Less than 100 km from Hanoi, Ninh Binh with beautiful sites both in terms of landscape and historical significance becomes a goal for many tourists.
When to visit Ninh Binh
Tourists can travel to Ninh Binh during all seasons of the year, but the best time to go is from January to March of the lunar calendar. In spring, this place is not too cold or too hot. Notably, tourists can combine exploring and spring sightseeing at the pagoda to pray for good luck.
Also, at the end of May and early June, the season of yellow rice fields in Tam Coc is very suitable for tourists who like to take photos.
How to travel
93 km south of Hanoi - where the National Highway 1A, 10, 12A, 12B, and the North-South railway run through, visitors can return to Ninh Binh through various means such as trains and buses, private car or motorbike.
In case of using the bus, Hanoi - Ninh Binh route has dozens of trips every day, starting from 5.00 am to 11.00 pm provided by the car lines such as Sao Viet, Cuong Hung, Hoang Long, Vu Thuong, Gia Minh, Hien Tinh, etc. Time to travel is about 2 hours, and the lowest price is VND 80,000/person.
The natural beauty of Ninh Binh
In case of traveling by private means, from Hanoi, you follow Giai Phong, Giap Bat, then turn to Phap Van - Cau Gie highway. From here, you go to Phu Ly to Ninh Binh. The travel time does not exceed 90 minutes.
Top attractions of Ninh Binh
Trang An landscapes complex
Trang An tourist area is the most famous destination of Ninh Binh today. With beautiful unspoiled natural scenery, Trang An Ninh Binh has been recognized by UNESCO as a natural heritage and world cultural heritage.
Tam Coc - Bich Dong
Visiting Tam Coc, you will sit on a boat and float down the dreaming Ngo Dong river, and admire the mountains, golden rice fields. The romantic scene here will surely captivate any visitor traveling to Ninh Binh.
Bich Dong consists of a dry cave in the middle of a mountain and a water cave. On the mountain is Bich Dong pagoda, an ancient temple stretching over 3 mountain floors, which welcomes tourists from many places to pilgrimage.
Hoa Lu ancient capital
Hoa Lu ancient capital located in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district is a particularly significant national monument of Vietnam. This relic includes King Dinh temple, King Le temple, and many other works.
A scene of Hoa Lu - Ninh Binh
Mua cave
Mua cave is located at the foot of Mua mountain, which is a tourist site belonging to the tourist complex of Khe Dau Ha and Ninh Xuan villages.
From the foot of the mountain, tourists can see the steps that extend to the top of the hill like the miniature Great Wall. Up to the top of Mua mountain, you will see the panoramic view of the ripe rice fields, the rowing boats floating on the water.
Am Tien cave
As a national monument located in the Hoa Lu national monument complex, Am Tien cave is a destination that tourists cannot ignore if they want to enjoy the peaceful and poetic natural landscape separating with the outside world.
Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park has a total area of 25,000 ha, is a famous tourist destination for ecology and environment. Visitors here will discover rich flora and fauna, admire the beautiful natural landscape, participate in eco-tourism, convalescence, and campfire, adventure, research, and historical culture programs.
Bai Dinh pagoda
Bai Dinh pagoda
Located 15km from Ninh Binh city, Bai Dinh pagoda is one of the largest ones in Vietnam with many records established such as the Greatest Bell in Vietnam, the tallest and weightiest bronze statue of Vietnam, the most massive well in Vietnam as well as the most considerable amount of stone statues of Vietnam.
Thung Nham bird garden
It is one of the most attractive places in Ninh Binh, is a place full of cultural and spiritual elements as well as biodiversity. It is surrounded by strips of rainforest on limestone mountains, with many caves and valleys mingling with nature.
Van Long lagoon
Van Long lagoon is a charming eco-tourism area with dramatic sky and clouds which is no less famous than Tam Coc site. It covers an area of 3000 ha and is the largest wetland nature reserve in the Northern Delta.
Phat Diem church
Often called Phat Diem stone church, it is a 22-hectare Catholic church complex, located in Phat Diem town, Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province. Phat Diem stone church is considered to be one of the most beautiful works, likened to the "Catholic capital" of Vietnam.