Ninh Binh

Three temples carved into a limestone mountain, dating from the 15th-century reign of Le Thai To. The lower temple has a stone next to it that resonates when tapped, plus a Buddha footprint. The middle temple has an 18th-century bell, a cave and resonating pillars. The top temple has a view of the surrounding countryside, which is good for sunsets.

Only very few tourists wander into this secluded valley. There is a shop selling some drinks and ice cream, but which might be closed. There is a boat advertising a tour into a 350m deep cave, a wide peaceful field with some goats and then there is the 15min walking tour through a cave. The guide babbles about in Vietnamese only, shows various fossil shells and funny shaped wall markings, stalagmites and stalactites and even turns your head into the right direction to look using his hands.

The cave here is an afterthought; the main draws are the two hilltop viewpoints. 500 steps will lead you to the first peak, an unimpressive temple with incredibly stunning views over Tam Coc and Ninh Binh’s countryside, including a large lotus flower field at the bottom (should bloom in June/July). On the second slightly higher peak, there is a long dragon statue which you can climb around.
Caution when arriving by bike or motorbike: On the street leading up to the entrance gate there are multiple places trying to convince you that they're the official parking spot, some even utilizing whistles or intimidation tactics. Don't listen to them, you can drive right up to the gate and park there for 10,000 dong.

Entrance ticket includes two boat rides, one in a cave with sleeping bats and one to the conservation bird park. Some very beautiful flower gardens, tree areas and bamboo bridges. You are allowed to bring your own bicycle inside and cycle around. Useful too as its about 1.3km from ticket office to park entrance with a steep hill to get over.

A quieter limestone valley located beyond the main tourist routes of Tam Coc, with rice fields, small waterways, and surrounding karst formations. The area is characterized by a rural landscape where visitors may encounter farming activities, grazing animals, and narrow paths connecting small plots of land. In some parts of the valley, waterways extend into natural cave sections, including a longer water cave noted locally for its clear water and its connection between areas of the valley. The surroundings include a mix of open fields, forested sections, and agricultural land, offering a more secluded environment compared to the busier boat routes. The valley is sometimes explored on foot, by bicycle, or by small boat, depending on the area and season. Visitors seeking a quieter alternative to the main tourist areas may find this area suitable for slower exploration.

A small museum presenting aspects of traditional Vietnamese rural life. Exhibits include rice cultivation, grain processing, and traditional tools used in farming communities.

Huge Buddhist complex, the largest in Vietnam, with the largest pagoda tower of Vietnam (100 m high, has elevator). Most of it was built between 2003 and 2010, so it's in exceptionally good shape. A visit can easily take 4 hours due to the sheer size of the complex. At night, most buildings are lit up, creating absolutely magnificent sights. Access is free but notoriously difficult without taking a shuttle e-mobile from the parking lot, because the parking lot is 3 km from the entrance, at the completely opposite end of the precincts. For the shuttles, there are several options.
If you want to see the best building sights or came mainly for the large tower, take option 2 for 150,000 dong (option 1 for 100,000 dong if you don't want to go up the tower) to the northern main gate and walk counterclockwise around the walls. After 15-30 minutes you will have seen the best views and be at the tower. From there you can continue to the Buddha on the hill or to the absurdly large main hall if desired. Once you have seen enough, return to the west of the main gate and the shuttle will bring you back to the parking lot.
If on the other hand you come here for the cultural and religious value of the site, or want to walk as little as possible, take the hop-on-hop-off bus with option 3 for 250,000 dong, bringing you clockwise around the interior of the complex. On the mountain in the back you can visit the original ancient temple buildings.

The ancient capital during Dinh (968-80) and Le dynasties (980-1009). Little remains from this period, but there are a few large temples and monuments built from the 1600s on: the temple of Dinh Tien Hoang, the temple of King Le Dai Hahn, Nhat Tru Pagoda, and on top of a hill, Dinh Tien Hoang's tomb. Consider a guide, as there is little interpretive information (or even useful maps) onsite. There are also boat trips on the river to Xuyen Thuy cave, less spectacular than other caves in the area.