Halong Bay Vietnam 越南下龙湾 & Ninh Binh Vietnam 越南宁平
Halong Bay Vietnam 越南下龙湾
A UNESCO World Heritage Site twice recognized (1994 & 2000), Ha Long Bay’s 1,600+ limestone karsts rise like petrified dragons from jade-green waters, creating Earth’s most surreal seascape. Legend says these islands were formed by a celestial dragon plunging into the Gulf of Tonkin—a myth echoed in the bay’s name, “Where the Dragon Descends.” Cruise aboard traditional wooden junks past floating fishing villages where children row bamboo boats to school, explore hidden lagoons via kayak, or witness Sung Sot Cave’s cathedral-like chambers adorned with 200-million-year-old stalactites. At dawn, watch mist transform the karsts into ghostly ink paintings; by night, squid-fishing under starry skies with local crews. The bay’s newest marvel is the Quang Ninh Museum’s titanium-clad architecture mirroring coal’s prismatic glow—a tribute to the region’s mining history. From luxury cruises with cooking classes to adventurous climbs on Cat Ba Island’s jungle-clad cliffs, Ha Long Bay isn’t just a destination—it’s a dialogue between myth and nature that leaves travelers spellbound.
两度入选联合国教科文组织世界遗产（1994年与2000年）的下龙湾，1600余座石灰岩岛屿如化龙的脊背从祖母绿海面耸立，造就了地球最奇幻的海上峰林。传说这些岛屿是神龙入海时龙鳞所化，海湾因此得名”龙降之地”。乘仿古红木帆船穿越渔村，看孩童划竹筏上学；划皮艇探秘隐藏潟湖，或在惊讶洞200万年历史的钟乳石穹顶下惊叹。黎明薄雾将群岛幻化成水墨画卷，入夜则可随渔民星空下钓鱿鱼。新建的广宁博物馆以钛合金外墙映射煤矿晶光，致敬地区矿业历史。从带烹饪课的豪华邮轮到吉婆岛雨林攀岩，下龙湾不仅是一处景点，更是自然与神话的对话——让每个到访者成为史诗的注脚。
11D10N Northern Vietnam Tour Part 2
🌊 Days 5-6: Halong Bay – A Rain-Soaked Paradise
🚢 Our Halong Bay Cruise Experience
Just 150km from Hanoi, this UNESCO site took our breath away! We splurged on an overnight cruise, though post-typhoon rains robbed us of the legendary sunset. Yet the mist-cloaked limestone islands created an ethereal ink-wash painting effect!
Must-Do Activities:
- 🚤 Luon Cave Exploration: Gliding through water caves in traditional wooden boats, amazed by the foot-paddling skills of local rowers
- 🏝️ Ti Top Island Summit: Climbed 400 steps for panoramic views of emerald waters
- 🕳️ Surprise Cave Discovery: Vietnam’s largest cave with dreamlike stalactites under magical lighting
Cruise Highlights:
🛏️ Oceanview cabin with jacuzzi
🍤 Seafood BBQ dinner on deck
🎣 Night squid fishing (we failed hilariously!)
🏛️ Back to Hanoi’s Cultural Treasures
Our Grab driver’s wrong turn led us to a hidden gem – a vintage café behind the Temple of Literature. Witnessed the solemn changing of guards at Ba Dinh Square, and saw the iconic One-Pillar Pagoda glow in sunset hues. Dinner at Phở Cuốn 31 served the fried Rice Noodles – unforgettable!
🌾 Days 7-8: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay on Land
🚣 Authentic Vietnamese Countryside
We swapped Halong’s commercialism for Ninh Binh’s rustic charm. Local women rowed bamboo boats with their feet through Tam Coc’s waterways, where rice fields met towering karsts and white egrets skimmed the water.
