Was really nice to be able to walk the walls of the citadel and the information panels along the way added all the relevant info. You could get an idea of how important the defences were in times gone by. Shame you couldn't get to upper levels in the towers. Take time to have a walk if you're in the area.

Go between June and August for better weather. Still, such a great day trip from Da Nang with its rich history and passionate restoration work. You will see some Vietnamese locals dressed up in traditional wear taking photos, making the experience even more surreal.

Must visit. If you’re visiting Hue, plan to visit Citadel along with the tombs. Do a 2 days tour and don’t rush. Guided tours will offer more. Excellent capital city. Rich history and great architecture. You’ll be satisfied with the experience.

Hue Imperial City was built in 1804 under King Gia Long and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. I love walking around the ancient palace and admire the beauty at every corner. Hundred years ago, it used to a enormous and glorious palace. Sadly, many constructions are damaged, though they are being restored, could not bring back the original spirit of the place. The atmosphere was quite sad in a rainy day.

Come to the palace for a photo op, especially in traditional costumes. It's not a particularly interesting place for a casual tour, but it's beautiful in its details. If you're visiting on a sunny day, be sure to bring an umbrella, as there's very little shade.

Overall, it was a solid experience, though I expected a bit more. The complex is huge, but the overall layout could be better organized. I didn’t take the audio guide because I don’t like using headphones — probably a mistake. The descriptions of the monuments were quite minimal and not very engaging. I also chose a bad day to visit since it was extremely hot.

Expansive area of historic city with palaces, temples and official buildings. Visited on a rainy day and spent an entire afternoon walking through the corridors and alleys. Not as beautiful as present day Vietnam but still worth visiting

A humbling experience. For all sides. I got to walk alone quiet around the field. It must have been hell there. Though provoking and I believe if you have any interest you should go.

I’ve been visiting the Khe Sanh Combat Base and its Ta Con airstrip museum for 17 years, often with American veterans who fought in Vietnam. This site, infamous for the 77-day siege where countless American GIs and fifteen thousand of North Vietnamese soldiers lost their lives, is more than a historical landmark—it’s a place of healing. For the veterans, it’s a chance to face their past and honor the fallen, and for me, it’s a space to reflect on the sacrifices of both sides. I often think of those who died here and hope their souls rest in peace. That said, the museum experience could be improved. The interior exhibitions lean a bit biased in their presentation, and some photo captions are inaccurate—corrections would add credibility. Accessibility is another issue; there’s no ramp for wheelchair users, limiting who can fully explore the site. The souvenir counter feels cluttered and could be reorganized to create a warmer, more welcoming vibe for visitors. On a brighter note, the surrounding area boasts some of Vietnam’s best coffee, a legacy started by Frenchman Eugène Poilane in the mid-1920s. Sipping it amid the now-peaceful coffee fields adds a unique layer to the visit. Khe Sanh remains a powerful, humbling place, but a few updates could make it even more meaningful for those who come to remember.

Hearing a lot of stories on the battle of Khe Sanh, which was one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War, I decided to come and see the museum. I must admit I was not disappointed as I could learn Abu the story of the 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh and the role the base played during the war.

Again on the DMZ tour. This was an interesting place and the history around the area and why it was put here as a combat base to shut off the Ho Chi Minh trail. A few interesting relics still here such as bunkers, a Patton tank, an APC and a Huey and Chinook helicopter. The museum tells of the siege to take the area and subsequent battles. Good for the history buffs.

Khe sanh combat base consider one of the most famous outposts base in the Vietnam war history Recommend - watch the documentary and read the information before visiting this site

Nice site bulit on the former marine air base in Khe Sanh. Small musuem of the conflict from the Vietnamese viewpoint. Some old aircraft and tanks of US origin still onsite as well.

A bunch of old war junk and a small decent museum. Not worth the 50k admission. I had high hopes. The Indy redeeming feature was the overly friendly vietnamese ladies I met there

We would definitely recommend visiting the Mine Action Visitor Centre if you can. When we were in Dong Ha in February 2023 for the wedding of our son to a local girl our friend An Binh Tran Nguyen took us to visit the Centre. The exhibition illustrates very clearly and powerfully the impact of the war. We found it very informative and very moving. Being from the UK we had little real idea of the devastaing impact of the war on the Vietnamese people and the countryside and the huge ongoing problem of dealing with the U.S bombs and land mines. News reports at the time and subsequent films such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Good Morning Vietnam gave a certain insight into the suffering inflicted during the war, but memories fade when you are remote from the situation. This exhibition reminds everyone of what really happened and the ongoing issues which are still being addressed and still affecting Vietnam and it's people. We would highly recommend a visit. Ron & Tricia Berry

Definitely worth visiting if you have to stay in Dong Ha city, Quang Tri province. It contains information mainly images which provide a better understanding of the torturous lives of the Vietnamese during the war era. It was a marvellous and informative experience. No ticket is needed and good facilities such as clean toilet, big parking lot, refreshments. A must visit for anyone wanting to understand more about the Vietnam war and its effects. We are appreciate and thank you mr Phu Nguyen for taking time and warmly welcome us to the Mine Action Visitor Center.

Abi was very nice and friendly! She told us a lot about the Mine Action Center. There was also a school class of children, because they teach them to be aware of what is happening. The children loved us and we loved them! It is very good what they do here.

Worth a visit. I had the chance to be led by Mr. Thoan, Mag coordinator. I already had visited a similar centre in Vientiane (Cope) but even this one was very interesting. It lets you reflect about war madness.

An awesome museum, testifying of the touching history of this country and managed by adorable and passionate staff you won't be disappointed !

This small museum is located in the outskirts of Dong Ha, a mere 10min bike ride from the bus station. It's very informative and displays lots of information on the potential damage that unexploded ordnance (UXOs) can cause to the local population and livestock. I was shocked to learn that even decades after the war ended, there is still a very high number of UXOs lurking around and the population living in the rural area have to be extremely careful when venturing in the fields. There is a lot of prevention being done and there are dozens of trained specialists whose sole job is to venture in the fields and villages and speak to the people there to make them aware of the risks. All in all, a must-do visit if you happen to be in Dong Ha!

Small museum of bombs, bomb disposal and artificial limbs.

We were absolutely thrilled with the trip that Vu planned for us! We spent 5 days with him touring numerous sites where my father served while in the army. We would not have been able to access many of the places we visited without his wealth of knowledge of the area and sites related to the war. If we return to Vietnam again, we would only consider booking a tour with Vu!

The best tour guide you will ever find anywhere is called Mr Vu. What a genuine, friendly, insightful, personable, passionate and knowledgeable guide we have had the privilege to carry us through the rugged and dramatic landscape of the former DMZ. Mr Vu has perfect English but mostly perfect knowledge of every detail you could possibly want to have about the battles that took place in the area, the camps and units that resided there, and the terrible hardships the local population has had to go through. Everything on the tour is fine tuned, wherever you are Mr vu will diligently pick you up and drive you everywhere. Please use his services if you want to visit the DMZ, we were listening to other guides sometimes and they were not explaining things as well as he was. Do not hesitate to book him ! Thank you Mr Vu !

Booked this tour to the DMZ and Vinh Moc Tunnels as a gift for my partner, who’s a history buff. The drive from Da Nang was long but scenic, with a very friendly and professional driver. Mr Vu’s passion and knowledge of history made the experience unforgettable—he offered fascinating insights into the war from a Vietnamese perspective and how it shapes attitudes and culture today. Bonus: an unexpected but delicious roadside pho lunch. Excellent value and highly recommended if you want a deep dive into war and military history.

We recommend Annam Tour. Mr Vu is a fantastic guide having fluent English and deep knowledge about the DMZ and the war itself. He makes that your imagination brings you to the times of war. With Mr Vu each hill and square of the DMZ has its own history. In addition, Mr Vu shows historical photos on a tablet which is an added value. Finally, he uses a good quality car which is an advantage over other tours. For sure worth the price.

I can’t recommend Mr Vu enough, a thorough knowledge of history and place, with a clear passion for his subject. So helpful and friendly, he was very flexible in adapting the tour to what we hoped to get from it and really couldn’t be happier with the experience!

Mr Vu's knowledge in history is exceptional. Fluent English. Highly recommend for military history enthusiasts. We had a really great time. Thank you.

We had a tour with Vu to know more about the Vinh Moc tunnels. It was amazing! Plenty of information about the war and how the people managed to love by then.

Coffee unfortunately closed but homestay is still open. Clean and affordable rooms. Amazing welcome by Tam, was truly happy to meet him. Dong Ha is a nice city with a very joyful vibe, not far from the DMZ. Definitely worth a stay

If you can spare some time, you should definitely book a DMZ tour with Tam and insist on going with Hoa. He was a veteran at the age of 18 and bursts with first-hand experiences from the places you'll visit. Unforgettable experience!

The location is not exactly where it said on the map. Ask a local and they will guide you. This was a great choice. Tam’s and others speak English and have virtually everything A traveler need or wants. Cleanest hostel yet. Food and coffee spectacular.

