Being endowed with a beautiful landscape, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province in Northern Viet Nam is called as an “Ha Long Bay on land” with numerous caves, mountains, valley, trees and historic relics.

On 23 June 2014, Trang An has just been inscribed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List, proudly being the Viet Nam’s first site to be acknowledged as a mixed natural and cultural heritage.

Covering an area of 10,000ha in Hoa Lu, Gia Vien and Nho Quan districts and Ninh Binh City, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex includes Trang An Eco-tourist Site, Tam Coc- Bich Dong Landscape and Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel.

With a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, some of which are submerged, and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs, Trang An Eco-tourist Site is considered as an outdoor geological museum because it is entirely surrounded by bow shaped limestone mountain ranges lying on a delta wetland area.

According to current statistics, Trang An has 48 grottoes and caves alternating with 31 large and small valleys. Each valley is a various charming beauty bringing a multi-colorful picturesque landscape. Here is evaluated as an area of rare and unique natural beauty of the world with around 500 species of flora, 73 species of birds and 41 species of other animals, and is renowned for its diverse ecosystem, unique natural beauty and geological characteristics.

Bai Dinh - the largest pagoda in Viet Nam and Southeast Asia is located in Trang An eco-tourism site belonging to Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien District. The pagoda is promising to be a Buddhist center of the region.

In addition to Trang An Eco-tourist Site, Tam Coc- Bich Dong Landscape and Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel are in core zone of the heritage site. Located in Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Tam Coc-Bich Dong still remains primary natural features with unique architectures alternating with pagodas and caves such as: Tam Coc, Thai Vi Temple, Bich Dong Pagoda, Tien Cave, Mua Cave...

Not only serving as a cradle of civilization of ancient Vietnamese, Trang An also used to house the old capital of the Vietnamese feudal and independent state, Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel, more than 1,000 years ago.  Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel is a national relic related to the three dynasties in feudal history of Viet Nam (Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties in the 10th and 11th centuries). This area consists of defense earthen walls, palaces, temples and shrines which make magnificent fairy scenery. According to old historical books, in 968, after defeating twelve armies of rebels and unifying the country, Dinh Bo Linh came to the throne as King Dinh Tien Hoang. He set up the capital in Hoa Lu and named the country Dai Co Viet. From 968 to 1009, six kings of the Dinh, Le and Ly Dynasties set up the capital there. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Thang Long (Ha Noi). Since then Hoa Lu has remained the ancient capital.

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is a very unique example of human history, not only for Viet Nam but also for the region. It has a combination of both natural and cultural values.

In 2013, Ninh Binh tourism welcomed more than 4.5 million arrivals with total tourism receipts of VND 900 billions. It is expected that the provincial tourism receipts will increase rapidly after the recognition as the world’s mixed natural and cultural heritage of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex.

Pham Thanh