Located about 100 km south of the capital Hanoi, in the Red River Delta region of Ninh Binh province, Trang An Ecological Site is truly an ideal destination for travelers, thanks to its breathtaking scenery of karst peaks crisscrossed by rivers and carpeted with rice fields, which is nicknamed “the land-based Halong Bay”.
Part of the Trang An UNESCO World Heritage landscape complex, the eponymous ecological site welcomes hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese and foreign tourists every year. A trip by rowing boat to visit Trang An caves along the Sao Khe River is an unforgettable experience not to be missed during a trip to Vietnam.
For an excursion by rowing boat, you can choose between three routes:
First itinerary:
The pier – Trinh Temple – Light Cave – Dark Cave – Nau Ruou Cave – Tran Temple – Ba Giot Cave – Seo Cave – Son Duong Cave – Phu Khong – Bao Hieu Pagoda – Khong Cave – Tran Cave – Quy Hau Cave – The pier (3.5 hours)
Second itinerary:
The pier – Lam Cave – Vang Cave – Thanh Truot Cave – Suoi Tien Temple – Dai Cave – Hanh Cung Vu Lam Temple – Kong: Skull Island filming site – The pier (2.5 hours)
Third itinerary:
The pier – Trinh Temple – May Cave – Suoi Tien – Dia Linh Cave – Dai Cave – Hanh Cung Vu Lam Temple – Kong: Skull Island shooting site – The pier (3 hours)
During the boat ride, you will pass through flooded caves with stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes that will stimulate your imagination. The names of these caves: Toi (“dark”), Sang (“light”), Seo, Nau Ruou (“alcohol distillation”), Ba Giot (“three drops”)…
Moreover, you will be attracted by the temples and pagodas perched on the hillside with their ancient moss-covered roofs, representing the harmonization between cultural values and landscapes.
Thanks to its breathtaking scenery, Trang An has fascinated the world of cinema. It is the place where scenes of movies were shot – Indochine in the 90s or the Hollywood movie Kong: Skull Island released in 2017.
This site can be visited at any time of the year but the two best times to do Trang An are early May and late September during the rice harvest. The scenery is most spectacular with the golden rice fields along the river.
In summer, you will have the opportunity to see the lotus in bloom. Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen because it is very hot.
Practical information
Boat schedule: every day from 7am to 4pm
Entrance ticket and boat Trang An: 200 000 VND/person ( 100 000 VND for children under 1 meter ).
