Top 10 Must-Visit Tourist destination in Ninh Binh

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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 10 Must-Visit Tourist destination in Ninh Binh that you must visit when you set foot in this ancient capital.

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Top 10 Must-Visit Tourist Attractions in Ninh Binh

1. Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex

This is definitely an indispensable destination when it comes to 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.

Handy tips for a perfect trip

Best time to visit:

Rice ripening season (May – June): The rice fields lining the river turn a brilliant golden hue, creating a stunning contrast against the green rocky mountains.
Early spring festival season (January – March): The weather is cool and pleasant, making it ideal for combining temple visits with spring sightseeing (though expect large crowds of domestic tourists).
What to pack: Bring an umbrella, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, and a handheld fan, as you will be exposed to the sun while seated on the boat for nearly three hours. Be sure to wear a life jacket throughout the journey for safety.
Etiquette tip: The boat rowers at Trang An work incredibly hard, often rowing with both their hands and feet over the long route. At the end of the trip, consider offering a small tip (around 50,000 – 100,000 VND per boat) as a gesture of sincere appreciation.

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.

Key Architectural Structures and Monuments

Despite enduring over a millennium of historical upheaval, the magnificent palaces of old no longer stand intact; however, subsequent dynasties erected ancient temples and pagodas upon the original foundations for worship:

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 temple stands a monolithic green-stone royal bed (*long sang*) intricately carved with winding dragons. The inner sanctuary houses statues of King Dinh and his princes.

Temple of King Le Dai Hanh: Located approximately 300 meters from the Temple of King Dinh. Although smaller in scale, this temple boasts exceptionally masterful wood and stone carvings. It is dedicated to the worship of King Le Dai Hanh, Queen Mother Duong Van Nga, and King Le Ngoa Trieu.

Am Tien Pagoda and Cave (Tuyet Tinh Coc): Situated about 400 meters from the Temple of King Dinh. This site was once the place where King Dinh kept fierce tigers and maintained an execution ground for punishing criminals. It features a crystal-clear, jade-green lake encircled by towering, sheer cliffs, creating an atmosphere of serene, mystical beauty reminiscent of classic martial arts legends. Ancient Palace Foundation Excavation Site: Home to “Đại Việt quốc quân thành chuyên” bricks (bricks used for the military citadel of the Đại Việt kingdom) and unique ceramic column bases dating back to the 10th century.

Tips for independent travel from Hanoi

Best time to visit: Spring (the 1st to 3rd lunar months) is ideal for immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the Hoa Lư Ancient Capital Festival (held annually from the 8th to the 10th of the third lunar month), which features water procession rituals and distinctive folk games.

Getting there: From Hanoi, take a limousine bus or train to Ninh Binh City center (approximately 1.5 hours). Once in the city, it is recommended to rent a bicycle or motorbike for a leisurely ride along village roads winding through limestone valleys to reach the ancient capital; the route is incredibly beautiful and peaceful.

Cultural etiquette: As this is a sacred site dedicated to the founding heroes of the nation, visitors are required to dress modestly (wearing tops with sleeves and trousers or skirts that cover the knees). Please speak softly, walk quietly, and refrain from touching the ancient stone artifacts inside the temple.

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 Waterway (“Three Caves”)

This round-trip boat journey takes approximately two hours and leads you through three natural tunnels carved by the river flowing through the mountains:

Hang Ca (First Cave): The longest cave (127m), featuring a majestic, high ceiling adorned with stalactites that shimmer like precious gems.

Hang Hai (Second Cave): Located about 1km from Hang Ca, this 60m-long cave boasts a diverse array of limestone stalactites in ever-changing shapes.

Hang Ba (Third Cave): The shortest cave (50m), yet its low ceiling creates a thrilling, cool atmosphere as the boat passes through.

Special Highlight: From late May to early June, the banks of the Ngo Dong River transform into a brilliant sea of golden ripe rice, creating a breathtaking natural landscape that attracts thousands of photographers from around the world.