Mr Tam offers great tours to the DMZ and the underground tunnels, dug out during the war to house entire villages. Mr Hoa is a great guide, willing to explain the history and to discuss the present and past of this heroic country and its people. ♥️

Tams Cafe was amazing! We had one of the nicest, freshest breakfasts we've had in Vietnam so far. The DMZ tour was captivating. The guide spoke excellent English and was kind and enthusiastic. All staff at Tams were super friendly and helpful, and collected us and dropped us at our hostels for free! We went back to the cafe for smoothies which were fresh and well valued! Definitely come here if travelling in Vietnam!!

We visited the DMZ area and especially the Vinh Moc tunnels. I reserved via email and the communication was excellent, immediate and transparent. Mr Hoa, our guide, was a delightful person, very knowledgeable and great in explaining everything. I wholeheartedly recommend Tan's Cafe to anyone who wishes to visit the DMZ area.

We found out about the place online and we decided to call. They organized for us an amazing tour with Mr. Hoa in the DMZ. Probably one of the best tour I had in Vietnam. Mr Hoa is very knowledgeable and he replied the thousand of questions that I had in my mind about the Vietnam war. Beautiful experience that I would suggest to everyone. May people just go to Hue and than they book a tour back from there to see the area when it is so much easier to just stop in Dang Ha and do everything from there. The Cafe by itself is quite good. The room very clean and the food good.

Was a great place to see what it was like for the Vietnamese resistance against the Americans and south Vietnam. The lady that talked to us knew a lot but it sounded like it was off a script (fair enough since English isn’t here first language). The walk through the tunnel was small but really showed us just how they had to live to survive (if you are tall you actually might not fit unless you crawl). The only downside which could have just been our group but we just straight walked through the tunnel and didn’t learn much about like how they lived or what it felt like maybe it was just hard when it’s so small, in that case if it was just our group the tunnels are a great way to learn and understand another side of the Vietnam war instead of just the Americans.

This Vietnam historic tunnel system is not anything like Cu Chi tunnel, and absolutely worths the visit. It speaks the voices of Vietnamese heroic ancestors who gave up their "today" so that we, their descendants, can wake up "tomorrow". Forever be grateful to the war invalids and martyrs ♥️

Came as part of the DMZ tour from Hue. Very interesting to hear all the history of the tunnels. An amazing place dug out in 18 months and used as home for around 300 people from the village during the war. Incredible how they managed to live for such a long time in these spaces with limited time to get out to enjoy fresh air. Bomb craters still litter the area so you get an impression of how heavily the area was targeted. If you don't do the whole tour it's definitely worth making time to visit here anyway. Very interesting.

Thoroughly worth the trip. Fascinating exploration of the cave system. We just turned up, purchased entry tickets, and asked for a guide. There is a 30min video presentation you can watch beforehand which explains the story of the tunnels. Our guide was a 3rd generation villager whose parents were born in the tunnels. She gave us a very emotional account of her parents plight in the tunnels. We arrived around 1pm and spent about 3hrs for the whole visit. Be prepared to walk down steep steps in narrow tunnels up to 30m underground. There are no handrails so reasonable mobility and fitness is required.

If you are traveling through Vietnam, or at least passing by through here from north to south it HAS to be one of your stops! It’s my third time in Vietnam but the very first in the tunnels and the only thing I regret is not coming here earlier. It was an enlightening experience getting to know more about the history and being able to see where it happened. Vietnam proves once again why they are such a strong, resilient and beautiful country.

DMZ tunnels North Vietnam. Very impressive to see what the build to survive, because these tunnels were only meant to keep civilians save during the bombing. There were 3 levels from 10, 15 and 23 meters deep. The second level was for utilising 200 up to 1000 people (worst case) having familie rooms, a baby room (17 kids were born underground, 16 still living) and an operating/medical room. The 3rd level (23 meters) was only for storing food and weapons to defend, because the humidity was too high to live there. Longest stay of people inside was only five days during bombardments.

This place is cool! Worth the visit especially if the tour include other turístic spots. Don't come only for the Tunnels, buy a package that include many places in the area.

Epic in all respects, you can only come here with Oxalis Adventure Tours and it will cost you USD 3000 and you will need to book at least a year in advance. Probably the best money I’ve spent on any trip, particularly when you take into consideration the logistics of such an expedition, 30 plus staff to ten participants. The company is incredibly professional, food is restaurant quality and they have a strong commitment to local communities and environment. It is everything you’d expect from the world’s largest cave and a USD 3000 commitment, worth every cent, you simply can’t come close to this experience on any other cave trip. You will need a high level of fitness, coordination and reasonable confidence.

Without a doubt, the best experience I had in my life. I’ve been all around the world and this place left such an impression on me and will for a really long time. H’Anetta (our tour guide) was very professional, fun, passionate, and very knowledgeable. On top of that, the porters and safety assistants were also spectacular and further enhanced our experience. they were incredibly helpful and the most kind hearted people. There were 3 campsites and each one of them had its own character. Waking up to the view is to die for, sometimes it felt like I was on another planet. The trek was challenging but also very fun, plus the safety assistants are, again, very helpful. There was a great balance between going through caves and jungles. And occasionally, you’d cross rivers too! Overall, reconnecting with nature was a success 😎

Perfect stop when visiting Halong Bay. The cave is amazing.

It was an amazing adventure of a lifetime. The whole expedition was well executed by a team of professional crews from Oxalis. They make the seemingly tough maneuvering through the deep jungles, never ending terrains, rocky mountains, thrashing waterfalls for city dwellers like us to be able to cross each of these hurdles readily, with their full support of safety officers at arms length.

the experience is out of this world, truly amazing. It got better and better everyday, this is the place where you want the time to stop to be able to enjoy more. The vaulted cavern swim is a chef kiss, i wont further explain to save the real experience for your own. $3000 for full on package from your first step out off plane/train, totally s worth it. for cheaper option, consider Tu Lan 4!

Unreal experience. I highly recommend people put this on your list; it is fantastic. It is not for everyone; you will sweat profusely, not shower, get muddy, scramble through tight spaces, and ascend a large wall with ropes. I loved every minute of it. The Son Doong Cave is nearly 9 km long, and the volume is up to 38.5 million cubic meters, making this cave the largest natural cave on the planet 🌏. It has many complex and giant stalactites (over 80m high), ancient rain forests 🏞 growing inside the cave, its own ecosystem, weather, or a mysterious underground river that no explorer has yet discovered to the end of it. It was indeed an adventure that is like nothing else in this world.

Son Doong Cave, located in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam, is an awe-inspiring natural wonder and the world's largest cave by volume. Inside, you'll find unique ecosystems, including lush jungle landscapes, fast-flowing rivers, and towering stalagmites and stalactites. The cave's sheer scale and unspoiled beauty offer a surreal experience, making it a must-visit for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts alike. Exploring Son Doong Cave is a challenging adventure due to its remote location, demanding terrain, and technical requirements. The journey involves multi-day hikes through dense jungle, river crossings, and steep climbs, all requiring a good level of fitness and stamina. Inside the cave, adventurers face harsh conditions such as high humidity, slippery surfaces, and temperature variations. Access is limited to guided tours with experienced caving experts, and the cave's isolation means that medical facilities and emergency services are far away, adding to the risks involved. Overall, Son Doong is a breathtaking and humbling destination that showcases the incredible power and beauty of nature, a MUST visit once in a life time place ☺️☺️☺️☺️

We visited on a very rainy day but in the end it was probably an advantage as there weren’t many people there. The walk up to the entrance is not for everyone but we took our time and made it. Inside the cave is spectacular with some of the best stalactites and stalagmites I’ve seen. The cavern is massive and I recommend walking all the way to the end. The most impressive thing is that there was phone signal in there! Amazing.

We did this as apart of a full day tour, we would really recommend paradise cave if you are in the area. They provide a buggy service to the base of the hill. There is then a sloped 10-20 minute walk to the entrance of the cave (toilets near the top with clear signs). At the entrance there is a place to sit with fans if needed and you can buy cold drinks. The cave itself is very impressive compared to other caves that we have seen, the inside is massive!

Very underrated The cave is enormous, u will be caught attention of this place by the coolness, the blow of the wind at the entrance of this cave. Massive chambers, extraordinary stalactites show case the true beauty of this landscape. You will spend a hour to experience and take photos of this cave, very stunning. The wood walkway are well designed, help the tourists to reach the end of the case, or have a great spot for photos Before reaching the cave, u have to walk for about 15 mins. But thanks to the human made stairs, it help the visitors alot

There are better places. Paradise Cave itself is breathtaking—a true natural wonder that deserves respect and preservation. Sadly, the overall experience is undermined by how it’s managed. Tickets are quite expensive for what you get. After purchasing, you can take an electric golf cart to the trailhead, then hike about 500m uphill to reach the cave entrance. While the cave is worth the effort, the way it’s operated takes away from the experience. We didn’t join any tour, but it was clear that the company running the cave prioritizes quantity over quality. They schedule too many tours at the same time, causing congestion and chaos inside the cave. To make matters worse, many visitors block the narrow walkways to take endless photos and group pictures, which only adds to the crowding and frustration. Instead of the peaceful, awe-inspiring experience you’d expect, it often feels stressful and overwhelming. The atmosphere is loud, unorganized, and lacks any real crowd control. It’s disappointing to see such an extraordinary place treated more as a money-making venture than a site to be protected and appreciated. Paradise Cave is stunning and absolutely worth seeing—but be prepared for high ticket prices, overcrowding, and inconsiderate behavior that take away from its natural beauty.

