PANO - About 120km south of Hanoi, Van Long wetland nature reserve has a total area of ​​over 3,500ha, stretching across seven communes of Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province. Featuring the wetland, forest, limestone, farming ecosystem and charming villages, the nature reserve makes an ideal destination for tourists at home and abroad.

The first thing to capture tourists’ attention is Van Long House­-on-stilts, displaying vividly the unique culture of the northern people, such as methods to control floods and rice cultivation. Right on the house is an overview of the reserve for tourists, which includes information about the formation of the wetland millions of years ago. Then, visitors will have the chance to enjoy a leisurely ride on ox-carts provided by locals, admiring the rural and countryside scenery along a distance of 3km.

Tourists exploring on Tap Ninh lagoon

The highlight of the trip is Tap Ninh lagoon. Taking a boat on the lagoon and going into the cave, visitors will find the surface of the still water like a giant mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds and the grandeur of the limestone. Underwater living creatures such as weeds, perches, sailfish, etc. can be seen through the clear water. Going deep into the cave, visitors will see Delacour's langurs (a rare animal species in danger of extinction). Van Long was recognized in 2010 as the place with more Delacour's langurs than anywhere else in Vietnam. The reserve has the typical features of the tropical monsoon climate surrounded by caves, forest, and food for Delacour's langurs, which is the reason why the species has chosen to live here.

As a reserve with various favourable conditions, especially the beautiful and attractive natural scenery and reasonable tourism management mechanism, Van Long wetland nature reserve annually attracts thousands of tourists, especially those from European countries. Not very far from the reserve are other attractive destinations such as the Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Kenh Ga hot spring, Dinh Dong Pagoda and more. The reserve is truly a place that may be developed into a major tourist attraction of Ninh Binh province, which leaves a strong impression on tourists.

Translated by Huu Duong