Not only possessing beautiful natural scenery Trang An – Ninh Binh also has profound historical and humanistic values. With a favorable location near the capital, Hanoi, Trang An has been, and remains, one of the most popular cultural and spiritual tourist destinations for travel enthusiasts. You can visit Trang An during the day or stay overnight to explore more scenic destinations in Ninh Binh.
Overview of Trang An – Ninh Binh
Trang An is a scenic area in Ninh Binh, famous for its boat cave tours. On June 23, 2014, at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in Doha, the Trang An Landscape Complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The scenic complex includes: Trang An, Tam Coc, Bich Dong, Hoa Lu ancient capital, and Hoa Lu special-use forest.
This complex is surrounded by limestone mountains, many caves, and lagoons, creating beautiful natural scenery. The limestone mountain system here is up to 250 million years old, having undergone different periods of changing weather, climate, and ocean conditions to create the majestic landscape it is today.
In addition, this area has 31 lakes and lagoons connected by 48 discovered caves, including 2 km-long water caves such as Dia Linh cave, Sinh Duoc cave, and May cave.
Each cave has its own unique features, such as its name. The caves have many changing stalactites, and water dripping from the ceiling cools the air… all of which are still very wild and special attractions for both domestic and foreign tourists.
And before becoming the ideal destination it is today, it was chosen by King Dinh Tien Hoang as one of the ramparts to protect the capital, Hoa Lu, thanks to its extremely rugged terrain. Even after King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long (present-day Hanoi), Hoa Lu continued to serve as a military base and cultural center of the Ly, Tran, Later Le, Mac, and Tay Son dynasties… leaving many historical and cultural marks on this land.
What is the best time to visit Trang An – Ninh Binh?
In general, Trang An – Ninh Binh is beautiful in every season, but each season has its own unique features. If you travel to Ninh Binh in the spring (from January to March), the air will be a bit chilly, and there will be little rain, making it very convenient for sightseeing and taking photos.
In particular, spring is also the festival season, so you can participate in some big festivals such as the Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival, the La Temple Festival, and the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival.
From April to June is the time for those who love quiet. During this time, the festivals have gradually subsided and are no longer as crowded as in the spring, so the atmosphere becomes more peaceful. However, this is the hottest time of the year, so you should fully equip yourself with sun protection measures before coming to Trang An.
If you are a flower lover, you should travel to Trang An in Ninh Binh from July to September. This is the season when lotus and water lilies begin to bloom, creating an irresistible beauty. However, the weather at this time will be a bit ‘difficult’ due to frequent storms across a large area. Therefore, please pay attention to the weather forecast to be best prepared.
From October to December, many tourists choose to visit the ancient capital to take virtual photos. However, you also need to bring warm clothes because the weather in Ninh Binh this season is quite cold.
Which is the popular route to Trang An-Ninh Binh?
Trang An’s terrain is mostly water, so the main means of transportation is by rowing boat. First, you have to buy a ticket that includes a visit to Trang An and a boat ride. The fixed ticket prices are 200,000 VND/adult and 100,000 VND/child under 1.4 m. Each boat will carry 4-5 people and will depart when there are enough passengers. Therefore, if you go in a group of fewer than 4 people, you will have to wait longer to join. Or you can rent a boat for 800,000 VND for a journey of more than 3 hours to take great photos.
Trang An tourism offers 3 main boat routes, each going to different sightseeing spots. Depending on your preferences, you should choose the appropriate route. Besides, if you are fascinated by the movie Kong: Skull Island, you can take ferry routes 2 or 3 to visit Kong Island.
Route 1: Trinh Temple – Tran Temple – Khong Palace
Route 1 will focus on visiting caves, rocky mountains, and learning about the history of the Dinh Dynasty. Through the legends of Hang Nau Ruou, Trinh Temple, Khong Palace…, you can expand your historical knowledge. Especially, admire Tran Temple – the temple is considered the heart of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Route 2: Cao Son Temple – Vu Lam Palace
This ferry route is loved by many young people for its beautiful, poetic landscapes, making it very suitable for filming and taking photos. At the same time, this route rarely encounters ferry jams as the other two routes do.