Great cave with awesome high cathedral like ceilings, some great stalagmites. Were the names are given, particularly look out for the “jade rabbit” Be aware it’s a long walk uphill to the cave entrance and a very long walk in the cave itself with lots of steps, so only for the reasonably fit.

🪨 Paradise Cave – Stunning & Peaceful Visited with Sovaba Tours from Hue, and it was absolutely worth the long trip! Our guide Victor was amazing — local, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the area and the caves. He took great care of the group. Paradise Cave is huge, quiet, and beautifully lit. The limestone formations are incredible — walking inside feels like entering a natural cathedral. Peaceful and awe-inspiring. Highly recommend visiting, and if you can, go with Sovaba and ask for Victor!

We loved exploring paradise cave! It is a bit of a hike to get up there so wear good shoes. It can also get very slippery inside, we saw someone fall down so use the handrails and watch your step. It was a really great experience overall.

An absolute blast! We were not expecting how great of an experience the duck farm was. Our guide was incredible and hilarious. I don’t think we’ve laughed that hard ever. They took great photos and knew how to get the ducks to pose with us. You get a banh xeo with the price of admission and it was absolutely delicious. We will 100% be back the next time we come to Vietnam.

Staff are all so friendly!! We had a great time at the duck stop, such a fun experience. You get to see the ducks for about 10 minutes, feed them and get lots of photos. They provide you with shoes so yours don’t get wet/dirty, they help wash your feet and hands after too which was nice. The 100k package (only package) includes a crispy pancake roll with peanut sauce, which was absolutely delicious - we had to get some more! You get a drink included too so we both got a beer. You can pay a bit more to get a photo on the water buffalo but we didn’t do this. Highly recommend if you are staying in or near Phong Nha, it was dry for us but definitely something you can do if it’s raining!

Such a funny and unique stop! We had no idea what to expect, but we ended up at a super friendly family-run place. It’s 100,000 per person, including a drink and some food. You change into different shoes and off you go. We had a great time, and the ducks are clearly well cared for by the family. A fun experience from start to finish! Afterwards you wash up and leave with a hilarious story to tell. Feeding ducks, having fun, and supporting the family – a perfect win-win! Kevin & Lisa from 🇩🇪

What an amazing experience, I have not had that much fun or laughed that hard for a long time. The owner and guide around the farm was so friendly and really made sure you had a fun time. All the ducks were free to do what they wanted and were really cute. This is such a unique thing to do and I can’t recommend it enough. What’s even better is that to do the duck experience and see Donald Trump the water buffalo (who is super cute by the way) was 150k. We had a quick tour of the farm too then pancakes which were really tasty. They gave us extra water because it was hot which is really appreciated. All this was included in the price! Really this should cost more! Make sure you get the original one and not one of the copies that have popped up! Thank you Duck Stop!!

The funniest experience EVER! We laughed the whole time - our leader was hilarious and a great dancer!! The photos he took were priceless. The Vietnamese pancake afterwards was so delicious and such great value ☺️ we came to Phong Nha specifically for this and it definitely lived up to expectations. Would also recommend going late arvo - not too busy & the sunset was lovely.

Many animal-tourism experiences over here are pretty shitty for the animals, so we were unsure about going - but so glad we did! Duck Stop really surprised us. For 100k per person you get a small snack and a drink, and the hosts hang out and chat with you. Their English was excellent and they were very personable and friendly. The actual Duck experience was great. I don't want to spoil it, but you will get messy. The Ducks seemed very well cared for and happy. Well fed, lots of space to hang out, both land and water. And so much food for them. Definitely some happy Ducks

I did not expect this to be as fun as it was - I grinned the entire time and was almost in tears of laughter at some points. The staff are very kind and great at bringing the experience to life. Would be great with kids, but we went as three adults and still had a blast. 10/10 experience. Only thing to note is that Grab/Uber doesn’t really pick up from this area, so you may need to pay your Grab driver to wait for you and then drive you back (still very reasonable price).

If you’re coming here by yourself head towards the Dark Cave restaurant on maps. That’ll take you to the ticket office/lockers etc. You don’t need to buy tickets before you can just show up. It’s 150k for basic water park package, 250k with the zipline included and 450k for the dark cave and mud bath. Lockers were 50k but it’s a deposit so you get it back. The zipline was okay, it was nice above the blue water but ended quite quick (only 400m) so I wouldn’t say you need to do it. There’s a weight limit of 40-90kg on the zipline and they are quite strict and will weigh you if they’re unsure. The water park has mini ziplines, inflatables, kayaks, paddle boards etc. There is a second water park directly next to it (HaVa valley) but it’s exactly the same price, they might have had some more/different inflatables but basically the same thing. You can’t go into their area but there was no restriction to where you could kayak to on the other side. It’s better to come in the morning and whilst it’s good weather (the water is cold). We got there around 10 and it was fairly empty. Tour groups started coming in just before 1. We didn’t do the cave/mud bath but I think you get a guide that goes with you and also head torches.

Unique adventure in Dark Cave. We went after the recent typhoon so there were limitations on activities we could do. (Unable to swim in the river and play the water games at the location). We were still able to zipline towards the cave entrance. Then a short swim (3 minutes) to the location. Then a swim inside the cave to the passageway. A walk through to the mud bath area was interesting and shin deep in mud. No animals or bugs really to be seen in the cave, only the sounds of a few bats overhead. The mud was incredible smooth and soothing. Exciting trip overall, the motorbike to and from was also breathtaking. Would recommend, but with better timing (not recently after a typhoon)!

We Didnt book the package go inside the cave coz we had done Paradise and Phong nha . The longest zipline 400Metter allow do only 1 time that is Silly. The Staff at the River kind of rude. Not friendly. But We have Alot of fun at the water.

The only sad part is that I am probably not going to see caves as large and as amazing as this in my life again. My daughter said it perfectly - "it's like a museum" - every part is both unique and amazing.

We only did the Zipline + water attraction part, no mud bath. The water attractions were basic but still very enjoyable. There's one long 400 meter Zipline you can do once, and then a smaller ~30m Zipline at the park you can do infinite times, jumping straight into the water. There's also included kayaking and paddle boarding. We spent ~4-5 hours there. You can go as part of a tour but it may feel a bit rushed. I saw many tours with English speaking guides. Restaurant was also surprisingly good given touristy spot.

Really nice cave, but was kinda expensive for that. Of course you can swim and play in the water park area but was mainly for little kids. Think they should lower the price to 250,000 Dong. Seems better! But very nice. Glad I went.

We went there in the afternoon, just showed up and it was really easy to organize. The experience was pretty fun! Although I think if you go with tour like a hostel organizing group will be much better since it was might be more fun! But overall I enjoy the time in here 🫶

Friendly and good one

(Translated by Google) The ferry wharf is arranged orderly and scientifically... The departure place for boats to visit Phong Nha & Tien Son caves. (Original) Bến đò được xắp sếp trật tự, khoa học... Nơi xuất phát các chuyến thuyền đi thăm quan động Phong Nha & Tiên Sơn.

(Translated by Google) The signs are small, if you drive by car and don't look carefully, you won't see them. There are no directional signs or information signs. The waiting area for the boat is small and narrow. There is no parking area. In general, if you want to comfortably get your ticket and get on the boat, you should go early, because if you wait from 9am to 12am, you will have to wait quite a while. (Original) Biển báo nhỏ, đi xe ô tô không quan sát kỹ thì không thấy. Thiếu các biển chỉ dẫn cùng với các biển báo thông tin. Khu vực nhà chờ xuống thuyền nhỏ hẹp. Thiếu khu vực đỗ xe. Nói chung muốn thoải mái để lấy vé và lên thuyền thì nên đi từ sớm chứ tầm 9h - 12h sáng là xác định phải chờ khá lâu.

(Translated by Google) Boat boarding point to the Cave. There will be staff to arrange the boat or you will proactively ask other groups. Each boat returns to the same boat, remember the boat number or the boatman's face. Spacious space, neatly arranged. (Original) Điểm lên thuyền vào Động. Có nhân viên xếp thuyền hoặc sẽ tự chủ động hỏi đoàn khác. Đi thuyền nào về thuyền đó, nên nhớ số thuyền hoặc có thể nhớ mặt người lái thuyền. Không gian rộng rãi, xếp hàng gọn gàng.

