Ninh Binh is about 90
km away from Ha Noi to the south. Ninh Binh is located on Red
river delta with geographical co-ordinate from 19050' to 20027' at
Northern latitude and from 105032' to 106033' at Eastern longitude. Ninh Binh
shares the administrative border with Ha Nam in the North, Nam Dinh in the
East, the East Sea in the Southeast, Thanh Hoa in the West and Southwest, and
Hoa Binh in the Northwest.
Ninh Binh is endowed
with many places of particular interest which have been well-known inside and
outside Vietnam such as Tam
Coc – Bich Dong, Cuc
Phuong National
Park, Trang An Grottoes and Van Long Nature
Reserves. There are also many historical relics, for instances Hoa Lu Ancient
Capital, Bich Dong Pagoda, Thai Vi Temple, Phat Diem Stone Cathedral, Tam Diep
Defense Line.... All of them are attractive to both Vietnamese and foreign
tourists. Ninh Binh is the charming land of myth and unique landscapes.
Hoa Lu - Tam Coc – Bich Dong
Hoa Lu used to be one
of the many old capitals of Vietnam
before Thang Long – presently Hanoi
– take its historical role. From an exciting town and centre of cultural and
military activities of the Dai Co Viet Kingdom in 10th century, the area now is
more wellknown for its landscape since almost relics of the urban excitement
had been collapsed, except in the Temples of King Dinh and King Le.
A trip to
Hoa Lu should be started from Tam Coc ("three caves"), which takes
more than two hours driving from Hanoi, and visitors may say that distance is
not a matter after seating in a boat rowed by one or two local persons in Hoang
Long river and see the first limestone mountains, which will run along their
riverway for several kilometers. The boat will run, sorry, will be rowed,
through three caves on the river, all created by wind and water from a legend
time, while the sea had occupied this area. The tide-mark is still on the rock
about 2m above the water, and in higher mountain wall the erosion have carved
some strange shapes that now filled of green grass, delicious foods of the
goats that local people breed everywhere. If you are lucky, sometimes you can
see mischievous monkeys. The river trip is wonderful for photo hunters,
especially when local people come to harvest the water rice planted along the
river, or when they transplant some seedling for the next crops. The tourists
often compare the place with Guilin – China, or more closely, to the limestone islets
of Halong Bay
in the Tonkin Gulf for their similar geological
structures and shapes. Thus Tam Coc is also called Halong-Bay-On-Land.
From the wharf of Tam Coc you can go further till reaching
Bich Dong Pagoda, a combination of three pagodas on the Lower, Middle and Upper
levels of a pretty mountain. You will need to climb a little bit till you get
to the top of the Upper pagoda and your eyes catch the overall panorama of the
paddy fields between Truong Yen mountain. All the pagodas, or lean upon a
cliff, or simply have some statues inside a large grotto, deserve the name
"Bich Dong" (emerald-like grotto).
A scene of the popular French
movie "Indochine" had been completed here in 1991, remarking a rush
of the French-speaking tourists to Vietnam,
who usually do not skip Halong
Bay and Tam Coc-Bich Dong
where the leading actress Catherine Deneuve left her footprints.
On the way back from
Tam Coc – Bich Dong to Hanoi you can pay a visit to the last relics of the
ancient capital Hoa Lu – the Temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the
two heroes who lived in 10th century and chose Hoa Lu to build the citadel of
the capital city. From time to time, archaeologists have excavated buried parts
of this citadel with rusty weapons and ceramics. The temples are said to be
built on the old foundation of their original palaces in 11-12th centuries and
restored in 17th century. Though the temples are not maintained entirely some
precious antiques are still preserved well like the whole-stone dragon thrones,
wooden bas-relieves and lacquered statues of King Dinh, Kinh Le, Queen Duong
Van Nga who in turn got married both of the kings, and the princes of the two
dynasties.
Cuc Phuong National Park
With 25,000 hectares
and 140 km South of Hanoi, Cuc Phuong is the first National Park of Vietnam
which was established in 1962. The botanical richness of the forest is
impressive as it supports a wide variety of flora species and patches of
primeval forest, including ancient trees with thick clusters of roots, and
parasitic plants and ligneous creepers.
Some tree species have
been introduced from Burma, India, and Borneo.
Clusters of orchards grow near cave entrances, where the moisture conditions
and light are ideal. Varieties include thousand-year dracontomelum and
parashorea trees which can be visited in a one or two hour hiking, and coral,
vanilla, snow-white, and butterfly orchids everywhere. Large mammals inhabit
the park including panthers and bears, but rarely appear, so the most popular
animals you can see are monkeys, gibbons, flying squirrels and pheasants.
There
are also over 120 species of birds and many varieties of beetles living here,
and April and May arrive swarms of butterflies. At night, million of cicadas
create a deafening din, and million of fireflies flicker about.
Lying in a limestone
area, Cuc Phuong includes numerous caves. At "Nguoi Xua" (Cave of Early Man),
two ancient tombs have been discovered, along with Neolithic remains and
evidence of stone implements; there have been similar finds at Trang Khuyet
(Crescent Moon), Thanh Minh, and Con
Mong Caves.
Hang Dan Cave
is known for its bat population. Hiking in Cuc Phuong is following some
kilometers of trails and passing through old-growth forest with long vines
wrapped around strangled trees, visiting the caves, waterfalls and streams in
the forest or stopping over at a Muong ethnic's village. Since the location in
between three provinces, it's easy to combine a trip to Cuc Phuong with a trip
to Hoa Binh or Ninh Binh province, or you can depart from Hanoi, spend the whole day exploring the
forest and overnight at the Park's guest house.