Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh city is located 100km south of Hanoi and in the Red River Delta. It has evolved into a major travel center in recent years because the city of Ninh Binh owns beautiful tourist sites and famous traditional villages. Coming to Ninh Binh, tourist can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Vietnam countryside, villages and visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (in Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District now) . Hoa Lu was chosen as the first capital of Vietnam feudal centralism regime and the Dai Co Viet political, economic and cultural centre from 968 to 1009. Although it is certainly possible to visit these sights as a day trip from Hanoi, many travelers chose to overnight in Ninh Binh or Cuc Phuong National Park to appreciate the scenery at a more leisure pace.
Attractions
Dinh Temple is located in Truong Yen Ha Commune and Le Temple is located in Truong Yen Thuong Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province. Dinh Temple worships King Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Temple worships King Le Dai Hanh. When King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long (now Hanoi) in 1010, two temples were built to dedicate to King Dinh Tien Hoang and his successor Le Dai Hanh. These two temples were first built in the 11th century and reconstructed in 1696.Bich Dong Pagoda, built on Ngu Nhac Mountain, is divided into three levels: Ha Pagoda (lower pagoda), Trung Pagoda (middle pagoda), and Thuong Pagoda (upper pagoda). On the mountain peak stands the statue of a scholar Mandarin looking at the horizon in hope of viewing the spectacular landscapes of Hoa Lu. From the upper pagoda, one has the most magnificent view of Bich Dong, which is romantically charming in terms of architecture and history. The location for this pagoda was chosen in 1428 after two monks were charmed by the view of the river and the mountains. Later, King Le Canh Hung wrote a poem in honour of the beautiful pagoda and landscape. He was the one who said that Bich Dong Pagoda was the second nicest pagoda in Vietnam, after the Huong Pagoda (also called Perfume Pagoda) in Ha Tay Province.
Tam Coc Caves, located approximately 2km from the pagoda. Tam Coc is 3km from Van Lam Wharf. Take a boat from Van Lam Wharf to reach the Tam Coc Grotto, consisting of the Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba grottoes. These caves are adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colours that sparkle like gemstones.Thai Vy Temple is located to the west of Van Lam Hamlet, Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province. According to the history, Thai Vy Temple was built during Tran Dynasty (the 13th– 14thcentury) follow the internal attack with outside support (noi cong, ngoai quoc) architecture.
The temple worships four generations of Kings Tran, Tran Thai Tong, Tran Thanh Tong, Tran Nhan Tong, and Tran Anh Tong.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is 13km from Ninh Binh Town, Ninh Binh Province.In 968, Dinh Bo Linh ascended to the throne and took the name of King Dinh Tien Hoang and reunified the country under the name of Dai Co Viet and Hoa Lu was its capital for 41 years (968-1009). The mountains and sea combined to make Hoa Lu’s picturesque landscape. Hoa Lu lays in a flat valley surrounded by the Trang An lime stone mountains, which form a natural wall protecting the old citadel.
The city’s northwest is bordered by the Hoang Long River, the tributaries of which run through the capital, cooling the weather within the city and serving as convenient waterways. The Royal Court was built in an area of 150 hectares in the eastern part of the capital while the western part served as a site to educate and protect children.
Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park is located 100km south of Hanoi in Ninh Binh and it is on the borders of three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa.
There are plenty of plants and mammals living in the park. There are an estimated 2,000 different species of flora and the 450 species fauna account for 38% of the national fauna. The vegetation cover is classified into three types. The flora is quite a treasure with a wide variety of 1,944 species, 908 genuses and 229 families. Especially it is enjoyable to touch the thousand-year-old cho xanh (parashrea Stella) and sau (Dracontomelum Duperranum or Dancorra Edulis) trees, 50-70m high. This natural reserve is covered with 2,000 species of plants. Especially orchid flowers are abundant with 50 species, some of which blossom and have aroma all year around. The fauna is diversified represented by 71 animal species, 319 bird species, 33 reptile species, and 16 amphibian species. Rare species include the bear, horse, wild boar, tiger, leopard, fox, squirrel, monkey, etc. A large area, for half-natural breeding, is reserved for raising wild animals such as the spotted deer, deer, golden monkey, langur (vooc quan dui), flying squirrel, draco (than lan bay) and for research. The Park is also home to hundreds of beautiful and strange birds and butterflies.
Thanks to the limestone terrain, Cuc Phuong National Park has a multitude of grottoes, including Thang Khuyet, Con Moong, Pho Ma, and Nguoi Xua, etc. Quen Voi, also part of the park, is where Nguyen Hue’s army was stationed before it made its surprise attack on Thang Long and defeated Qin enemies in the spring of 1789.
Global environmental programs led by the UNDP, United Nations Development Program, and FFI, Flora and Fauna International, researched the distinguished primitiveness of the tropical forest and the monsoon influence on Southeast Asia in Cuc Phuong National Park.
Phat Diem Cathedral
Phat Diem Cathedral is in Luu Phuong Commune, Phat Diem Town, Kim Son District, 130km south of Hanoi, and 28km southeast of Ninh Binh Town. Phat Diem Cathedral was built between 1875 and 1899. Phuong Dinh Church, part of the Phat Diem complex, is a giant building entirely made of stone. Numerous stone sculptures are on the inside and outside walls. A large bell cast in the 1890s weighing nearly 2 tons is found in the bell tower.On both sides of the church are four smaller churches of different styles. On the extreme north corner are three stone caves. The most beautiful of these caves is Lo Duc Grotto. In the area surrounding this massive stone and wood cathedral, the rice paddies are peppered with stone churches. But, unlike these structures, built by Europeans and resembling typical churches of the era, Phat Diem Cathedral was designed by a Vietnamese priest, known as Father Sau. Father Sau rallied the local population to build the cathedral, five side chapels, three artificial grottoes, an artificial lake and a bell tower. Phat Diem Cathedral seems to have changed very little since Graham Greene described its gigantic pillars formed out of single trees and the scarlet lacquer work of the altar. Indeed, with its multi tiered, curling roofs and its 48 lime-wood columns – (the largest of which weigh seven tones), Phat Diem is a far cry from a European cathedral. Stone relief angels overlook carved dragons and the cathedral’s two-tone bell is accompanied by a giant brass gong.
Van Long Ecotourism site
Conveniently situated at only 90 km from Hanoi in the Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province, the Van Long Natural Reserve boasts beautiful nature and fascinating wildlife and is a must-go destination for anyone who would like to get in touch with the true Vietnam. With an area of nearly 3000ha it is the largest wetland reserve of Northern Vietnam and one of its most important protected areas. Van Long is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. No less than 457 different species of plants have been identified of which eight are listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam, such as the Chukrasia and Fagaceae. 39 Species of mammals have been found in the reserve of which 12 are listed in the Red Data Book as well. Lucky visitors can spot the Delacour’s Langur Trachypithecus here in its natural environment. This highly endangered species occurs only in a small area of Northern Vietnam and nowhere else in the world today. There are only about 300 monkeys left of which around 40 live in Van Long.
