Is Ninh Binh Worth Visiting? Top 3 Reasons to Go

With its boundless rice fields, towering limestone mountains, and magnificent caverns, Ninh Binh has become a more and more popular tourist destination in Vietnam in recent years.

Lies in the Red River Delta's southernmost regions, roughly 100 kilometers south of Ha Noi, Ninh Binh provides numerous points of interest that are famous both inside and outside the country. For first-time visitors, you are probably wondering: “ Is Ninh Binh worth visiting?”. The answer is a firm “yes”. And now together in this article, we will figure it out with 3 headlines.

1. Discover the amazing Ninh Binh scenery

Ninh Binh provides a different perspective on the rice fields in Vietnam in comparison with the terraces in Sapa or Ha Giang. Its rice fields thrive on the flat ground and the limestone mountains that emerge from the rice fields, on the other hand, provide a distinctive aspect.  There are some must-go places that you shouldn’t miss out when visiting Ninh Bình.

Tam Coc

Taking a Tam Coc boat ride along the Ngo Dong River is the ideal way to see all of the natural beauty around the mountains and the surrounding waterways in Ninh Binh. From the boat, you can directly view the flat rice fields, which are encompassed by high mountains, rocky cliffs, and stunning grottos.

Ninh Binh from above

Trang An Landscape Complex

Another attraction that makes Ninh Binh worth visiting is Trang An Landscape Complex. This spectacular place is also renowned as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Meanwhile, it is often known as "Halong Bay inland", the waterway and stunning limestone mountains here are surrounded by rice fields rather than solid land or water.

Trang An Landscape Complex

Trang An's peaceful lake and lush vegetation have provided travelers with an appealing opportunity to slow down in favor of appreciating the natural beauty. 

In order to travel without destroying crops, small sampan boats are used by locals to navigate this particular terrain.

Thung Nham Bird Park

Many visitors to Ninh Binh also stop off at the Thung Nham Bird Park where they can see nature’s spectacular sights of thousands of birds flying out of their nest in the early morning or watch them returning to their home in the late afternoon. 

The Bird Park is located 6km from Tam Coc town and also features many walking trails to explore, it is well-known to be home to many birds, even to rare species. The best thing to do is bring some food and find a decent area to enjoy your picnic while watching these gorgeous feathered animals glide through the air.

Thung Nham Bird Park

Ninh Binh does not have only Tam Coc, Trang An, or Thung Nham Bird Park which makes the region worth the trip. It also has a diverse range of ecosystems at Cuc Phuong National Park or gorgeous caving systems and numerous temples to visit. In addition, climbing to Hang Mua Peak or the top of Bich Dong Pagoda to have a bird’s-eye view of Ninh Binh’s surrounding landscape is also recommended.

 

2. Enjoy the Silence at Ninh Binh Temple & Pagodas

Ninh Binh possesses a lot of spiritual sites which attract a lot of people coming to visit including local people and foreign tourists. Aside from rural life, temples and pagodas in Ninh Binh are some of the few remaining elements of Vietnamese culture that make Ninh Binh worth visiting. 

There is a complex of pagodas, lamas, communal dwellings, and tombs. Each structure has its own distinctive charm, and they all not only depict the old and heroic beauty of history but also represent the architectural significance of an era.

Bich Dong Pagoda entrance

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda is Ninh Binh's most well-known pagoda. Visitors will be impressed by the magnificence of Bai Dinh's historic sacred contemplation, which takes place among the most majestic and gigantic Buddhist structures in Vietnam.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

The historical city of Hoa Lu, which served as the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries during the Dinh and Le dynasties,  is also worth a visit. The Hoa Lu Temple is now a significant architectural and historical site in the country.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

 

3. Get a Taste of the Vietnamese Village Culture

Ninh Binh is a unique destination where, in addition to the stunning landscape, you can easily access the most rustic and authentic side of the Vietnamese village. It’s very relaxed and serene, offering tourists a total retreat experience. 

Avoiding the main traveled road, you can greatly enrich your trip experience by exploring the surrounding countryside on a bicycle trip. You can look up the landmark that you want to visit on Google map then choose a longer and more unusual route to get there.

Ninh Binh countryside

It is an amazing opportunity to observe the local people’s lifestyle, especially their living conditions, farming techniques, and how they spend their time during the day.

 

For those reasons above, hopefully, it is more than enough to answer the question “Is Ninh Binh worth visiting”. Because of its spectacular natural beauty and fascinating culture, Ninh Binh should be added to your trip itinerary when visiting Vietnam. Visit BestPrice and join our knowledgeable guides on Ninh Binh tours to experience the best that can amaze you.

Minah Trinh

Image Source: Internet