Where to go in Ninh Binh?

Cố Đô Hoa Lư

Hoa Lư is a must-visit destination in your trip to Ninh Bình. In fact, Hoa Lư is called “Cố Đô” as it is a  historical capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010. “Cố” means old and “Đô” means capital. Hoa Lư is a part of the glorious yet painful and bravery past of the country from the time of construction and protection. The capital is a huge and extraordinary historical complex of more than 13 km2 with hundreds of pre-eminent heritage sites such as Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple, Lê Đại Hành Temple, One-pillar Pagoda (Chùa Nhất Trụ), Bái Đính Pagoda, Am Tiên Cave and so on. For it is the most significant and wonderful heritage complex of Ninh Bình, it consists of most of the destinations that you will probably visit on your journey to the province.

The whole area is divided into three main sections from the center outwards: First, the inner section located in the central of the palace is the specially protected section whose total area is 3 km2. It comprises many invaluable relics. The second section is the 10 km2 buffer zone consisting of Tràng An and all the relics on the bank of Sào Khê River. the last section is the directedly related heritage complex owning the compulsory existential meaning in the history of Đinh Dynasty such as Thiên Tôn Cave, Hoa Lư Cave, Bái Đính Pagoda and so on. Not so surprising when Hoa Lư is such a unique multi-architectural site from an ancient temple to pagoda architecture.   

Address: Trường Yên, Hoa Lư District, Ninh Bình Province                                                                                                                                                                         

Tràng An

Tràng An, undoubtedly, is the most famous destination in Ninh Bình Province. Those words are no rumor or exaggeration. In fact, Tràng An was recognized by UNESCO as the cultural and natural heritage of the world from 2014 has been widely acknowledged.

Situated 3 km away from Hoa Lư Capital to the South, Tràng An is also a fantastic heritage complex with a total area of more than 12 hectares. It is the perfect combination, “the intersection” of the blue sky and the green water. What makes the name of Tràng An is definitely no others but the breath-taking mountain ranges in harmony with their poetic shapes and silhouettes. Each cave has its own unique features which make its own name. The special thing is all the gorgeous stalactites glittering in the dark and give the cave such heavenly look that can easily attempt all the bare eyes. Not to mention Trống, Bói, Mơ, Cò, Trâu Caves, Thung Bình Stone Roof and other relics are also recognized as the archaeological heritage sites of the world and have recently been studied by many scientists. Tràng An is so beautiful that not only its beauty is recognized until recent but also long, long time ago. The place once appeared in a poem of the great poet, Nguyễn Du. The poem can be simply understood: “Glittering as the sky reflects itself in the water. Stones build history, and nature builds glory”.

Bái Đính Pagoda

As a part of Hoa Lư Capital, Bái Đính Pagoda has made many of its own records from Vietnam throughout Asia and one of them is for possessing the biggest gold-inlaid Buddha statue. Sacredly and majestically, this is where both the magic and belief are worshiped and brought to a new extent. Owning the elegant architecture, Bái Đính is definitely the place for the Buddhism faithful who craves for the most magical and wonderful moments when both beauty and sacredness collide in the very moment when the Sun rules the sky and the place shines its light among the lush greenery on a beautiful island situated in the middle of the green water and trees.

Am Tiên Cave

Just like its name, Am Tiên is truly a heaven on Earth. If you are a big fan of ancient action films from China then I am sure you will be in love with this place right the moment you arrive here. The very first impression you will get is probably fantasy. Am Tiên is surrounded by the infinity of green palette from trees and rivers. The moment one may spend sailing and floating on the river never seems to end. So close yet so far, Am Tiên is a hidden secret lair that only the discoverer can see all its magnificent and magical beauties hiding behind ranges of trees and mountains. In the past, whoever wanted to conquer the cave would have to climb more than 200 stone stairs but at present, the entrance to the cave seems to be at hand when a secret tunnel has been built.

