Ninh Binh’s must-see destinations in Spring

Ninh Binh (VNA) – The northern province of Ninh Binh has emerged as a popular destination for both domestic and international holidaymakers in recent years, with a range of places going viral in the community.

Youngsters go to pagoda in the Tam Coc - Bich Dong tourist site at the beginning of the Lunar New Year (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Ninh Binh is hosting the National Tourism Year 2020. The province boasts a wide range of outstanding tourism products, especially eco-spiritual tourism. A number of eco-tourism sites are developing strongly such as Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Van Long eco-tourism site and Cuc Phuong National Park.

It is undeniable the former capital land has posted a strong growth rate in recent years. Tourist attractions such as Trang An, Bai Dinh, Hang Mua and Van Long have been well known both inside and outside the country. So which destinations visitors should choose for the upcoming Lunar New Year Holidays?

“Muse of Tam Coc”

Though the National Tourism Year 2020 has yet to kick off, Ninh Binh’s tourism has seen changes in terms of service fees. According to the latest information, the price of entry tickets to the Trang An eco-tourism site will increase by 50,000 VND per adult and 20,000 VND per child, starting on January 19, 2020.

Hang Mua is a place that tourists should not miss when visiting the picturesque land of Ninh Binh. Foreign visitors are on the top of Hang Mua (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Despite a hike in entry tickets to the Trang An eco-tourism site, Ninh Binh remains an attractive destination for tourists during the Lunar New Year Festival thanks to its renowned landscapes.

The Mua Cave Complex, an area composed of intricate cave systems and limestone mountains, is located at the foot of Mua mountain within the eco-tourism area of Ninh Xuan commune in Hoa Lu district.

Besides popular tourism spots like Trang An, Tam Coc or Bai Dinh pagoda, Hang Mua is a place that tourists should not miss when visiting the picturesque land of Ninh Binh. It has been popular to domestic and foreign visitors thanks to the picturesque scenery of the surrounding area seen from its top.

The centre of the complex features a crystal moss-green coloured human-made lake, surrounded by rows of trees.

Legend has it that the Tran Kings used to visit the area to watch the imperial maids sing and dance, giving the area its name, Mua or ‘dancing’.

There is a rocky hill dotted with nearly 500 steps leading to the top. A winding road running around the mountain leads to the top, which is covered by towers, making it look like a miniature Great Wall. Two sides of the road are decorated with sophisticated stone statues of dragons and phoenixes that were built in the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400)’s artistic style.

The Mua Cave itself is not impressive, but panoramic views from the peak above. With absolute greenery on all the sides, visitors can see the rocky hills grouped leading up to the horizon, with the river navigating in between. They will feel so tranquil when they sit on a rock at the top.

Tourists to this place often try to conquer the peak of the mountain from where it could bring them up to the one of the most iconic views in Vietnam - a panoramic view of scenic limestone mountain ranges and paddy fields. In particular, to the west is the Ngo Dong river winding through Tam Coc, the other sides afford a view of lush rice fields.

Visitors should not miss the Mua Cave when visiting Tam Coc – Bich Dong. Climbing to the top of the mountain, they will see the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, which is solid and beautiful, and will understand why this place was chosen as the capital of the ancient Vietnam.

The lotus has been a symbol of purity since before the time of the Buddha, and it blooms profusely in Buddhist art and literature. A bond of lotus flowers blooming in the middle of the Winter in Ninh Binh (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve

Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, famous for appearing in the blockbuster film Kong: Skull Island, has retained its pristine tranquility with clouds hovering above soaring limestone pinnacles.

It is also known as 'No Wave Bay', nestled 80km to the south of Hanoi, and boasting the Red River Delta's largest wetland with mirror-like tranquil water.

Located in the north of Gia Vien district, the wetland reserve, dotted with spectacular islands and caves, was created by a 30km flood-prevention dyke hugging the left bank of Da River.

This popular destination holds two national records, one for the biggest group of Delacour's langurs, a critically endangered species at home and abroad, and the other as the "largest picture of nature".
 

An overview of Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex. The Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex covers an area of 1,700ha including the old and new pagoda areas and others such as a cultural park and Buddhist academy. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

 
Bai Dinh Pagoda

Going to pagoda at the beginning of the Lunar New Year is a good tradition of Vietnamese people. Bai Dinh, one of the biggest pagodas in Southeast Asia, has attracted large numbers of visitors during the Lunar New Year Festivals.

The Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex covers an area of 1,700ha including the old and new pagoda areas and others such as a cultural park and Buddhist academy. It has Asia's largest gold-plated bronze Buddha statue and the longest Arhat corridor. 

Tam Coc - Bich Dong

Tam Coc - Bich Dong, inside the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, with karst mountains and water rice fields, has been nicknamed an inland Ha Long Bay.

Tam Coc, which means "three caves" in Vietnamese, includes the caves Ca, Hai and Ba.

Ca Cave measures 127m in length and an entrance up to 20m in with. It is cool and humid inside the cave which has a lot of stalagmites.

Hai Cave, located about 1km from Ca Cave, runs 60m long. Ba Cave near Hai Cave and runs 50m long. Its roof is lower than the first two caves.

A number of eco-tourism sites in Ninh Binh province are developing strongly such as Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Van Long eco-tourism site and Cuc Phuong National Park. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Am Tiem Cave

Once appeared in many films and music video clips, Am Tiem Cave has become an appealing destination for visitors during the Lunar New Year Festivals. This is a national relic site, located in the Hoa Lu ancient capital complex.

Ninh Binh is hosting the National Tourism Year 2020. It boasts a wide range of outstanding tourism products, especially eco-spiritual tourism. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Cave tourism, especially in the Trang An site in the world heritage complex, is one of the focuses of tourism in Ninh Binh province in the time to come, said Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Hoang Thanh Phong.

Not only an ecological tourism destination, in the near future, Ninh Binh will focus on the utilisation and development of the cave tourism on the basis of its 230 caves, including the Am Tien Cave./.