Ninh Binh, a land of remarkable people and spirits, is renowned for its scenic spots recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for both culture and nature. This region boasts not only majestic mountains and rivers but also serves as a cradle of history and culture, featuring the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Bai Dinh Pagoda, and the Trang An eco-tourism complex. Among these, Trang An and Bai Dinh stand out as must-visit destinations, offering visitors unique and unforgettable experiences.
Location of Trang An – Bai Dinh Tourist Area
The Trang An – Bai Dinh tourist area is situated in Ninh Binh province, approximately 95-100km south of Hanoi. Specific locations are as follows:
- Trang An: The center of Trang An boat wharf is 3km south of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, 7km from Ninh Binh city towards Trang An Avenue, and 16km north of Tam Diep city. Covering over 2000ha, Trang An is a famous eco-tourism area known for its beautiful mountains and magnificent caves.
- Bai Dinh Pagoda: Located on Bai Dinh mountain in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, 5km northwest of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, and 12km from Ninh Binh city. The pagoda is situated at the western gateway of the Hoa Lu ancient capital relic, next to National Highway 38B, and is part of the Trang An World Heritage complex.
Aerial view of Trang An boat wharf, Ninh Binh
Best Time to Visit Trang An – Bai Dinh
The ideal time to explore Trang An – Bai Dinh is in the spring, from January to March of the lunar calendar. During this time, the weather is warm and pleasant, perfect for spring travel, sightseeing, pagoda visits for good fortune, and participating in major festivals.
Notably, the Bai Dinh Pagoda festival takes place from the afternoon of the first day of Tet (Lunar New Year), opening on the sixth day of Tet and lasting until the end of the third lunar month. This is an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the traditional festival atmosphere and wish for good things in the new year.
However, this is also the peak tourist season, with a large number of visitors, which can lead to overcrowding. If you don’t mind the crowds, you can still visit Bai Dinh Pagoda at other times of the year. It’s advisable to avoid the summer (June to September) due to hot weather, or the rainy season (July to September) as high water levels can flood the caves.
Tourists taking a boat tour in Trang An during spring
Transportation to Trang An – Bai Dinh
From Hanoi, you can travel to Ninh Binh by various means:
- Bus: Buses to Ninh Binh depart from Giap Bat and My Dinh bus stations approximately every 20 minutes. Ticket prices range from 70,000 – 80,000 VND per person.
- Train: You can take a train from Hanoi station to Ninh Binh station.
- Motorbike: For a more adventurous and cost-effective option, you can ride a motorbike along National Highway 1A. The journey is about 110km and takes approximately 2-3 hours. Be cautious when driving in rainy conditions as some road sections can be slippery.
- Private Car: The most convenient and proactive option is to drive a private car along the Phap Van – Cau Gie – Ninh Binh expressway.
Upon reaching Ninh Binh city, you can take a bus, taxi, or motorbike taxi to Bai Dinh Pagoda (12km away) and Trang An (7km away).
Road to Trang An with green rice fields
Trang An – Bai Dinh Entrance Fees
- Bai Dinh Pagoda:
- Electric car ticket: 30,000 VND/one way.
- Motorbike parking fee: 10,000 VND.
- Bao Thap (Stupa) entrance fee: 50,000 VND/person/visit.
- Trang An:
- Boat tour ticket: 150,000 VND/person (usually in groups of 4-5 people per boat).
Note that during peak season, be aware of pickpocketing and theft at ticket counters and boat wharves.
Tourists buying tickets to visit Trang An
Exploring Trang An Scenic Area – “Ha Long Bay on Land”
Trang An is an eco-tourism area within the Trang An World Heritage complex, recognized as a special national monument by the Vietnamese government and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014. It is dubbed “Ha Long Bay on Land” for its poetic beauty of mountains and waters, where clouds and sky blend harmoniously.
The system of limestone mountains and diverse natural caves creates magnificent rocky valleys. A unique feature of Trang An is that the lakes are connected by water caves of varying lengths, forming a closed exploration journey.
Tourists boating on Sao Khe River, weaving through caves in Trang An
In Trang An, visitors will take a boat trip along the Mao Khe stream, exploring magical caves such as Dia Linh Cave, Toi Cave (Dark Cave), Sang Cave (Bright Cave), Nau Ruou Cave (Wine Brewing Cave), Phu Khong, and more. Each cave has its own beauty, associated with different legends.
- Den Trinh ( trình Temple): An ancient and sacred thousand-year-old temple, the first stop on the Trang An exploration journey.
- Den Tran (Trần Temple): An ancient temple dedicated to Saint Quy Minh Dai Vuong, a general from the Hung King era.
- Phu Khong (Phủ Khống): A place to worship Dinh Cong Tiet Che, an official from the Dinh Dynasty.
Boat passing through a cave in Trang An
Currently, the Trang An boat tour lasts about 3 hours, starting from the central reception area, passing through 12 caves and 3 temples.
A corner of Trang An with temples, mountains, and rivers
Boat tour in Trang An
Den Trinh ( trình Temple) in Trang An
Nau Ruou Cave (Wine Brewing Cave) with a deep and cool well
Exploring Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh – Home to Many Vietnamese Records
Bai Dinh Pagoda is a large pagoda complex with magnificent architecture, covering an area of 539 hectares, including the ancient pagoda area and the new pagoda area. The main điện (palace) pagoda roof has 3 tiers and 12 curved roofs in the shape of đao (swords), covered with traditional mũi hài (pointed hat) tiles.
