The Trang An Landscape Complex is a network of rivers, caves and forest-covered limestone pinnacles, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 (a mixed natural and cultural site). It is visited by rowing boat, on a route of about 2 to 3 hours that passes through several caves and goes by temples and islets. It is often called the "inland Ha Long": the same cliffs as in the bay, but on fresh water, without the crowd of motor boats. The price shown by the Ninh Binh tourism office (March 2025) is 250,000 VND per adult for the boat and the site, about US$9 to 10.
Highlights
The landing stage and the fleet of boats
The boats, rowed by a boatman-guide, leave from a large quay at the foot of a stone bridge. Departures are organised in order of arrival: a staff member forms the groups of passengers and tells you your boat number. The system works well even when the quay is full, but expect a queue in the middle of the morning at weekends and on public holidays.
The caves and the passages under the rock
The route goes through natural tunnels, sometimes so low that you have to lie back or bend over in the boat. There are several routes to choose from (numbered), slightly different in length and scenery; ask at the ticket window what each one covers before buying, because online sources do not agree on their exact number of stops and caves.
The temples and the mountains
Between two caves, the boat stops at temples and pagodas built at the foot of the cliffs; you can step off for a few minutes to see them. The setting was used for the film "Kong: Skull Island" (2017). It is the most photographed landscape in Ninh Binh, together with the Hang Mua viewpoint.
Opening hours and prices
According to online guides, the landing stage opens around 7:00 and sells its last tickets in the early afternoon or around 16:00; no official hours could be confirmed. The official table of March 2025 shows 250,000 VND per adult (over 1.3 m), 120,000 VND for children and seniors over 60, free under 1 m, and a private guide at 300,000 VND per visit. Other sites announce 350,000 VND or more; confirm at the ticket window.
Practical info
Tips
- To choose between Trang An and Tam Coc: Trang An offers more caves, a more varied landscape and the UNESCO status, but the route is longer, busier and there are no rice fields along the water; Tam Coc is shorter and simpler, with the foot rowing and the fields. If you can only do one ride, most travellers pick Trang An for the variety. Come early in the morning or in the late afternoon off season; at weekends, the wait can exceed 30 to 60 minutes at peak times. Keep some change for the boatman's tip (50,000 to 100,000 VND per boat is the usual order of magnitude). The routes are not suited to people who have difficulty walking: boarding the boat involves steps. See also: Tam Coc, Bai Dinh pagoda (a few kilometres away) and Ninh Binh in a day. Prices seen in October 2026 on the latest official table available (March 2025).
How to get there
Trang An, Ninh Binh, about 100 km from Hanoi. Allow 2h to 2h30 by road; the train links Hanoi to Ninh Binh in about 2h10, then a taxi or a Grab reaches the landing stage in 15 to 20 minutes. Day trips from the Old Quarter often include Trang An or Tam Coc, rarely both: check the programme in our day trip article. The Hoa Lu site, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, is very close.
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