Welcome to Trang An, a gem of Vietnam tourism, where majestic natural beauty blends with deep cultural and historical values. If you are seeking a journey to explore unique landscapes, experience distinctive culture, and savor delicious local cuisine, then a Trang An discovery tour is the perfect choice for you. Let’s embark on a journey to explore Trang An, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, to feel the magical beauty and historical stories hidden behind each mountain and river here.
Our 1-day Trang An discovery tour itinerary is meticulously designed to bring you the most complete and memorable experiences. From a comfortable departure from Hanoi, admiring the spiritual beauty of Bai Dinh Pagoda, enjoying the distinctive flavors of Ninh Binh cuisine, to exploring the magical beauty of Trang An by boat, every moment of the tour is a valuable experience.
Departure from Hanoi and Explore Bai Dinh
The new day begins with a warm welcome by our car and professional tour guide from The Sinh Tourist. Our departure point is Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital, to start the 1-day Trang An discovery tour. Between 7:15 AM and 8:00 AM, the car will pick you up at the meeting point, departing for a journey of about 100km to Ninh Binh.
To ensure a comfortable and energetic journey, we will have a short 15-minute rest stop in Phu Ly. Here, you can freely have breakfast, enjoy local snacks, or simply relax before continuing the journey. Phu Ly, the gateway to Ninh Binh, is also an interesting stop where you can feel the peaceful rhythm of life in the Northern countryside.
Around 10:30 AM, we will arrive at Bai Dinh Pagoda, one of the largest and most famous pagodas in Vietnam. From the parking lot, an electric car will take you to the pagoda gate (about 3km), helping you save energy to prepare for the spiritual exploration ahead. Bai Dinh Pagoda is not only a sacred spiritual destination but also a magnificent architectural work, with many admirable records.
Stepping into the Bai Dinh Pagoda complex, you will be overwhelmed by the vast scale of the pagoda, with a total area of up to 107 hectares. The Tam The and Phap Chu temples, the central architectural works of the pagoda, cover thousands of square meters, demonstrating the majesty and grandeur of Vietnamese Buddhism. In particular, Bai Dinh Pagoda is also famous for the largest bronze Buddha statues in Southeast Asia. The majestic Buddha statue weighing 100 tons, along with three Tam The statues each weighing 50 tons, are unique works of art, demonstrating the talent and dedication of Vietnamese artisans.
Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh, a large Buddhist temple complex with impressive architecture and natural surroundings.
Not only possessing magnificent architecture, Bai Dinh Pagoda also boasts magnificent natural beauty with stunning natural caves. The caves here are likened to “Ha Long Bay on land” with countless magical and magnificent stalactites and stalagmites. Bai Dinh Pagoda is not only an important pilgrimage site but also an attractive Northern tourist destination, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists to visit, worship, and explore the unique beauty of the pagoda.
Enjoy Ninh Binh’s Distinctive Cuisine
After exploring Bai Dinh Pagoda, around 12:00 PM, you will be taken to a restaurant to rest and have lunch. This is a great opportunity for you to enjoy the famous specialties of Ninh Binh, a land renowned for its rich and unique cuisine.
Ninh Binh is known as a “culinary paradise” with many delicious dishes famous far and wide. Among them, crispy rice crust (cơm cháy) and mountain goat meat (dê núi) are two specialties that you cannot miss when visiting this land. Ninh Binh crispy rice crust has a characteristic delicious flavor, crispy in your mouth, made from fragrant sticky rice and undergoing a sophisticated processing procedure. Ninh Binh mountain goat meat is famous for its firm, delicious meat, processed into many attractive dishes such as goat salad with lemon, grilled goat, stir-fried goat…
In addition to crispy rice crust and mountain goat meat, Ninh Binh also has many other attractive specialties such as Yen Mac fermented pork roll (nem chua Yên Mạc), raw nhech fish salad (gỏi cá nhệch), glass noodles with eel (miến lươn), mountain snails (ốc núi)… Each dish has its own unique flavor, reflecting the diversity and richness of Ninh Binh cuisine. Lunch at the restaurant is not only a time for you to recharge after the exploration journey but also an opportunity for you to experience and discover the distinctive culinary culture of Ninh Binh.
Boating in Trang An – Natural Masterpiece and World Heritage
After lunch, around 1:30 PM, the car and tour guide will take you to Trang An wharf to start the journey to explore the New Trang An tourist area. Trang An is likened to a second “Ha Long Bay on land” of Vietnam, with majestic natural beauty, and harmonious mountains and waters. The overlapping limestone ranges, the lush green valleys, and the winding rivers interwoven create a magical and mysterious space, making anyone who sets foot here marvel and be captivated.
Sitting on a small boat, weaving through the lush green rice fields, you will admire the peaceful and tranquil beauty of Trang An. The boat trip takes you through magnificent caves, gifted by nature to this land. With this tour route, you will have the opportunity to explore 4 beautiful natural caves, known as the most beautiful caves in the Ninh Binh tourist area: Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Thanh Truot Cave, and Dai Cave. Each cave has its own beauty, with magical stalactites, unique shapes, creating a mysterious underground world.
Tourists enjoying a boat tour in Trang An, Ninh Binh, a UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning karst landscapes.
The 4-cave Trang An discovery tour is particularly suitable for dynamic young people who love exploration and photography. The magnificent caves and beautiful natural landscapes will be the perfect backdrop for unique and impressive check-in photos. The boat trip to visit the caves not only brings you exciting experiences but also an opportunity for you to capture memorable moments and wonderful emotions during your visit to Trang An, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.
End of Journey and Return to Hanoi
After fully exploring the magical beauty of Trang An, around 5:00 PM, you will get on the car to return to Hanoi. On the way back, you can admire the peaceful and tranquil rural scenery of the Northern Delta region, or share memorable moments of the trip with friends and family.
Around 7:30 PM, the car will take you back to Hanoi, concluding the exciting and meaningful 1-day Trang An – Bai Dinh tour program. We hope that the Trang An discovery journey has brought you memorable experiences, wonderful moments, and a deeper understanding of the natural beauty, culture, and history of Ninh Binh. See you again on your next journeys to explore Vietnam!
If you want to explore more attractive Ninh Binh tours, don’t forget to check out the Ninh Binh 1 Day Tours [Top 10 Best-Selling Tours 2025] to choose the most suitable itinerary for you.