Ninh Binh: what to see, eat & how to get there

Trang An · Tràng An

UNESCO World Heritage landscape; rowing-boat tours through limestone caves and rivers.

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Photo: Kien1980v (thảo luận), Public domain

Tam Coc · Tam Cốc – Bích Động

Boat trip along the Ngô Đồng river through rice fields and three caves; Bích Động pagoda is nearby.

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Photo: Anass Sedrati, CC BY-SA 4.0

Hang Mua viewpoint · Hang Múa

About 500 steps up to a dragon statue and pagoda with views over Tam Cốc.

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Photo: Tuan Mai, CC BY 2.0

Hoa Lu ancient capital · Cố đô Hoa Lư

Capital of Vietnam in the 10th century; temples of kings Đinh and Lê remain.

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Bai Dinh pagoda · Chùa Bái Đính

Huge Buddhist pagoda complex built from the 2000s next to the old pagoda on the hill.

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Photo: VŨ HÙNG, CC BY-SA 3.0

Van Long nature reserve · Khu bảo tồn Vân Long

Wetland reserve with quiet bamboo-boat trips; home of Delacour's langur.

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Photo: TruongHuynb (thảo luận), Public domain

Cuc Phuong National Park · Vườn quốc gia Cúc Phương

Vietnam's first national park (1962): forest trails, caves and a primate rescue centre.

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Photo: pululante, CC BY 2.0

Phat Diem cathedral · Nhà thờ Phát Diệm

19th-century stone-and-wood cathedral that blends Vietnamese temple architecture with Catholic design.

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Photo: Azotour Vietnam, CC BY-SA 4.0

Com chay (crispy rice) · Cơm cháy Ninh Bình

Crispy rice crust, the best-known Ninh Bình souvenir, often eaten with a meat sauce.

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Photo: Phương Huy (thảo luận), Public domain

Mountain goat · Thịt dê núi

Goat dishes are the local speciality; restaurants line the roads near Tam Cốc and Hoa Lư.