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Visitors to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu can explore the temples of King Dinh Tien Hoang, King Le Dai Hanh, the stele house of King Ly Thai To, Yen Thanh communal house, and One Pillar Pagoda, along with the shrines of Princess Phat Kim, Vườn Thiên palace, the tomb of King Dinh, and the tomb of King Le.
4. Phat Diem Cathedral
Phat Diem Cathedral (often referred to as Phat Diem stone cathedral) is a Catholic church complex covering approximately 22 hectares, located in Phat Diem town, Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province. Currently, Ninh Binh province and Japanese researchers are finalizing documentation on the architecture of Phat Diem Cathedral to propose UNESCO to recognize it as a world cultural heritage site. Phat Diem stone cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful churches in Vietnam, often dubbed the 'Catholic capital' of Vietnam.
This is a large-scale project, the main cathedral of Phat Diem diocese in northern Vietnam. The cathedral is entirely built of stone and wood. Construction of Phat Diem Cathedral began in 1875 and was essentially completed by 1898. The uniqueness of this structure lies in the fact that, despite being a Catholic church, it is modeled after the traditional architectural features of Vietnamese temples. This architectural complex was gradually constructed under the supervision of Father Peter Tran Luc (also known as Cau Sau – a priest in the Phat Diem diocese since 1865) and Catholic believers over more than 30 years.
5. Tam Coc
Tam Coc, meaning 'three caves', consists of Hang Ca (First Cave), Hang Hai (Second Cave), and Hang Ba (Third Cave). All three caves are formed by the Ngo Dong River penetrating through the mountains. Tam Coc is the first boat tour route developed in the Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourist area. Hang Ca is 127 meters long, piercing through a large mountain, with an entrance over 20 meters wide. Inside the cave, the climate is cool, and there are many stalactites in various shapes. Hang Hai, about 1 kilometer from Hang Ca, is 60 meters long, with a ceiling adorned with peculiar stalactites. Hang Ba, near Hang Hai, is 50 meters long, and its ceiling resembles a stone arch, lower than the other two caves.
To visit Tam Coc, travelers embark on boats from the central pier. The boats take visitors along the winding Ngô Đồng river, passing through cliffs, water caves, and rice fields. The round trip takes about 2 hours. The scenery of Tam Coc, especially along the Ngô Đồng river, may vary depending on the rice season (green, golden, or the silver color of water on the fields).
6. The Second Heavenly Cave: Bich Dong
Bich Dong is located 2 km from the Tam Coc pier, meaning 'green cave,' a name given by the general Nguyễn Nghiễm, the father of the great poet Nguyễn Du, in 1773. It is one of the scenic spots grouped by ancients as the 'Second Heavenly Cave,' specifically Bich Dong is dubbed the 'Second Heavenly Cave,' the second most beautiful cave in the South, after Huong Tich Cave (the First Heavenly Cave) in Huong Son and before Dich Long Cave (the Third Heavenly Cave) in Kẽm Trống. In front of the cave is a branch of the Ngô Đồng river winding along the mountain slope, while across the river lies the rice fields. Bich Dong Pagoda is an ancient temple nestled among the rocky mountains, bearing a distinct Eastern style. The temple was built since the early reign of the Later Le Dynasty. Inside the temple is a large bell cast during the reign of King Lê Thái Tổ, tomb towers of the venerable monks who contributed to the construction of the temple. During the reign of King Lê Hiển Tông (1740-1786), the temple was renovated and expanded, including the Lower Pagoda, Middle Pagoda, and Upper Pagoda, spreading across three mountain tiers.
Xuyen Thuy Cave is a dark and flooded cave running along the length of Bich Dong. Xuyen Thuy Cave resembles a crescent-shaped stone tube, about 350 meters long, meandering from East to West. The average width of Xuyen Thuy Cave is 6 meters, the widest part being 15 meters. The cave's ceiling and walls are usually flat, creating natural formations resembling large stone slabs stacked to form an arch, a crescent moon with countless shapes. The entrance to Xuyen Thuy Cave is at the back of the mountain, opposite the entrance to Bich Dong. At the end point of the journey through Xuyen Thuy Cave, visitors can climb the mountain to reach Dich Long Cave and Pagoda.
7. The Third Heavenly Cave: Dich Long
Dich Long Cave and Pagoda is a nationally recognized historical and cultural relic located in Gia Thanh commune, Gia Viễn district, Ninh Bình province. It is a scenic complex consisting of a stone shrine (with 16 solid stone columns), the temple dedicated to Ly Quoc Su, a crescent-shaped lake, five three-story towers, and three spans of the Lower Pagoda.
From the Lower Pagoda through Phu Duc Ong, continue climbing another 105 stone steps to reach the cave with the inscription above the entrance: “Nham Son Cave, Co Am Pagoda”. On both sides of the cave entrance are statues of Guardian Deities, and hanging from the cave's vault, 8 meters high, is a bell weighing nearly a ton, cast during the Nguyen Dynasty. In front of the cave is a shrine dedicated to the Goddess of the Forest, the Holy Mother; two jade wells continuously drip water from stalactites, creating a cool atmosphere, and statues of Mr. Thien and Mr. Ac riding on lions. Standing in this courtyard, to the right is a temple with a vaulted cave roof about 20 meters high, 30-40 meters deep, with many statues arranged from outside to inside, from low to high, especially the three statues of the Three Sages of Buddha, cast in gold and bronze during the reign of King Thieu Tri, and the statues of Bodhisattva Quan Am, and Amitabha Buddha carved from solid blue stone.
8. Thung Nham Ecotourism Area
Thung Nham Ecotourism Area is one of the tourist attractions in the core area of the Trang An UNESCO World Heritage Site. This tourist area is located in the Hải Nham hill valley, with the main highlight being the natural Bird Garden and typical cave tourism sites such as: Vai Gioi Cave, Fairy Fish Cave, Water Palace Cave, But Cave, Ba Co Cave, Love Valley, Moving Banyan Tree, Garden of Silence.
9. Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park is a famous eco-tourism destination. Cuc Phuong attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Tourists come here to explore the rich flora and fauna system, admire the beautiful natural landscapes, participate in eco-tourism programs, camping, adventure activities, research, and cultural history. The park's headquarters is located in Cuc Phuong commune, Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh province.
Within the forest area, there are several tourist destinations such as: Ancient People Cave, Moong Child Cave, Crescent Moon Cave, Mountain Palace Cave, Horse Saddle Cave, Fairy Water Cave, Silver Cloud Peak, Yen Quang Lake, Horse Saddle Cave...
10. Van Long Nature Reserve
Not only a nature reserve, the Van Long flooded area is also known for its captivating landscapes. Van Long is dubbed the “bay without waves” because when sailing on the lagoon, tourists will see the water surface as smooth as a giant mirror. The watercolor reflects vividly the strong sculpted lines of the limestone mountains with names like Cat Scratch Mountain, Sticky Rice Mountain, Book Shelf Mountain, Table Mountain, Leaning Mountain, Orphan Mountain, Fairy Mountain… However, the water here is not the blue color of the sea but instead, it is crystal clear, revealing the layers of moss under the bottom.
Van Long area boasts 1000 beautiful caves, many large caves with tourism development potential such as: Fish Cave, Shadow Cave, Turtle Cave, Lime Cave. Fish Cave, in particular, is a magnificent 250m long cave, 8m high, and 10m wide. It is home to breeding grounds for catfish, carp, and banana fish. Shadow Cave is a beautiful cave over 100m long, Duoi Cave with 4 floors, Gateway Cave…
Source: Mytour
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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook
MytourDecember 31, 2015
