Van Long Lagoon is an eco-tourism destination that is “making waves” and conquering travel enthusiasts with its rare wild and quite beauty in Ninh Binh. It is not by chance that this place was chosen as one of the filming locations for the blockbuster Kong – Skull Island by Legendary Entertainment. Join us to “decode” the beauty of Van Long Lagoon!

A brief overview of Van Long Lagoon tourist area

When exploring Ninh Binh, besides famous landmarks that attract many travel enthusiasts that attract many travel enthusiasts such as Trang An, Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Hoa Lu ancient capital … Van Long Lagoon will be another tourist destination that is hard to ignore. Van Long Lagoon is considered the largest wetland nature reserve in the Northern Delta region with an area of over 3,500 hectares, put into operation in 1998, and then quickly became a key tourist destination of both Ninh Binh province and the country. Migratory birds have stopped at Van Long Lagoon tourist area to forage and avoid the cold, thanks to the isolated mountains that form rocky islands, or the immense water valley, which is accidentally chosen by many animals as a shelter.

Not only that, Van Long Lagoon is like a giant mirror reflecting a beautiful landscape painting, once chosen by Hollywood filmmakers to appear in the main scenes of the blockbuster Kong – Skull Island. Is it because of these things that this eco-tourism area always attracts a large number of crazy followers to visit every year?

1. “Get the pulse” of Van Long lagoon’s exact coordinates Location: Gia Van commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province, Vietnam

Located in the northeast of Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province, only about 80km from Hanoi capital, taking 2 hours to travel, so Van Long lagoon tourist area will be a suitable place for planned 1-day trips on the weekend!

2. When is then ideal time to travel to Van Long Lagoon?

With a diverse ecosystem, each season has its own beauty, so visitors can check-in at this coorfinate at any time of the year. However, if you want to admire the lotus blooming season, you should go to Van Long lagoon in the summer, around May and June every year. This is the time when the whole lagoon is covered in a bright pink lotus flower in the green space, with a “bonus” of a fragrant scent, which will definitely attract those who are passionate about taking virtual photos and “buying” beautiful, sparkling photos.

In addition, visitors can visit Van Long lagoon in the dry season, from November to April of the following year. This is the season when birds from the North fly back to nest. You will have the opportunity to admire the beauty of an extremely rich bird ecosystem.

According to the experience of those who have traveled to this ecological area many times, the best time of day to visit is early morning. At this time, the air is extremely fresh, the dew drops still linger on the leaves, visitors can immerse themselves in the peaceful, quite scene, forgetting all the sorrows of life. If you want to admirre the beautiful, charming sunset, come at dusk.

3. Instructions on how to get to Van Long Lagoon tourist area from Hanoi capital

Visitors can get to Van Long lagoon by many different means of transport, such as motorbike, bus, limousine. If you go by bus, you can go to Giap Bat or My Dinh bus station, after arriving in Ninh Binh, get off at Gian Khau intersection. Then, you can travel a little further to Van Long boat station by motorbike taxi or taxi.

If you go by motorbike from Hanoi, you go along National Highway 1A, turn right at Gian Khau intersection. Then, visitors go straight for about 4km and you will see the sign, continue to move for another 3km and you will see Van Long boat station appear in front of you.

What is interesting in Van Long lagoon that attracts tourists to visit?

1.Take a boat ride around the “bay without waves”

Maybe you don’t know, Van Long lagoon is also known as “bay without waves”. By rowing a boat on the lagoon, visitors will feel the calm water surface like a giant mirror that nature has bestowed upon this place. In addition, the water here is a clear blue color, so sitting on the boat you can also clearly see moss, or algae as beautiful scenery on both sides of the shore with interestingly shaped rock mountains such as Mam Xoi, Meo Cao, Nghien, Da Ban… mountains.

2. Visiting spiritual tourist attractions near Van Long lagoon that should not be missed

Not only admiring the beautiful scenery. visitors can also visit temples and pagodas near Van Long lagoon such as Thanh Mau temples, Thanh Son pagoda, Dich Long temple… These temples and pagodas often have a long history with ancient architecture, inherited from different dynasties. Most visitors coming here want to visit, pray for peace for their health, or listen to historical stories associated with temples and pagodas.

3. Explore the caves near Van Long lagoon

Visitors should not miss a “gift” that Van Long lagoon brings, which is 1000 caves, shimmering and beautiful. Inside the cave, there are stalactites hanging down in a myriad of shapes, along with the cool air that will make you excited. Famouns caves that can be “named” are Hang Ca, Hang Bong, Hang Rua, Hang Chanh…

Some tips for tourists to note

When traveling to Van Long lagoon to have a smooth trip to visit Van Long lagoon, you should prepare some necessary clothes and items. Let’s refer to the following:

-You should bring a jacket, sun protection shirt, wide-brimmed hat, umbrella, when the weather is hot.

-Visitors should prepare a flashlight if they want to explore the caves.

-For those who do not want to have “honey” skin after returning, you can apply sunscreen.

-Insect repellent should also be brough when coming to Van Long lagoon.

-When going by boat around the eco-tourism area, you should wear a life jacket and protective gear.

-You should bring drinking water and some snacks, enough for yourself or your “team”!

In addition, when you come to Van Long lagoon, you can also enjoy famous Ninh Binh specialties such as burnt rice, mountain goat meat, eel salad, perch vermicelli… What a beautiful natural eco-tourism area that you should not miss on your upcoming trip to Ninh Binh, right?