Holiday in Ninh Bình

About Ninh Bình

Ninh Bình is often referred to as the "Halong Bay on land" — and indeed, the landscape of limestone karst mountains rising from emerald green rice fields and tranquil rivers resembles the famous bay, only here bicycles and rowboats are the main means of transport instead of boats. The Tam Coc complex is the centerpiece: A boat ride on the Ngo Dong River takes you through three natural caves, while rice fields and limestone cliffs create a surreal backdrop on both sides. The female rowers astonishingly row with their feet — a technique you won't see anywhere else. During the harvest season (May/June), the fields shine golden and provide one of the most photogenic scenes in Vietnam. Trang An, the newly designated UNESCO World Heritage site, offers an even more impressive boat tour. On a 3-hour route, you paddle through over 40 low caves, past temples, and through a landscape that served as a filming location for "Kong: Skull Island." The karst mountains rise more dramatically here, the caves are longer, and the atmosphere is even more mystical than in Tam Coc. Bich Dong — the "Jade Pagoda" — is a three-tiered cave temple built into the rock face. The ascent through three stacked temples in different caves rewards you with a view over the rice field landscape that is worth all the effort. The Mua Cave (Dance Cave) offers one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the region after a strenuous climb of over 500 steps: From the dragon statue at the summit, you overlook the entire Tam Coc landscape — rice fields, rivers, and karst mountains stretching to the horizon. Ninh Bình is the perfect day trip or stopover from Hanoi (2 hours) and a welcome alternative to the often crowded Halong.