Trang An Landscape Complex – UNESCO Wonder In Ninh Binh

Trang An Vietnam Introduction

Trang An Landscape Complex has been the pride of Ninh Binh and Vietnam for a long time thanks to its one-of-a-kind beauty. It features outstanding geographical and cultural values, which earned its recognition as the only mixed World Heritage Site in Southeast Asia.

Indeed, visitors will be overwhelmed by the monumental natural landscape that Trang An Ninh Binh brings to the table. Its great limestone mountains, mysterious cave systems, remarkable biodiversity, and numerous historical sites make Trang An Eco-tourism Complex rewarding to anyone.

Unlike busy cities or lively beaches, it nestles in the tranquility and majesty of mountains and forests. If you’re interested in this distinguished venue and curious about what makes it special, let’s join Hanoi Locals Travel via the following travel blog.

Where Is Trang An Landscape Complex?

Trang An Landscape Complex is a part of Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. It’s 8 kilometers from Ninh Binh city center and 100 kilometers from Hanoi.

It settles amidst special-use forests, valleys, winding rivers, and so on, which creates an impressive scenery to watch. Therefore, its location attracts millions of visitors every year. Its beauty is also depicted as “Halong Bay on land.”

Why not embrace Trang An’s beauty with your own eyes? Several intriguing Ninh Binh tours are available for you to go on:

• Hoa Lu – Mua Cave – Tam Coc Tour – 99 USD/pax
• Ninh Binh Private Tour 2 Days
• Ninh Binh Tour From Hanoi 2 Days 1 Night

How To Get To Trang An Complex Ninh Binh?

There are many ways to get to Trang An Landscape Complex, depending on where you’re at. Normally, Trang An welcomes visitors coming from Hanoi, which is 100 kilometers away. In general, however, shuttle coaches, trains, and private vehicles are the most popular. By the way, there have been no airport facilities in Ninh Binh yet.

By Private Vehicle

Travelers can travel to Ninh Binh and Trang An by motorbike or private car. A private transfer brings great flexibility and convenience to your trip. If you go from Hanoi, it will take around 1.5-2 hours.

While motorcycle trips require lots of effort and skills, hiring a private car is much easier and more comfortable. Refer to the following travel options for more:

• Hanoi To Ninh Binh Private Car – 68 USD/sedan
• Halong Bay To Ninh Binh Private Car – 80 USD/sedan
• Sapa To Ninh Binh Private Car – 192 USD/sedan
• Hai Phong To Ninh Binh Private Car – 64 USD/sedan

By Shuttle Coach

Various coach/bus stations are available in Hanoi for visitors who want to visit Ninh Binh. Ticket prices range from 80,000 to 350,000 VND per person, one way (3.5-15 USD). We recommend bus agencies such as Hoang Long, Hung Thanh, or Kumho Viet Thanh.

Although it cannot provide door-to-door transfers like a private car or a motorcycle, there are shuttle bus trips to Trang An from Ninh Binh City.

By Train

Otherwise, you can choose a train (number SE3, SE5, SE7, SE9, or SE19) from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. It will start from Hanoi Railway Station to Ninh Binh Railway Station, where you can catch a bus or taxi to Trang An Scenic Complex. It will take around 2.5-3 hours.

After visiting the Trang An Complex in Ninh Binh, you might want to travel to other destinations in Vietnam by car, such as:

• Ninh Binh To Hanoi Private Car – 60 USD/sedan
• Ninh Binh To Phong Nha Private Car – 213 USD/sedan
• Ninh Binh To Ha Giang Limousine – 264 USD/limousine
• Ninh Binh To Dong Hoi Limousine – 255 USD/limousine

Trang An Entrance Fees

An entrance ticket to Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex costs 250,000 VND/person above 1.3 meters. It costs 120,000 VND for children from 1–1.3 meters. Children under 1 meter are free to visit.

You can buy tickets directly at the box office or online via the official website at https://muave.disantrangan.vn/. They sell tickets from Monday to Friday (06:30–17:00) and on weekends (06:00–17:00).

Moreover, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex includes numerous interesting attractions to discover. Refer to the entrance fees to tourist attractions in Trang An as follows:

Best Time To Visit Trang An Complex

Trang An Landscape Complex Ninh Binh opening hours:

• In the summer: 06:00–16:45
• In the winter: 07:00–16:30
• During Tet and festivals: 06:00–16:45

The best time to visit Trang An is from February to April when it’s cool, slightly sunny, and less rainy. Moreover, lots of intriguing festivities take place during this time, creating a vibrant atmosphere for tourists.

