Ninh Binh & Trang An

Overview

Ninh Binh Province, 90 km south of Hanoi, contains Trang An Landscape Complex — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014.

What to Do

• Trang An boat tour through caves and limestone gorges
• Tam Coc — 'Ha Long Bay on land'; rowing boat through three caves
• Bich Dong Pagoda — three-tiered pagoda built into a cave system
• Hoa Lu Ancient Capital — Vietnam's 10th-century capital
• Mua Cave viewpoint — 500 steps for panoramic valley views

Best Time to Visit

May–June for lush paddies; September–October for golden harvest.

Getting There

Bus or train from Hanoi (2 hrs).