The Top 6 Things to Do in Ninh Binh

Just over 2 hours drive from Hanoi Capital, equivalent to more than 90km, Ninh Binh today becomes an attractive destination for local and foreign tourists. The natural scenes of Ninh Binh are endowed landscape of silk painting with many cultural values, spiritual precious.

Here are the top things to do in Ninh Binh, that you should not overlook when traveling to this place.

Top things to do in Ninh Binh

Sightsee in Trang An

1. Enjoy sightsee in Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is located in the scenic complex of Trang An – Tam Coc – Bich Dong, 7km from the West of Ninh Binh City and 4km from the South of Hoa Lu Old Capital. Trang An has been recognized as world’s natural and cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2014.

Tourists can visit and sightsee the huge complex of caves, mountains, lakes, ponds…which have altogether created a magnificent, romantic, also mysterious beauty.

2. Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda

Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda is currently the largest temple in Vietnam, covering an area of about 540 ha. The temple is located at the western gateway monument ancient capital of Hoa Lu, the National Highway 38B, Gia Sinh Commune – Gia Vien and 15 km from Ninh Binh City.

Bai Dinh has been already confirmed with multiple licenses by record Center Vietnam record books. Bai Dinh Pagoda is the biggest pagoda in Southeast Asia. Bai Dinh Pagoda is a great pagoda complex well-known with a lot of Asia’s and Vietnam’s records such as pagoda of largest area in Vietnam, pagoda with the biggest gold-plated Buddha statue in Asia, pagoda with longest Arhan way in Asia…

3. Contemplating Hoa Lu Old Capital

Contemplating Hoa Lu Old Capital

Hoa Lu Old Capital is no longer the same as in the history. Instead of such, the Temples of Dinh Emperor and Le Emperor was constructed right on the old-time land of Hoa Lu Old Capital.

The two temples are about 500 meters distant. Because of this short distance, tourists usually call “Hoa Lu Old Capital” as “Temple of Dinh Emperor – Le Emperor”.

4. Cycling in Tam Coc – Bich Dong

Top things to do in Ninh Binh - Cycling in Tam Coc

Tam Coc is known as “Ha Long Bay inland” or “The Second Cave of Southern Land”. The whole area compounds of limestone caves and historical heritages related to Tran Empire. Tam Coc – Bich Dong includes plenty of touring types: by ship, by bicycle, or on foot connecting about 20 tourist attractions.

The main lanes are: Xuyen Thuy Cave (right under Bich Dong); Bich Thach Lane – Nang Valley; Nham Valley – Bird Garden; But Cave – Thien Ha Cave. Tourist attractions for transportation by foot, bicycle, and mountain climbing: Bich Dong Mountain and Pagoda; Tien Cave; Co Vien Lau old house, Thai Vi Temple – Thien Huong Cave.

5. Watching Tam Coc from the height of Mua Mountain

Watching Tam Coc from the height of Mua Mountain

To watch Tam Coc from height, you should travel to Mua Cave tourist attraction. From the peak of Mua Mountain, you may see the whole beauty of Tam Coc.

On the way to Tam Coc, near the People Committee on the right, there is a great banyan tree, take your right turn there. Go straight and you will get to Mua Cave tourist attraction.

6. Trekking in Cuc Phuong National Forest

Top things to do in Ninh Binh - Trekking in Cuc Phuong Forest

Cuc Phuong National Forest is a nature-conservation area, a specialized forest located on the borders of West-Northern region, Red River Land, and North-Middle region, belonging to three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa.

The national forest has various species of animals and trees characterized as of tropical rain forests. Many animal and tree species on the verge of extinction have been found out and reserved here. This is also the first national forest in Vietnam.

From here if travelers want to get the sights, they need to go more than 20 km. At Cuc Phuong you can walk, adventure tourism, trekking … Cuc Phuong is the most beautiful places in the dry season from December to April. Going to the national forest, visitors can also enjoy specialty mountain goat dishes of Ninh Binh which are only available here.

With the top thing list mentioned above, hope you will get a memorable trip in Ninh Binh. When talking about beautiful places in Vietnam to explore, people usually think about Nha Trang, Hoi An, Ha Noi… but rarely mention to Ninh Binh. However it still has its own beauty and will need a lot of time to understand.