(Translated by Google) If you want to take a boat to visit Phong Nha cave, you have to buy a 150k entrance ticket and a 550k boat ticket for a boat of 12 people. You can share a seat with other guests to save costs. (Original) muốn ngồi thuyền tham quan động Phong Nha phải mua vé tham quan 150k và vé thuyền 550k cho 1 thuyền 12 người, có thể ngồi ghép với những khách khác để tiết kiệm chi phí.

(Translated by Google) The wharf is quite crowded during tourist season. There are places to sit and wait. It will be faster to book tickets in advance. (Original) Bến khá đông vào mua du lịch. Có chỗ ngồi nghỉ chờ. Nên đặt vé trước sẽ nhanh hơn.

(Translated by Google) Phong Nha is very beautiful. Travel by boat on the river to see Phong Nha cave. The boat girls are very enthusiastic. (Original) Phong Nha rất đẹp di chuyển bằng thuyền trên sông vào ngắm động Phong Nha . các cô lái thuyền rất nhiệt tình.

I took a 1 day trip with Oxalis and was generally very happy with everything. The area is spectacular, the place where we had lunch was out of this world and swimming out of the caves is an unforgettable experience. Food was great, our guide was very friendly and took good care of everything. I hope they will manage to spare this beauty from mass tourism and damage by keeping the prices high and the numbers low

Absolute amazing experience. I did the Ha tien cave 1day/1night. The Oxalis guide spoke very well English and they will teach you a lot about the jungle and local culture. Oxalis is the only company who organizes high quality (but expensive) tours in this area.

Great trekking experience for amateurs, combining mountain trek, caves exploration and swimming. Whilst Son Doong tour is more extreme and requires good investment (strength, time & money), Tu Lan tours are much more reasonable for majority enthusiasts. Tu Lan caves have both dry and wet caves, so you can balance between climbing, swimming and trekking. There’re many tours ranging from 1-4 days with these caves, operated by Oxalis. We chose the 3D2N tour, cost VND 8M. Oxalis team could be ranked 5* with all their considerate services. Schedule is clear & managed well, guide & life guards have good experience and food are more than enough :) We felt quite safe, enjoyable and of course, the scenery is fabulous. If you want to have some me-time in the middle of the jungle, sleep in tent and no hassle of phone, mails or chaos.. book a tour and enjoy!!!

Wonderful time traveling with Oxalis. There were so many fun activities on my TL4 trip. Highly recommend this to any adventure seekers out there.

I took a 4 days tours in Tu Lan cave system. It such an awesome journey. We'd been through various cave and enjoy the peaceful moments durinv the trip. Worth to try and come back again soon.

Tu Lan cave system has both dry and wet caves which make it very unique and stunning inside.

Best ever caving

Vinh may seem very overwhelming when you arrive, but Vinh Guru Tours is a refuge amongst that chaos. The staff are really friendly and speak great English. Although the tours into Pu Mat were a little out of our budget unfortunately, the staff were able to help us book a train onward to Ninh Binh which we didn’t even know was an option! If you are worried about onward travel/need to book a tour in Vinh, use Vinh Guru Tours! A side note: they are attached to the ‘serviced apartments’ at the Google maps location, their office is on the bottom floor. When you arrive they may seem closed but go to the left gate, shout hello, and you will be warmly welcomed!

Been using their transportation service couple of times for my business trip around Vinh. The driver Andy speaks fairly good English, helpful and reliable. Highly recommended.

Very helpfull and conveniet! They help me a lot and gave information for free! Thank you vor helping me in Vinh! If someone need a tour or information around Nghe An Province, should go there!

(Translated by Google) We were able to enjoy the warm welcome from the team and the great guide Andy to help us discover the heights of Pu Mat. They were able to adapt their offers to our specific needs and Andy was absolutely brilliant as a guide and then to help us continue our stay in complete peace of mind. I recommend 100%! (Original) On a pu profiter de l'accueil chaleureux de l'équipe et du super guide Andy pour nous faire découvrir les hauteurs de Pu Mat. Ils ont su adapter leurs offres à nos besoins spécifiques et Andy a été absolument génial en guide et pour nous aider ensuite pour continuer notre séjour en toute quiétude. Je recommande à 100% !

(Translated by Google) Enthusiastic consultants and professional implementation team. Dedicated customer care, professional tour guide team (Original) Nhân viên tư vấn nhiệt tình, ekip thực hiện chuyên nghiệp. Chăm sóc khách hàng tận tình, đội ngũ hướng dẫn viên chuyên nghiệp

(Translated by Google) A wonderful, exciting experience with great guides and great services! (Original) Một trải nghiệm tuyệt vời, lý thú với những hướng dẫn viên tuyệt vời và những dịch vụ tuyệt vời !

(Translated by Google) Professional, quality travel and event company! (Original) Công ty du lịch và sự kiện làm việc chuyên nghiệp, chất lương !

Nice place for family vacation

(Translated by Google) The beach is comfortable, the sand is long and wide. Clear, Green Water. Always surprising. In particular, the beach is still pristine, not crowded, children can bathe well. Everyone should bathe at Quynh Nghia beach and eat, drink, and have fun at Quynh Bang (Original) Bãi biển thoải, bờ cát dài, rộng. Nước Trong, Xanh nhé. Bất ngờ luôn. Đặc biệt bãi còn hoang sơ, không bon chen, Trẻ em tắm tốt. Mọi người nên tắm bãi Quỳnh Nghĩa và ăn uống, vui chơi ở Quỳnh Bàng nhé

Nice beach

(Translated by Google) The beach is long, the water is quite clear, the waves are not too strong nor too deep, very safe for children to swim, a quite wild beach that has not been exploited much so the guests are mainly locals, there is still a lot of trash along the coast. (Original) Bờ biển dài, nước khá trong, sóng không quá mạnh cũng như không quá sâu rất an toàn cho trẻ em tắm, một bãi biển còn khá hoang sơ chưa được khai thác nhiều nên khách chủ yếu là dân bản địa, dọc bờ biển còn khá nhiều rác

(Translated by Google) Very nice, only 3.5 hours drive from Hanoi, food is cheap, if you like swimming, this place is very ok, not too crowded (Original) Rất tuyệt cách HN chỉ 3.5 giờ lái xe ăn uống cũng rẻ ai mê tắm biển bơi lội thì chỗ này rất ok ko bị đông quá

(Translated by Google) The beach is long and the sand is gentle, ok for swimming. However, there is a lot of garbage, and because the beach is located between the two streams flowing from the mainland to the sea, the water color is not very clear on rough days. In return, this is a fishing village, people gather fish every morning, quite crowded. It is also a tourist boat port to visit and check in the legendary Dragon Eye Cave. (Original) Bã dài và cát thoải, cũng ok để tắm. Tuy nhiên tình trạng rác thải hơi nhiều, và cũng vì bãi nằm giữa đầu hai con lạch từ đất liền chảy ra biển nên những ngày biển động màu nước không được trong cho lắm. Bù lại đây là làng chài, bà con kéo cá tập kết về mỗi sáng sớm khá đông vui. Cũng là cảng thuyền du lịch tham quan check in Hang Mắt Rồng trong truyền thuyết.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful beach, clean and clear water, reasonable prices, delicious food; - One of the few beaches worth visiting in the North and North Central regions; (Original) Biển đẹp, nước sạch và trong xanh, ăn uống giá cả hợp lý, đồ ăn rất ngon; - Là một trong ít những bãi biển nên đến tại miền Bắc và Bắc Trung Bộ;

Lovely place for swimming in lush nature

Very beautiful nature, this is a very lake to stroll around and swim. We had a lovely kayaking tour in this stunning lake

We had an unforgettable kayaking and standup paddle boarding tours in Khe Lau lake. Very nice lake to discover and explore

Nice place for fishing in Dong Du valley

Beautiful place to swim and wander around in Dong Du Valley

Amazing place to stroll around and have a lovely swimming in this charming lake surrounded by tropical rainforest and lush nature

One of the most beautiful lake in Dong Du Valley

Nice golf course :) will come back another time

This is really so so good. It is far more than our expectation. I am suprised with the cleaness and excellent environment here. We will surely stay here again in our next trip to North Vietnam

Nice Green, nice view and very enjoyable Course

Here is also a golf range for those who do not have enough time or other conditions to play on the golf course. Cost for each training session is very affordable, only 120k vnd for 100 balls, rent clubs 70k, rent shoes 250k.

Great course design and greens. Only thing is stacked tee boxes on 1 or 10 when turning.

Relaxing time with family, group of friends. Can rent a room within 10 person. With 18 holes u can play with friend

Beautiful golf course!

I was expecting another church, but it was interesting and not like other churches I've seen in Vietnam or elsewhere. Designed by Vietnamese. Inside is all teak wood, and some of the wooden pillars are massive!! The carvings were detailed. Nice bluestone gatehouse at the front. There was a church service starting when we arrived, so could only have a brief look inside.

Intriguing looking Church - a blend of Vietnamese and French architecture. There are several chapels and grottos around the main Church as well. Have not seen a Church like this before - would recommend popping by from Ninh Binh if you have time to spare / if you have your own transportation.