Besides the spring, other seasons in Trang An show their own beauty. Therefore, each period gives visitors something to enjoy. In particular:

• Summers (from May to August) have golden, ripe paddy fields and lotus lakes in full bloom.
• Autumns (from September to November) are cooler and more pleasant than summers, making them suitable for sightseeing.
• Winters (from December to January) have rainy and cloudy days, creating mysterious and solemn vibes.

What Is Special About Trang An Ninh Binh?

Among many charms, Trang An Landscape Complex strikes people as a colossal land of 6,172 hectares. It boasts abundant topography of limestone mountains, forests, grottoes, lagoons, rivers, etc.

More interestingly, its natural features are all great and majestic. For instance, its mountains are up to 250 million years old, and 31 lagoons are connected to 48 caves. Prominent attractions are Mua Cave and Tam Coc–Bich Dong. Everything makes up an incredible landscape for visitors to admire.

Apart from the geological values, Trang An Vietnam bears a great cultural value, with a wide range of relics preserved in the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital area. It has meaningful heritage pagodas, temples, shrines, and various traditional festivities.

With both cultural and natural values, in 2014, UNESCO recognized Trang An Landscape Complex Vietnam as the first mixed cultural and natural World Heritage site in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Main Attractions Of Trang An Landscape Complex

Tam Coc – Bich Dong

Tam Coc–Bich Dong is one of the core areas of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. It boasts an impressive system of 20 tourist attractions and a picturesque natural scenery. Most importantly, its mysterious caves and time-honored mountain ranges always win vacationers’ hearts.

When visiting this venue, you should hire a boat to tour through the Three Caves and extensive paddy fields. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to hire a bike and ride to Thai Vi Temple, Bich Dong Pagoda, and Thien Huong Cave.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

As a core area, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital gained Trang An a reputation as a World Heritage Site. It’s a historic venue closely related to the first feudal government in Vietnam, Dai Co Viet, established by Dinh Tien Hoang Emperor in 968.

With a life span of more than 1000 years, it features tons of priceless structures, such as tombs, pagodas, temples, palaces, and so on. Additionally, its location amidst layers of mountains, lakes, and lagoons emanates the true serenity and solemnity of an ancient imperial capital.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda is one of the greatest pagoda complexes in Vietnam, with several significant records. Over a thousand years, its impressive structures have remained intact, such as the longest Arhat corridor in Asia, the Lady Buddha Shrine, the Bell Tower, the Three-door Gate, etc.

In addition, its special location on the mountainside and amidst rivers creates an unfathomable and serene atmosphere. More interestingly, Bai Dinh Pagoda is a celebration venue for the most intriguing festivals in the Trang An Landscape Complex.

Mua Cave Ecolodge

Mua Cave started coming into fashion thanks to its wild, poetic, and majestic setting. Set in Ngoa Long Mountain, or Mua Mountain, this tourist attraction gives visitors a real experience of Trang An Ninh Binh’s nature.

Indeed, to conquer it, travelers will climb up a staircase of 486 steps to the mountaintop. Once you reach the peak, you can embrace a magnificent panorama of Ninh Binh, especially the Tam Coc-Bich Dong area.

Trang An Grottoes

As mentioned, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex features a distinguished topography, especially its cave system. Some prominent grottoes and caves are:

• Dia Linh Cave: It’s 1500 meters long and has gorgeous stalactites.
• Nau Ruou Cave: It features 10-meter-deep underground water and hundreds of distilled wine jars.
• Boi Cave: Pre-historic people’s traces have been discovered there.
• Ba Giot Cave: It’s famous for colorful, wet stalagmites and stalactites.
• Dark and Light Caves: Dark Cave and Light Cave are dark and equipped with lights, but Light Cave reveals light at the end.
• Khong Cave: It is 70 meters long and was once the military base, depot, and weapon factory during the war.
• Thien Ha Cave System: Its name “Thien Ha” means galaxy, which evokes its sparkling rock formations inside it.

Hanh Cung Vu Lam

In the past, Hanh Cung Vu Lam was the military base during the Tran Dynasty (1225–1400). Nowadays, it turns out to be an iconic part of the Trang An Landscape Complex, with numerous relics and natural sights.

