Top 11 Tips for Exploring Tràng An - Bái Đính Ninh Bình Independently - Mytour.vn

2. Transportation to Tràng An - Bái Đính

Traveling from Hanoi to Tràng An covers a distance of about 93km, offering multiple transportation options based on preferences and conditions. You can choose to commute using your own means such as a motorbike or car, or opt for public transport like buses or coaches.

Personal Vehicles: For those who enjoy freedom and group travel, using a motorbike for an adventurous trip takes just over 2 hours from Hanoi to Tràng An - Bái Đính. Alternatively, for group or family travel, consider choosing a car for a quick and comfortable journey. From Hanoi to Tràng An - Bái Đính, follow the Văn Điền – Thường Tính route, running along National Highway 1A, to reach Tràng An, Ninh Bình. If driving, take the Pháp Vân – Cầu Giẽ route and head straight on National Highway 1A for the fastest route.

Bus, Coach: If you prefer bus or coach travel, numerous daily departures from Hanoi to Ninh Bình are available. However, departure times may vary, so contact the bus company in advance for additional information.

For those traveling from the Southern or Central regions and wanting to visit Tràng An - Bái Đính, consider taking a flight to Hanoi and then catching a ride to Tràng An, Ninh Bình. Additionally, there are rental services for private vehicles, such as limousines from various provinces to Ninh Bình, providing convenience for your journey.

As the trip to Trang An - Bai Dinh can be quite lengthy, it's advisable to gear up for the summer with sun-resistant attire, a hat, and sunscreen to avoid sunburn. In the rainy season, pack a convenient, compact raincoat. Since you'll be hiking and exploring temples, opt for comfortable athletic shoes instead of high heels or ballet flats to protect your feet and make it easier to navigate the terrain.

When visiting Trang An, you'll explore caves by boat, so if you have a life jacket, bring it along; otherwise, you can rent one there. Regarding clothing, pack according to your stay's duration—just enough and not too much to avoid unnecessary bulk. Personal items like toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and conditioner are essential, and don't forget your camera to capture these valuable moments!

Additionally, if you visit this tourist destination during peak season, be cautious and prepared for potential incidents like theft. Therefore, organize your luggage and handle it with care.

If you plan to take a break and stay overnight, it won't be challenging, as most guesthouses and hotels are located in the center of Ninh Binh city. Finding suitable accommodations in Ninh Binh is not too difficult, but to avoid overpaying, it's advisable to book in advance for more control. You can book rooms on online platforms such as agoda.com, booking.com, etc.

Travelers should book accommodation 2 weeks to 1 month before the trip to manage time effectively and avoid room shortages during peak seasons.

For those with personal transportation, there's no need to worry too much about this. However, if you arrive in Trang An by bus or coach upon reaching Ninh Binh city, you can get to Trang An – Bai Dinh by taxi, motorbike taxi, or rent a motorbike to explore on your own. It can be quite fascinating, as Trang An has many beautiful routes passing through various famous tourist spots. Riding a motorbike allows you to stop at several places to fully appreciate the beauty of Trang An.

Due to the abundance of caves, mountains, and streams in Trang An, you can rent a boat to visit these locations. Additionally, for the vast Bai Dinh area, to save time, consider renting an electric vehicle for sightseeing. Ticket prices are fixed, so you can travel around Bai Dinh with peace of mind. If you prefer not to rent an electric vehicle, you can also explore the Bai Dinh area on foot to visit the temples and Buddha statues.

Trang An - Bai Dinh boasts numerous tourist spots, but some stand out as representative, embodying the beauty of the entire tourist area. A few highly recommended places for your reference include:

Bai Dinh Pagoda: One of the largest pagodas in Vietnam, a famous spiritual tourist destination with records for the number of statues and the vastness of the temple. When visiting, you don't need to worry much about preparations. All ceremonial items and incense are readily available; you just need to prepare essential personal belongings. Especially, dress modestly and respectfully as it is a highly spiritual place.

Kong Skull Island Film Set: The Kong Skull Island film set recreates the African tribal camps as seen in the movie.

Cave System in Trang An: The most intriguing aspect of Trang An is cruising on a boat along the water to explore 12 magnificent and captivating caves. Each cave has its own unique charm, leaving every visitor in awe of this place. During the journey, tourists will visit the Wine Cooking Cave, approximately 250 meters in length. Additionally, other caves such as Bright Cave, Son Duong Cave, Tran Cave, Khong Cave, and Quy Mau Cave are locations you wouldn't want to miss. Each cave possesses a distinct beauty not found everywhere.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is the capital of ancient Dai Co Viet, linked to the legend of 'Lau flag training' by Dinh Bo Linh. This historical site includes the temples of King Dinh and King Le.

Tam Coc: Here, you will explore caves in Tam Coc and large limestone caves such as Fish Cave, Middle Cave, and Last Cave. Immerse yourself in the majestic natural scenery with a gentle boat ride on the Ngô Đồng River, admiring the vibrant green fields on both sides of the river.

Bich Dong: To reach Bich Dong, you'll have to climb steep stone steps similar to those at the Tran Temple. This attraction is free to visit.

Trang An Ecotourism Area in the Ninh Binh tourist complex is likened to a 'Dry Halong Bay' with a diverse system of limestone mountains and natural caves. The harmonious beauty of sky, land, mountains, and rivers in Trang An creates a lively, charming, and fascinating natural world like no other.

