Mountains and Caves

With an area of 3,500ha, Van Long is the largest wetland natural reserve in Red River Delta and is considered as “Waveless bay” with tranquil water surface like a giant mirror reflecting spectacular natural sceneries. Here, the boats will take visitors around the lagoon to contemplate limestone mountains named according their shapes as Meo Cao (Cat), Mam Xoi (Glutinous Rice Tray), Hom Sach (Book Trunk), Da Ban (Rook Table), Nghien (Slab), Co Tien (Fairy)… There are 32 beautiful and specific caves inside these limestone mountains, such as Bong, Rua, Chanh, Doi…, of which Ca Cave in Hoang Quyen Mountain Range is the most impressive. The cave is 250m long, 8m high, 10m wide with half floating structure and has many stalactites of various forms.

Going deeper into the lagoon, the riotousness of modern life is gradually replaced by the sounds of oar, fishes, amphibians, hubbub grass in the wind. Under clear water, mosses and algae winding intermittently according to waves make a charming and lively natural picture.

Flora and Fauna

Van Long is home to 39 species of mammals, 72 species of birds, 32 species of reptiles and amphibians, 44 species of fishes, 39 aquatic species and 79 species of insects, many of which are listed in Viet Nam Red Book such as cobra, chamois, iguana… Especially, Van Long has been by Viet Nam Record Book Centre as “The place owns the largest number of delacour’s langur (trachypithecus delacouri) with 100 individuals in danger of extinction. In the dry season (from November to April), Van Long is the wintering place of numerous birds from the North as Bonelli eagle, gray heron, white stork… It is also home to 457 species of high plants and 35 species of aquatic plants, 8 species of which are listed in Viet Nam Red Book, including chukrasia tabularis, drynaria fortunei, melientha suavis, strychnos nux-vomica, dalbergia cochinchinensis.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital – Trang An Grottoes – Bich Dong Pagoda – Van Long Wetland 2 Days 1 Night

Source: vietnam-tourism

Along with its beautiful natural scenery, Van Long Wetland Natural Reverse also has many special cultural relics such as Hong Nuong Temple, Mau Temple, Thung La Temple, Thanh Son Pagoda, Dich Long Pagoda…

Put into operation for tourism since 1998, Van Long Wetland Natural Reverse is a specific ecotourism site attracting domestic and international visitors.

Charming natural landscape of Van Long Wetland Natural Reserve
Nguyen Thanh Van

Tam Coc – Bich Dong is one of the most attractive destinations in Ninh Binh. The area is a perfect combination of charming rivers, historical caves and the aptitude of local people. Tam Coc-Bich Dong is also known as “A terrestrial Halong Bay” or “South second nicest grotto”. Along with other attractions in Ninh Binh such as Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Cuc Phuong National Park, Tam Coc-Bich Dong should be the highlight in your Ninh Binh tour.

Tam Coc Bich Dong

Located in Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh Province, Tam Coc-Bich Dong is an off-center area as it is about 25km away from Ninh Binh City. In order to reach this destination, you have to drive about 90km south of Hanoi along 1A Highway to Ninh Binh City, and then continue to drive around 25km. There are several entrance gates for tourists including Tam Coc, Co Vien, Thung Nang, Thung Nham, Bich Dong Pagoda, and Mua Cave.

Geography & Attractions of Tam Coc Bich Dong

Tam Coc (or Three Caves in English) is a combination of three different caves: Ca Cave, Hai Cave and Ba Cave. All the caves are situating along with by Ngo Dong River, which flows through the mountains and forms the cave inside. Ca Cave has a length of 127m, crashing through a huge mountain with a 20-meter wide entrance gate. Inside the cave is a perfect integration of cool temperature and alluring stalactites suspending from the above in different sizes and shapes. 1km far away from Ca Cave is Hai Cave. This cave retains a 60-meter length with a variety of striking stalactites. On the other hand, Ba Cave is much shorter than the first two, which is just about 50-meter long and the roof is lower as well. Tourists may take about 2 or 3 hours in order to visit all the stunning caves as well as take the wonderful photos of this attraction. In the season of rice, sailing along the river, watching the farmers collecting rice from the fields and taking some wonderful photos of the yellow paddy fields are absolutely worth your visit.

