Located to the Southeast of Hanoi, Ninh Binh is an adventure playground for travelers and a haven for nature enthusiasts. Regarded as “Ha Long Bay on land,” Ninh Binh is well-known for breathtakingly beautiful scenery, splendid landscapes of striking limestone karsts, mossy ancient pagodas, and hidden caves. Vietnam’s first capital was established here; at present, the area has been a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apart from mesmerizing natural beauty, Ninh Binh also makes tourists captivated by long-standing culture and history. Therefore, Ninh Binh has been a famous tourist attraction in Vietnam.   The following are the top 15 best things to do in Ninh Binh, which offers a perfect and memorable trip for tourists. 

Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong National Park is one of the must-visits in Ninh Binh since it is the first national park in Vietnam, owing to the diversity of flora and fauna. Established in 1962, the park is a testament to the beauty of Vietnam’s nature. As the largest nature conservation area in the country, Cuc Phuong National Park is home to a plethora of wildlife, including 307 species of birds, 133 species of mammals, 122 types of reptiles and over 2000 floral species. Apart from its biodiversity, Cuc Phuong National Park is famous for mesmerizing scenery, ancient trees and excavated caves. Coming here, tourists will certainly be amazed at the diverse ecosystem, the stunning landscapes and the pleasant weather all year round. The park is an ideal place for trekking and other outdoor teamwork activities to explore the unique beauty of the land.

Van Long Nature Reserve

Van Long Nature Reserve is the largest wetland area in Northern Vietnam. Regarded as Ninh Binh's diamond in the rough, the nature reserve is endowed with stunning limestone mountains, paddy fields stretching to the horizon and sublime topography; thus, it is certainly a must-visit destination. Van Long Nature Reserve is also home to 39 animal species and 722 plant species, many of which are listed in the Red Book. It is a special place for the rehabilitation of animals; then, animals will be released back into the wild after treatment. Arriving here, tourists should taste local specialties such as goat meat, burned rice, and mountain snails. The best way to explore Van Long Nature Reserve is by taking a boat ride to explore the charming beauty of the nature and the diversity of the ecosystem.

Thien Ha Caves

Deeply hidden in the Trang A mountain range, the Thien Ha cave complex has the total length of 700 meters, and its large space is up to 12,000 square meters. The place may be a heaven for caves because there are dry caves, water caves, skylights, and underground rivers through caves and limestone stalactites shining over the river. Regarded as a “living” cave, the geological layers and the stalactite system in Thien Ha Caves are diverse and continue developing. In Thien Ha Caves, many traces of mollusks, hewing tools, raw ceramic fragments, animal bones, turtle shells, and bibs were found by archaeologists, which confirm the existence of ancient Vietnamese residents. Coming here, tourists will be stunned at the charming beauty of the wonder and the great creation of Mother Nature.

Sampan Ride in Thung Nang

For those loving the tranquil beauty of untouched natural sceneries, Thung Nang is certainly an ideal choice. The destination is newly exploited yet it captivates tourists with beautiful hidden caves and magnificent limestone karst.  In such a gorgeous and dreamlike setting, taking a sampan ride in Thung Nang is a memorable experience.  Here, the sun shines through leaves, through the rustic roofs along the shore, and down to the bottom of the sapphire river, creating brilliant and peaceful scenery. Crossing a 3-kilometer waterway, along with whispering rice fields and overlapping mountains on both sides, underneath the clear water is a rich flora and fauna. The more tourists go inside, the more they are mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of the cave system with colorful stalactites.

Thung Nham Bird park

Thung Nham Bird Park is a beautiful and peaceful bird garden. Located in the mountains, Thung Nham Bird Park is endowed with gorgeous limestone caves, orchard gardens, and the valley of love. This valley is a large wetland area and also a home to 50,000 birds of over 40 species, including herons, cranes, phoenixes, storks, bitterns, mallard and some rare breeds listed in the Red Book. Bird watching at Thung Nham Bird Garden is a perfect experience for families with young children because it enables children to explore wild nature and animals they only watch on television. For adults, enjoying the peaceful space with unspoiled scenery helps them to relax and find new inspiration. Apart from birds, tourists can go fishing in the park and can even camp here, which makes for an unforgettable trip.