You can refer to the service prices below (please note that ticket prices may change during holidays, Tet, etc.):

• Spiritual tourist area Bai Dinh Pagoda, electric car service: 30,000 VND/person/ride.
• Visit Bao Thap: 50,000 VND/person/visit.
• Tour of Van Long lagoon area: 20,000 VND/person for the tour, 60,000 VND/person for boat ride.
• Visit Tuyet Tinh Coc, entrance ticket, and parking fee: 30,000 VND.
• Buy tickets to visit Mua Cave: 100,000 VND/person.
• Trang An Ecotourism Cave System: 200,000 VND/guest – children under 1m40: 100,000 VND/guest.
• Trang An Ancient Area: 45,000 VND/person.
• Tam Coc entrance fee: 120,000 VND for adults, 60,000 VND for children. Additionally, for a boat ride, you need to pay an extra 150,000 VND for 4 people.

Don't forget to buy some souvenirs to give to friends, family, or keep as a memory when you visit this place. According to the experience of many, you should buy a few meaningful items such as:

Rice Cracker: The most famous specialty of Ninh Binh, this delicacy is available at many places around Trang An. You can stop by and buy some as gifts for friends and family.

Dong Giao Pineapple: A specialty of Ninh Binh, these pineapples are large, with few eyes, and have a delicious, perfectly sweet taste.

Handicrafts from Coi: Kim Son, near the Trang An area, is famous for its handicraft village with various items made from bamboo. There is a wide variety of designs and products. You can choose something as a gift or to keep as a memorable souvenir.

One special note is: Before buying souvenirs or using any services, be sure to inquire about the prices to avoid overcharging.

Aside from the tourist attractions of Trang An – Bai Dinh, visitors are also drawn to delicious and unique dishes such as:

Ninh Binh Rice Cake: The flavor of this rice cake is distinct from other places due to its preparation and ingredients. Each cake has a different color and is made from pumpkin, pineapple, pandan leaves, boiled with pomelo flowers and a touch of chrysanthemum to enhance the tempting taste of the famous Ninh Binh rice cake.

Sour Soup with Snakehead Fish: The snakehead fish here is exceptional, with rich and flavorful meat compared to other places. The dish is simple to prepare, with pickled mustard greens sautéed with tomatoes, deep-fried crispy snakehead fish added to the soup, and simmered for a while. The sour soup is delicious, and the crispy snakehead fish is so tempting that just thinking about it makes you crave it.

Mountain Goat: This is the most famous specialty of Ninh Binh. The goats roam freely in rocky mountain areas, primarily eating leaves and valuable medicinal herbs. As a result, the flavor of Ninh Binh mountain goat meat is unique. Dishes made from Ninh Binh mountain goat, such as raw goat blood salad, grilled goat, bamboo shoots with goat, are all delicious and appealing to every tourist's taste buds.

Field Crab Roasted in Wild Betel Leaves: These field crabs are caught in rice fields, and the dishes made from them, although simple, carry the rustic taste of the homeland. To add more excitement to your trip, don't miss this special dish.

Eel Vermicelli Soup: The eels in Ninh Binh are fat, sweet, and naturally flavorful. Choosing eels that are small, with a pinkish-brown back and a golden belly, ensures firm and succulent meat. Skillfully crafted by experienced chefs, the eel vermicelli soup with a broth made from eel bones is rich, sweet, and aromatic. Just passing by the eel vermicelli soup stalls, you'll be treated to the enticing aroma.

Scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, or other social networks, you will likely come across stunning photos of young people checking in at Ninh Binh. Ninh Binh is truly beautiful!

However, to capture an outstanding photo, you need to prepare the most glamorous outfits. Boho dresses, traditional costumes are very popular here. There are many costume rental services for photo shoots at Trang An. Contact them to rent outfits and capture glamorous photos. Visiting Bai Dinh - Trang An without a fabulous check-in photo to show off to friends or colleagues would be a missed opportunity.

Mytour will help you synthesize some Trang An travel itineraries combined with other tourist destinations in the area such as Bai Dinh, Hoa Lu, Tam Coc Bich Dong for your reference. Depending on your actual time, you can add or shorten the number of days to suit.

Hanoi – Trang An – Bai Dinh – Hoa Lu (1 day):

• In the morning, depart from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, if you take the expressway, it only takes over 1 hour to reach Ninh Binh City. From here, start going to Trang An tourist area.
• Around 9 am, start exploring Trang An by boat, depending on the itinerary, it may take about 2-3 hours to explore this place. After leaving Trang An, visit the Hoa Lu ancient capital, visit the temples of King Dinh and King Le. Take a rest and have lunch at a restaurant.
• In the afternoon, visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, which is a very famous temple complex in Vietnam with many confirmed records. Finish the journey and return to Hanoi.

Hanoi – Phat Diem Church – Trang An – Bai Dinh (2 days 1 night):

• Day 1: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Phat Diem – Thien Ha Cave: Depart from Hanoi straight to Phat Diem stone church. This is a complex of Catholic churches with unique and outstanding architecture, mainly built with stone and wood over a long period from 1875 to 1899. Rest and have lunch. In the afternoon, visit Thien Ha Cave. Although the cave is not large, because it is located right in the Tương mountain range, which is part of the natural wall that protects the Hoa Lu citadel in the 10th century, Thien Ha Cave is sought after by many tourists to learn more about the ancient capital region. In the evening, return to Ninh Binh City, rent a hotel in Ninh Binh City to rest, in the evening, remember to enjoy the specialties of Ninh Binh.
• Day 2: Trang An – Hoa Lu – Bai Dinh – Hanoi: From Ninh Binh City, move to Trang An tourist area, choose 1 of 2 routes to explore Trang An. After finishing the journey here, continue to go to the ancient capital Hoa Lu to visit the temples of King Dinh and King Le. Before returning to Hanoi, make sure to visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, a newly built temple with many Vietnamese records established.