Ninh Binh is a famous tourist destination in Vietnam. Not only is it a destination with poetic natural scenery, this land also bears many historical marks of Vietnam at one time. Let’s join Smile Travel to review the top Ninh Binh tourist destinations you must visit when coming to this ancient capital.
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Top 10 famous Ninh tourist destinations today
1. Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex
This is definitely an indispensable destination when talking about Ninh Binh tourism. Recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site, Trang An Ninh Binh attracts tourists by its charming beauty, bringing a sense of peace to anyone who sets foot here. Smile Travel’s 2-day-1-night Ninh tour will take you to visit this famous place – contact hotline +84 346190168 for detailed advice.
2. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
As a land with deep historical value of the nation, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is still preserved and maintained to this day. When coming here, visitors will feel the majestic and ancient beauty of the Temples and many other unique architectures. Surely Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is a Ninh Binh tourist destination that you should not miss.
Historical Legacy and Ancient Temple Architecture
Although the original, magnificent palaces have largely vanished underground over the past ten centuries, the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital today preserves ancient temples built during the Later Le and Nguyen dynasties to honor historical figures:
Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang: Situated in the center of the former East Citadel, the temple follows the traditional “Inner-Gong, Outer-Guo” architectural layout, aligned along a sacred central axis. In front of the ceremonial hall stands a monolithic bluestone “Dragon Bed” (Long Sang), intricately carved with dragon motifs and dating back to the 17th century.
Temple of King Le Dai Hanh: Located approximately 300 meters from the Temple of King Dinh, this site honors King Le Dai Hanh, Queen Mother Duong Van Nga, and King Le Long Dinh. The temple retains many exquisite, antique wood carvings and offers a serene atmosphere beneath the canopy of ancient trees.
Am Tien Pagoda and Cave (“Tuyet Tinh Coc” / “Valley of Absolute Solitude”): Situated about 2 km from the main temples, this site was once where King Dinh kept tigers and leopards for the execution of criminals. Today, it has transformed into a poetic landscape featuring a crystal-clear, jade-green lake surrounded by towering, sheer cliffs.
Mausoleum Complex on Ma Yen Mountain: To reach the mausoleum of King Dinh, located atop Ma Yen Mountain (named for its saddle-like shape), visitors must climb over 200 stone steps. From the summit, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the peaceful ancient capital landscape.
3. Tam Coc – Bich Dong
Surely everyone is familiar with the picture of small boats moving on the road surrounded by mountains and rice fields. That is the tourist destination Tam Coc – Bich Dong. In the ripe rice season, Tam Coc makes many people surprised with its brilliant yellow color.
In addition, Bich Dong – a place known as “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong” means: the second most beautiful cave in the South. Hearing this, you can probably guess the beauty of this place.
1. Tam Coc Tourist Area (A journey through three caves)
“Tam Coc” translates to “Three Caves,” comprising Hang Ca (127m long), Hang Hai (60m long), and Hang Ba (50m long)—caves formed by the Ngo Dong River cutting through the mountains.
Unique sampan boat experience: Visitors ride in small sampans rowed by locals; notably, many boatmen possess the remarkable skill of rowing with their feet.
Admire the colorful rice season along the Ngo Dong River: The river winds its way between towering cliffs, flanked by naturally cultivated wet rice paddies.
Trang An’s “Golden Season”: Late May to early June marks the most beautiful “golden season” of the year, when the riverbanks glow with the brilliant yellow of ripe rice, creating a stunning natural landscape that has gained international acclaim. From October to December, the river transforms again, adorned with the romantic purple hues of blooming water lilies.
2. Bich Dong Relic Site (An ancient pagoda nestled in the mountains)
Located about 2 km from the Tam Coc boat pier, Bich Dong (meaning “Green Cave”) is an ancient pagoda built in 1428 that clings to the limestone cliffs.
Ancient three-tiered architecture: Bich Dong Pagoda is arranged across three levels along the mountainside: Ha Pagoda (at the foot of the mountain), Trung Pagoda (mid-mountain, marking the entrance to a dark cave), and Thuong Pagoda (at the summit, offering a panoramic view of the limestone valley). An iconic stone bridge for photos: The entrance to the pagoda leads across a small stone bridge spanning a vast lotus pond, creating a serene, moss-covered setting reminiscent of a classic East Asian period drama.
