Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh was the first imperial capital of Vietnam in the 10th century. In 968, after defeating 12 rebelious warlords and unifying the kingdom, Dinh Bo Linh was proclaimed the first King of the Dinh dynasty (King Dinh Tien Hoang). He named his kingdom Dai Co Viet. Hoa Lu was the capital from then until the Ly dynasty, a span of 41 years. The architectural complex that remains from that period comprises a citadel, subterranean remains of a palace, caves, temples, and tombs where royal family members were buried.   

A number of annual festivals are held in Hoa Lu to pay tribute to the Kings for defending the national territory. The biggest of them is the Truong Yen festival, which re-enacts the whole life of King Dinh Tien Hoang, from his childhood to his death. When he was a young shepherd, he enacted with his friends mock battles in the Truong Yen fields, riding buffalos and carrying reeds as weapons.

Le Thu Hang, a tourist from Hanoi, said, “My friends and I chose Ninh Binh for our spring holiday because traveling from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is short and easy. I’ve been to Ninh Binh many times but each time, I experience it differently. Damage by war and natural disasters is unavoidable but the local people have preserved and upgraded the relics. I’m delighted at the improvements every time I come to Ninh Binh.”

A temple worships the Dinh and Le kings in Hoa Lu (Photo: thanhnien.vn)

Three locations in Ninh Binh appeared in the Hollywood blockbuster film of Kong: Skull Island: the Trang An complex, the Van Long wetlands, and Tam Coc–Bich Dong. Audiences worldwide marveled at the magnificent mountains, narrow valleys, magical caves, and winding rivers.

Tam Coc-Bich Dong, in the feudal time, was considered the second most impressive cave system in Vietnam.  

The Trang An complex has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage. From January to March, the time of the local festivals, is the best time to visit Trang An. Trang An is great in the summer, too, when the yellow of ripe rice is embellished by emerald river water and a blue sky. 

The dramatic combat between Kong and several reptilian monsters was shot in Van Long, an immense wetland featuring rock islets and a rich eco-system. Van Long, the biggest wetland nature reserve in the Red River delta, provides a habitat for many rare fauna and floral species, including the Delacour's langur.

Van Long wetlands in Ninh Binh province (Photo: vovlive.vn)

Thanh Mai from Ho Chi Minh City said, "It was interesting and memorable for me to glide in a wooden boat through ravines and caves. The limestone mountains have unique shapes, resembling a cat or a fruit. I enjoy the cool, fresh air. The scenery is absolutely jaw-dropping.”

Ninh Binh province was chosen to host National Tourism Year 2021. It has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors already this year.

Bui Van Manh, Director of the Ninh Binh provincial Department of Tourism, said, “It’s an honor for Ninh Binh to host National Tourism Year 2021. We will launch initiatives to revive the tourism sector. We are working with the Association of Tourism Companies to upgrade infrastructure, personnel, and services. We will step up digitization this year by launching online platforms and smart apps to serve domestic tourists and prepare for the return of foreign tourists.”  

Ninh Binh province also has Cuc Phuong, Vietnam’s first and largest national park, and Phat Diem Stone Cathedral, one of the most famous and beautiful churches in Vietnam, whose unique architecture combines western and Vietnamese designs.