From the boat dock, the first stop is Trình Temple. After that, visitors continue by boat through Địa Linh Cave, Tối (Dark) Cave, Sáng (Light) Cave, and Nấu Rượu (Wine-Brewing) Cave before disembarking and climbing nearly 500 stone steps to offer incense at Trần Temple.
From here, adventure lovers can continue their journey by getting back on the boat to travel through Sính Cave, Si Cave, Ba Giọt Cave, Seo Cave, Sơn Dương Cave, then visit Khống Palace. The route continues through Khống Cave, Trần Cave, Quy Hậu Cave… before returning to the starting point.
Alongside Tràng An, the Tam Cốc – Bích Động tourist area is also one of Ninh Bình’s most captivating landscapes. Tam Cốc means “three caves,” including Hang Cả, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba.
At Tam Cốc, visitors sit on small boats and float along the river to admire the sky, clouds, water, and majestic limestone mountains. Each season reveals a different charm, making Tam Cốc a forever enchanting destination blessed by nature’s artistry. Bích Động, meaning “Green Grotto,” is honored as the “Second-Best Grotto Under the Southern Sky.” Together with Bích Động Pagoda, it forms an ancient, solemn architectural ensemble harmoniously embraced by lush, tranquil scenery—enriching the panoramic beauty of the Tràng An Landscape Complex.
The Tràng An Complex is also surrounded by the Hoa Lư Special-Use Primeval Forest, home to a rich and diverse ecosystem, including rare species such as the crested serpent eagle, starlings, laughingthrushes, monkeys, pythons, and especially the Delacour’s langur—one of the world’s most endangered primates listed in the global Red Book.
Tràng An is also home to many archaeological sites such as Búi Cave, Trống Cave, and Chợ Cave Mountain—evidence of human habitation on this land tens of thousands of years ago.
The area preserves cultural and historical relics associated with the three dynasties of Đinh – Early Lê – Lý, forming a direct link with the ancient capital of Hoa Lư. The most prominent sites include the temples and mausoleums of King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and King Lê Đại Hành, the memorial stele house of King Lý Thái Tổ, and the spiritual cultural center of Bái Đính Pagoda—the largest pagoda complex in Southeast Asia, holding numerous national and Asian records.
Tràng An has a magnificent beauty shaped by towering limestone mountains reflected in winding streams that weave through mysterious caves and untouched valleys. With its exceptional cultural value, aesthetic beauty, and geological–geomorphological significance, the Tràng An Landscape Complex was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site in 2014.