Stunning place that really worth the travel. The architecture is a beautiful mix of traditional Vietnamien and European styles. The wooden inside structure is fantastic, feeling being in church, and in a pagoda. Definitely a place to visit

A very beautiful and ancient place. Highly highly recommend for people who travel to Ninh Binh to visit. You can ask for nun to show tou around the church and explain about structure and its history also.

The Phát Diệm Cathedral (Vietnamese: Nhà thờ chính tòa Phát Diệm) is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phát Diệm, located in Kim Sơn District of Ninh Bình Province in Vietnam. The architecture of the church – built in stone and wood in 1891 – is an eclectic blend of Vietnamese and European architectural styles. It was mainly built in traditional Vietnamese architecture, similar to historical palaces and temples. It was bombed in 1972 and later restored. In addition to the cathedral itself, the Phát Diệm complex consists of five chapels, three grottoes, a memorial house, and the recently built pastoral center of the diocese. The cathedral is located in Phát Diệm township of Kim Sơn District in Ninh Bình Province.[1][2] It is about 29 km southeast of Ninh Binh and 121 kilometres (75 mi) from Hanoi.[3][4] Phát Diệm Cathedral was built by the priest Father Trần Lục (Père Six in French, or cụ Sáu in Vietnamese).[5] Père Six's tomb is in the frontyard of the cathedral.[1] The wooden statues in the cathedral were all carved by Pho Gia, a Vietnamese artisan.[6] The novelist Graham Greene described the cathedral as "more Buddhist than Christian"[7] in his novel the Quiet American.[8] After the 1954 Geneva Conference, many of its parishioners and clergy moved to safer places in South Vietnam. The cathedral is still functioning as a place of worship, and there are many more churches in the district.[3] On 15 August 1972, the cathedral was bombed, resulting in the collapse of its entire west wall, the convents and two of the schools. But now, after restoration, there are not even tell-tale marks of this destruction.[4] The overall size of the cathedral is 210 feet (64 m) in length, with a width of 60 feet (18 m).[10] The nave of the cathedral is built over 52 pillars, of which 16 are 11-metre tall (36 ft), carved from large ironwood trees. In the front worship area, the altar is made of a single slab, ornamented in "orthodox-style" and is made of "lacquered and gilded woodwork". Above the altar, there are portrait paintings of about 30 missionaries, most of European origin. The vaulted ceiling has paintings of angels in Vietnamese style.[1][4] The interior walls are decorated with Catholic iconography, but particularly have paintings of Eastern religious symbols like dragons, unicorns, tortoises and phoenixes.[9]

Unique architecture and the people are very nice, from the lady selling bánh gai outside the church to the library guy

This church is very historical. Very unique build in ancient way. Doubt modern technology can build in similar way. Have big solid tree trunks column which is very heavy to support the structure of the church. Firmly built and aesthetic. Visiting the church perhaps gives you many blessings, peace and love. A small quiet town.

Should visit before 4pm if you travel by Bus and want to enter Sam Son Beach area. The bus no.2 only goes to Sam Son center by early line accordling to ticket seller of this bus line . If you are a history lover this is a good place to explore.

Worth visiting if you are passing through. There's a reasonable amount of information in Vietnamese and English on different boards around the site, although the museum is quite small. There is a ticket booth at the south gate but all the others are just open and you can roam about the site freely on foot or by motorbike. The entrance fee was 40k VND and the security guard was very helpful trying to explain where I could go and everything I could see, despite not speaking English. Overall it was interesting and worth a visit but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit (probably not worth a round trip out of tam coc / ninh binh city just for this unless you have time to spare).

It was an enjoyable day. Quite a lot of walking so wear good footwear. Lots of exhibits to see spread over a wide area. For no good reason they don't allow you to leave through the entrance and insist on making you walk quite a distance, to get out. Which was the completely the opposite direction to where my bike was parked. Absolutely ridiculous given the heat and humidity. The attraction needs a lot of investment and general work to give it the wow factor...not sure people value it as an historic site or just a backdrop to take photos.

Designated a World Heritage site in 2011, Ho Citadel still doesn't receive many foreign visitors. Built at the end of the 14th century, the inner walls and four main gates of the citadel are still standing. Called Thành Nhà Hồ in Vietnamese, the complex is surrounded by a fertile rural landscape. The walls are overgrown with creepers and grass, but still make an impressive sight rising from the rice fields. Vietnamese farmers go about their work, both outside and inside the citadel grounds; sitting down to rest in the shade of its arched gates during the hottest part of the day. The grand royal ruins and the agricultural work going on around it, remind me of sketches by Piranesi of Rome in the 18th century, when Italy was rediscovering its past, just as Vietnam is doing today. Located near the town of Vĩnh Lộc in Thanh Hóa Province, Ho Citadel can be reached by several rural back-roads. Although the enclosure is very large (close to 1km2) it's not immediately visible, especially if you arrive at either the north, east or west gates (the south gate being the main entrance). From some positions the wall is so overgrown it's almost indistinguishable from the farmland it abuts. The main entrance (10,000vnđ) is through the south gate, where there are guides available and a small museum. The latter tries very hard – with English language labels and information boards – but doesn't amount to much more that bits and pieces of pottery, cannonballs, bricks and tiles. The other gates also have small ticket offices, but most of the ticket inspectors seem to be either asleep or drunk and drowsy. If you avoid weekends and public holidays chances are you'll have the whole citadel to yourself, making you feel as though you're the first foreigner to have stumbled upon these imperial ruins.

My mother’s hometown is here. The citadel was built in the 15th century when Thăng Long Hanoi was attacked by Ming dynasty (old name of China) at that time. UNESCO had recognized this place as one of its heritage in Vietnam

It’s a nice place to bring the kids to at sunset or to fly kites. Information in both Vietnamese and English.

It's an intruding historical place. An old Royal Palace like the citadel in Hanoi but in a more raw condition. But really there isn't much left there to see, except the massive, 3 arched, old gate.

A place worth visiting, an ancient pagoda first built in the 15th century nestled in a serene tropical hill/ mountain. As part of the journey to the 3rd level you move through a cave that has amazing structures. Surrounding the ancient structure were calm waters of water lilies which unfortunately bloom mainly in the morning. We drove to Ninh Binh from Hanoi which is roughly a 1 hour 45 drive. The pagoda is then only a few mins drive from Tam Coc. On a Sunday the crowd was decent. No entry tickets required and as always, be respectfully quiet visiting a sacred place for locals. When we arrived it started drizzling - if you do hit wet weather, so be careful as the stone steps are slippery.

Beautiful temple - the best bit is along the path through the 'Parking Area'. There is a short climb up some steps and then it opens out onto a lake, which is absolutely stunning. Very few people head this way - had it all to myself even when the pagoda was busy. Free parking at the cafes / restaurants - DO NOT park in the 'Parking Area' as you will have to pay.

Went to Bich Dong Pagoda with a tour guide and was good explaining that history of this place. There are 3 temples to visit, the walk to the temple can be steep and may be slippery during raining season. You will have to walk into a bat cave to get to the second temple. The view from the top temple is awesome well worth the walk up. Not too high just a moderate climb up.

Very pleasant visit. Don’t be put off by the reviews about parking scams - just be assertive and cycle past the ladies trying to flag you down. At the end there is a bicycle park and the lady was giving out tickets. She didn’t charge us but others seemed to pay 5000vdn per bike - keep some perspective as that is only 15p so I can’t see how anyone can really complain!! The temple and caves were very pleasant and we visited in the afternoon which was not crowded.

We love FREE!!! Make sure you have some non slip footwear... I did have flip flops on. We hiked to the top and it didn't even seem to be hard work despite me not being fit! Views and the temples are just beautiful Highly recommend

Outstanding. Pagoda, cave, and lake. Was raining when I visited, but it was still very nice. Bike/scooter parking is a pricey at 10k, other places were 3k-5k.

This is a nice filler because it's completely free to get inside. There are lots of vendors right outside that offer to sell you goods & to park your bike for $$. Get food & drink at the Gao restaurant & park there instead. The food there is amazing. The pagoda is cool because you hike up some stairs to get to cave with bats and views.

A very cool experience! It’s quite serene and unique - going with the row boat through the river, through a cave and then into an open space, surrounded by mountains. The ladies rowing the boat are farmers I am told and after their work, they do this as an additional hustle. They row with their feet which is a sight to see, they’re quite experienced. Be warned! And be ready for them to hard sell you trinkets and souvenirs when they reach the end of the river (before turning back). We didn’t bring any money but we felt almost hijacked when she wouldn’t move the boat until she was truly convinced we couldn’t buy anything. The other boats did the same thing, stopped the boat for about 10 minutes until someone bought something (or couldn’t). It detracted from the overall good experience from the row boat ride. We tipped her generously at the end when we were done and back in land where the money was available but we shouldn’t have been held “hostage” for quite a bit of time with the rower giving us a disapproving and unhappy, sour look because we couldn’t buy her trinkets.