Unmissable Experiences:
- 🚣 Trang An Eco-Tour: 2-hour boat ride through 9 natural caves
- ⛰️ Hang Mua Peak: 500-step climb rewarded with 360° countryside views
- 🏯 Hoa Lu Ancient Capital: 10th-century ruins whispering Dinh Dynasty secrets
💡 Pro Tips:
- Take early morning boat tours to beat crowds and heat
- Keep small VND notes to tip foot-rowers
- Don’t miss the giant bronze Buddha at Bai Dinh Temple
🏛️ Day 9 – History & Modern Marvels
(Story continues…)
11天10夜越南北部之旅第二部分
🌊 5-6天：雨雾中的下龙湾仙境
🇬🇧 Halong Bay – A Mystical Rainy Escape
下龙湾这处世界遗产距离河内仅2.5小时车程，我们选择了豪华游轮过夜行程。虽然台风过后的阴雨让我们错过了传说中的海上日落，但云雾缭绕的石灰岩群岛却呈现出水墨画般的意境！
亮点体验：
- 🚤 光明洞探险：乘传统木船穿越水洞，船夫用脚划桨的绝技令人惊叹
- 🏝️ 英雄岛登顶：攀爬400级台阶，俯瞰翡翠色海湾全景
- 🕳️ 惊喜洞探秘：越南最大溶洞内的钟乳石在灯光下如梦似幻
游轮体验：
🛏️ 海景房带按摩浴缸
🍤 甲板海鲜烧烤晚宴
🎣 夜间钓鱿鱼活动（虽然我们一无所获）
回到河内的文化之旅
Grab司机迷路的小插曲让我们意外发现了文庙后巷的复古咖啡馆。巴亭广场的卫兵换岗仪式庄严隆重，独柱寺的莲花造型在夕阳下格外神圣。晚餐在Phở Cuốn 31品尝的炸河粉，至今难忘！
🌾 7-8天：宁平 – 陆上下龙湾的慢生活
🇬🇧 Ninh Binh – Where Time Stands Still
放弃商业化浓厚的下龙湾第二天行程，我们转向更原生态的宁平。乘坐当地农妇用脚划的竹船，穿梭在三谷碧洞的水道中，两岸稻浪翻滚，白鹭掠过水面。
必体验：
- 🚣 长安生态区：2小时船程穿越9个天然洞穴
- ⛰️ 卧龙山登顶：500级台阶的挑战换来360度田园全景
- 🏯 华闾古都：10世纪丁朝皇城的断壁残垣诉说历史
🇨🇳 旅行小贴士
- 宁平游船选择清晨时段，避开人潮和烈日
- 准备小额越南盾犒赏脚划船的船娘
- 白亭寺的青铜大佛值得专程拜访
🏛️ 第9天 – 穿越千年的旅程
(故事待续…)
🚤 Luon Cave 卢昂洞
Luon Cave in Halong Bay is a mesmerizing natural tunnel carved through a limestone mountain, accessible only by small boats or kayaks during low tide. This 60-meter-long aquatic grotto reveals an emerald lagoon encircled by vertical cliffs teeming with monkey colonies and rare orchids. Visitors glide past ancient stalactites dripping from the cave ceiling into jade-green waters inhabited by darting fish. The surreal tranquility inside contrasts with the bay’s open waters, creating a photogenic sanctuary where sunlight filters through the archway onto limestone walls covered in prehistoric ferns. Best visited April-October when water levels permit passage, this ecological wonder showcases Halong Bay’s geological magic at its most intimate scale.
下龙湾的卢昂洞是一个仅能在退潮时乘小船或皮划艇进入的石灰岩水洞奇观。60米长的隧道通向被垂直悬崖环抱的翡翠色泻湖，岩壁上栖息着猴群与珍稀兰花。当船桨划过洞顶垂落的古老钟乳石，惊起碧水中游鱼阵阵。与外海的壮阔截然不同，这个阳光透过拱门洒满蕨类岩壁的静谧空间，完美呈现下龙湾地质奇迹的微观之美。4-10月水位适宜时探访最佳，岩洞尽头的与世隔绝感令人恍如穿越时空。
🕳️ Surprise Cave 惊讶洞
Surprise Cave (Hang Sửng Sốt) in Halong Bay lives up to its name as the largest and most spectacular grotto in the UNESCO-listed bay, revealing three colossal chambers filled with otherworldly limestone formations. Accessed via a steep 100-step staircase, the cave’s 10,000-square-meter interior dazzles with stalactites resembling floating dragons, petrified waterfalls, and a natural “throne room” where spotlights illuminate formations dating back 2 million years. The main chamber’s 30-meter-high ceiling creates a cathedral-like atmosphere, while view openings frame panoramas of the bay’s iconic karst formations. Discovered by French explorers in 1901, this geological masterpiece shines brightest in morning light when sunbeams pierce through crevices, transforming the cavern into a golden-hued wonderland best visited October-April during dry conditions.
