Top 7 reasons for a rowing boat ride in Van Long nature reserve
Ninh Binh landscapes & Van Long boat ride
Ninh Binh is a rural province of hugely potential tourism, have recently attracted a big number of travellers who love natural beauty, history & religion pilgrimage. Ninh Binh rowing boat tours are popular journeys to contemplate limestone mountainscapes & natural hidden grottoes : famously in Tam Coc & Trang An – all known as “Halong bay on land”.If you would like to experience a less touristic area with the similar beauty of mountains & caves, we suggest you toVan Long nature reserve boat ride
Van Long nature boat ride
Van Long nature with thousands of white storks flying
What is special in a rowing boat ride in Van Long nature reserve?
- 1.Simple local sampans made of bamboos that you can’t experience anywhere in Vietnam.It is good to do with two people on this sampan, you will be more comfortable and relaxed to enjoy the landscapes of this pristinely natural wetland.If you love to experience how hard to row the boat, you can ask your friendly rower for a try – it could be an experience with good photos to mark your trip to Ninh Binh.
- 2.No venders or photographers disturb you with an invitation to buy things or to take photos that you are not fond of.You may face up some disturbances in touristic location of Tam Coc boat tour, but not anything like that in Van Long boat ride and you just enjoy the fairy-like scenery here with sound of birds or the rower’s oars.
Boat rowing along Van Long mountains & its wetland
- 3.Friendly local rowers are happy to show you around with the Delacour’s langurs, mountain shapes & birds….As a local in nearby village, they have lived along with this reserve for ages ,easily catching the sights of langurs moving around on the mountains and they would like to bring you a special boat ride in Van Long if you can view the real natural life of this endangered money – beautiful kind of black & white colors, they are really happy to show you if they catch the sights.
- 4.Less touristic & quiet area with untouched landscapes of mountains & caves.The boat ride is not long like the one in Tam Coc or Trang An, here, the boat journey is around 1,2 hour.However, it is quite pristine with natures of mountain background, wild plants living along; and lesser known among tourists.As a result, you can enjoy the peaceful moment of boat ride along mountain ranges & then to the cave (one beautiful & natural cave ).Sometimes, the water is so shallow that the boat can not get access to other side of the cave.One cave & less long boat ride could be the reason to keep this nature reserve less touristic & primitive!
- 5.Cheaper cost of entrance fees & its boat ride than in Tam Coc & Trang An.The cost of one person ( 100.000 vnd or 5 usd ) on a shared boat ride for two people.Thus, the extra earning of friendly rowers is quite low and they expect to get a tip at the end of the boat journey.They are pleased to have you on their rowing boat and happy to show you with the things they know, a tip of 4-5 usd/ boat could be a good encouragement to better their service.
Hidden & natural cave in Van Long wetland
- 6.Rich in fauna & flaura – the biggest wetland in the Northern Vietnam where many local birds, storks, herons live as well as the migratory birds choose for their winter hideaway.Especially to get real insight of endangered langurs of rare-type Delacour living naturally on the mountain heights.This impressive nature is surely a big draw among nature lovers making a trip to Van Long.You can view a completely natural picture of birds flying around, lingurs running on mountain slopes – a nature reserve of majestic limestone mountains, cave & wild vegetations.
- 7.The place was chosen as the setting location in latest Kong movie 2017 “Kong: Skull Island” thanks to its primitive scenery with outstandingly limestone outcrops, natural hidden cave and wild plants of reeds, grass , lotus growing around the wetlands.Watching this fabulous movie, you will be fascinated about Vietnam’s scenic landscapes in genaral & Ninh Binh in particular.
When is the good time to visit Van Long wetland?
