NINH BINH TRAVEL GUIDE: A MIND-BLOWING DAY TRIP FROM HANOI
Places to visit in Ninh Binh
Our one-day itinerary in Ninh Binh includes visiting the ancient capital of Vietnam, taking a boat ride through Tam Coc or Trang An, climbing to Bich Dong cave temples and exploring Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex. For the adventurers and photographers, we recommend also some alternative secret spots.
Hoa Lu, the ancient capital
More than one thousand years ago Hoa Lu was chosen as the capital of Vietnam. The range of limestone mountains created a natural protection for the city. Hoa Lư was home to thế Đỉnh, thể Lệ, and thế Lý Dynasties. In the present, tourists can visit the remaining of the temples, graves, and pagodas surrounding the old capital. A special time of the year to visit Hoa Lư is April, during Hoa Lư festival where ceremonies, games and fair take place. Travelling from Tam Cốc to Hoa Lư, you would be passing by Tràng An Landscape Complex, which would take fairly another day to explore as a whole.
Tam Coc or Trang An
One of the top experiences of your journey to Ninh Binh is taking a boat tour. You get to choose between Tam Coc or Trang An. Both places offer the most spectacular and typical landscapes of Ninh Binh province, dominated by limestone cliffs ascending towards the sky surrounded by rice paddies.
The best way to enjoy the karst area is to take a boat ride along the Ngo Dong river. During approximately 1-2 hours, a local paddler will take you through twisting river and the dazzling grottoes. Careful when taking the boat tour during mid-day or early afternoon, as the sunlight tends to be highly intense during these hours. Make sure you bring an umbrella, sunglasses and a hat just in case. Don’t forget to tip the local paddler at the end of your trip, as most of them must wait a long time to make a ride and struggle to make a living.
Bich Dong or ‘Gem Cave’
Lying only about 3 kilometers away from Tam Coc, Bich Dong is a spiritual spot you must not miss. Climbing up through the mysterious cave temples, including Lower Temple, Middle Temple, and Upper Temple, it offers fantastic countryside views of Ninh Binh. Plus, you can visit nice caves and karsts along the way. It is also possible to take boat tours and explore the area further, this would take an extra three-hour time.
Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex
Nestling beneath the slope of Dinh mountain in the area of 539 hectares in total, Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex is a top religious attraction in Ninh Binh province. Be ready to get overwhelmed by the stunning architecture of the massive Temples of Tam The, Phap Chu, and Quan Am, Bao Thap, Bell Tower and the dormitory area for Buddhist monks.
Bai Dinh offers plenty of spots for great mountain and river view of Ninh Binh: from the 13-floor and 10-metre high Bao Thap or uphill where lies the biggest stone Di Lac Statue of Asia that is 100 meters tall and weighs 100 tons. Discovering the whole area of Bai Dinh can take up to 3 hours, or even more if you wish to take a closer look at all of the 500 Arhat statues carved by Ninh Binh stone, with different positions and gestures that represent different meanings.
Thung Nang or ‘Sunlight Valley’
Thung Nang is one of the best sights to photograph rice paddies in Ninh Binh. The best time to travel here is between May and June when the rice paddies blossom. If you happen to visit Ninh Binh outside this time, take a motorbike ride instead of going for the boat ride and find a safe spot to climb the mountain for photography.
Hang Mua or ‘Dancing Cave’
Hidden in Khe Ha village, only a few kilometers away from Tam Coc and Bich Dong, Hang Mua is a less touristic site known for the panoramic it offers of Ninh Binh from above. After walking up 500 steps to visit the female Buddha, you would enjoy the majestic view from the mountaintop, whilst tiny wooden boats flow through the peaceful river. Mid-afternoon is the ideal time to climb.