下龙湾的惊讶洞（Hang Sửng Sốt）作为这片世界遗产海域规模最大、最震撼的溶洞，其名不虚传地展示着三个布满奇观的地下厅堂。攀登100级台阶后，1万平方米的洞内世界豁然开朗——200万年形成的钟乳石群如腾龙悬空、化石瀑布倾泻而下，聚光灯下的天然”王座厅”更显鬼斧神工。主洞厅30米高的穹顶营造出殿堂般的庄严感，而观景口则框出下龙湾标志性的海上峰林。1901年由法国探险家发现的这座地质殿堂，在10月至次年4月旱季的晨光中最是惊艳，阳光透过岩缝将洞窟染成金色幻境。
🌄 Ti Top Island 蒂托岛
Ti Top Island in Halong Bay is a crescent-shaped paradise named after Soviet astronaut Gherman Titov’s 1962 visit, offering the bay’s most iconic panoramic viewpoint from its 400-step mountain summit. This UNESCO-recognized island combines powder-white beaches with emerald waters ideal for swimming and kayaking, while the shaded pathway to the peak passes tropical almond trees and reveals ever-expanding vistas of the karst seascape. At the top, a stone monument commemorates Titov’s historic meeting with Ho Chi Minh, alongside 360-degree views capturing about 70% of Halong Bay’s most famous islets. The western beach transforms at sunset when day-trip crowds depart, leaving serene moments to enjoy the illuminated cruise ships drifting past the limestone cliffs. With its unique blend of space-age history and natural splendor, Ti Top remains a must-visit for first-time Halong explorers between September and November when seas are calmest.
下龙湾的蒂托岛以1962年到访的苏联宇航员格尔曼·蒂托夫命名，这座新月形岛屿凭借400级台阶直达的山顶观景台成为拍摄海上桂林全景的绝佳地点。岛上粉白沙滩与翡翠海水构成天然泳池，登顶步道沿途的热带榄仁树荫间，石灰岩群岛的壮阔画卷渐次展开。山顶保留着蒂托夫与胡志明会晤的纪念碑，360度视野可囊括下龙湾70%的标志性峰林。当夕阳西沉、一日游游客散去，西侧沙滩便迎来静谧时刻，唯有灯火阑珊的游轮划过峭壁的剪影。9月至11月海面最平静时，这座融合航天历史与自然奇观的岛屿始终是初探下龙湾不可错过的经典。
Ninh Binh Vietnam 越南宁平
Dubbed “Ha Long Bay on Land,” Ninh Binh’s surreal landscape of jagged karst mountains rising from emerald rice paddies and winding rivers has enchanted travelers since the 10th century when it served as Vietnam’s first capital. Rowboats glide through the ethereal Trang An Grottoes—a UNESCO-listed maze of 31 water caves where stalactites drip like chandeliers over secret Buddhist temples, while the ancient capital Hoa Lu’s crumbling temples whisper tales of the Dinh and Le dynasties. At Tam Coc, local women row with their feet along the Ngo Dong River, passing through three natural tunnels carved by time, their golden rice fields changing hues with the seasons. The region’s spiritual crown jewel is Bai Dinh Pagoda complex, Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist sanctuary with its 500 Arhat statues and 36-ton bronze bell. Whether cycling through Van Long Wetland’s bird-filled marshes at sunset, climbing Hang Mua’s 500 steps for panoramic views, or savoring mountain goat meat with elderflower wine, Ninh Binh offers a slower, deeper Vietnam—where every limestone peak holds a legend and every bend in the river reveals poetry in motion.
素有”陆上下龙湾“美誉的宁平，自10世纪作为越南首个首都起，就以”山如碧玉簪，水作青罗带”的喀斯特地貌倾倒众生。乘小舟穿梭世界遗产”长安洞穴群“，31个水溶洞串联起隐秘佛寺，钟乳石如水晶帘幕低垂；而在古都华闾，丁朝与黎朝遗址的断壁残垣诉说着千年往事。三谷景区，农妇们用脚划船载你穿过时光雕刻的三重溶洞，两岸稻田随四季流转金黄翠绿。东南亚最大佛教圣地拜顶寺坐落于此，500尊罗汉像与36吨青铜钟震撼人心。无论是骑行日落时分的云龙湿地鸟群，攀登500级台阶的杭眉山观景台，还是品尝山羊肉佐接骨木花酒，宁平展现的是越南更悠远的一面——每座孤峰都是传说，每道河湾都是流动的唐诗。
🏯 Bai Dinh Temple Complex 拜顶寺建筑群
The Bai Dinh Temple Complex in Ninh Binh is Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist sanctuary, spanning 539 hectares with awe-inspiring architectural marvels that blend ancient Vietnamese spirituality with record-breaking modern scale. This spiritual powerhouse features the continent’s tallest 13-story bronze bell tower housing a 100-ton bell, a 500-Arhat corridor with each stone statue uniquely carved, and the gleaming Tam The Hall enshrining three 50-ton bronze Buddhas representing past, present and future. Pilgrims climb 300 stone steps flanked by dragon balustrades to reach the original 11th-century Bai Dinh Cave Pagoda hidden within the mountain, where stalactites naturally form sacred Buddha shapes. Built between 2003-2010 using traditional techniques without steel frames, the complex’s 12 gates symbolize Buddhist philosophy while its 10,000 Buddha statues shimmer across golden halls. Located 15km from Trang An, this sacred site hosts Vietnam’s grandest Vesak celebrations and offers electric buggy tours for navigating its vast devotional landscape.
