Trang An Grottoes

Trang An Grottoes is a part of Trang An Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh Province. Covering an area of total 2,168 hectares, the grottoes were recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage for both their natural and cultural values.

Trang An Grottoes is comprised of 31 valley waters and 48 cross-water grottoes. Each grotto has its own unique characteristics, some with stunning stalactites (like Hang Toi Grotto), while others have impressive lengths (like Dot Grotto, stretching over 1 km). Besides its extensive grotto collection, Trang An also home a system of cultural and ritual monuments like Vu Lam Temple, Suoi Tien Temple or Cao Son Temple.

In 2019, Trang An Grottoes gained widespread recognition after being featured as one of the filming locations for the Hollywood blockbuster “Kong: Skull Island” thanks to its surreal beauty.

The only way to explore Trang An Grottoes is by boat ride. Starting from the departure port, locals will row you through some of the highlighted grottoes of the complex, stopping by its historical temples along the way.

Time to visit

Like other attractions in Ninh Binh, the best time to visit Trang An Grottoes is from January to April. During this period, the average temperature ranges from 25 to 27.5°C, with little drizzle and fresh air. Besides, the first 3 months of the year are when Trang An hosts many cultural festivals, especially the Trang An Festival, which takes place on March 18th.

October to December are other months to consider for decent weather. The weather tends to be cooler (~23-26°C), with very little rain and clear blue sky.

Note: It’s better to travel to Trang An during the morning since it would be less crowded.

Getting there

From Hanoi, you could choose among shuttle limousine, train, or package tour to Trang An Grottoes.

Limousine vans depart every 1 hour from Hanoi and take about 2 hours to get you to Ninh Binh. A plus is that they could pick you up from your hotel and drop you off right at the departure port in Trang An. Tickets cost about 200,000 vnd to 250,000 vnd. 12Go offers a transparent price with various schedules for you to choose from.

Train is the good old way to travel, especially if you’d like to see the countryside of Ninh Binh. There are 4 trains that leave daily from Hanoi Train Station and take 3 hours to arrive at Ninh Binh Train Station. You can book tickets on DSVN, the official website of the Vietnam Railway Company.

The least hassle way is to book an all-included package day tour, which includes a visit to Trang An Grottoes and other attractions in Ninh Binh.

If you’re already in Ninh Binh, taking a taxi is the best option, with fares ranging from 12,500 VND to 13,000 VND per kilometer. If you have a driving license and want to experience a calm and peaceful ride, you can rent a motorcycle or bicycle. Motorbikes cost between 120,000 and 150,000 VND per day, while bicycles are often offered for free at your homestay.

Trang An Grottoes boat tours

The Sao Khe River connects all the grottoes in Trang An and many other scenic spots. That’s why taking a bamboo boat tour is the only way to fully appreciate their natural beauty.

All the boats are sailed by enthusiastic and friendly locals from the surrounding villages. Each boat will carry 4 people and only set off once full. So you might have to wait a little bit if there’s not enough people on the boat. The total time of the Trang An Grottoes tours ranges from 3 to 4 hours, depending on which routes you’d like to take.

Ticket prices range from 250,000 VND ~10USD per adult and 120,000 VND ~ 5USD per child under 1 meter for a join-in boat. If you do not want to share with others, you could rent the entire boat for 1,250,000 ~ 50USD.

There are 3 routes you can choose from:

• Route 1: This is the longest route, taking between 3.5 and 4 hours. This route focuses on the beautiful nature and calm parts of Trang An, exploring 9 grottoes and 3 monuments.
  Highlights: Nau Ruou (wine distilling) Grotto
  Best if: You want to see as many grottoes as possible.

• Route 2: Shortest yet most popular choice among travelers. It lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours. Route 2 will focus on the historical values of Trang An, including 4 grottoes and 3 monuments.
  Highlights: Kong Film Studio, Cao Son Temple
  Best if: You don’t want to spend too long on the boat.

• Route 3: The newest route, lasting around 3 to 3.5 hours. Route 3 will cover 3 grottoes, 3 monuments, and offer a nice mixture of historical and natural sightseeing.
  Highlights: Dot Grotto
  Best if: You want to see different views of Trang An Grottoes.

The price will be the same for all the routes. However, the rowers tend to opt for Route 2, as it’s the shortest. Make sure to ask them if you’d like to do either route 3 or 1.

Notes: Some rowers might try to ask for tip. 50,000vnd – 100,000vnd would be a good amount if you satisfy with them.

Where to Stay

Only 5 minutes from Trang An Grottoes, Trang An Retreat offers decent rooms and private bungalows. Lies in the middle of a garden, the retreat covers itself in a greeness and calming atmosphere of Ninh Binh. Especially there’s a small outdoor pool for relaxing.

If you want to spend a little more on accommodation, head for Tam Coc Nature. The lodge offers private bungalows that half stand on the surface of a lake. These bungalows also come with wall-glass windows and offer a full view of the countryside around them.