Boat trip along the scenic area of Tam Coc

In your Ninh Binh tour, besides Tam Coc, Bich Dong Pagoda is also a place of interest that you should not miss. The Pagoda is situated 2km away from Tam Coc Wharf. According to the epigraphy and history, the pagoda was built under the reign of Le Dynasty. It was originally named Bich Son (Green Grotto) before changing its name in the 18th century. The temple and its surrounding scenery were so beautiful and magnificent that it was dubbed “South second nicest grottoes” in 1773 by Trinh Sam King. The whole pagoda was built according to “Tam Hoa” structure. Ha Pagoda (Lower Pagoda) is located on the foothills, which characterized the Oriental style of the trusses, crossbeams and ironwood spars. Trung Pagoda (Middle Pagoda) represents a unique structure with half of it is opencast and the rest affixes with the limestone mountain. Climbing up for 40 steps, tourists can approach Thuong (Upper Pagoda) where venerates Guan Yin Buddha. From the campus of Bich Dong, you could admire an extraordinary landscape of Ninh Binh from a bird’s eyes view.

Tam Coc in harvest days

Tam Coc-Bich Dong is not just attractive for its astonishing landscape, the region is also a masterpiece made by human. Its cultural values, historical relics, exotic caves, and winding rivers have made Tam Coc-Bich Dong an appealing tourist destination in Ninh Binh.

Source: vietvisiontravel.com

Tam Coc Bich Dong
Nguyen Thanh Van

Van Long Nature Reserve area belongs to Ninh Binh province and is located around 80 kilometers from Hanoi city, which is also an extrememly interesting spot for one-day trip. If you are planning to travel to this beautiful place, our below experience and instructions for fully exploring Van Long should not be missed

Introduce about Van Long Nature Reserve:

Van Long is the largest waterlogged nature reserve of Northern Delta, belonging to Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh. It has very diversified and unique ecological system and is a favourite residence of many types of fauna, consiting of over 40 kinds of delacours’s langur.

Particularly, Van Long water land also owns very picturesque, simple but very peaceful landscape.  Apart from this, you can also explore rolling mountains and wonderful caves here.

What’s The Best Time for visiting Van Long

What is the most ideal time for visiting Van Long to have great trip? It depends on the speed of rowing boats, which is normally from 1 to 1.5 hour in average that you can explore all of this amazing spot.

You should visit Van long in afternoon if you would like to enjoy a peace of sunset on van long. And you will see a lot of bird on that time

How to travel to Van Long Nature Reserve

This is our instruction to Van Long: From Hanoi you can catch a coach from Giap Bat station or by train at Hanoi garage, which takes you around 2 hours.

What are attractive things about Van Long?

Van Long water land is not a natural one. It is formed by a dike at the left bank of Day river against floods, which turns Van Long into a very large waterlogged area with stunning caves and stone islands.

After going through mountains, the next destination is Ca cave, which is half afloat and half sank and 250 meters in length and 8 meters in height. To watch flying langurs and storks, you should visit in the afternoon at around 3:30 pm to 4:30pm

On the way to Van Long, you will have the opportunity to admire amazing limestone mountains with differently strange shapes like: scratching cat, bookcase, raspberry, etc..

If you intend to take photographs, you can discuss with the rower in advance so that they can take you to all intresting spots at Van Long (taking you around 2 hours)

Tips for visiting to Van Long Nature Reserve

• You should carry your own hat because of the boiling weather in the summer
• You should go on a boat with 3 vistors, more than this is not safe
• You should also show your pleasant attitude to boatmen because they will take you to all places of Van Long water land. Besides, you can also give a tip of around 40.000 VND to 50.000 VND to them.

TRAVEL NINH BINH: VAN LONG NATURE RESERVE IN 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT WITH RUBICON TOURS:

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital – Trang An Grottoes – Bich Dong Pagoda – Van Long Wetland 2 Days 1 Night

Van Long Nature Reserve In Ninh Binh|Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van