2. Bich Dong Ancient Pagoda (“Green Cave Pagoda”)

Located approximately 2km from the Tam Coc boat pier, this ancient pagoda was built in 1705 during the Later Le Dynasty. Nestled against the rugged limestone terrain, it is divided into three levels:

Ha Pagoda (Lower Pagoda): Situated at the foot of the mountain, it features traditional “Tam”-style architecture and sturdy stone columns.

Trung Pagoda (Middle Pagoda): A stone stairway leads halfway up the mountain to this pagoda, which is partially nestled within a mysterious cave.

Thuong Pagoda (Upper Pagoda): Located at the highest point near the mountain peak. From here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the rice valley and the rolling limestone mountains in the distance.

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.

1. Ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda (Over 1,000 years old)

Located approximately 800 meters south of the new pagoda complex, this site sits quietly on the mountainside. Built during the Dinh Dynasty, the ancient complex features mysterious natural caves:

Bright Cave (Hang Sang) – Dedicated to the Buddha and the Mother Goddess: Houses a majestic Buddha altar; the cave ceiling is bathed in natural light.

Dark Cave (Dong Toi) – Dedicated to Fairies and Saints: Features a system of limestone stalactites hanging naturally like jade formations; the interior is a place of worship for high-ranking deities from folk beliefs.

Ancient Jade Well (Gieng Ngoc): The largest natural freshwater well in Vietnam, boasting crystal-clear water that never runs dry; historically, its water was used by Zen Master Nguyen Minh Khong to brew medicinal remedies for healing the sick.

2. New Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex (Holder of numerous records)

A grand, majestic space featuring dark brown glazed tile roofs curved like phoenix tails, comprising several monumental structures:

Asia’s Longest Arhat Corridor: Stretching 3 km along the mountainside, it houses 500 monolithic bluestone Arhat statues (2–3 meters tall), each possessing a unique demeanor and expression.

Giant Bell Tower: Houses a massive bronze bell weighing 36 tons—the largest bronze bell in Vietnam.

Tam The Hall & Phap Chu Hall: Magnificent grand halls with soaring ceilings, housing majestic gold-plated bronze Buddha statues weighing between 50 and 100 tons.

Southeast Asia’s Tallest Sarira Stupa: A sacred 100-meter, 13-story tower housing Buddha relics respectfully brought from India and Myanmar.

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.

The Journey to Conquer 486 Stone Steps & Iconic Photo Spots

The “Great Wall” stone path: To reach the summit, you must ascend 486 stone steps intricately carved with Tran-dynasty dragon and phoenix motifs. The path clings to the sheer limestone cliff face; while challenging, it offers breathtaking, expansive views.

The fork between the two peaks: About two-thirds of the way up, you will encounter a key junction:

Left branch (Ngoa Long Peak): This path leads to the highest rocky outcrop, featuring a statue of a dragon coiling as if stretching out over the abyss. It is an iconic photo spot, but the rocky surface is rugged and sharp, and winds can be strong, so please move with caution.
Right branch (Phuong Peak): This path leads to a pointed tower built in an ancient Buddhist architectural style; the area is open and offers a beautiful vantage point for photographing the Dragon Peak.
Heart-shaped lotus pond at the mountain’s base: At the foot of the mountain lies a long wooden bridge winding through a massive lotus pond spanning over one hectare. In summer (May–July), the lotuses bloom fragrantly, creating a wonderfully romantic backdrop for photos.

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.

7. Cuc Phuong National Park

A famous Ninh Binh tourist destination for ecology and environment, 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.

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 once.

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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!

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 handicraft 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. Surely this will be an extremely memorable memory in your Ninh Binh trip. Above are the Ninh Binh tourist destinations that Smile Travel suggests for your upcoming travel itinerary. Pack your backpack and explore this beautiful ancient capital right away. Contact Smile Travel for support in consulting Ninh Binh tour packages to help save costs!

Contact:

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Email: smiletravelindochina@gmail.com
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Top 10 Must-Visit Tourist destination in Ninh Binh