100 km south of Hanoi capital, with similar and impressive features as Ha Long Bay, Trang An in Ninh Binh is a place not to be missed when coming to the North.
Hong Kong’s oldest newspaper, the SCMP, had nothing but glowing praise for Ninh Binh : The gently swaying sampan sails at a leisurely pace through a landscape of towering limestone cliffs, lush rainforests and labyrinthine cave systems. This is Trang An, at the heart of an area surrounded by the vast plain of the Ngo Dong River, which has shaped this extraordinary landscape over time.
Picturesque scenery in Trang An, Ninh Binh
PHOTO: SCMP/SHUTTLESTOCK
Just outside the last suburbs of the capital, bustling with motorbikes, visitors will enter rice fields. Water buffalo doze in the sun and in the villages, people sit in front of their shops and workshops. The pace of life is leisurely - a way of life adapted to the hot and humid temperatures.
But there is a buzz of activity at Trang An wharf, just a few kilometres from the provincial capital Ninh Binh. Here, boat tours depart into the limestone karst landscape of Trang An, which was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
PHOTO: SCMP/SHUTTLESTOCK
Rows of sampans bob on the water. Boats come and go as they pick up and drop off visitors after tours. It’s a quick turnaround as tours are scheduled tightly to prevent a boat jam from forming at the cave entrance.
There was silence everywhere, except for the collective "aah" of passengers as the boat circled the pavilion built right on the water.
“Keep your heads down,” the guide admonishes as the boatman approaches a barely visible opening. The flat-bottomed boat glides into the first of nine stalactite caves the boat passes through during the three-hour tour.
PHOTO: SCMP/SHUTTLESTOCK
Visitors step off the boat and head to Suoi Tien Pagoda during their stop on land. A short walk leads to the wooden pagoda, inside which visitors can kneel and pray before ornate golden statues.
A short walk away, Dia Linh – a mountain rising out of the water – comes into view. This is one of the most popular photo spots in the area.
The landscape is so picturesque that it was chosen as one of the filming locations for the 2017 Hollywood movie Kong: Skull Island.
You can still visit the thatched village specially built for the movie's fantasy adventure.
Attractions like this, its UNESCO recognition and stunning landscapes have made Trang An famous on social media – and the area is gearing up for a huge increase in visitors.
PHOTO: SCMP/SHUTTLESTOCK
Those wishing to explore Trang An can do so by bicycle as well as by boat, if they wish – narrow roads pass through settlements with small farms, vegetable gardens and rice fields surrounded by rainforest mountains.
Next stop is the ancient capital Hoa Lu, built in 968 AD as a military fortress and experiencing its heyday under the Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties in the 11th century. Two temples were rebuilt in the 17th century on the old foundations. Today, they are venues for cultural and spiritual events.
Whether by boat or bicycle, you can see wild mountain goats making their way up the steep rock faces. They are the unofficial mascot of Ninh Binh and a culinary specialty.
PHOTO: CRYSTLAL BAY
Everyone will need strength and energy for the next hike to Hang Mua, about 10km away. The highlight is not the cave itself but the observation deck on the mountain above.
It’s a sweaty climb of 500 steep steps to the top, 65 metres above the river; with the humidity high, frequent water breaks are a must. The breathtaking 360-degree panorama of seemingly endless limestone hills, lush green rice paddies and meandering river is more than worth the effort.
The scenery is considered one of the most beautiful in Vietnam.
Thanhnien.vn
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