Ninh Binh is deep in the Red River Delta and characterized by lotus flower lakes, towering limestone mountains, vast rice paddies and evergreen untouched forests. Hoa Lu a district of Ninh Binh was the capital city of Vietnam in the 10th century A.D. Cuc Phuong National Park of Ninh Binh is among the best preserved national parks in Vietnam and was the starting point of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trails in the War.

Traveling in Ninh Binh we can combine the trip to the authentic countryside of the Red River Delta with an eco tour of the Cuc Phuong park, a history tour of Hoa Lu and sightseeing tour of Kenh Ga, Tam Coc, Bich Dong and Thung Nang. We can also travel further into the Catholic area of Phat Diem to adore the stone Cathedral of Phat Diem built mainly of stones.

Ninh Binh is suitable for any travellers, be it adventure or nature seekers or sightseeing fans.

Tam Coc - Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh Tourist Attractions
Cuc Phuong National Park is an eco system of limestone mountains covered with  rain forests. There are many endangered species still found in Cuc Phuong. Please refer to our national park section for more details.

Kenh Ga with a system of natural rivers snaking along the limestone mountain range. Visiting Kenh Ga you can not only adore the nature's beauty, but also witness the tranquil life on the river of the local residents. Kenh Ga is visited by boat.

Van Long is a floating village with life-on-the-water of the local farmers. Van Long is visited by sampan.

Hoa Lu is a little valley surrounded by ranges of towering limestone mountains. The strategic terrain may have made Hoa Lu to be the capital city of Vietnam in the 10th centure under King Dinh Tien Hoang. Visit Hoa Lu, we can enjoy a walking tour of the 2 temples dedicated to the 2 royal families of Vietnam of the time and enjoy the green countryside with sublime beauty.

Tam Coc and Thung Nang are 2 adjacent flooded flat paddy fields encircled by towering ranges of limestone mountains. Visiting Thung Nang or Tam Coc, we'll enjoy 2 hours on sampan making our way amid rice fields and with the mountains surrounding us.

Pushing boat at Thung Nang (the Sunny Valley) of Ninh Binh

Phat Diem Stone Cathedral was built by Father Sau in 1875 with no design at all. It's said that Father Sau just built the magnificent Cathedral following God's advice in the father's dream. Visiting the Cathedral you'll adore the workmanship and the architecture. We'll appreciate the work of Father Sau further if we know that the whole area was a swampy area in the past. Father Sau and the local Catholic had to spend months reclaiming land, making the steady foundation and bringing the huge slabs of stone to the site for the contruction.

Non Nuoc Pagoda

Duc Thuy Mountain and Truong Han Sieu Poet

A pavilion on top of Duc Thuy Mountain where poems were composed and recited

Temple dedicated to Truong Han Sieu, a great poet of Vietnam from Ninh Binh

Travel and Tours
Ninh Binh offers the travelers all kinds of tours such as sightseeing, trekking adventure tours; nature and eco tours; culture and history tours.

For the travellers who are interested in sightseeing tours, you can enjoy the timeless moments with relaxing sampan cruise amid the green rice paddies and towering mountain cliffs in Thung Nang, Tam Coc, Kenh Ga or Van Long.

For the adventure travelers you can go trekking in the jungle of Cuc Phuong National Park or do mountain climbing to Hang Mua.

For the traveller who would like to have a relaxing countryside tour combined with a bit of culture and history, you can join us to learn more about Hoa Lu and the history of Vietnam in the 10th century or visit the Stone Cathedral built by Father Sau and the local Catholics.

For the travellers who want to do something different than sampan cruising or trekking or hiking, you can take a bicycle tour through the evergreen rice paddies and through the sheer mountain cliffs, cycle through different villages and chat with the locals who make intricate embroidery.

The Ky Lan Mountain - Ninh Binh Town

Accommodation
There are many hotels in Ninh Binh Town ranging from simple guest houses to fairly good 2 star hotels.

In Cuc Phuong National Park, the only choice is the guest house located in the middle of the forest. The facilities are simple, but the experience is cozy and unforgettable.

Getting there and away
From Ha Noi or Hue or Vinh or Quang Binh there are different daily trains to Ha Noi with a stop at Ninh Binh Train Station. Please refer to our train time table section for more information.

Otherwise you may like to hire a car/van and it takes 2 hours to get to Ninh Binh Town from Ha Noi. The road is good and traffic is not too busy.