Places to go near Hanoi center
Sightseeing
Located in an area rich in clay, the village has advantage of ingredients to create fine ceramics. Moreover, lying besides the Red river, between Thang Long and Pho Hien, two ancient trade centers in the north of Vietnam during 15th-17th century, Bat Trang’s ceramics were favorite products not only in domestic market, but also foreign ones thanks to Japan, Chinese and Western trading boats that passed by.
Visiting Bat Trang, tourists can take a walk or join a buffalo tour for sightseeing and shopping. Besides many ceramic stores along the road in the village, tourists should visit Bat Trang Porcelain and Pottery Market where they can directly make pottery products by themselves.
Bat Trang belongs to Gia lam district of Hanoi. You can catch the bus 47 (Long Bien- Bat Trang) that stop just a few steps from Dong Xuan market with the end terminal in Bat Trang. The bus runs every 20 minutes. You can also ride a motorbike from the center of Hanoi to Bat Trang ( 20 minutes) – rent one or ask a Grab to take you there.
39 當地人推薦
Bat Trang Ceramic Market
Located in an area rich in clay, the village has advantage of ingredients to create fine ceramics. Moreover, lying besides the Red river, between Thang Long and Pho Hien, two ancient trade centers in the north of Vietnam during 15th-17th century, Bat Trang’s ceramics were favorite products not only in domestic market, but also foreign ones thanks to Japan, Chinese and Western trading boats that passed by.
Visiting Bat Trang, tourists can take a walk or join a buffalo tour for sightseeing and shopping. Besides many ceramic stores along the road in the village, tourists should visit Bat Trang Porcelain and Pottery Market where they can directly make pottery products by themselves.
Bat Trang belongs to Gia lam district of Hanoi. You can catch the bus 47 (Long Bien- Bat Trang) that stop just a few steps from Dong Xuan market with the end terminal in Bat Trang. The bus runs every 20 minutes. You can also ride a motorbike from the center of Hanoi to Bat Trang ( 20 minutes) – rent one or ask a Grab to take you there.
Designated as a UNESCO protected world heritage for both cultural and natural values, Trang An is situated just 7 kilometers from Ninh Binh City and it is the highlight of your Ninh Binh trip. Known as Halong Bay on land, Trang An has the landscape as just dramatic as the former, yet it has something more – a tranquil, almost still atmosphere as if time here was stopped.
To visit Trang An, you’ll go by the waterway. You’ll have to hire a boat with a local rower to visit Trang An.
There will usually be a tour of some places around Ninh Binh from Hanoi. You can easily search for one on the internet or at the tourism counter around the old quartar.
17 當地人推薦
長安
Designated as a UNESCO protected world heritage for both cultural and natural values, Trang An is situated just 7 kilometers from Ninh Binh City and it is the highlight of your Ninh Binh trip. Known as Halong Bay on land, Trang An has the landscape as just dramatic as the former, yet it has something more – a tranquil, almost still atmosphere as if time here was stopped.
To visit Trang An, you’ll go by the waterway. You’ll have to hire a boat with a local rower to visit Trang An.
There will usually be a tour of some places around Ninh Binh from Hanoi. You can easily search for one on the internet or at the tourism counter around the old quartar.
Chua Bai Dinh is a colorful Buddhist temple complex that is located on a scenic hill close to Ninh Binh town.
The temple was built in 2014 and has quickly become one of the top attractions in the area.
The entrance leads to walkways which are lined with 500 stone arhats (images of enlightened Buddhists) and inside you will find the Phap Chu Pagoda which extends over some three tiers.
There is also a bronze Buddha inside which weighs 100 tones and is 10 meters high as well as two smaller gilded Buddhas.
This place will also usually on the rout of a Ninh Binh tour, which you can find easily on the internet or tourism counter in the old quartar.
18 當地人推薦
白庭山寺
38 Lê Quang ĐạoChua Bai Dinh is a colorful Buddhist temple complex that is located on a scenic hill close to Ninh Binh town.
The temple was built in 2014 and has quickly become one of the top attractions in the area.
The entrance leads to walkways which are lined with 500 stone arhats (images of enlightened Buddhists) and inside you will find the Phap Chu Pagoda which extends over some three tiers.
There is also a bronze Buddha inside which weighs 100 tones and is 10 meters high as well as two smaller gilded Buddhas.
This place will also usually on the rout of a Ninh Binh tour, which you can find easily on the internet or tourism counter in the old quartar.
Thung Nham Bird Garden is not well known in Ninh Binh but it is a picturesque attraction that is worth a visit.
The park is located in the mountains and is known as a place where a huge number of indigenous species of birds make their nests.
If possible try to visit in the early morning or late afternoon as the trees in the park are covered in a plethora of colorful avians.
In addition to the birds, you can also go fishing in the park and can even camp here depending on the season.
8 當地人推薦
生態旅遊公園鳥園Thung Nham
Thung NhamThung Nham Bird Garden is not well known in Ninh Binh but it is a picturesque attraction that is worth a visit.
The park is located in the mountains and is known as a place where a huge number of indigenous species of birds make their nests.
If possible try to visit in the early morning or late afternoon as the trees in the park are covered in a plethora of colorful avians.
In addition to the birds, you can also go fishing in the park and can even camp here depending on the season.
Hang Mua Peak is known for being one of the most amazing sites in Tam Coc and you will have to walk along some 500 steps to the summit.
It is all worth it when you get to the top however as you can look out over some of the most stunning scenery in Vietnam which include the Red River Delta and the towering mountains.
Make sure to wear proper shoes however, especially in the rainy season as the steps can become slippery when wet.
This is also the same spot that houses the Mua Cave although you can skip this and just trek along the mountain trail if you are not a fan of spelunking.