In general, Van Long is a less frequently visited destination in Ninh Binh due to a shortage of big advertisement.Travelling to Ninh Binh, travellers know more about Tam Coc, Trang An & Bai Dinh pagoda than Van Long nature reserve. Recently, Kong movie was on the screen with a great scene setting in Van Long nature reserve, attracting the public’s curiosity of this land and we realize that more tourists are planning trips to this emerging travel site. Surely, trips to Ninh Binh, you may like to explore this wetland as well and wonder when is the good time to visit?We must say any season of the year or any moment of the day.However, you would like to see a fully wonderful nature with thousand of birds, storks,herons or endangered langurs in this wild land, it is our suggestion to visit Van Long wetland in early morning or late in the afternoon – the moment when birds flying out & coming back in a day, and the ideal season for more birds you could see are in winter & spring time ( between November and April). For a green & pink color of lotus blooming flowers growing along the riverside, the right time is between May and August.
Nature in Van Long area
We hope this information of boat ride in Van Long nature reserve is useful for your trip to Ninh Binh. You can connect Van Long boat tour with other attractions in Ninh Binh in a day trip or 2-3 day journey from Hanoi.Please, have our suggested itineraries in those following packages reviewed for references and plan your excursions to explore the best attractions of Ninh Binh.
>>>>>>>> Ninh Binh tour packages with Van Long nature & other Ninh Binh attractions
Hanoi- Ninh Binh day trip to Tam Coc caves & Van Long nature reserve.
Hanoi- Ninh Binh day trip to Hoa Lu ancient capital & Van Long nature reserve
Hanoi – Ninh Binh 3 day trip to Van Long nature reserve & Ninh Binh’s highlighted attractions.
If those pre-designed travel packages are not of your interest, please, let us know your travel interest of activities to take, places to visit & the trip durarion you have, our travel experts will shortly response you back with Customized Ninh Binh tours & useful suggestions for your special Ninh Binh travel experiences.
Some of you may prefer doing the trip yourselves and just need a private car rental to Ninh Binh from Hanoi in a day or a few day journey to explore Ninh Binh’s highlighted attractions, don’t hesitate to drop us a request to [email protected] or contact us +84.988451530 (viber, whatsapp), we are happy to support you as a trusted travelmate in Vietnam.
We wish you a journey of much fun in Ninh Binh
Written by Ban Vu Dinh
Frequently Asked Questions
Van Long is known as the “bay without waves” because its waters are exceptionally calm and clear, acting like a giant mirror that reflects the limestone mountains and sky. Unlike the busier rivers in Tam Coc or Trang An, the lagoon here is a pristine wetland with minimal current, allowing visitors to see the aquatic plants and moss beneath the surface as they glide along in a traditional rowing boat
While boat rides are available throughout the day, the late afternoon (around 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM) is the most magical time. This is when the temperature cools, the sunset creates a golden glow on the karst peaks, and thousands of white storks fly back to their nests. Early morning is also excellent for bird watching and spotting the rare Delacour’s langurs before the midday heat.
Yes, Van Long is one of the best places in Vietnam for wildlife enthusiasts. It is the primary habitat of the critically endangered Delacour’s langur (identifiable by its black body and white “shorts”). During a 1.5-hour rowing boat ride, you can often spot them on the limestone cliffs. The reserve is also a haven for migratory birds, including herons, storks, and kingfishers.
While Trang An is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its cave systems and Tam Coc for its golden rice fields, Van Long is the choice for peace and authenticity. It is significantly less crowded and offers a more “raw” nature experience. It is the largest wetland reserve in Northern Vietnam, providing a quiet atmosphere that is perfect for photography and nature lovers who want to avoid the “tourist traps.”
Since the boats are traditional bamboo sampans without roofs, you should bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. During the winter months (November to February), it can be quite breezy on the water, so a light jacket is recommended. If you are a photography enthusiast, bring binoculars or a zoom lens to capture the langurs and birds from a distance without disturbing them.
Absolutely. Van Long is located about 80 km south of Hanoi (roughly a 2-hour drive). It is an ideal day trip or a tranquil stop on a longer Ninh Binh itinerary. For a seamless experience, Golden Holiday Travel offers private car rentals and tailored tours that combine Van Long with other nearby gems like Cuc Phuong National Park or the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.
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