Halong Bay is simply a paradise on earth, 150 kilometers from Hanoi. The scenic area of Halong Bay is divided into three small bays, East, West and South. Because its scenery is similar to the Guilin landscape in China, it is called “Guilin on the Sea”. In 1994, UNESCO praised Halong Bay as a natural heritage site and included it on the World Heritage List. On November 12, 2011, the “New Seven Wonders of the World” were announced, and Halong Bay was also on the list. Affected by tides and climate, many caves have been formed in the rocks due to the action of wind and water. There are strange stalactites and stalagmites in the caves. The only way to visit Halong Bay is by boat. If you have time, you can choose to stay on the boat for a night to watch the sunset and sunrise of Halong Bay up close. Halong Bay is connected by mountains and waters, and the smoke and waves are vast and beautiful. The strange “stone carvings” on the sea make the scenery more vivid.
We chose to stay on the boat for one night without hesitation, but unfortunately, the weather was not good. It rained constantly and we couldn’t see the beautiful sunset and sunrise.
But we visited Luon Cave, Ti Top Island, and Surprise Cave.
Luon Cave is reached by boat (or kayak) through an underwater cave – a very popular attraction.
Ti Top Island is a picturesque gem in Halong Bay, with amazing scenery and blue waters.
Surprise Cave also has another common name Sung Sot Cave, one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Halong Bay, and is the highlight of most trips to Halong Bay.
The young and talented Hollywood director has a keen insight into the overlapping scenery and the mystery of the primitive ecology of the Chang’an mountains. Once it is put on the screen, it will produce a powerful and fascinating effect. Sure enough, only one day after the release of this blockbuster, many Vietnamese travel agencies launched new routes to visit the filming location to welcome international tourists. Since then, many Vietnamese and international travel agencies have successively launched the “King Kong: Skull Island” series of tourist routes. The Trang An Scenic Area is located 90 kilometers south of the capital Hanoi. In 2014, UNESCO recognized it as the first and only World Cultural and Natural Mixed Heritage in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. It includes three major protected areas, the Hualu Ancient Capital National Special Heritage Area, Chang’an Scenic Spots-Three Valleys-Bikdong National Special Heritage Area, and the Hualu Special Forest Area.
The American Forbes magazine also selected Ninh Binh Province as one of the 23 best tourist destinations in 2023 and ranked fourth in the list of ” Top Ten Wonders of the World Favored by Those Who Love Quietness” in 2024. Well-known attractions include the Trang An also known as Halong Bay on land, and there is also a very famous attraction nearby called Tam Coc, which has very beautiful scenery. It is recommended to stay at least 1 to 2 days.
Of course, we also chose a two-day one-day tour. We took a hand-rowed bamboo boat and a foot-rowed bamboo boat, passed through the caves of Tam Coc and Trang An, and climbed to the top of Mua Cave to admire the charming beauty of Hua Lu and immerse ourselves in the magnificent scenery of Ninh Binh. And visit the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and Bai Dinh pagoda.
Trang An in Ninh Binh Province is a popular tourist destination and has starred in many blockbuster movies such as Blood Letter, Tam Cam: The Untold Story, and Kong: Skull Island. The place is famous for its magnificent natural beauty, majestic mountains, and tranquil waterways. It is a must-see place in your Vietnam travel itinerary.
Bai Dinh Temple not only has fantastic scenery that makes you fall in love, but it also leads to a precious land with ancient historical relics of ancient Vietnam. Bai Dinh Temple has both majestic scenery and spiritual value. This is the largest spiritual pagoda in Vietnam and one of the must-see places in Ninh Binh.
Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam from 970 to 1010 AD, with a history of more than a thousand years. In 1010 AD, after the founder of the Le Dynasty, Ly Cong Yun moved the capital to Thang Long (now Hanoi), Hoa Lu was renamed Chang’an Prefecture and no longer used as the capital. Although Hoa Lu was only the capital of Vietnam for 40 years, its historical significance is very important because it was the capital of the first unified dynasty of Vietnam, the Dinh Dynasty and the former Le Dynasty.
Tam Coc is located in Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province. Tam Coc means three valleys, and it takes about two hours for tourists to visit Tam Coc by boat. The boat will take tourists to the first valley, which is the largest and most beautiful valley, 127 meters long. Tourists will have the opportunity to experience a fresh and cool atmosphere. The second and third valleys look very similar to the second valley, but these two valleys are shorter and shorter than the first valley.
The main reason for visiting Mua Cave is the wonderful viewing platform on the top of the mountain. Tourists must climb approximately 500 stone steps to reach the top of Lying Dragon Mountain. Then they are rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view of majestic.
I think Ninh Binh is more interesting than Halong Bay because Halong Bay is too commercialized, but the scenery is beautiful.
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