Rough guide about Trang An tourism complex

Trang An panorama

Trang An is a famous eco tourism complex in Ninh Binh province, the complex is situated in the Ninh Binh town and three districts Hoa Lu, Nho Quan and Gia Vien. Trang An tourism complex has a total area 2000 hectares, the complex of Trang An is formed by ranges of limestone mountains, amazing caves and rivers, valleys coupled with many historical and religion sites including pagodas, temples all combine to make Trang An a magic place.

Best time to visit Trang An tours is from February to April, this time is spring, the weather is cool, especially visitors can combine sightseeing tours with pagoda pilgrimage, however note that this time is also high season of Ninh Binh tourism, a lot of tourists come to visit and worship so all places are always crowed and be careful with your bags as there are pick pockets around.

How to travel Trang An from Hanoi

You can take a bus from Hanoi (from the bus stations Giap Bat, My Dinh). The buses run daily at different times. You should contact the bus station for more details before the trip or you can take the open bus, spend the night in Tam Coc tour and visit Trang An the next day.

Things to visit in Trang An

A boat trip in Trang An tours is a must, each boat carries 4-5 people. Along the way, in addition to enjoying the mountain views, charming scenery, tourists should visit the scenic spots such as:

- Trinh temple: The famous temple thousands of years old, built under Dinh dynasty is the first stop.

- Tran temple is an ancient stone temple, built in 968 to worship a general from the 18th Hung king. Tran temple has beautiful patterns carved in stone, showing great skill temporary artists.

- Khong temple: the thousand-year-old tree tree in front of the temple, dedicated to Dinh Cong, a loyal official under King Dinh Tien Hoang.

If you haven't been to the water caves before, you will be filled with strange feeling when entering the gates with small boat through the seemingly endless tunnels. The cave system in Trang An, though not brilliant, magnificent stalagmites, but the caves are very diverse, each brings a different aspect. to name a few:

- Seo cave, very deep with dense trees

- Ba Giot cave with stalagmites deposited as water droplets

- Nau Ruou cave with with old jars, according to legend it is where the the wine is cooked for the mandarins

- Dia Linh cave with the low, narrow entrance

There are many other caves such as Bright cave, Dark cave, Son Duong cave...

Visit Tam Coc, top destination in Ninh Binh

Boat trip in Tam Coc

Tam Coc tours is located in the famous scenic tourist complex Trang An, with a network of caves, limestone mountains, beautiful rice fields, it is like a Halong Bay on land, a true eco tourist area in northern Vietnam.

Tam Coc caves is also called Tam Thuy Dong, it means three caves on water, To reach this attractive destination, visitors will start from boat dock and row all the way through romantic Ngo Dong river.

Tam Coc day trips is only 120 km from Hanoi city, there are some ways to visit Tam Coc from Hanoi, renting a car or motorbike is the easiet way, it takes about 2.5 hour drive. At Van Lam wharf, you buy ticket to visit, rent boat a boat for 5 usd, maximum 4 people, then start exploring the beauty of Tam Coc by paddling on the Ngo Dong river.

Tam Coc means three caves: First, second and third cave. All three caves are formed by the flow of river that eroded the mountain rock as this area is limestone. The first cave is 127m long, through a large part of the mountain, the entrance is 20 meter wide. In the cave the climate is cool and damp with stalactites hanging down in many shapes. Second cave, nearly 1km from The first cave, 60m long, the cave ceiling has beautiful stalactites. The third cave is 50m long, the cave's ceiling is like an arch, lower than first and second cave. 

During the boat trip, if you want to stop taking photos, or want to climb up to the mountain for a good shot, you should discuss in advance with the boat rowers. The experienced rowers would stop the boat, looking for a convenient place for you to climb the cliff. Note that do not try to stand up without notice, you can endanger yourself and other passengers on boat.

When to tour Tam Coc in Ninh Binh, you should depart in the early morning, so the weather is not too hot, in the afternoon sometimes Tam Coc has heavy rains or thunderstorms in the summer.

A little note for visitors while sightseeing Tam Coc is to bring a sun hat because the boat is not covered, dressed neatly and can be equipped with a binoculars to admire the distant landscape would be an interesting thing.

Visit Tam Coc in summer, whether sitting on the boat or walk, you will be lost in the colorful carpet when you cruise through green paddy fields interspersed with yellow rice fields.