We booked a day tour to Ninh Binh using klook. We were picked up from our hotel in the morning around 8 am. From hoi an ancient town to pagoda to lunch and then to tam coc island for a boat ride. It was quite sunny and the boat ride is roughly 1.5 hrs. It was quite hot and you need to carry googles, hat, sunscreen to avoid getting sun burnt. Carry water bottles too. The boat ride is good and quite scenic. You will pass through paddy fields and under the cave and a bridge but just take precautions with the sun. Two people on one boat and they paddle using their feet. Dinh bay and 2-3 small bays pass by. Tam Coc boat tour is a boat trip through the scenic karst landscape of Ninh Binh province, Vietnam, often called "Inland Halong Bay". Local rowers guide you in traditional sampan boats through rivers winding between rice paddies and under limestone mountains, passing through three natural caves called "Tam Coc" (Three Caves). The tour can be booked as part of a day trip from Hanoi, which may also include cycling through rural villages and visiting historical sites like Hoa Lu Ancient Capital or Mua Cave, with options for private or small-group tours

This sightseeing combo was extremely beautiful. Loved it all and felt like we were in another world. The only reason for 4 stars is that our boat rower spent so much time trying to sell us crafts out of his bucket and then started asking for a tip long before the ride was over. Once we gave him one, he complained and asked for more. It was very off putting and took away from the beautiful landscape that we were trying to take in.

The view, cave, rock and river themselves are naturally beautiful. This place is unique during the rice ripening season. Recommend to go early to beat the crowd. Sadly nature outweighs the messy service and rude, greedy, narrow-minded attitude of the vast majority of boatmen here. You can’t enjoy the boat on your own but need to fill the group of at least 4 people. The boat woman seems friendly and responded to your questions, but stopped only at Khe Gioi ravine for photos. She was impatient and wanted us to leave early. She described her poor family situation and persuaded us to buy embroidered frames. She also asked for tip by the end and sold the embroidered things double the price. Don’t believe their words, their acting and don’t buy anything. Actually the local people themselves are ruining the experience. I’ll never come back because of their attitude. Just enjoy nature if you love it.

It’s a great experience on the river passing through the 3 caves. Tam(3) and Coc (caves). You are in a small rowboat, a local lady or men row with their legs

Best experience we had, river along that glides you to three caves, amazing limestones, picturesque cliffs, beautiful scenic views. Highly recommended

I had an amazing experience exploring the area. The boat ride through the limestone mountains and expansive rice fields was incredibly peaceful, and the scenery was breathtaking at every turn. The guides were friendly, helpful, and informative, which made the visit feel personal and engaging. Even though it was a popular spot, it never felt overcrowded, making the experience truly memorable.

Our stay was nice. Location: BUT we wish we would’ve known that the lodges are on a tourist attraction park… We arrived around 4 am and when we woke up we were pretty surprised to see tourists walking on our doorstep. We wish it was more clear that the lodges are in the Hang Mua park so take this in consideration when you book the lodge. The pool was closed while we were there but we did got a discount for that. The staff and service was overall good. Except for the laundry, it was quick, but it wasn’t clean and also my pants shrunk a bit. When we checked out they forgot to charge us for the laundry and the scooters we rented. They texted and called us several times while we were already on our way to Hanoi. We paid the remaining via our next hotel which they contacted to transfer it. Both these experiences made me write the review but we enjoyed the room.

This eco lodge has several dogs caged in tight chicken cages, sleeping on bare wires l, with no bedding, with no water or food supplied all day in horrible heat and humidity. I was heartbroken. They care more about people not picking lotus flowers than live animals. Not only were the dogs in cages, they had less than 10 inch long chain on them for no reason whatsoever. I stuck my tiny hand in the cage to straighten out the bowl so I could pour some water in there, the dogs chain was barely long enough to stick his face in the bowl!!!!! Dog drank the water like it never seen water before. Even tho it was absolutely panicked when he saw my hand, like he never seen humans before. It was days ago and my heart hurts to this day. I'm thinking these are the property guard dogs that maybe possibly get let out at night, but still, for the love of God, provide them with some water during the day. Bowls were chewed up and turned over from the dogs searching for it! I was thinking of booking a stay there in the future, now I just can't. I hope more people see this, and more people protest they were in the property parking spot by the scooters.

The main advantage of staying at this lodge is the access to the viewpoint and the lotus fields. It allows you to enjoy the attractions and then take a shower and rest in your room. The trade-off is that other visitors may walk around the site and past your room, though there is a buffer separating the rooms from the paths. The grounds themselves are beautifully designed, with the traditional lanterns and bonsai adding a charming touch. The room, however, was smaller than expected compared to the photos, making it a bit cramped - especially between the beds and desk. Pest control would also be helpful, as we noticed mosquitos and lizards. The breakfast was a real disappointment. On a positive note, the outdoor shower was absolutely fantastic. Overall, despite a few drawbacks, we had a wonderful and memorable experience.

I have booked a family room for 2 nights, they contacted me and said that because of their family room needs to fixing somethings so they upgraded us to cave villa without extra fee, which is so nice from them! But there are some small things they could do better: first is the roof problem, water drips from the ceiling to the floor continuously, not lot but enough to make the floor wet and it isn’t safe for the family with 2 young kids that alway running and playing! Second is just a communication, the receptionist told me there are a Jacuzzi in the room, just ring them to send the staff to turn it on if we want to use it. But it is actually a big bath tub only, just warm water, no aeration. This isn’t a complaint because we are happy with the warm bath as well but they could tell us it is the bath tub instead of Jacuzzi.

This place is wonderful! The location is great, offering fantastic views of the cliffs. The room was very comfortable and there were two bathrooms- indoor and outdoor. The staff were friendly and helpful. The breakfast was plentiful and delicious. It was a great choice for us, as we needed peace and quiet in the evenings. All in all, I recommend this place.

A wonderful stay at Hang Mua Ecolodge. A perfect place to stay when you are in Ninh Binh. We can do the sightseeing without buying tickets while staying here. The staff are great especially Ha Vi, we would like to thank her for her knowledge of the heritage itinerary and helping us arrange where to keep our luggage after check out and return to Hanoi. Everything was great!

Mixed review on this. Parking attendant was a bit abrasive. Reception staff and restaurant staff were amazing. The complimentary breakfast was great.Room was pretty good but the shower put water everywhere? The views and atmosphere are exceptional. The spa staff were nice but the massage was below average, rough and unenjoyable and the lady was messaging on her phone and chatting with her friend during the massage and had staff children nearby making the experience not very relaxing and then after tipping almost half of the price of the 3 services my family had she complained that was not enough.

Did the Trang An boat tour. We chose route 3. We went at 11PM It was super beautiful, was getting super crowded as we were leaving. Our tour guide made us paddle for the full 3 hours as she was barely paddling. Would have took us 5 hours without us. Paid 250 000 dong. If you want something worth the money I would highly suggest the bird sanctuary in Tam COC. Only cost 150 000 dong. Give yourself alot of time as there is SO much to see, super worth the money and your time. There is 4 caves and all the boat tours are included in your ticket. Make sure your there around 4PM and you'll see all the birds returning to the bird garden. Such a beautiful sight! Happy travels!

The rower was very friendly and talkative, which made the experience more enjoyable. The landscape is stunning and peaceful — honestly, we thought it was almost better than Ha Long Bay. There’s less boat traffic, and the water is much cleaner. That said, the tour was 3 hours long, and it was extremely hot. Sitting in the sun for that long can really drain you — bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. I would recommend to take the shortest route!

We couldn’t go into the caves because it was flooded, it’s a pity because I was looking forward to that. But other than that, very nice peaceful boat ride - they take you for 2.5 hours on the lake, I don’t know how the women manually ride the boat for so long!! Quite serene and beautiful.

had the best day! incredible views so peaceful and unreal landscapes. the best was to see the sights that ninh binh has to offer. we were on boat route 3. went for 3hrs; 3 caves and 3 temples <3 we had the most lovely couple join us on our boat (4 people in every boat). make sure to tip the workers they’re so lovely and made sure we got amazing pictures!

They “slightly” changes the tour and instead of 3 hours it was 1.5. Also it was overcrowded with boats so avoid going on Sunday because you will just hear people taking around and will not enjoy the nature at all. Last but not least there was 250m long cave which was also crowded with boats and it was lacking air.

Not much to say. When we got in we did just 2 caves because the tides were high. So it kind of limited the experience for us. However it was a good experience. Very professional. Although they were way too many people and I felt that kinda led to the long 2-3 hours timeline and not really the activities. Also limited flexibility. Also it was quite difficult to communicate with the man rowing as he didn’t understand any English. Outside of that, a good activity to appreciate the natural wonder and tick off your bucket list. Best to do early in the morning or later in the evening.

Boat ride experience is amazing. We went for route 3 where we stop at 2 pagodas and went in 3 caves. There was 1 cave which was 1000m long. We needed to sit low since the cave is kinda low also. We went at 14:00hr and it was extremely hot! I recommend you wear tons of sunscreen or hat and long sleeve because it’s extremely hot!! The view is just breathtaking. It was a total of 4hrs boat ride including the stops. An unforgettable experience. 💖

A temple for a Vietnamese king. Was nice to know the history of vietnam and the ancient city from the guide.