宁平拜顶寺建筑群是东南亚规模最大的佛教圣地，占地539公顷的恢弘建筑将越南千年禅意与现代工程奇迹完美融合。这里矗立着亚洲最高的13层青铜钟楼（内悬百吨巨钟）、500尊神态各异的石雕罗汉长廊，以及供奉三世佛（每尊重50吨）的璀璨三圣殿。朝圣者沿300级龙雕石阶攀登，可抵达深藏山腹的11世纪原始拜顶洞寺，洞内钟乳石天然形成佛像奇观。2003-2010年间完全采用古法无钢架建造的寺庙群，以12道山门阐释佛理，万尊金佛辉映于殿阁之间。距长安生态区15公里的这片佛国净土，每年举办越南最盛大的佛诞节庆典，并提供电瓶车服务方便游览这片信仰奇迹。
🚣 Trang An Landscape Complex 长安生态区
Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh, Vietnam’s only UNESCO-listed mixed World Heritage site, is a mystical realm where emerald rivers thread through 30,000 hectares of towering limestone karsts, creating a “terrestrial Halong Bay” navigated by traditional rowboats through a chain of 48 interconnected caves and grottoes. This sacred geography shelters ancient temples like the 10th-century Trinh Temple perched on cliffs, while archaeological sites reveal 30,000-year-old traces of early humans. The 3-hour boat journey passes submerged forests where goats graze on vertical cliffs, Buddhist shrines hidden in caverns, and the filming locations of Kong: Skull Island, with each water cave revealing new wonders—from the 1,000-meter-long Dark Cave’s echoing chambers to the light-dappled stalactites of Sang Cave. Unlike the touristy Tam Coc, Trang An’s pristine ecosystem sustains rare langurs and migratory birds, best appreciated in June’s lotus season when pink blooms carpet the waterways or autumn’s golden rice harvest framing the karst cathedrals.
宁平长安生态区作为越南唯一的世界文化与自然双遗产，3万公顷的秘境中翡翠河流通联48座溶洞，构筑出”陆上下龙湾“的奇幻地貌。乘传统木舟开启3小时航程，途经10世纪丁朝的悬崖祠庙、史前人类遗迹，以及《金刚：骷髅岛》取景地——既有千米幽深的”暗洞”回响神秘，也有”光洞”里钟乳石折射粼粼波光。与商业化的三谷不同，长安保存着原始生态系统：峭壁上的野山羊群、洞穴佛龛与濒危叶猴共处，六月荷花铺满水面或秋收时金色稻浪环抱峰林的景象最是震撼。这里的地质圣境不仅承载着越南首个独立王朝的记忆，更因30万年前古人类活动痕迹而成为文明与自然的双重圣地。
🏰 Hoa Lư Ancient Capital 华闾古都
Hoa Lư Ancient Capital in Ninh Binh is the hallowed birthplace of Vietnam’s first independent dynasty, where 10th-century kings ruled from a natural fortress of limestone mountains encircled by serpentine rivers. This UNESCO-recognized archaeological site preserves the sacred grounds of the Đinh and Early Lê dynasties (968-1009 AD), featuring reconstructed palace foundations, the original stone royal bed of King Đinh Tiên Hoàng, and two enduring temples where locals still light incense for the warrior monarchs. The 300-hectare complex reveals ingenious ancient defenses—mountains hollowed into hidden bunkers, river moats mimicking Halong Bay’s topography—that repelled Song Chinese invasions. Visitors follow flagstone paths past lotus ponds to climb Ma Yen Mountain’s 265 steps, where a panoramic view unveils why this “terrestrial Halong Bay” location was chosen as the capital. Merging history with geology, Hoa Lư’s annual Trường Yên Festival (March) reenacts royal processions with golden palanquins against the same karst backdrop that protected Vietnam’s earliest sovereignty.
