Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve

If you want a quiet and serene boat ride, make sure to come here! It’s a beautiful and serene nature area that is quite big. We came here at midday and we only saw a handful of people and the rest of the time we were alone. The nature is gorgeous and it is so peaceful!! It is 200k per boat with a maximum of 2 people per boat.

WOW. Trang An is great but not even close in comparison to this. Trang An is Disneyland while this feels foreign, rural, and not really touristy. The landscapes were absolutely incredible. I saw endangered Delacour langurs (only 300 left in the world). It was quiet, serene, and breathtaking. Go in late afternoon. Takes about 90 min. I am glad I stayed 3 nights I Ninh Binh. Did everything at a leisurely pace and got to actually chill.

It's a great trip! We where all alone for the whole trip, something that really added to the tranquility of the experience. We got to see Delacour's langur up close, several unique birds and a trip inside the cave, even if it was high water. It was very hot, but we had hats and a good sunscreen which is a must, as well as water. We had our private guide that helped us in explaining what the boat rower had of knowledge. No tipping needed, but we added a bit anyway at the end. For us, this was a must do and a highlight.

If you are looking for a truly peaceful and authentic experience in Ninh Binh, look no further than the Van Long Nature Reserve boat tour. This trip was an absolute highlight of our journey! The Van Long wetland, often called the "Ha Long Bay on Land" offers an escape from the crowds. The entire experience was incredibly nice and calm. The silence was only broken by the gentle sound of the paddle moving through the water, allowing us to fully soak in the tranquility of this vast wetland. The views are simply outstanding. The majestic limestone karst mountains rise dramatically from the clear water, creating mirror-like reflections that are breathtakingly beautiful. Drifting through the reeds and under the cliffs felt like entering a secluded paradise. We even passed through a cave, which added a sense of adventure to the serene setting. A special mention must go to the very kind woman who drove our boat. Her friendly demeanor and careful rowing made the journey feel personal and comfortable. It's clear that the local people running these tours take pride in preserving this beautiful environment. This is a must-do trip for anyone seeking stunning natural landscapes combined with complete serenity. Highly recommended for a quiet, visually spectacular morning or afternoon!

So peaceful and quoted, especially compared to other natural boat rides in the area. We saw lemurs. It was raining so we didn’t get to see many birds like we had hoped, but the 1000s of lotus floors in bloom made up for it.

Sitting in a boat in full sun exposure without any shadow cover (they should really add one), on an uncomfortable seat - a wooden plank - to see a not very varying landscape while being rowed by ladies who don’t speak any English … the pictures taken are beautiful but this felt like paying for suffering if you can’t stand direct sun burn. As concerns animals, we saw a bird, a dragonfly, some snail eggs, some cows and dead fish, nothing spectacular and none of the species in the pictures with which they attract visitors. Unless you have plenty of time, I would not recommend.

The most beautiful spot we visited during our time in the Ninh Binh region. This place is just pure nature, beautifully raw. We saw langurs, jumping from branch to branch, incredible! We hopped on a 2 seat boat for 100K per person, and the lady was very sweet. We rowed ourselves to help her a bit, but she was incredibly strong. She patiently waited until we said it was okay to go after seeing the monkeys. It's important to tip them at the end. Definitely recommend!

Worth going to for sure! They ride you along to the beautiful mountains and caves!