HoaLu ancient capital.                                              

In 968, Dinh Bo Linh ascended to the throne and took the name of King Dinh Tien Hoang.. the country was then called Dai Co Viet and Hoa Lu was its capital for 41 years. In 1010, Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long. Hoa Lu is 13km from Ninh Binh city, near the village of Truong  Yen. Tourist visiting Hoa Lu can see two temple located 500m apart from each other on the ground of the ancient palaces. One is dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang and the other to King Le Dai Hanh. On the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, a great number pf pilgrims come to Hoa Lu to pay tribute to Kings Dinh and Le.

Kinh Dinh & Le Temples

Dinh Temple is located in truong Yen Ha village, Hoa Lu district. It was built in the shape of a Chinese character. After the first entrance, called Ngo Mon, there is a royal stone bed with Nghe standing on both sides. Outside the temple, is  Khai Thanh sanctuary dedicated to the parents of King Dinh. The temple is divided in three sanctuary: Bai Duong, for the community Thien Huong, in honor of mandarins, and Chinh Cung where  the statue of Dinh Tien Hoang is located. On the leaf is the statue of his eldest son DinhLien. On the right are statues of Dinh Hanh Lang and Dinh Toan. On each side of the altar, there is a stone dragon similar to the ones placed near royal beds. Le Temple is situated in Truong Yen Thuong village, Hoa Lu district, 500m from Dinh Temple. In terms of architectural design, Le Temple is very similar to Ding Temple, but smaller. It also consists of three parts: Bai Duong, used for the community, Thien Huong, in memory of the royal mandarins of the Le King, and the altar in memory of the King. The statue of Le Hoan is at the centre, on the leaf is the statue of Queen Duong van Nga and on the right is that of Le Ngoa Trieu his fith son and third King of the First Le Dynasty.

Bich Dong cave

Bich Dong cave is in the Ngu Nhac Son mountains, in Dam Khe village, Ninh Hai quarter, Hoa Lu district. Bich cave is said to be the second most beautiful cave in Viet Nam.

Tam Coc

Take a boat from Van Lam Wharf to reach the Tam Coc caves, consisting of the Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba caves. These caves are adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colors that sparkle like gemstones. Tam Coc is 3 km from Van Lam Wharf.

Cuc Phuong National Park

The Cuc Phuong National Park is about 120 km southwest of Ha Noi and 60 km far from the sea. The Park is located on the borders of three provinces of Ninh binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. The Park covers an area of 22,000 ha, three quarter of which are limestone mountains, averagely 30 – 600m above sea level. The high-test peak is called May Bac (Silver cloud) 648.2m high. There, the climate is characterized by tropical monsoons, the average temperature during the year is around 24.7, the mean humidity is 90%. The terrain of the Park is complicated and not easy for trekking through forest. However, this primitive  forest with its unique landscape is attractive to tourists the most. The Park boasts wonderful caves with numerous mysteries. If you have time, you should explore the caves of Trang Khuyet, Chua, Thuy Tien…. You should not miss a hot spring for relaxation. The Park is also home to hundred of beautiful and strange birds and butterflies. Access to Cuc Phuong National Park is quite easy. The strictly protected park offers tourist tropical primitive forest and bio- diversity and scientists have a great deal of subjects to research on. The best time to visit the park during the dry months from October to March.

Phat Diem Cathedral 

Phat Diem Cathedral complex is in Luu Phuong Commune, Kim Son district 130km south of Ha Noi, 29km from Ninh Binh city. It was built between 1875 and 1889. It is an ensemble of constructions in the Oriental architectural style. They are divided into two sections: the worshipping section and the section for residence and teaching of religious doctrines. From the entrance a path leads us to a rectangular lake. In the centre of the lake is an island with a statue so Christ. Next comes a huge three-level square pavilion, 24m long, 17 wide and 25 height, built of stepping-stones. Its arches are made of sophisticatedly overlapped stones. Both sides of the four walls around the pavilion are decorated with embossments, many of which show the Christ shouldering the cross, and other gods. On the second layer of the pavilion there is a bell cast in 1890, 1.4m height, 1.1m in diameter and nearly two tons in weight. The pavilion consists of five arches, each arch in each of the pavilion's four corners and the highest arch is on the 3rd layer. The roofs of these five arches are not as high as those found in other cathedrals but typically curvy and they resemble the arches of ancient Vietnamese temples and pagodas. The main cathedral was built in 1891. It has five delicately carved entrances and three high curvy-roof towers. It is  74m long, 21m wide and 15m high, having four roofs and six rows of ironwood pillars, the two pillars in the middle are 11m high and 2.35m in circumference. The main altar is a stepping stone 3m long, 0.9m wide, 0.8m high and about 20 tons in weight. Its three facades and two sides are carved with flower decorations. Lying parallel to the main cathedral are four smaller ones, each different from others in style. At the end of the main cathedral to the north are three man-made caves, the biggest of which is Lo Duc natural-looking cave in the northeast. At the far end, to the northwest is the Stone Cathedral- the place for worshipping the heart of Virgin Maria. It earns such name because all of its columns, beams, walls and window bars are stonework. Its inner wall is made of marble with embossments of stone linens and phonics. It was built in 1889 measuring 15m long and 9m wide.

Dich Long Cave

Dich Long Cave was found in 1739 in Gia Thanh Commune, Gia Vien district. It is as large as a ten-room house. Because, there is a stone inside that looks like a Buddha statue, a Buddhist altar was built and in 1740 the cave become a Buddhist Pagoda. It shelters statue of Buddha, aghast and a goading colossus standing on stone pedestals. In particular, there are two beautiful statues carved from one block of blue stone. The grotto has three sub-caves that are linked together namely, the caves of Buddha Darkness and Brightness. The Dich Long cave gives visitor the feeling of being lost in a stone world of stalactites. There are stalactites so various shapes, such as a drinking elephant, a kneeling elephant, a reclining tiger, a dancing phoenix, a drinking dragon, and an ape with a baby on its back. The shadowy beauty of the cave has been complimented in many poems. King Minh Mang himself called it Nam thien de tam dong ( the third most beautiful cave in Viet Nam)

Van Trinh Grotto

 Van Trinh is one of the dozen of grottoes in the easily flooded area of Van Long, a beautiful natural site in Nho Quan district. The grotto is deep inside a 100m high mountain. The entrance of the grotto is approximately 40m from the root. A narrow path leads to the main grotto that is as magnificent as a castle with numerous stone sculptures in different shapes and sizes. Natural statues of monks, animals, flower on the cliffs, calling and floor look so lively. They seemed to be petrified by magic. In addition. wells with clean and clod water in the grotto bring visitors pleasant feelings. Deep inside the grotto is a small hold with beautiful stalagmites that look like bald cypresses. Sunlight shines through an opening on the ceiling, creating fanciful scenery.

Kenh Ga Spring stream

The Kenh Ga hot Water stream is in Kenh Ga village, Gia Thinh Commune, Gia Vien district. A boat takes the visitors up to the stream among the mountains and the rice fields. Although the fragrant stream has existed for a long time, it was only first studied and exploited by the French in 1940. The mineral water here is of extremely high quality and contains chloride-atrium, chloride-cilium, calcium, and , magnesium chloride. The water is clear and has a stable temperature of 53 degrees Celsius with a source capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per hour.