Trang An eco-tourism site in Ninh Binh province

Trang An complex is referred to as a "Halong Bay on land" or an "outdoor geological museum"

7km west of the center of Ninh Binh province and 96 km south of Hanoi, Trang An covers an area of nearly 2,200 ha surrounded by limestone, hills, and river valleys. The only way to discover the place's beauty is on a small bamboo boat. A 3-hour tour begins at the reception center in Trang An avenue. It takes about ten minutes to go from Trang An to the river through the mountains. The weather is cool here.Vu Thi Lu, a local boat driver, describes the scenery: "In all there are 9 caves and grottoes. From the wharf, we go first to Toi (Dark) Cave, then to Sang (Bright) Cave, Nau Ruou (Wine-brewing) Cave, and the others. We follow a circular route. Each boat is allowed to carry 6 people, who are charged about 5 USD each. Vietnamese tourists usually come here during the early months of the year and on weekends, while foreigners come here all year round."

Floating down the Sao Khe River, visitors eventually arrive at Dark Cave, in front of which queues of bamboo boats are lining up. The boats are kept 3 meters apart for safety and follow different routes into the cave. Trang An's cave system is complex and diverse. 250 million years of geological formation has given each limestone mountain here its own characteristic karst tectonics, resulting in vstly different stalactite and stalagmite shapes. From time to time, the female boat driver warns passengers to duck their heads to avoid the jutting rocks.

The further the boat goes, the more visitors begin to fear there is no outlet. Traversing each cave, visitors come to another watery valley flanked by cliffs and forests. While enjoying the fresh mountain air and the soft light of the river valleys, visitors are suddenly dazzled by the sun and get the feeling they are lost in a fairy land. The water is calm and so limpid that bushes of green weeds on the bottom look like a grass cover. Working the oars steadily, Lu continues to narrate the tour:

Boats are kept 3 meters apart for safety and can follow different routes to enter the caves

"This is Wine-brewing cave, which is 250 meters long. It's called this because the water from the stream in the cave was used by King Dinh Tien Hoang to make wine for his troops after a military victory. The water here makes delicious wine. Each cave has a legend."

Aesthetically, the mountain and river landscape gives Trang An a unique beauty. The water is calm and so limpid that bushes of green weeds on the bottom look like a grass cover

The Trang An Eco-tourism Complex now has 48 water caves and 31 narrow valleys, all of which are being studied. Hoang Minh Thuy, a visitor from Hanoi, shares his feeling:

"Each time I go there I feel more content. The close link between humans and nature in this place really impresses me. I feel close to nature here."

Trang An is considered an "outdoor geological museum" because its mountains combine limestone blocks edging the plains and limestone rocks close to the sea. The terrain and marine sediments are important for the study of climate, topography, sea water rise, and global climate change. Vestiges of prehistoric people have been found here. Nguyen Cao Tan, Deputy Director of the complex's management board, says:

"The complex's cultural values include a series of archaeological sites which help us imagine how prehistoric people responded to climate change. Aesthetically, the mountain and river landscape gives Trang An a unique beauty. The mountains here have a distinct geomorphology."

Phuong Anh