The pagoda grounds are extremely serene and airy, an ideal place for monks, nuns, and Buddhists to worship and practice.
Aerial view of Bai Dinh Pagoda
In the ancient Bai Dinh area, you can visit Sang Cave (Bright Cave), Toi Cave (Dark Cave), Nguyen Temple, and Cao Son Temple.
Sang Cave (Bright Cave) and Toi Cave (Dark Cave)
Toi Cave (Dark Cave) with lighting system creating a magical scene
Nguyen Temple
Nguyen Temple is an architectural item belonging to the Bai Dinh Pagoda complex, built in a mountain-backed, river-facing posture. The temple is dedicated to Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong, a famous physician and revered as the ancestor of copper casting.
Nguyen Temple with tiền nhất, hậu công architecture
Ngoc Well (Jade Well)
Legend has it that this is where Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong drew water to brew medicine for the king and the people. Ngoc Well is recognized as the largest pagoda well in Vietnam.
Ngoc Well (Jade Well) with blue water in Bai Dinh Pagoda grounds
The new Bai Dinh area holds many national and regional records for you to explore:
- Largest gold-plated bronze Buddha statue in Asia.
- Longest Arhat corridor in Asia.
- Largest bronze bell in Vietnam.
- Pagoda with the largest area in Vietnam.
- Most Arhat statues in Vietnam.
- Most Bodhi trees in Vietnam.
- Largest jade well in Vietnam.
Giant Maitreya Buddha Statue
Largest bronze Maitreya Buddha statue in Vietnam
Largest Shakyamuni Buddha Statue in Asia
Largest bronze Shakyamuni Buddha statue in Southeast Asia
Largest Bronze Bell in Vietnam
Dai Hong Chung (Great Hong Chung Bell) – the largest bell in Vietnam at Bai Dinh Pagoda
Three Buddha Statues in Tam The Palace
Tam The Buddha (Three Buddhas of the Three Eras) – largest gold-plated bronze statues in Vietnam
Accommodation in Trang An – Bai Dinh
Right in the Trang An tourist area, there are many guesthouses and hotels for you to choose from, convenient for traveling. Some suggestions:
- Thien Truong Guesthouse
- Hoa Lu Hotel
- Thuy Anh Hotel
- Non Nuoc Hotel
- Trang An Hotel
Or you can go to Ninh Binh city to book a hotel and explore Ninh Binh at night. It is recommended to book rooms in advance, especially during peak season, to avoid room shortages and price gouging.
Hotel near Trang An with beautiful view
Must-Try Ninh Binh Specialties When Traveling to Trang An – Bai Dinh
When you come to Ninh Binh, don’t miss the following famous specialties:
- Com chay (Crispy rice crust): Ninh Binh’s signature specialty dish.
- Thit de nui (Mountain goat meat): Goat meat is processed into many attractive dishes such as tái dê (rare goat), dê nướng (grilled goat), nem dê (goat spring rolls), etc.
Com chay Ninh Binh (Ninh Binh Crispy rice crust) – the most famous dish you must try
Thit de nui Ninh Binh (Ninh Binh Mountain goat meat) – famous for its deliciousness
- Xoi trung kien (Ant egg sticky rice): A unique sticky rice dish with fatty young ant eggs.
Xoi trung kien (Ant egg sticky rice) – a unique dish of Ninh Binh
- Banh da ca ro (Rice cracker with perch soup): A rustic dish with a countryside flavor.
Banh da ca ro Ninh Binh (Ninh Binh Rice cracker with perch soup) – a delicious rustic dish
- Goi ca nhech (Nhech fish salad): A special salad with fresh and delicious nhech fish.
Goi ca nhech (Nhech fish salad) – a specialty dish from Kim Son coastal area
- Chim Trang An (Trang An bird dishes): Dishes made from wild birds with a special natural flavor.
Chim Trang An (Trang An bird dishes) – unique dishes made from wild birds
- Oc nui (Mountain snails): A type of snail only available in the rainy season, processed into many delicious dishes such as steamed with ginger, stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, etc.
Oc nui Ninh Binh (Ninh Binh Mountain snails) – specialty only available in the rainy season
Things to Note When Visiting Bai Dinh Trang An
- Wear comfortable sports shoes as you will have to climb mountains and pagodas a lot.
- Choose polite clothes when entering the pagoda, avoid wearing short skirts or revealing outfits.
- Ask for prices carefully before eating, drinking, and buying souvenirs.
- Do not put money on Buddha statues.
- Do not buy goods from persistent and pushy vendors.
Tourists visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda in polite attire
Tourists should bring umbrellas as the weather may be drizzly
Ninh Binh Tourist Destinations Near Bai Dinh Trang An
If you have time, you should visit other famous tourist destinations near Trang An – Bai Dinh:
- Tam Coc – Bich Dong: “The second most beautiful cave in Vietnam” with poetic sơn thủy (mountain and water) beauty.
Tam Coc – Bich Dong with golden rice paddies
- Hoa Lu Ancient Capital: The capital of Vietnam during the Dinh and Le dynasties.
- Phat Diem Cathedral: “The Catholic Capital” of Vietnam with unique architecture.
Phat Diem Stone Cathedral with unique architecture
- Cuc Phuong National Park: A biodiversity conservation area.
- Van Long Nature Reserve: Home to the rare white-rumped langur.
- Kenh Ga Hot Spring: An ideal relaxing spot with natural mineral water.
Trang An – Bai Dinh is a must-visit destination when traveling to Ninh Binh. Hope the above shared experiences will help you have a fun and memorable trip!