Tam Coc

Known as the “Ha Long Bay on land,” Tam Coc is one of the best nature destinations in northernViet Nam. In Tam Coc, tourists will be amazed at gorgeous karst landscapes and scenic limestone hills, dotted amongst emerald green rice paddies. In the spring, from January to April, tourists coming here can admire the magnificent karst mountains surrounded by immense green rice fields and wild nature with pleasant weather. In harvest season, from May to July or from September to October, the beauty of Tam Coc looks like a young lady’s long, soft and yellow hair. Apart from rocky mountains and yellow-green rice fields, tourists also have chances to contemplate the fabulous forest of lotus and its perfume in Tam Coc Grotto. By taking a boat, visitors can explore the breathtaking natural beauty of this mountainous region.

Bich Dong Cave

2 kilometers from Tam Coc, Bich Dong, known as the “green cave,” is the second most beautiful cave in the South. Bich Dong contains a dry cave located halfway up the mountain (called Bich Dong pagoda) and a water cave piercing the mountain (known as Xuyen Thuy cave). In front of Bich Dong cave, there is the Ngo Dong River winding on the side of the mountain and immense rice fields across the river. As a dark and flooded cave, Xuyen Thuy looks like a 350-meter semicircular stone pipe, winding from the east to the west. The average width of Xuyen Thuy Dong is 6 meters, while the widest place is up to 15 meters. Being a pagoda in a cave, Bich Dong Pagoda is a historical and cultural relic belonging to the Tam Coc - Bich Dong Trang An Scenic Complex, which is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The pagoda still retains its ancient beauty, combining the sacred space with traditional cultural architecture.

Hang Mua (Mua cave)

Hang Mua Peak, also called Mua Cave, is situated at the foot of Mua Mountain, in the ecotourism complex of Khe Ha Ha village, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh. For those who love climbing, here is the ideal destination. Tourists coming here have to climb 486 stone steps to the Ngoa Long Mountain, leading them to a temple on top of the mountain, where visitors can capture the stunning panoramic view of Tam Coc Valley with towering mountains and breathtaking rice fields. Hiking to the highest peak at Hang Mua is one of the wonderful experiences because it is all worth it when visitors reach the top to capture the stunning scenery of the Red River Delta and magnificent landscapes.

Dinh and Le King Temples

Refer to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh, it will be immediately thought about Dinh and Le King Temples. Constructed in the traditional architectural style, Dinh King temple was the former main palace of the royal citadel, with a main gate, lotus pond, flower garden, three courthouses, incense-burning house and harem. In the King Dinh Temple, there is a beautifully carved Long Sang (a berth for the King), the Thieu Huong house to dedicate the country heroes and the statue of King Dinh Tien Hoang and his son. About 500 meters from Dinh King Temple, Le King temple is smaller, with three parts: Bai Duong (main yard), Thieu Huong (incense burning house), and the main palace to dedicate King Le Dai Hanh. The temple still retains ancient architectural vestiges with elaborate sculptures and keeps some ancient ceramics and precious objects.

Van Lam Embroidery Village

Regarded as The Kingdom of Embroidery, Van Lam Embroidery Village is located next to the center of the Tam Coc-Bich Dong tourist area. Thus, the village has become a popular tourist destination due to its rich historical and cultural values and traditional embroidery craft. The embroidery here is believed to have existed for around 800 years, since the Tran Dynasty. According to historical record, Mrs. Tran Thi Dung, the wife of mandarin Tran Thu Do, was the one conveying lace embroidery to the locals in the village. By using thin thread, colorful narrow and wide cloth with clever hands, and lace embroidery performers make vivid and high-quality artworks. The embroidery products are diverse, ranging from clothes, bed sheets, curtains, pillows, and tablecloths to pictures and paintings, which captivates both domestic and foreign tourists.

Phat Diem Cathedral

Located in the middle of some scenic canals and rice paddies, Phat Diem Cathedral is an attractive tourist destination for those loving spiritual tourism and exploring unique culture. Regarded as “the catholic capital of Vietnam,” the church is a long-standing architectural artwork, being more than 100 years old and having been constructed over 30 years. The cathedral is the typical combination between Western architecture and Vietnamese religious buildings, creating a sacred and artistic space. The entire architecture contains a lake, a cathedral, a stone church, the Phuong Dinh building (bell house) and three artificial grottoes with a total acreage of 22 hectares. Coming here, tourists will be surprised at the extremely unique architecture and majestic stone and wood carvings. Each architectural feature here is considered an architectural masterpiece with a perfectly harmonious combination in its entirety.