When you get an entrance ticket you gain access to both tombs and the stair temple… don’t know if you actually need tickets or if you can just walk in. We were stopped and had to pay but another couple walked in a few hours after us when we were a bit to leave and they didn’t pay. Anyways i think it was 30.000 total including the 10.000 bike parking fee. There were a bunch of kids there practicing their English and it was fun to talk to them for a bit!!

A bigger temple to the first king temple. Much nicer. The king’s altar is locked but u can view it through the door grilles.

The temple is not too big, but has interesting history behind it. The is garden with lotus pond, and you can find the King’s statue with his wife.

A serene setting. Shady compound. Not much too see. There is minimal English signage.

It is really awesome to explore in here. But it would be more better if they allow us to rent a bicycle. The temple is quite far from each others.

very nice and old temple

Amazing place. Very beautifully maintained and peaceful. We took the electric caddy option but realised it's way more beautiful if you walk around instead. The old monastery short hike was great as well. Needs 4-5 hours to visit properly and soak-in the surroundings and the temple environment.

This Pagoda has the tallest tower and largest gold coated Buddha statue in Southeast Asia. Place is huge, you need mimimum 3 hours if not more to see most of the things. It's not worth to go to point 27, the rest is very interesting and worth seeing. There's an elevator in the tower so it's very easy to go to the top, to 12th floor. The view of the entire complex is magnificent.

It seemed to me like Vatican but for Buddhists :) its very extensive, beautiful and impressive, its a lot to discover and for proper discovery you would need like almost whole day but you can do quicker more shallow tour in like 2-3hrs ...its very tourist friendly ...close to No.13 - herbal soak bath - is a great cafe not to be missed but many other refreshment stations and nice clean restrooms are all around the area. Definetely buy ticket option for 300k dong. It totally worths it and you ll appreciate taking a ride by buggy ...important info: when we visited THERE WAS NO RESTAURANT with warm meals at the visitors center...we expected there would be restaurant at such a big tourist spot but they only had filled dumplings:( if that happens to you and you are there hungry go to Family organic restaurant which is like 5 mins away by scooter...its very good and cheap meal...you can thank me later:)

Very beautiful template and pagoda. You can easy spend several days here. Be aware that there some steep walking areas so if you have mobility issues you should know. We went on a weekend day during off season and almost no one was there.

If you don’t do your research in advance, prepared to be surprised by this sprawling complex spanning hundreds of acres of land. There’s ancient stone temples over 1000 years old and a newer temple complex completed fairly recently. A visit will take easily 2 hours or more, but it’s the most relaxed, tranquil setting with lush gardens.

Beautiful! So many temples and pagodas. The complex was clean, well manicured and easy to navigate. Unfortunately, we were visiting as part of a tour and we were too rushed and didn’t get to explore on our own terms. If/when we come back to Vietnam, I’d love to spend more time here and get a chance to see up close, the ancient pagoda that is an icon here.

Beautiful place with lots to see, totally worth the ticket. Get the package which includes all shuttles, foot soak, and trang an. If you don't get the shuttles, prepare to walk for hours and hours. Bring sunscreen, a hat, umbrella, and sunglasses.

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.

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.

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

We stayed here for five nights. The highlights were the beautiful forest setting, friendly staff, and welcoming atmosphere. The scenery was stunning, and we had an excellent hiking experience with rangers guiding us through the trails. However, there were some challenges. The insect bites took weeks to heal, and leeches were abundant, we counted around 35 in a single day of hiking, fall down several times as we got a bit of rain and wet.. Outch :). It was still an adventurous and memorable experience, but proper boots and leech socks are essential. Even with those, we were bitten quite badly. We didn’t encounter any large wildlife, but the night safaris were still a highlight. Thousands of fireflies lit up the forest, a beautiful sight. We also observed a few snakes chasing frogs, birds settling into the leaves for rest, and a variety of fascinating insects and bugs. Toward the end, we were lucky to come across a group of deer. The food at the restaurant was generally good, though there is room for improvement. Overall, a rewarding stay for nature lovers, but be prepared for the elements.

Just returned from Cuc Phuong National Park and I’m blown away! The jungle trails are lush and peaceful, and spotting langurs and rare birds was a highlight. The visitor center is very informative, making it perfect for both nature lovers and families. A must-visit for anyone exploring northern Vietnam.

Nice experience. We went there after the floods so the road was a bit slippery but we managed to get to get to the Preshistoric man cave and it was great. The whole route through the jungle is also very impressive.

Any national park, anywhere in the world needs to be protected. Cuc Phuong is beautiful and wild and should remain that way, however the running of the park is terrible. The government are simply not doing enough to protect or police the boundaries of the park from poachers and logging. There are NO ANIMALS here, not a bird in the sky. If you come to view wildlife you can pay separately to see rare monkeys in tiny cages which cannot be released here because they will be poached again for food, exotic pet trade or the madness of chinese medicine. The same for the pangoling and most primates and mammals here. We did not pay to go to the 'rescue center' (glorified zoo) after seeing images and reading reviews about the small cages and the conditions of the animals. We stayed for 4 nights, which is far too long here. We did 1 hike which is at the end of the park (we had a motorbike but if you dont have transport you can either walk the 20km or hire a guide for 1,000,000dong) you don't need a guide and the trail is nice through the jungle. This seems to be the only hike and the only maintained trail in the entire park. We have visited hundreds of national parks in both developed and developing countries and this is by far the most neglected. There is just no investment in the guest experience at all. The staff are rude and abrupt, as though you are an inconvenience to them if you want to buy some food in the restaurant. There's really very little to do apart from travel the long 20km road. We tried the botanical garden but there isn't much in there apart from a long road through the jungle and the mosquitos were literally unbearable in there. If you want to go in there someone has to unlock the gate and then they lock you inside and you message them when you're finished - but there's no signs or information or map or anything, just a tarmac road through the forest. We tried the observation tower but the trail is not maintained, there are small landslides and trees blocking the path, the path is slippery and dangerous along the side of a rock face (we did persist and made it to the tower which was actually cool but you have to be fit and agile otherwise it's super dangerous). The problem again is when you get to the top, theres no animals or birds to see anyway but the view is nice. Now to talk about the accommodation. We booked into the Bong Substation because it says its remote and we wanted to be in the jungle. The website says 'far from civilisation' which sounds great for an adventure in the national park! We arrived and were pointed to different people, no one spoke any english (thats okay, we dont expect that) but it was as though no one was expecting us, they hurriedly grabbed some bedsheets and rushed off on a motorbike whilst trying to make us wait in the restaurant and eat something. We left and followed on the bike and the cleaner was frantically trying to change the sheets in what is the most disgusting room we have ever seen (and smelt) we left the room and allowed her to clean for 1 hour, hoping it would get better. When we got back the room was absolutely disgusting. The bathroom floor was filthy as well as all the taps and sink, there were rat droppings all over the floor and the smell of rats urine made our eyes water. The walls were covered in streaks and mould and all the sheets and towels were full of holes and stains. The lamp didnt work, and we didnt have a curtain on the door so anyone could see in. By this time there was no one around to ask for a different room as the reception was closed and no one spoke english, and theres no internet or signal in this area. We decided to try to get some sleep and deal with it in the morning however we didnt sleep because of the foul smell and there were live rats running around the room and on our clothes. The smell triggered asthma and was really awful. In the morning we were exhausted and hoped to try to hear some birds singing or listen to the jungle before arranging a habitable room but for some strange reason a man was outside with a petrol leaf blower

Beautiful nature, but inconsistent visitor experience We stayed overnight in Cuc Phuong National Park to enjoy its landscapes and wildlife, and while the natural setting is worth visiting, our overall experience felt confusing and poorly managed. The park itself is stunning — ancient forest, unique biodiversity, and decent rescue centers (EPRC and Turtle Conservation). These are the real highlights and worth your time. However, the organization around accommodation and activities leaves a lot to be desired. Prices were unclear and seemed to vary depending on who you asked. For example, we were charged 800,000 VND for a second-class room (quoted as $37 USD, which doesn’t match the official rate), and transport plus a night safari guide were quoted by a lady at reception at $75 USD — far above the normal local rate. All while snickering and laughing with co-workers in Vietnamese. Felt like we we're being ripped off with a smile, especially seen as there was no option tot pay electronically. Staff were unpolite and communication was limited, and rather than offering clear options when weather made night tours difficult, they simply discouraged us from joining. It felt as if the visitor experience wasn’t really prioritized. Overall, Cuc Phuong’s beauty speaks for itself, but management and hospitality could be improved significantly — especially with clearer pricing, consistent information, and better guest engagement. Tip: pay in VND only, confirm prices in advance, and focus on the rescue centers and short hikes, which are genuinely rewarding. For good jungle experiences, go to Pu Luông.

the trip to the park from Ninh Binh (adviced by motorcycle) is already half of the experience for what sceneries you will see underway. the national park is accessible by moto because it is to big to do by walking. once you get to one of the trails, you walk them, you have many choices, doing all of them would really take you more then one day. the plan delivered to you when you pay the 60k entrance gives you all the details about the waling time of every trail would take.