Route 3: Hang Dot – Suoi Tien Temple
With this route, you will pass through the longest stalactite cave in Trang An, with a length of up to 1000m. In addition, the Suoi Tien Temple relic will take you back to the origin of Trang An.
No matter which boat route you choose, the boatmen are very enthusiastic during the journey. Moreover, if you want to experience a little new joy, you can ask the boatmen to help row the boat.
What is attractive in Trang An – Ninh Binh?
To make your trip to Trang An – Ninh Binh more interesting, here are some activities and specialties you should definitely try when you come.
Visit the cultural space
These are the temples located in the center of the eco-tourism area, such as Trinh Temple, Tran Temple, Tu Tru Temple, Cao Son Temple, Suoi Tien Temple, Vu Lam Palace, and Khong Palace. Each temple is associated with a separate story about the great mandarins who contributed to the country.
Therefore, when visiting these temples, you will admire the unique architectural beauty of each period and enrich your knowledge of national history.
Explore mysterious caves
Sitting on a bamboo boat, visitors can weave through magical caves, each with its own unique beauty and associated with mysterious stories. Some wonderful caves that you cannot miss are Dia Linh Cave (with fossilized stalactites), Nau Ruou Cave (distilling wine from underground water in the cave), Ba Giot (many stalactites with various colors appearing), and especially Boi Cave, which is a valuable archaeological site in the Trang An World Heritage Complex. Much scientific evidence indicates that prehistoric people of the Hoa Binh Culture existed about 10,000 years ago.
The dim light from the oil lamps illuminates the shimmering stalactites, creating a magical, poetic space. There are caves as large as palaces, while others are small and narrow, just enough for a boat to pass through. The sound of water dripping from the cave ceiling, the sound of oars splashing water, and the chirping of birds create a wonderful natural harmony.
Mountain climbing
Mountain climbing is also an experience not to be missed when visiting Trang An, offering you the chance to admire the panoramic views of the landscape from above and explore the wild beauty of nature. The limestone mountains surrounding Trang An create a majestic landscape, with undulating cliffs, mysterious caves, and lush vegetation.
The mountain climbing journey will take you through winding trails, steep stone steps, and cool green forests. When reaching the top, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the vast rice fields, the winding Ngo Dong River, and the mountains in the distance. It is a wonderful moment for you to feel the majesty of nature and find peace of mind.
Take a boat on the Ngo Dong River
Taking a boat ride on the Ngo Dong River when visiting Trang An is an exciting and relaxing journey of discovery. Sitting on a small bamboo boat, visitors will be taken by local boatmen through magical caves, admiring nature’s pristine beauty.
The winding Ngo Dong River, flanked by towering limestone mountains, creates a majestic and poetic landscape. The sound of oars splashing water mixed with the chirping of birds creates a gentle harmony, bringing visitors into a peaceful world, separate from the noisy, bustling life. Taking a boat on the Ngo Dong River is not only a simple sightseeing activity but also a cultural experience, helping visitors better understand the land of Trang An and its people.
Enjoy specialties of Ninh Binh
It would be a pity if you come to Trang An Ninh Binh and do not try the following specialties:
Ninh Binh burnt rice: The delicate blend of flavors between crispy burnt rice and fragrant shrimp makes diners want to eat forever.
Mountain goat meat: The goats are raised in rocky mountainous terrain, so the meat is very firm. Goat meat can be used to prepare many dishes, such as goat spring rolls, raw goat with lemon, and steamed goat.
Ant egg sticky rice: Brown ant eggs are cleaned, fried with shallots and chicken fat, then mixed well with hot sticky rice. The dish’s fragrant aroma will make you unforgettable.
Mountain snails: Mountain snails’ food is precious medicine found in caves, so snail meat is extremely nutritious, especially effective in treating bone and joint diseases, rheumatism, or stomach diseases.
Through the article reviewing Trang An in Ninh Binh, perhaps you can also imagine something of this land and why it attracts so many tourists. Let’s pack your backpack to start your journey exploring Trang An – Ninh Binh.
Source: collected by An
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