Am Tiên sometimes through the eyes of the most imaginative minds can be seen as the shape of a dragon head; therefore, it is also known as the Dragon Cave (Hang Rồng). However, it seems that there is still another name that provokes my interest and remembrance of an ancient Chinese action film called “The Return of the Condor Heroes”,  which is originated and remade from the novel version of the famous Chinese writer and novelist Jin Yong (known as Kim Dung in Vietnamese). In the film, there is this place called “End of love” Cave where all relationships, love, past and memories will be forgotten or in another way of thinking: end, once you eat the red flowers in the cave. The final end will come is not amnesia but death to oneself, the only way to leave and cut off all the relationships in the world. Now, we have the Vietnamese version of the cave right here in Ninh Bình, Am Tiên Cave also known as the “End of Love” Cave. Going here, you will never be disappointed.

Vân Long

Vân Long is the biggest natural Wetland Reserve in the Northern Delta of Vietnam. It is actually a huge swamp with water fills all over the top creating the impression of a small river. With the diversity of flora and fauna, Vân Long can also be regarded of a special natural preserve, the home of more than 40 kinds of Silvery Langur. Vân Long is beautiful in each step you take from the green and still water to the yellow withering grass in Fall. Sailing along the swamp and casting your eyes upon the poetic mountains have never been a bad idea, not to mention one of the best.

Cúc Phương National Park

Mentioning of Cúc Phương, most people in Vietnam will probably give no reaction since Cúc Phương has long been a so familiar destination and its popularity, as well as beauty, has soon reached across the country. Known as the first national preserve of Vietnam, Cúc Phương surely has all the best to offer from the diversity in organism floor to natural beauties. Lying to the Southeast of Tam Điệp Mountain Range, Cúc Phương also owns and is formed from the mountainous terrain with a spiral walkway from the bottom to the top. There is also a hot water stream in the national park. The flora and fauna in the reserve are all valuable and rare. This is absolutely where you must go if you want to open your mind or admiring some natural beauties.

Address: Cúc Phương, Nho Quan, Ninh Bình Province

Website: http://cucphuongtourism.com.vn/index.php/vi/introduction.html

Tam Cốc - Bích Động

Tam Cốc is such a beautiful and famous destination that it has even been favorably named “Halong Bay on land”. This is also one of the most significant preservative areas of the country with thousands of limestone caves and related relics. Tam means three, that’s why the place’s name is actually based on the total number of caves included in the complex: Cả, Hai and Ba Caves. Ngô Đồng (Cornfield) River is the only path leading through the caves. After getting off from the harbor, you can take a boat trip on Ngô Đồng River and have a look at this spectacular cave complex.

Bích Động (Bích Cave) or Emerald Cave and Tam Cốc are approximately 2 km apart. It was once in the past praised as the most beautiful cave of the South: “Nam thiên đệ nhất động”. Bích Động consists of an on land cave used for pagoda tower and an underwater tunnel.

Thung Nham Bird Garden

Thung Nham is an ecological tourist area located 12 km away from Ninh Bình City. Thung Nham is also a small complex of caves including Vái Giời, Ba Cô, Tiên Cá, Thủy Cung, Bụt, etc. Besides those caves, Thung Nam also owns different kinds and types of beauties and picturesque sites: from the 300-year-old moving banyan tree, thousands-year streblus to Miệt Garden with the total land area of more than 80000 m2. What makes Thung Nham special is, of course, the bird garden-home of thousands of rare and invaluable bird species listed in the Red Book. In the list, two birds must definitely be mentioned are flamingo and phoenix, two of four spiritual creatures according to the ancient regard of Vietnamese.

Address: Hải Nham Hamlet, Ninh Hải Commune – Hoa Lư Suburban District, Ninh Bình Province

Website: http://vuonchimthungnham.com/tin-tuc/du-lich-sinh-thai-thung-nham-a186.html