4. Bai Dinh Pagoda
It is the largest pagoda, holding the most records in our country. Currently, the Bai Dinh Pagoda complex includes 2 areas: the ancient pagoda area and the newly built pagoda area. The space of the complex is extremely large with many small architectures. Along with the majestic and poetic scenery, Bai Dinh Pagoda is one of the spiritual tourist destinations favored by many people when coming to Ninh Binh.
The Bai Dinh complex is divided into two main areas situated along the mountainside:
The Ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda: Located approximately 800 meters from the new pagoda complex, this site was founded in 1136 by the Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong during the Ly Dynasty. Walking along the ancient stone steps, visitors can explore caves dedicated to the Buddha and the Mother Goddess, the Cao Son Deity Temple, and the “Ngoc Well” (Jade Well)—the largest of its kind in Vietnam. The atmosphere here is profoundly serene and steeped in the aura of antiquity.
The New Bai Dinh Pagoda: Construction began in 2003, covering an expansive area of 80 hectares. The complex is distinguished by curved roofs resembling “phoenix tails,” crafted from traditional Bat Trang tiles and monolithic bluestone from Ninh Binh. Magnificent structures aligned along the central axis include the Three-Entrance Gate (Tam Quan Gate), the Bell Tower, the Dharma Lord Hall (Dien Giao Chu), the Three Worlds Hall (Dien Tam The), and a towering 13-story stupa (99 meters high)—which enshrines sacred Buddha relics brought from India.
5. Hang Mua
If you are someone who likes to conquer the peak, Hang Mua is the perfect choice for your Ninh Binh trip. Standing on the top of the cave, you can fully admire the beauty of Trang An in your sight. It is like a worthy gift for those who persevere to climb to the last step.
6. Tuyet Tinh Coc – An Tiem Cave
If you are looking for a peaceful place, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Tuyet Tinh Coc – An Tiem Cave is a tourist destination in Ninh Binh for you. Surrounded by high mountains, An Tiem Cave seems to be separated from the world, giving visitors a new and different feeling compared to other Ninh Binh tourist destinations.
A Journey to Discover an Ethereal Paradise
To fully explore Tuyet Tinh Coc, you will follow an engaging loop route:
Rock Tunnels: The entrance to the valley is no longer a treacherous trail but a passage through two sturdy, intricately carved rock tunnels that suddenly reveal a completely secluded world.
Giai Pond (Tuyet Tinh Coc Lake): Occupying the heart of the valley is a crystal-clear, jade-green lake where the aquatic plants at the bottom are visible. Along the shore, weeping willows line a smooth, paved path stretching about 1 km—perfect for a leisurely walk or a bicycle ride.
Conquering Am Tien Cave & the Stone Pagoda: After ascending over 200 gentle stone steps shaded by cool foliage along the mountainside, you reach the cave entrance. Shaped like a dragon’s mouth, the cave is also known by its ancient name, Dragon Cave. Inside, there are shrines dedicated to the Buddha, Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong, and Queen Mother Duong Van Nga.
Ancient Stone Ramparts: Perched on the mountain’s edge is a stone rampart wall modeled after the architecture of the ancient imperial capital. From the watchtower openings, you can enjoy a breathtaking, panoramic view of the jade-green lake below.
7. Cuc Phuong National Park
Ninh Binh is a famous tourist destination for its ecology, environment, and Cuc Phuong National Park. This place has an extremely rich flora and fauna system. Especially when you come here around May, flocks of butterflies with a number of up to millions of them fly throughout the forest. The scenery is as beautiful as a fairyland, helping “virtual life” enthusiasts to pocket beautiful sparkling pictures.
A Rich Forest Ecosystem
Spanning an area of 22,200 hectares and characterized by limestone terrain, Cuc Phuong is home to a remarkably diverse range of flora and fauna typical of a tropical rainforest ecosystem:
Flora: Over 2,200 species of vascular plants, featuring magnificent ancient giants such as the thousand-year-old *Chò* tree, the ancient *Đăng* tree, and the ancient *Sấu* tree, the latter boasting massive buttress roots that spread across the forest floor.
Fauna: A habitat for 135 mammal species, 336 bird species, and thousands of insect species. It is a strictly protected area for the Delacour’s langur—an extremely rare primate species endemic to Vietnam.