20 當地人推薦
杭沐岩
Hang Mua Peak is known for being one of the most amazing sites in Tam Coc and you will have to walk along some 500 steps to the summit.
It is all worth it when you get to the top however as you can look out over some of the most stunning scenery in Vietnam which include the Red River Delta and the towering mountains.
Make sure to wear proper shoes however, especially in the rainy season as the steps can become slippery when wet.
This is also the same spot that houses the Mua Cave although you can skip this and just trek along the mountain trail if you are not a fan of spelunking.
Located outside of Ninh Binh town, Tam Coc is one of the best nature destinations in Vietnam although it remains firmly off the tourist trail.
Tam Coc is known for its karst landscape which is similar to the better known Halong Bay, although here you will find some scenic limestone hills which are dotted amongst emerald green rice paddies.
Halong Bay has larger cliffs, although it is also more crowded, so Tam Coc is the place to come if you want to get off the beaten track and you can explore the area by boat which takes around two hours.
Just past Tam Coc you will find one of the most interesting pagodas in the region which dates from the 15th century.
The Bich Dong Pagoda is located on the side of a mountain and is made up of three levels called the Ha, Trung and Thuong Pagodas.
The temples are also built so that they back on to caves which you can also explore as part of a visit here.
As you would expect from pagodas built into a cliff, the path to the top is steep but the views are well worth it.
14 當地人推薦
Tam Cốc-Bích Động
Located outside of Ninh Binh town, Tam Coc is one of the best nature destinations in Vietnam although it remains firmly off the tourist trail.
Tam Coc is known for its karst landscape which is similar to the better known Halong Bay, although here you will find some scenic limestone hills which are dotted amongst emerald green rice paddies.
Halong Bay has larger cliffs, although it is also more crowded, so Tam Coc is the place to come if you want to get off the beaten track and you can explore the area by boat which takes around two hours.
Just past Tam Coc you will find one of the most interesting pagodas in the region which dates from the 15th century.
The Bich Dong Pagoda is located on the side of a mountain and is made up of three levels called the Ha, Trung and Thuong Pagodas.
The temples are also built so that they back on to caves which you can also explore as part of a visit here.
As you would expect from pagodas built into a cliff, the path to the top is steep but the views are well worth it.
Mai Chau is a beautiful valley & has been the home of local Thai enthics for a long time.The same distance as travelling to Halong bay, but drive in 4 hours to the northwest with magnificent mountain view, then reach beautiful Mai Chau valley.
Trip to Mai Chau offers you with different travel routes ( trekking or biking) to many remote villages in the regions.You will have nice chances to experience local farming activities, enjoy local foods, their traditional dances & interact with friendly locals in their lovely rural hamlets.For more remote villages & picturesque scenery, you can extend your trip to Pu Luong nature reserve or Moc Chau plateau.
Distance from Hanoi : 160km, in 4 hour drive
Transfer options : car transfer to Mai Chau, motobike.
Mai Châu District
Mai Chau is a beautiful valley & has been the home of local Thai enthics for a long time.The same distance as travelling to Halong bay, but drive in 4 hours to the northwest with magnificent mountain view, then reach beautiful Mai Chau valley.
Trip to Mai Chau offers you with different travel routes ( trekking or biking) to many remote villages in the regions.You will have nice chances to experience local farming activities, enjoy local foods, their traditional dances & interact with friendly locals in their lovely rural hamlets.For more remote villages & picturesque scenery, you can extend your trip to Pu Luong nature reserve or Moc Chau plateau.
Distance from Hanoi : 160km, in 4 hour drive
Transfer options : car transfer to Mai Chau, motobike.
The Huong Pagoda (English: Perfume Pagoda, Vietnamese: Chùa Hương) is a vast complex of Buddhist temples and shrines built into the limestone Huong Tich mountains. It is the site of a religious festival which draws large numbers of pilgrims from across Vietnam. The centre of the Huong Temple lies in Huong Son Commune, My Duc District, former Ha Tay Province (now Hanoi). The centre of this complex is the Perfume Temple, also known as Chua Trong (Inner Temple), located in Huong Tich Cave.
The journey to the Perfume Pagoda is itself an interesting experience. Located about 60km southwest of Hanoi in the Huong Son Mountain range you will need to take a car for around two hours before boarding a wooden or iron boat to reach the temple complex.
The boat journeys down a narrow flowing steam fringed by rice fields, temples and grass and you will have the option to stop and visit some of these temples. However, if you are short of time its best to head straight to Huong Tich Cave. It’s an uphill walk to the Perfume Pagoda which will take around one hour and things can get slippery, so remember to bring walking shoes or boots.
Perfume Pagoda
The Huong Pagoda (English: Perfume Pagoda, Vietnamese: Chùa Hương) is a vast complex of Buddhist temples and shrines built into the limestone Huong Tich mountains. It is the site of a religious festival which draws large numbers of pilgrims from across Vietnam. The centre of the Huong Temple lies in Huong Son Commune, My Duc District, former Ha Tay Province (now Hanoi). The centre of this complex is the Perfume Temple, also known as Chua Trong (Inner Temple), located in Huong Tich Cave.
The journey to the Perfume Pagoda is itself an interesting experience. Located about 60km southwest of Hanoi in the Huong Son Mountain range you will need to take a car for around two hours before boarding a wooden or iron boat to reach the temple complex.
The boat journeys down a narrow flowing steam fringed by rice fields, temples and grass and you will have the option to stop and visit some of these temples. However, if you are short of time its best to head straight to Huong Tich Cave. It’s an uphill walk to the Perfume Pagoda which will take around one hour and things can get slippery, so remember to bring walking shoes or boots.