宁平华闾古都是越南首个独立王朝的龙兴之地，10世纪的丁朝与前黎朝（968-1009年）在此石灰岩山群与蜿蜒河道的天然城池中定鼎。这片联合国教科文组织认证的遗址保存着丁先皇石雕御榻、复建的宫殿基址，以及至今香火不绝的两座帝王祠。300公顷的古城布局彰显古老智慧——凿山为藏兵洞，引河作下龙湾式护城水系，曾成功抵御北宋入侵。游客可踏着青石板穿过莲池，攀登265阶马鞍山俯瞰”陆上下龙湾“的定都地理优势。每年三月举行的华闾庙会上，金色銮驾仪仗巡游于当年护佑越南初代王权的峰林背景下，将地质奇观与历史荣光完美交融。
🛶 Tam Coc – Bich Dong 三谷-碧洞
Tam Coc – Bich Dong in Ninh Binh, often hailed as “Halong Bay on Land,” is a mesmerizing UNESCO-listed landscape where emerald rice paddies and winding rivers snake through towering limestone karsts, best explored by traditional sampan boats rowed by local villagers using their feet. This 10-square-kilometer wonderland features three natural caves (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, Hang Ba) pierced by the Ngo Dong River, their caverns adorned with stalactites resembling mythical creatures when illuminated by boatmen’s lanterns. Nearby, the 15th-century Bich Dong Pagoda cascades up a mountainside in three tiers—Lower, Middle, and Upper—with the highest shrine nestled inside a cave offering panoramic views of the lotus-filled valleys below. Filming location for Kong: Skull Island, the area dazzles in late May when golden ripe rice fields contrast with the jagged peaks, while spring brings pink tamarind blossoms reflecting in the waterways. Electric boat options now complement the iconic bamboo boats for sustainable tourism in this living postcard of rural Vietnam.
宁平三谷-碧洞被誉为”陆上下龙湾“，在这片联合国教科文组织认证的秘境中，翡翠色稻田与蜿蜒河流穿梭于耸立的石灰岩峰林间，最地道的探索方式是乘坐当地村民脚划的竹舟漫游。10平方公里的奇幻地域包含被峨洞河贯穿的三座溶洞（首洞、二洞、三洞），船夫灯盏照亮洞内形似神兽的钟乳石奇观。毗邻的15世纪碧洞寺依山势分下、中、上三叠，顶层洞穴寺殿可俯瞰荷花盛放的山谷全景。作为《金刚：骷髅岛》取景地，五月末稻浪翻滚时金色田野与嶙峋山峰形成震撼对比，春季粉紫花期的酸豆树倒映水间更添梦幻。如今电动船的加入为这片越南田园诗画般的风景提供了更环保的游览选择。
⛰️ Mua Cave 省木洞
Embark on an unforgettable adventure at Mua Cave, where 500 stone steps lead to Vietnam’s most breathtaking panoramic views! This Ninh Bình highlight combines natural wonder with cultural charm – climb the dragon-shaped staircase to a hilltop pagoda overlooking the Tam Coc river’s emerald waters winding through golden rice fields and limestone karsts. Below, explore mystical caves adorned with ancient Buddhist statues, then watch the sunset paint the “Halong Bay on land” landscape in magical hues. Visit during May-June when lotus flowers blanket nearby wetlands, or time your hike to see local farmers in conical hats tending vibrant green paddies. Whether you’re capturing iconic photos from the summit or cycling through the picturesque countryside, Mua Cave delivers quintessential Northern Vietnam beauty!
征服500级石阶，在宁平木洞收获越南最震撼的360度全景！这个自然与文化完美融合的景点，沿着龙形阶梯登顶可俯瞰「陆上下龙湾」－碧绿的Tam Coc河流蜿蜒穿过金色稻浪与石灰岩丛，山下则有供奉古佛的神秘洞穴。5-6月来访可见湿地荷花盛开，日落时分整片喀斯特地貌更会披上梦幻色彩。无论是拍摄农夫戴斗笠耕作的经典画面，还是骑行穿梭田园风光，木洞完美展现越北风情精髓！