Must-visit places in Ninh Binh (Part 2)
Stunning nature, cultural heritage, friendly locals, Ninh Binh is a wonderful tourist attraction in the North of Vietnam. There are some must-visit places in Ninh Binh that you should not miss.
Not only is Ninh Binh a sight for nature lovers, it is one of the best opportunities to relax after the hustle and bustle of big-city life. With towering limestone karsts, green rice paddies, and magical riverine landscapes, Ninh Binh can be a breath of fresh air for visitors. Don’t worry if you don’t know where to start your Ninh Binh trip, here are the best places that can amaze you. Plan your sightseeing with our list of the must-visit places in Ninh Binh.
- Hang Mua
Hang Mua, known as “The Muse of Tam Coc”, attracts many shutterbugs thanks to its prime location at the center of the Trang An Landscape Complex. The name “Hang Mua” (Mua Caves) is associated with the legend of King Tran Thai Tong when the king often came here to watch the royal concubines dance and sing. Therefore, it was named Hang Mua (“Mua” means dancing). Hang Mua has the typical geological features of a limestone mountain area that is millions of years old. The highlight of Hang Mua tourist area is Mua mountain and the path leading to the top of the mountain with a beautiful view in the distance and elaborately carved stone statues on both sides with the image of dragons and phoenixes. In Vietnamese folklore, these are spiritual animals, often carved in ancient architectural works to increase prosperity.
Passing nearly 500 stone steps, visitors will be able to enjoy the entire beauty of the Tam Coc area with vast paddy fields, majestic limestone mountains, and boats sailing down the shimmering Ngo Dong River. The best time to visit Hang Mua is in May and June during the rice harvest season. At that time, the whole area stands out with its golden color, and the natural scenery appears like a harmonious picture.
- Entry fee: 100.000 VND per adult
- Opening hours: 7 AM – 5 PM
- Best season for visiting: The rice harvest season in May and June
- Location: Khe Dau Ha village, Ninh Xuan commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province
2. Tuyet Tinh Coc (An Tiem Cave)
Located near Hoa Lu citadel, about 400m from King Dinh temple towards Trang An, Tuyet Tinh Coc, also known as Am Tien Cave, is famous for its wild and mysterious beauty. Local people describe Tuyet Tinh Coc as a magnificent ink-wash painting thanks to its undulating limestone mountains, winding rivers, and primeval forests. After climbing 205 steps, you will reach Am Tien Cave, where you will have a panoramic view of the majestic landscape, and if you look far away, you can see the significant Bai Dinh Pagoda. If you come to Tuyet Tinh Coc in May, you will have the opportunity to see the lotus blooming season and enjoy the lotus fragrance wafting in the wind.
Tuyet Tinh Coc contains a mysterious historical story from the time of King Dinh Tien Hoang. Until now, there are still many historical vestiges preserved here such as temple bells, stone steles engraved with the construction of the temple hundreds of years ago. According to historical records, Queen Mother Duong Van Nga built Am Tien pagoda and spent the last years of her life practicing at Tuyet Tinh Coc. Visitors coming here not only enjoy the charming scenery but also have the opportunity to go back in time to the heroic history of the nation.
- Entry fee: 20.000 VND per person
- Opening hours: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Best season for visiting: The lotus blooming season in May
- Location: Truong Yen town, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province (in the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Complex)
3. Thung Nham
Thung Nham Ecotourism Area is located in the core area of Trang An World Heritage Complex and is located right next to the Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourist area. “Thung Nham” means a valley surrounded by steep, rugged cliffs, which accurately describes the ecological characteristics with a combination of grandeur and poetry. With over 300 hectares, Thung Nham Ecotourism Area converges various types of comprehensive tourism such as mountain climbing, visiting flooded forests, primeval forests, dry caves, and especially visiting bird gardens with diverse species.
- Entry fee: 150.000 VND (6.01 USD) per adult
- Opening hours: 7 AM – 6 PM in summer, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM in winter
- Best season for visiting: Between November and April, when the weather is cool and dry
- Location: Hai Nham village, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province
4. Cuc Phuong National Park
Located deep in the Tam Diep mountain range, Cuc Phuong National Park – Vietnam’s first national park – has become a curious destination for many domestic and foreign tourists. Cuc Phuong National Park, with a total area of 22,408 hectares, contains many values of natural landscape, diversity of ecosystems, and cultural and historical values. Coming to Cuc Phuong, visitors will be immersed in the wild, majestic natural scenery with overlapping limestone mountains, green primeval forests, and clear streams.
Cuc Phuong National Park is a valuable biological treasure, containing thousands of rare species of animals and plants. Many of which are listed in the Red Book, this is an attractive destination for nature lovers. It is home to hundreds of rare species of animals such as white-rumped langurs, black bears, serows, birds… When you come to Cuc Phuong National Park, you can explore the Cuc Phuong botanical forest which is characterized by tropical rainforests, has cool weather and unique ecosystems. Meanwhile, the Rescue, Conservation and Development Center of Creatures is worth experiencing for visitors with many species of primates and a variety of creatures.
- Entry fee: 60.000 VND (2.41 USD) per adult
- Opening hours: 9:30 AM – 11:30 PM in the morning, 1:30 AM – 4:30 PM in the afternoon
- Best season for visiting: Butterfly season in April and May
- Location: Cuc Phuong commune, Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh province
All in all, Ninh Binh has plenty of must-visit places for every traveler. Hope this list will help you to plan your Ninh Binh trip! Contact Trang An Ecorest Resort for more details and support!
Ngoc Huyen
(Image source: Internet)
