Trang An Boat Dock
 Trang An is also known as Halong Bay on land because of its towering limestone karsts covered with tropical plants and conjoint by emerald rice fields and rivers.   Trang An has more than 600 species of plants, 200 species of animals, many of which are in Vietnam's red list. The aquatic ecosystem consists of about 30 species of zooplanktons, 40 species of benthos, including many rare species, especially striped neck turtles that need to be protected. It also has more than 310 types of rare and precious plants such as cycas, sua, Indian mahogany, orchids, Chinese yam, honeysuckle, juniper, lettuce, etc. and endangered animal species such as mainland serow, leopard, phoenix pheasant.
 Trang An was officially recognized as World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 23 June 2014 based on three criteria: culture, aestheticism and geology – geomorphology.

WHAT TO SEE
Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel covers an area of about 3 km2. , The ancient citadel does not exist now but there are still 2 temples remain from 10th Century, they are King Dinh Temple  and King Le Temple

Tam Coc, literally "three caves or three grottoes", consists of three natural caves — Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba — on the Ngo Đong River. Tourists are taken in small boats along the river from the village of Van Lam, through rice fields and limestone karsts, through the caves, and back. Tam Coc is a must-see place when you visit Ninh Binh

                                Boat Trip in Tam Coc

Trang An ecological area includes of river network and grottoes, there are 31 wetlands connected by 48 caves, including 2 km of water caves, such as Dia Linh cave, Sinh Du cave or May cave. having a boat trip through caves that you can experience the feeling of thrill and admire the strange shapes on the caves when the boat enters the deep grottoes.

Bai Dinh pagoda or Bai Dinh Pagoda Spiritual and Cultural Complex is situated on Bai Dinh Mountain in Gia Vien District, just a few kms from Trang An ecological area. It consists of old pagoda and new large pagoda with over 500 intricately carved statues of Buddha, including one that’s made of bronze and is 10 metres in height. Bao Thap Tower is about 100m height, with 13 floors, 72 steps of stairs, holding sacred Buddha relics from India and Burma.

                            Bai Dinh Pagoda

Thung Nham Bird Park is about 9 kms from Tam Coc Bich Dong and in the core area of Trang An landscape complex, this area is surrounded by mountains and tropical forests. It is home to 46 bird species with about 50,000 individuals, popularly storks, cauldrons, pelicans, flamingos, herons, red cranes, silver teals, white-rumped shamas… Many of them are recorded in Viet Nam Red Book.

Mua Cave is located in Mua Mountain, Khe Ha village, Ninh Xuan Commune, The way leading to the cave formed by a long stone staircase zigzags through the karst, there are nearly 500 steps to a simple altar to Quan Am (the Goddess of Mercy), from the top of this mountain you will have the best panoramic view of Trang An and Tam Coc.

                                              Mua Cave
Bich Dong Pagoda is located in Truong Yen Mountain, Ninh Hai Village consists of 3 pagoda called Ha(Lower), Trung (Middle) and Thuong ( Upper) which are connected by stone steps from the bottom up to a cave. It was first built in 1428 and expanded in 1705 by the two monks Tri Kien and Tri The, This is a combination of ancient pagodas with cross-covered roofs, natural caves and majestic mountains.

WHAT TO DO
- With the variety of river network in Trang An Complex, It's very popular for everyone to take rowing boat trip in Trang An ecological area, Tam Coc and Thung Nham Bird Park to enjoy beautiful sceneries on the way.
- Biking trip: the countryside roads in Trang An are very beautiful with rice fields, river, and limestone mountains, a cycling trip on the village road must be an interesting activity to discover the countryside.
- Homestay tour: Over night at homestay in Tam Coc and Trang An is a good experience to discover the daily lives of the local people
- Enjoy local specialities: Ninh Binh is very famous for Scorched Rice ( Com chay), goat meat and Kim Son whisky, If you visit Trang An, please do not forget tasting this specialities.

HOW TO VISIT TRANG AN
Trang An Landscape Complex is just about 100kms from Hanoi, 10 kms from Ninh Binh City and closed to Highway No1 so It's very easy to get there.
By public buses: There are many bus stations in Hanoi, you can catch a bus easily to Ninh Binh City then go to Trang An by taxi or xe om, the cost for bus ticket from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is about 4 usd

By tourist buses: Tourist buses depart everyday from Hanoi Old Quarter to Ninh Binh City, the cost is about 6 usd/ticket

By train: There are many trains depart from Hanoi Train Station to Ninh Binh City every day, the cost for a soft sleeper is about 11 usd/ticket, a soft seat is about 6 usd/ticket

Private car: It's very easy to hire a private car from your hotel to Trang An, the cost is about 70 usd/day

Book a tour package: You can join a group tour of back packers travel agency in Hanoi old quarter or a private tour with higher services from many online travel agency in Hanoi