Bike Rides or Ox Cart Rides in Ninh Binh

To explore pristine natural beauty and stunning architectural features in Ninh Binh, taking a bike tour or ox cart ride is a must-try experience when reaching Vietnam’s ancient capital. By riding a bike or ox cart, tourists have a chance to enjoy the untouched natural beauty of gorgeous landscapes, hidden caves, tropical rainforests, and wild animals. It is also a great way to discover historical monuments and religious sites of the ancient land. Riding through small local villages and immense green rice fields along the road, tourists can deeply immerse themselves in the countryside scenery, understand the cultural and historical values and talk to hospitable local people. Taking a bike ride or ox cart ride to explore Ninh Binh will offer visitors an unforgettable experience on their trip.

Night Homestay Experience in Yen Mac Village

For a wonderful trip to Ninh Binh, spending an overnight at a homestay in Yen Mac village is a must-try experience. Homestays in Yen Mac village will offer tourists a peaceful and cozy space, which is suitable for those wanting to escape from the bustling and hustling of city life. Spending a night at the homestay of the local, travelers have a chance to admire the unique architecture of the local building, talk to the friendly locals and understand more about their culture and tradition. Here visitors can take a walk to pagodas in Yen Mac, which are the typical symbols of traditional villages in Vietnam. Especially, tourists can participate in daily activities with the locals, have dinner with them, enjoy a cup of hot tea, and taste Nem Chua (Vietnamese fermented pork roll), one of the Vietnamese’s most famous specialties. All of these will bring visitors an unforgettably fantastic experience.

Trang An and Bai Dinh

Recognized as an UNESCO’s World Heritage, Trang An tourism Complex is one of the most famous eco-attraction, with the total area of 2000 ha, divided into five main parts, including Hoa Lu Ancient Captial, the center, caves area, service and travel area, and Bai Dinh pagoda. To explore the pristine beauty of scenic mountains and gorgeous landscapes, tourists should take a small sampan to visit cave complexes of Trang An, such as Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, and Nau Ruou in the mysterious and poetic scenery of mountains and rivers. In the Trang An Scenic Landscape complex, Bai Dinh Pagoda is the largest one in Vietnam, consisting of 500 La Han statues and the biggest bronze Buddha statue. It is also the biggest Buddhism center of SoutheastAsia. Coming here, tourists will be amazed at the marvelous and majestic architecture, which still brings traditional features of Vietnamese religious buildings.

Cooking Class in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is not only famous for gorgeous landscapes and unique architecture but also delicious cuisine. Among the above-mentioned destinations, taking a cooking class is a perfect experience to explore delicious local food in Ninh Binh and Vietnamese cuisine culture.  This course is a hands-on class, with an introduction to Vietnam’s food culture. By participating in a cooking class, visitors have chances to visit local markets to seek fresh ingredients for your cooking class. Throughout the class, tourists are supported or guided by an expert chef to fully understand Vietnamese food culture and price negotiation. Besides, visitors can further discover handy techniques and cooking skills and boost your culinary creation. After the interesting cooking session, tourists enjoy a satisfying and delicious authentic Vietnamese meal. After the class, travelers can broaden knowledge about Vietnamese cuisine, get small souvenirs and certification of the class, and improve their cooking skills.

In conclusion, Ninh Binh is a not-to-miss destination for every tourist when reaching the S-shaped country. Being endowed with breathtakingly magnificent landscapes and unique long-standing architecture, Ninh Binh is an oasis for nature and culture lovers.  Coming here, tourists will certainly be impressed by pristine scenery, peaceful atmosphere, stunning ancient buildings, delicious cuisine and friendly people, which makes your trip rewarding and memorable. That’s why Ninh Binh is always on the top listing of tourist attractions in Vietnam. The top 15 best things to do in Ninh Binh mentioned above are the ideal suggestions for a perfect trip to Ninh Binh.

To discover this beautiful destination

=> Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi