields and limestone mountains of Tam Coc.
It is better month for visiting Mua Cave in May and early June when the rice is getting ripe and change from green to yellow colours. Mua Cave is a popular stop on Tam Coc tours.

*** The Gothic Phat Diem Cathedral

The Phat Diem Cathedral is located in Kim Son District of Ninh Binh Province and it is 20km from Ninh Binh Central. It is home to a huge cathedral, combining Sino-Vietnamese and European architecture.
The architecture of Phat Diem was built in stone in 1892 and it is is European architectural styles called the “electic architectural style”. In 1972 it was bombed when its west wall, the convents and two of the schools were damanged. The church was built with pagoda type roofs in traditional Vietnamese temple architecture.
Phat Diem Cathedral is an unique architecture in Vietnam, with the harmonious combination between traditional pagoda architecture of Vietnam and Gothic style of Christian architecture. The magnificent structure but harmony with the natural scenery with the style of Oriental architecture, the cathedral will bring you exciting time and unforgettable impression.

*** Cuc Phuong National Park

Cúc Phương is located in Ninh Binh Province, is 120km south – west of Hanoi. Cuc Phuong Naitonal Park is Vietnam’s largest and first national park. It is homes to hundreds of species of flora and fauna. Including some of the nation’s most endangered turtles.
Cuc Phuong National Park is situated in the foothills of the Northern Annamite Moutains. The park consists of verdant karst mountains and lush valleys. The park has 307 species of bird, 133 species of mammal, 122 species of reptile, more than 2000 species of plant and thousands of species of insects. This national park is one Vietnam’s most important protected areas.
There are many tours on offer from Hanoi as biking, trekking, bird watching. Biking or trekking along the scenic view of lime stone mountains and rice paddy field will offer you an authentic natural experience

*** Van Long Nature Reserve

Van Long Nature Reserve is located in the north of Gia Vien District, about 85km from Hanoi to south. It was built by the Association of Forest Investigation and Zoning based on a community self-management model sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam.
Van Long Nature Reserve has now become a must-see spot for tourists to Ninh Binh travel. Tourists who come to admire the reserve will have the opportunity to view rich flora and fauna within the most bio-diversified wetland in Vietnam, according to research by national and international scientists.
With an area of 3000 hectares, Van Long natural reserve has 32 beautiful grotto such as: Ca Grotto, Bong Grotto, Rua Grotto, Chanh Grotto, each grotto has an unique beauty. The most beautiful grotto is Ca grotto in the Hoang Quyen Mountain. It has 250 meters length, 8 meters height and 10 meters width, the ceiling is stalactites with strange shapes like animal, fish… Especially, there has many catfish, tilapia
With an area of 3000 hectares, Van Long natural reserve has 32 beautiful grotto such as: Ca Grotto, Bong Grotto, Rua Grotto, Chanh Grotto, each grotto has an unique beauty. The most beautiful grotto is Ca grotto in the Hoang Quyen Mountain. It has 250 meters length, 8 meters height and 10 meters width, the ceiling is stalactites with strange shapes like animal, fish… Especially, there has many catfish, tilapia… According to legend, ancient people caught a fish with 45 kilograms weight so that it named “Ca grotto”.

Convenient location

Ninh Binh is 95km from Hanoi. It takes around 2 hours by van from Hanoi central. It is easy to get there by shutbus or rent a private car. From Halong Bay you can get Ninh Binh by bus. For travel to South, Ninh Binh is a good first stop for visiting on the way.

Easy to get day trip

If you have short time but you prefer to visit Ninh Binh from Hanoi. You can start early in the morning from Hanoi for Ninh Binh. where you can easy to cover a few attraction such as: Tam Coc or Trang An , Mua Cave and Hoa Lu in 1 day. Short time with full sight Ninh Binh.

Here is everything you need to know about Ninh Binh

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