8. Van Long Lagoon Tourist Area
Van Long Lagoon is one of the eco-tourism destinations that cannot be missed when coming to Ninh Binh. It gathers many rare flora and fauna such as the white-cheeked langur listed in the Red Book. Sitting on a small boat, exploring Van Long Lagoon, admiring the scenery and feeling the peace is something that everyone should experience at least
Unique eco-experiences at Van Long
A journey on a rustic bamboo boat: Eschewing concrete or iron vessels, visitors to Van Long travel on simple bamboo-woven boats—sealed with a layer of cement—gently rowed by locals. The soft sound of oars dipping into the water is the only noise breaking the serene silence.
Photographing the rare Delacour’s langur:
Van Long Wetland holds the record for the largest population of Delacour’s langurs in Vietnam, with over 200 individuals. This critically endangered primate species—listed in the global Red Book—is frequently spotted swinging through branches or drinking water along limestone cliffs (such as Meo Cao Mountain) during the early morning or late afternoon.
A romantic tapestry of seasonal aquatic flowers:
Pink and white lotus season (May – July): Lotus blossoms blanket the water’s surface, spreading an intoxicating fragrance throughout the valley.
Wild water lily season (October – November): As early autumn arrives, the crystal-clear water reveals the mossy carpet beneath, adorned with thousands of dreamy, deep-purple wild water lilies.
Witnessing the return of the birds: At dusk, Van Long Wetland transforms into a natural stage as thousands of white egrets, pond herons, and other herons fill the sky, gathering in the reed beds to roost and creating a magnificent sunset spectacle.
Exploring the water-passage cave system: The boat route takes you through the heart of Hang Ca (Fish Cave)—a 250-meter-long cave and the largest water-passage cave in the area—featuring glittering stalactites hanging from above.
9. Phat Diem Cathedral
Considered the Catholic capital of our country, Phat Diem Cathedral has an ancient architecture with unique architectural features. With a harmonious architectural style combining both Eastern and Western architecture, this place is also called by many people as a “virtual living sanctuary“. So if you have the opportunity, don’t miss this unique tourist destination!
An architectural spirit blending “Outer Confucian, Inner Buddhist” styles
Spanning approximately 22 hectares, the entire complex is constructed entirely from bluestone and rare *lim* (ironwood) timber transported from Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces. The layout follows a North-South orientation and comprises several key structures:
Lake and Statue of Christ: At the entrance lies a tranquil lake featuring a small island that enshrines the statue of Jesus Christ, King of the East.
Phuong Dinh (Bell Tower): A massive monolithic stone structure standing 25 meters tall and 21 meters wide. From a distance, it resembles a traditional ancient village communal house, complete with sweeping, curved tiled roofs. The tower’s third level houses a bell weighing nearly two tons—cast in 1890—whose resonance can carry for kilometers.
The Main Cathedral: The focal point of the complex, measuring 74 meters in length and 21 meters in width, features four moss-covered *âm-dương* (yin-yang) style tiled roofs. The interior is supported by 48 monolithic ironwood columns; the two central rows reach a height of 11 meters, with each column weighing approximately 10 tons. The sanctuary area is exquisitely adorned with vermilion lacquer and gold leaf, evoking the grandeur of an ancient royal palace.
The Stone Church of the Sacred Heart of Mary: Although the smallest of the churches, it is constructed entirely of stone—from the foundation, walls, columns, and window grilles to the rafter and beam system.
Artificial Grottoes: Behind the main cathedral lie three grottoes formed from massive naturalistic stone blocks; the most renowned among them is the Lourdes Grotto.
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10. Traditional Craft Villages
Ninh Binh has long been famous for its sophisticated handicraft products, imbued with national culture. These include: Lace Embroidery Village, Kim Son Sedge Craft Village, Ninh Van Stone Carving Village… It will be interesting to visit traditional craft villages, witnessing the process of making artistic products through skillful hands. This will definitely be an extremely memorable memory in your Ninh Binh trip. Above are the Ninh Binh tourist destinations that Smile Travel suggests for your upcoming trip. Pack your backpack and explore this beautiful ancient capital right away. Contact Smile Travel for advice on Ninh Binh tour packages to help save costs!
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