Indeed, nestled deeply amidst Trang An’s overwhelming environment, it brings visitors a connection to nature’s pure beauty. To explore this area, you will catch a boat to traverse through the natural scenes and heritage sites imbued with national history.

Trang An Boat Tour

Trang An mainly features winding rivers and lakes; thus, boat tours and kayak activities have become popular among visitors. It allows holidaymakers to seize the scenery from different angles.

Normally, the boat fee is included in the entrance price (250,000 VND per person). But if you want to visit other places by boat, check the Trang An departure boat ticket prices as follows:

In addition, Trang An kayak prices are:

What To Do In Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex

Joining A Trang An Boat Tour

Travelers to Trang An Scenic Complex must take a boat trip around rivers and lakes to do sightseeing and admire all the beauty of its landscapes. Along the boat tour, you can take in striking caves, valleys, streams, lakes, limestone mountains, historical structures, and unique architecture.

Visiting Trang An Cave Complex

Trang An Ninh Binh has tons of imposing caves and grottoes, such as Nau Ruou Cave, Dark-Light Caves, Sinh Cave, Si Cave, Ba Giot Cave, etc. Visitors can tour around several caves, get immersed in their beauty, and discover the underlying local history and culture behind them.

Trekking To Mua Mountain

Mua Mountain, or Ngoa Long Mountain, is situated 500 meters above the sea, which makes it a fashionable venue for tourists to Trang An, especially trekking enthusiasts. After hiking nearly 500 meters up to the top, visitors can grab a complete panorama of Ninh Binh, particularly the heavenly Tam Coc-Bich Dong.

Admiring Spiritual Sites

As a World Culture Heritage Site, the Trang An Complex boasts numerous historic sites, especially spiritual venues like pagodas, temples, and shrines. Their unique structures captivate many visitors who care about local culture, religion, and history.

You should drop by Dinh Tien Hoang Temple, Le Dai Hanh Temple, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Golden Pagoda (Vang Pagoda), and so on.

Where To Stay In Trang An

Hotels In Ninh Binh City

Trang An Landscape Complex is only 7 kilometers from Ninh Binh City, which will take 15-20 minutes to travel. Therefore, coming back to downtown for accommodation is a nice choice.

There are more accommodation options, from luxury hotels to decent motels, in the city. Thereby, it’s easier for you to find a suitable place for your needs. We recommend Lalita Boutique Hotel & Spa Ninh Binh, Ninh Binh Hidden Charm, Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh, and the Vancouver Hotel Ninh Binh.

Trang An Homestays

If you want to wake up right at Trang An and enjoy its refreshing nature all along the trip, you will love to book homestays near or within the Trang An Complex. We suggest Hang Mua Ecolodge, Trang An Eco Homestay, Central Homestay, Trang An Lotus Lake Homestay, Trang An Homestay River View, and Quoc Khanh Bamboo Homestay.

What To Eat When Visiting Trang An

Local food might be an important part of your visit to Trang An. Thus, when visiting Trang An, you probably cannot miss out on the specialties of Ninh Binh. The best food recommendations are:

• Goat meat: Mountain goats develop well in Ninh Binh thanks to its mountainous terrain. Ninh Binh goat meat is less fat and firm, which creates various delicious dishes.
• Scorched rice: It’s a simple but mouth-catching dish made from rice grown in abundant paddy fields in Ninh Binh.
• Mountain snails: Snail dishes in Ninh Binh are delicious and special, as these snails live deep in caves and only appear from April to August.

Moreover, if you want to buy souvenirs in Trang An, we suggest hand-made items such as sedge bags, pots, slippers, etc. Additionally, scorched rice and Kim Son sticky rice wine are favorite souvenirs among visitors.

Travel Notes

• You will be outdoors a lot when visiting Trang An, so you should apply sunscreen and wear hats to avoid intense heat.
• You should put on comfortable, neat clothes and sports shoes to move around more easily.
• It’s a good idea to bring bottled water with you during the visit.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for prices before you buy souvenirs or food. It helps you avoid overpricing.

Conclusion

With hidden charms, Trang An Landscape Complex is likened to a “muse of Ninh Binh.” Its gorgeous karst mountains, intriguing cave system, attractive rivers, and colossal treasure trove of ancient structures make it an incomparable gem of Ninh Binh and Vietnam.

Via this travel blog, we hope that you find good details and advice for your trip to Vietnam Trang An. Hanoi Locals Travel wishes you an unforgettable trip. Thanks for reading.