There are a bunch of walking trails that start along the main road. In each trail we took we saw a wide diversity of animals.

Food and price are OK, but not very good. Far from pier

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(Translated by Google) The relic management board did not fulfill its responsibilities on the first day of Tet. Boat and canoe services are not safe and provide bad service. Improper collection of parking fees. (Original) Ban quản lý di tích không làm tròn trách nhiệm trong ngày mùng 1 Tết. Dịch vụ thuyền, cano không an toàn, làm dịch vụ tệ. Thu tiền gửi xe không phù hợp.

(Translated by Google) Attractive tourist destinations during Lunar New Year (Original) Điểm du lịch hấp dẫn vào dịp tết âm lịch

Huong Pagoda, set among the mountains and rivers about 60 kilometers from Hanoi, is one of the most famous spiritual sites in Vietnam. The journey itself is part of the experience—you take a boat ride along a peaceful river lined with limestone cliffs before reaching the pagoda complex. The main cave temple is impressive, with natural rock formations combined with sacred shrines, creating a unique atmosphere that feels both majestic and serene. During festival season, it can be very crowded, but outside of that time, the area is calm and offers beautiful scenery. If you’re looking for a mix of cultural exploration, spiritual atmosphere, and natural beauty, Huong Pagoda is worth the trip.

Perfume Pagoda is a complex of Buddhist temples and shrines built in the Hương Tich mountain. This is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Vietnam. I visted this place few years ago and have some notes below: - There is a bus from My Dinh bus station to Perfume Pagoda. The bus will stop at the main road and you can walk abt 2 km from bus stop to the tourist center of Perfume Pagoda that nearby the Ben Duc boat whaft. You buy ticket here and don't forget to get a leaflet to know abt attractions. - The only way to reach Perfume pagoda is by boat and on the way there, the boat will stop at some spots for tourists to have a look. The ticket price includes boat service, but you must share the boat with others and have to wait the boat full (5-6 people) to start the trip. If you want to rent an entire boat for yourself, ask the staff in ticket counter for the price. If you share the boat, you just can visit some main destinations on the tour, and if you don't know people who share the boat with you, it is quite inconvenient abt the time. But if you rent the entire boat, you can discuss with the boatman abt where you want to visit and you are not be rushed by others. - Thien Tru Pagoda and Huong Tich Cave (named "The Most Beautiful Cave Under the Southern Sky") are the 2 must-visit on this trip. From Perfume Pagoda to Huong Tich Cave, you can take a cable car or walk up the mountain. I recommend walking up because it is quite easy with the staircase, just abt 30-60 min and there are some spots you can visit on the way. If you take cable car, you will skip them. - If you can speak Vietnamese, you can chat with locals and hear some intertesting folktales abt the sacredness of this place. I personally, can felt it by myself, so be mindful of your words and your behavior here. Many couples struggling with infertility come here to pray for a child. - First 3 months of lunar year is pilgrimage season and Perfume Pagoda Festival is one of the Vietnam’s largest Buddhist celebration, so has many activities to enjoy. Though, if you are nt a pilgrim and don't like long crowds and long lines, you should avoid these months. The best time to visit is the fall (Aug -Oct), weather is great, not too crowded and can see a lot of blooming lotus, water lilies on the river. - If you want to visit some main attractions and explore the other surrounding temples, it will take a whole day, you should start your trip in the early morning.

First night at Hanoi and we were recommended to visit this avenue. Great singers and rock band with cool vibes. It's located in the heart of a large hipster building complex, surrounded by multiple shops and hangout spots. Perfect for an evening out! Basic drinks and cocktails are on the menu.

Amazing. The whole experience was fantastic. From the boat to the temple and the beautiful smell of jasmine throughout. Must see if you want to experience the spiritual and historical side of Vietnam

Very interesting place to visit, unique history, set in a remote location, surrounded by beautiful vistas. To get to any of the 15 pagodas in this area you must travel by boat. The Huong Pagoda was 3km upriver and you must visit the local temple as part of the journey. It's a very tranquil way to start. The Pagoda itself is set up a short but steep walk up from the shore, and is maintained by a group of working monks. Unique to this Pagoda, is that is a monk dies here, they are given their own tomb on the grounds, and they're cast as a statue, and after 200 years the statue will be painted gold, as it is believed they have achieved enlightenment as a Buddha. The star attraction is the cave at the top of the nearby mountain, said to be the restimg place of a king's daughter. You can walk to the summit (3,400 steps) but unless you are very, very fit you'll want to take the cable car. There is still another 200 or so steps to the summit, before you decend into a very stunning and tranquil cave. Overall I'd say it's well worth the visit, however there are a few things to be aware of: 1) There is a festival here Jan-Mar, that attracts 2mil worshippers. The river is choked with boats, and it is shoulder to shoulder walking room. This in itself would be an experience. 2) The place is step up to sell to those visitors during the festival - everywhere the path is lined with makeshift shops and restaurants all the way to the summit. Outside of the festival time period the majority of these are closed, so you are walking past walls of tarps. 3) The heat - there is nowhere to hide from it. Especially on high humidity days. There are no air-conditioned buildings, just fans and refrigerated drinks. A number of our group suffered heat exhaustion, and there was little relief until we were back on the bus.

Very impractical set up. Standard let's walk up a mountain temple. Nice temple complex. What is bad is the people who run the site. You need a 30-minute rowboat trip to get to the site which is romantic and beautiful in nice weather in the rain not so much . You pay according to the amount of people in a little row boat and they will make you wait until the boat is full or charge you extra. When we arrived cold and damp we walked up the mountain to go to the cable car to bring us to the temple complex. Very slippery in the rain. Unfortunately, as signs are in Vietnamese we missed that tickets were not available at the cable car but back half way down the mountain. Also we would have to wait to get enough people in the cable car we weren't allowed to go by ourselves??. Being tired wet and cold we decided to just call it a day and go home. On return to the docks to get the boat back. We saw that there were motorboats going up and down the river and asked if we could take one as we were not looking forward to another wet uncomfortable trip. This was not possible not only did they not want to help us we had to pay extra to leave early. Very unfriendly staff and hardly any English spoken.

A major pilgrimage place for the Vietnamese people. The pilgrimage goes on in January February March. Praying there is believed to be able to overcome conception issues. If you have a baby you have to come back every year for 18 year ;)

From the moment I arrived, Lapis Hotel made me feel like family with its warm welcome and genuine care. The staff went above and beyond to ensure my stay was comfortable, always greeting me with smiles and ready to help. The cozy, well-maintained room felt like my own little retreat in Hanoi, and the delicious breakfast added a perfect start to each day. The attention to detail and personalized service truly made this stay special. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience—thank you for making me feel at home! Will definitely return.

Beautiful room, very clean and tidy. Great shower pressure and temperature. The amenities such as a roof top pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi is great. The bed was probably the comfiest bed I have ever slept in and definitely the best night of sleep I’ve had in Hanoi. The staff were always really nice and helpful and great information about Hanoi.

Great, welcoming, hotel for our family with teens. Good location but was too hot to walk to the old town. Not expensive to use grab though. Rooms were clean and comfortable. Be aware we had no window but the plus is that no road noise so a very good sleep!! AC was good, bathroom clean, breakfast varied but not overwhelming and with fresh egg/waffle/pancake station. Pool area is a bit small if you plan to spend a while there but ideal to cool off after a day sightseeing.

We stayed at The Lapis Hotel for 4 nights as a group of 7 and booked 3 rooms. Our stay was very comfortable and pleasant. The buffet breakfast was delicious with a good variety of options every day. The hotel is located just outside the Old Quarter, which made it peaceful and quiet — though we took short Grab rides to reach the Old Quarter for shopping and dinner. The hotel also has a small pool, gym, and sauna which were great for relaxing after a day of sightseeing. Overall, a very good stay and good value for money!

Amazing hotel in Hanoi. Just outside the main Old Quarter district which is perfect. Staff super friendly and helpful. Rooms are spacious and beds are very comfortable. Rooftop pool is a bonus when you need to cool down in the Hanoi heat!

Me and my partner had a very nice stay at the Lapis hotel. The room was nice and clean, and they cleaned it in the morning on our second day. The pool is incredible and the gym, jacuzzi and sauna as well. We had breakfast included and it was very good, a lot of choice and very fresh ingredients. Staff was very friendly and check in and out was easy and I got a refreshing welcome drink. I arrived early and could check in a few hours before check in time because the room was ready, which was amazing. I found that it was in the more fancy big city area and a bit further from the busy more vibrant area where all the restaurants, cafes and little shops were.

A nice boutique hotel. The staff is extremely accommodating. The rooms are clean but small and some don't have windows. If you don't get a walk in shower, the tub is difficult to enter and leave.