48 hours in Ninh Binh

Nho Quan is the perfect place to "refresh" your two-day weekend trip to Ninh Binh, offering experiences unlike any you've ever had before.

Ninh Binh, with its Trang An, Bai Dinh, Phat Diem Stone Church, Tam Coc - Bich Dong... are familiar destinations for many tourists. But Ninh Binh offers many other exciting experiences to suit your upcoming trip. The following two-day itinerary is for travelers departing from Hanoi and surrounding provinces to Nho Quan, a destination located in the northwest of Ninh Binh.

Day 1

Morning

The journey from Hanoi to Ninh Binh takes the Phap Van - Cau Gie expressway, National Highway 1A, and Provincial Road 477, stopping at Chau Son Monastery. Tourists should note that traffic congestion often occurs at the city's entry and exit points on Saturday mornings.

Chau Son Monastery, built in 1939, is located in a tranquil mountainous area near the intersection of three provinces: Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, and Ninh Binh. Upon first seeing the monastery, you'll feel as if you're in Europe.

According to the Ninh Binh Department of Information and Communications, the monastery's design is Gothic, featuring 0.6m thick walls and 1.2m thick columns, providing warmth in winter and coolness in summer. A highlight of the monastery is the columns, designed as symmetrical small towers 64m long. Outside the sanctuary are paintings depicting Jesus carrying the cross and praying. Inside, there is a wide corridor with natural light. The garden space boasts hundreds of types of lush greenery, meticulously cared for.

Outside the monastery garden. Photo: Xuan Thu

The garden egg field of the monastery. Photo: Xuan Thu

A corner of the monastery garden. Photo: Tam Anh

The monastery's corridors. Photo: Xuan Thu

The monastery's corridors. Photo: Xuan Thu

Please note that you need to dress appropriately, avoiding revealing or short clothing. "You won't be allowed inside if you wear shorts or a tank top. Time is also quite tight, so it's best to contact them in advance to get all the necessary information," said a tourist from Hanoi.

On weekdays, the monastery restricts tourist access, so visitors are not allowed to tour the premises. However, on the first days of each month when there are religious services, the church will open to visitors after the service: Morning: 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM (Sundays until 10:00 AM) and afternoon: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Sundays from 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM), except during Lent (around March) and the retreat at the beginning of August.

Noon

There aren't many restaurants around Nho Quan area. So you have two options: go to the resort and eat at a restaurant there, or stop at any roadside restaurant.

"We went to a restaurant called Vườn Bia Lẩu Nướng (Beer Garden Hot Pot & Grill), right on National Highway 12B, only about 5 km from Châu Sơn Monastery, as suggested by Tripadvisor and Google Maps. It's a cool garden restaurant with traditional dishes. The vegetables are grown right in the family garden," said Ms. Hà from Hanoi. The restaurant has also received many positive reviews.

Restaurant space on Highway 12B.

Afternoon

Check in to a hotel, such as Cuc Phuong Resort, which is about 10km from Chau Son Monastery and about 3km from the main gate of Cuc Phuong National Park. Besides Cuc Phuong Resort, visitors to this area can stay at Trang An Golf & Resort or Vedana Ninh Binh Resort, with prices ranging from 1 million to 2 million VND per night.

For a more budget-friendly option, there's Cuc Phuong Hotel starting from 200,000 VND per night. Inside the National Park, near Mac Lake, there are stilt houses and hotels with prices ranging from 150,000 VND to 800,000 VND per night.

In the late afternoon, as the sun sets, you can relax within the resort grounds with a leisurely walk or jog of about 5 km and by the resort's swimming pool. Alternatively, if you're not staying at the resort, a stroll or photo opportunity to capture the sunset over the rice fields on the newly completed, wide and beautiful road leading to the entrance of Cuc Phuong National Park is a great choice.

For dinner, enjoy local specialties such as grilled goat or chicken at your accommodation or at one of the Tripadvisor-recommended restaurants, including Thao Linh and Cuc Phuong, located 1.5 to 2.5 km from the National Park entrance.

Day 2

The entire second day is dedicated to exploring Cuc Phuong National Park. If you visit around April, you'll witness a season of butterflies filling the air. At other times of the year, the experience is more relaxed, involving gentle trekking, walking, or cycling through the peaceful green landscape. After breakfast, you check out and head to Cuc Phuong National Park.

You should allocate at least two and a half hours for exploring Son Cung Cave because the walk to the entrance takes quite a long time. The path to the cave is overgrown with trees, and some sections are difficult to navigate due to dense foliage. Additionally, you will have to climb many steps. Inside the cave, it is pristine and quite dark, so bring a flashlight. One of the highlights of the caves in Cuc Phuong National Park is their unspoiled beauty.

The path leading to the thousand-year-old Dipterocarpus tree.

It's advisable to bring plenty of water along the way, as walking can cause dehydration and fatigue. While you're on your journey, don't forget to visit the thousand-year-old Dipterocarpus tree . This massive tree is 45 meters tall, 5 meters in diameter, and its circumference is so large that it would take more than 20 people to encircle it completely.

"To explore Son Cung Cave and the Dipterocarpus tree, you need to drive into the center of the forest. Remember to dress comfortably. It's best to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to avoid scratches and potential leeches," advised Ms. Mai, a tourist from Hanoi.

If you're going with a group of friends or colleagues, consider renting bicycles and leisurely cycling through the forest. If you're fit enough, you can cycle straight into the heart of the forest, about 20 km, and rest, set up camp, and enjoy a relaxing lunch. Note that the route has many uphill sections. If you just want to cycle for fun, you can try the 7 km challenge from the forest entrance to the Ancient Human Cave.

A thousand-year-old Dipterocarpus tree. Photo: Hoang Long

If you have young children, the ideal option is to visit the wildlife conservation and rescue center (with a guide), then drive into the heart of the forest. Along the way, you can trek a short distance (about 1.5 km each way) to the ancient banyan tree, or climb about 100 steps to the Cave of Ancient People. Arriving at the center around midday, you can walk to a large grassy area where you can set up camp, have lunch, and relax. Children can draw, play group games, etc.

Families can also choose to participate in a wildlife release tour, returning animals such as birds, monkeys, reptiles, wild cats, civets, etc., back to their natural habitats along the pristine forest trails. During the tour, visitors will trek through the forest, admire the unspoiled scenery, and visit several points within the national park. Tours are limited to 15 people at a time to avoid disrupting the reintroduction process.

"There are many areas in the forest without phone signal. Also, there are no restaurants. Therefore, you should bring snacks like bread, pastries, cold cuts, etc.," Ms. Mai added. Remember to clean up after yourself when eating and drinking in the forest.

Entrance fee to Cuc Phuong National Park is 60,000 VND per adult, 10,000 VND per child, 30,000 VND for a car, and bicycle rental is 120,000 VND per day.

It gets dark quite quickly in the forest. Around 4:30 PM, you should end your trip and return to Hanoi.

Vnexpress

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