Trang An Boat Tour – Ninh Binh, Vietnam (Travel Guide + Tips)

TRANG AN BOAT TOUR

Trang An Landscape Complex is an area in the province of Ninh Binh that showcases a magnificent landscape of limestone rock formations or karsts, rice paddy fields, and an intricate system of subterranean waterways. Here in Trang An is where the ancient capital of Hoa Lu is situated which is why several dozen monuments like temples, tombs, pagodas, and grottoes can be found. These wonders can be visited by Ninh Binh’s Trang An Boat Tour.

As part of our Vietnam trip, we booked a travel tour to Ninh Binh that includes the following destinations: Hang Mua Viewpoints, Trang An Boat Tour, and the Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex. The Trang An Boat Tour is the highlight of our trip. Being the nature lover that I am, I was extremely stunned by the beauty of the landscape in Trang An.

NATURE AND FANTASY

We rode a boat good for 4-5 persons that was being rowed by a nice Vietnamese woman. The boat ride felt like I was in The Lord of the Rings. It felt like an adventure going on a journey around the world and seeing different bodies of nature. As our boat traveled along the river, lush green mountains surrounded us, then we passed through multiple lit caves where we had to bend to avoid stalactites and to fit ourselves into narrow openings.

Going out of the caves, instead of The Argonath, towering limestone karsts unfolded in front of us. It is very fascinating to see limestone structures of different shapes. When I looked down, there were unusual things under the water, it reminded me of The Dead Marshes, but instead of the dead, they were underwater plants. It was strange and tickled my curiosity. I suddenly thought that maybe the area was high and filled with plants, then because of an event, the area was filled with water and left the plants underwater. After a long time, the plants adapted and were able to survive underwater. This is just a playful theory but that encounter is magical to me.

What added to the boat ride’s charm are the wooden structures that can be found standing in the middle of nowhere — Temples and pagodas following traditional Vietnamese architecture that were hidden there through time. This was a long ride but despite that and the heat of the sun, this tour was one of my favorites in our Vietnam trip. If you are a nature lover or a fantasy world creator, Trang An is a place where you can relax and get inspiration.

WANT TO KNOW MORE DESTINATIONS IN NINH BINH? CHECK MY VIETNAM PAGE!

TRAVEL GUIDE & TIPS

LOCATION:

•  Trang An Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh, Vietnam

HOW TO GET THERE:

a. BY TRAIN/BUS:

• Take a train/bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. TRAIN/BUS TICKETS TO NINH BINH VIA 12GO (Travel Time: 2 Hours & 30 Minutes; Fare: 120,000 VND ~ 195,000 VND)
• From Ninh Binh, take a taxi or a motor-taxi or book a Grab to Di sản Tràng An (Travel Time: 15 Minutes)

b. CAR RENTAL:

•  CAR RENTALS IN HANOI VIA DISCOVER CARS

c. TRAVEL TOURS:

• TRANG AN TRAVEL TOURS VIA VIATOR
• TRANG AN TRAVEL TOURS VIA KLOOK
• TRANG AN TRAVEL TOURS VIA GETYOURGUIDE

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

All year-round. Each season offers its own charm.

• Spring: Unique festivals happen here like Tran An Festival and Co Lau Festival.
• Summer: You’ll witness golden rice fields and fragrant lotus ponds.
• Autumn: The weather becomes pleasant and cool, perfect for outdoor activities.
• Winter: Trang An transforms into a misty fairyland.

RATES:

• Entrance Fee (Adults): 250,000 VND/Person
• Entrance Fee (Seniors): 125,000 VND/Person
• Entrance Fee (Children: 1~1.3 meters tall): 120,000 VND/Person
• Entrance Fee (Children: Under 1 meter tall): FREE
• Private Boat (4-5 Persons): 1,250,000 VND/1 Boat
• Tour Guide Fee: 300,000 VND/Tour
• Single Kayak (1 Person): 250,000 ~ 300,000 VND/Boat
• Double Kayak (2 Persons): 350,000 ~ 400,000 VND/Boat

ACCOMMODATIONS:

• ACCOMMODATIONS IN NINH BINH
• Mua Caves Ecolodge (Hang Mua)
• Bai Dinh Hotel (Located inside Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex)
• Emeralda Resort Tam Cốc
• The Goat Boutique Resort
• Liberty Hall Tam Coc Hotel & Villa
• Tam Cốc Retreat Ninh Bình
• Tam Coc Minh Hung Homestay
• ACCOMMODATIONS IN HANOI
• Madelise Palace Hotel & Spa
• Hanoi Graceful Hotel
• Ha Noi Memory Central Hotel & Spa
• Amira Hotel Hanoi
• Le Chanvre Hotel & Spa

POWER PACK:

• Insect Repellant
• Sunscreen
• Mini Fan
• Dry Bag
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Water Bottle
• Extra Clothes

CHECK OUT THESE DISCOUNTED/PROMO RATES FROM KLOOK:

• Hanoi Half-Day Tour with Vietnam Army Legendary Jeep
• Bai Dinh – Trang An – Mua Cave Tour from Ha Noi
• 3D2N Exploring Sapa Local Village Tour from Hanoi
• [Route 1+2] 3D2N Halong Bay Deluxe Cruise from Ha Noi by Phoenix Cruise
• Hoa Lu, Tam Coc/Trang An, and Mua Cave Day Tour from Hanoi

Klook.com

CONNECT:

• Website: https://disantrangan.vn/
• Contact Number: +84 229 3620 335

NOTES:

• OPERATING HOURS: 6:00 A.M. – 4:45 P.M. (Summer, Holidays & New Year); 7:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. (Winter)
• TICKET SALE: 6:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (Mondays to Fridays); 6:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (Saturdays to Sundays)
• TRANG AN BOAT TOUR ROUTES:
  • • Route 1: Boat Station – Trinh Temple – Dark Cave – Bright Cave – Nau Ruou Cave – Tran Temple – Ba Giot Cave – Seo Cave – Son Duong Cave – Phu Khong – Bao Hieu Pagoda – Khong Cave – Tran Cave – Quy Hau Cave – Return to the Boat Station (Duration Time: 3.5 – 4.5 Hours)
    • Route 2: Boat wharf – Lam Cave – Vang Cave – Thanh Truot Cave – Suoi Tien Temple – Dai Cave – Hanh Cung Vu Lam – Return to the Boat Wharf (Duration Time: 2.5 – 3 Hours)
    • Route 3: Boat station – Trinh Temple – Cloud Cave – Suoi Tien – Dia Linh Cave – Dai Cave – Hanh Cung Vu Lam – Kong film studio (aboriginal village) – Return to the Boat Station (Duration Time: 3 – 3.5 Hours)
• Route 3 is the route most chosen by tourists because on the way back you will pass through some sites of route 2. Take Route 1 if you want a spiritual journey.
• Wear comfortable clothing because you’ll be under the sun but also wear decorously as you will be visiting religious sites.
• Bring water, a cap, and an extra umbrella as you will be sailing under the heat of the sun.
• Be careful when going through the caves, you need to bend over to avoid the stalactites and narrow openings in the caves.
• The boat ride is long so be prepared to sit for a long time.
• Restrooms can be found in the locations of the temples.

©CHASEJASE