Buzz
The 'Enchanting Gorge' is not far from Hanoi. You can visit this mysterious and martial arts-themed landscape in Ninh Binh with your friends in a day.
A day exploring the 'Enchanting Gorge' in Ninh Binh is trending among the youth
Recently, travelers have been passing on word of a place nicknamed the 'Enchanting Gorge' in Vietnam, with a beauty that rivals famous martial arts landscapes.
It's the Am Tien cave temple located in the heritage complex of the ancient capital Hoa Lu, where King Dinh Tien Hoang once raised tigers, built a training ground, and where Queen Dương Vân Nga practiced asceticism in her later years.
To visit this place, starting from Hanoi, you can choose a 2-day-1-night trip to also explore Trang An, Bai Dinh... But if you don't have much time, you can completely explore Am Tien within 24 hours.
Am Tien Cave Temple is about 100 km from Hanoi.
- 7:00 AM: Depart from Hanoi, travel by car or motorbike, but it's recommended to use a motorbike to actively combine visits to other tourist spots.
+ If traveling by motorbike: Go straight on National Highway 1A towards Ninh Binh city. Then, turn right to Trang An scenic area or Hoa Lu ancient capital, continue until you reach Am Tien. As this is a tourist area, there are detailed road signs, making it easy to navigate.
+ If traveling by bus: You can catch a bus at Giap Bat or My Dinh bus stations (Hanoi) to Ninh Binh for about 60,000-100,000 VND per person. With a travel time of about 2 hours, you can reach the center of Ninh Binh city. Ask the driver to drop you off near Hoa Lu Hotel, from here you can take a motorbike taxi or taxi to Am Tien.
- 9:30 AM: Arrive at Am Tien Cave Temple. The place is currently under renovation so there are not many accompanying services. Park your motorbike at the gate, lock it carefully, then start your visit. You can also hire a local guide for 5,000 VND.
- 10:00 AM: Start the tour. You will be impressed by the 360-degree view of mountains, creating a unique world. The majestic mountains here are poetic but with a hint of sadness, exuding an ancient vibe that many young people love.
Most of the area around Am Tien Cave is a waterlogged valley, surrounded by cliffs. Legend has it that King Dinh raised tigers here and threw those sentenced to death into the water. Those who escaped were considered innocent.
To enter the cave, after passing through the gate, you walk down a path on the left side, next to a wide water pond filled with lotus, guns, carp, and turtles. The water here is exceptionally clear, allowing you to see the bottom with many mosses. It is said that this place used to be a fish pond in ancient times.
After visiting and taking photos at the fish pond, you climb up to Am Tien Cave on the back of the mountain, crossing 205 stone steps through the mountain wall. The cave resembles the mouth of a dragon, hence it is also called Dragon Cave.
On the mountain is the Am Tien Temple. This is also where Queen Dương Vân Nga practiced asceticism in her final years. You can go in to burn incense and admire the temple's scenery. With its high position, you will see the entire beautiful landscape of the 'Enchanting Gorge.'
- 12:30 PM: After finishing the visit around noon, you can have lunch and enjoy the specialties of the ancient capital, among which the most famous is mountain goat meat served with crispy rice. Outside the cave temple, on the main road, you can find many goat meat eateries, such as Đức Dê, Thăng Long Restaurant, Hoàng Giang...
- 2:00 PM: After lunch and a rest, you can take advantage of the afternoon to visit more of the nearby Hoa Lu ancient capital or explore Bai Dinh or Trang An. However, visiting these two famous tourist spots will take about 4-5 hours, so you will return very late.
It's best to visit the Hoa Lu ancient capital complex. Here, you'll find historical relics such as the temples of King Dinh Tien Hoang, King Le Dai Hanh, the mausoleum of King Dinh, and the mausoleum of King Le... The entrance fee is 20,000 VND per person.
Returning to Hoa Lu, you'll immerse yourself in the beautiful natural scenery of this sacred land, admire the remaining relics of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, and learn more about the history of the nation.
- 5:00 PM: Return to Hanoi after a fascinating day of exploration in the ancient land.
Some notes:
- If traveling by motorbike, make sure to bring all necessary documents and obey traffic laws everywhere, including within tourist areas.
- Bring a lock to secure your belongings when there are no locals available to park your vehicle.
- Bring water to avoid dehydration when hiking. Am Tien Cave has limited tourism services.
- Wear practical and safe clothing, especially for hiking. Both Am Tien Cave and the Hoa Lu ancient capital require hiking and walking.
Source: Thao Nhi/Zing News
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourDecember 27, 2016
