Everything you need to know about Van Long Nature Reserve: A Complete Guide

Van Long Nature Reserve is renowned for its diverse ecosystem and rare wildlife, attracting millions of domestic and international tourists. It has also garnered the attention of researchers and conservation organizations worldwide.

This guide provides comprehensive information about this incredible destination, ensuring a safe and cost-effective visit to Van Long Lagoon and its surrounding areas.

Introduction to Van Long Nature Reserve

Located in the Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province, about 80 km south of Hanoi, Van Long Nature Reserve is the largest wetland in Northern Vietnam. This area has two primary ecosystems: wetlands and limestone forests. Additionally, it encompasses other natural landscapes, including grasslands, fields, and traditional villages. Spanning nearly 3,500 hectares, the reserve is a sanctuary for many rare species of flora and fauna, including the critically endangered Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri), a primate endemic to Vietnam that requires urgent conservation efforts.

Designated a protected area since 1999, Van Long Nature Reserve actively strives to preserve its ecosystems, while providing visitors an unforgettable journey amid Vietnam's rich natural heritage.

Best time to visit Van Long

The Van Long Nature Reserve welcomes visitors year-round owing to its diverse ecosystem. The best time to visit Van Long depends on the experience you seek.

If you want to marvel at the lotuses in full bloom, visit Van Long Lagoon in summer, especially during the period from May to June. This is the lotus season, when the lagoon is covered in a sea of vibrant pink lotus flowers, filling the air with their delicate fragrance. The vibrant blooms contrast beautifully with the lush greenery and mirror-like water surface, creating a breathtaking scene. This is the best time for photographers and nature lovers.

Photo captured on Oct 2024 by Authentik Vietnam

The time frame from November to April of the following year is when migratory birds from the north arrive to nest. This is absolutely the ideal time totravel to Van Long as it coincides with the dry season, perfect for wildlife exploration without worrying about rain.

While you can visit Van Long Lagoon throughout the year, we advise against traveling during the rainy season, as overcast skies may hinder your ability to fully appreciate the lagoon’s beauty.

Best Time of the Day: Locals suggest visiting between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM. During this golden hour, you can witness flocks of birds, including storks, soaring in search of food and returning to their nests. If you're lucky, you might also spot Delacour’s langurs feeding on tree leaves in the limestone mountains. The late afternoon provides a more pleasant temperature than the midday heat, making it the best time for wildlife sightings. 

Highlights of Van Long Nature Reserve

Stunning Natural Landscape

A boat tour on Van Long's clear waters offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

One of the most striking landscapes of this wetland is the limestone formations that rise majestically above the water, draped in lush vegetation. Each mountain has a name based on its unique appearance, namely Meo Cao Mountain (the mountain seems to have a lot of cat scratches), Co Tien Mountain, and Mam Xoi Mountain. The water in the lagoon is so clear that you can see layers of moss and algae underneath the surface. While enjoying a boat tour in Van Long, you will be able to contemplate the calm surface of the water reflecting the sky like a giant mirror. Additionally, the lagoon features 32 caves, some of which serve as tourist attractions.

Rich Biodiversity

Van Long Lagoon is not only a place of scenic beauty but also an important biodiversity hotspot. It hosts 39 species of mammals, including the rare and endangered Delacour’s langur, Tibetan bears, chamois, stump-tailed macaques, and even clouded leopards. The wetland is also home to more than 50 species of birds, making it an ideal destination for birdwatchers. Visitors can spot Chinese pond herons, cattle egrets, and white storks, among others. The reserve also boasts an impressive variety of 722 plant species, including eight species listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book for conservation.

Ticket price to visit Van Long Nature Reserve in Ninh Binh

The specific fees are as follows:

- Landscape ticket: 20,000 VND/person

- Boat ticket: 120,000 VND per boat with 2 visitors

Top Things to do in Van Long and its Surroundings

1. Take a Bamboo Boat Tour

A visit to Van Long Nature Reserve would not be complete without a bamboo boat ride. Maneuvered by local rowers, these boats allow you to admire the spectacular limestone formations, clear reflections, and rich aquatic life beneath the surface. While you might find this experience quite similar to that in Tam Coc–Bich Dong, Van Long offers a more serene and intimate experience, with fewer crowds and a greater sense of immersion in nature, which is quite different from the hustle and bustle of Ninh Binh's crowded tourist attractions such as Trang An and Tam Coc.

As the small boat takes you around the ecological zone, you can admire up close the limestone mountains that emerge from the water. Don't forget to look out at the water to observe the delicate aquatic plants dancing gracefully with the movement of the water.

During your wetland waterways adventure, you will visit one of the largest caves in Van Long Nature Reserve, Ca Cave. This semi-submerged and semi-dried cave is 250m in length, 8 m high and 10 m wide.

Embark on an adventure that will bring you closer to nature. Don't forget the best time of day to visit this ecological zone we mentioned above, because if fortune is on your side, you can spot the rare langurs on the limestone mountains and the flocks of storks crisscrossing the sky.

2. Visit Mountain Temples

In addition to its natural wonders, Van Long is also home to several ancient temples and pagodas nestled in the mountains. Among them, Dich Long Pagoda, Thanh Son Pagoda, and Thanh Mau Temple are popular sites where visitors can experience the spiritual traditions of the region. Locals as well as tourists often come to these spiritual destinations to pray for good health and safety.

3. Explore the Countryside by Bicycle

The Gia Vien district, home to the Van Long Nature Reserve, is an ideal destination for anyone seeking an authentic experience of rural life in the northern Vietnam delta. You can embark on an exciting adventure through peaceful villages, along dykes, and across vast rice fields to immerse yourself in the daily lives of the locals. Along the way, you'll also have the opportunity to admire the impressive limestone mountains and the idyllic beauty of the Van Long Lagoon.

You can go to Thung La Temple, a divine temple surrounded by lush vegetation. As the temple is located in a sacred mountainous area, before going to the forest, the people of the area come here to pray to the gods to protect them and bring them back safely. People also often come to this temple to witness trance ceremonies – a unique cultural form of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Vietnamese.

Besides Thung La Temple, Duc Thanh Nguyen Temple is another cultural highlight you should consider visiting on your two-wheeled adventure.

4. Participate in an Embroidery Workshop

For a must-try experience in Van Long, don’t miss the chance to join an embroidery workshop in Gia Viễn District, Ninh Bình. As one of the top things to do in Van Long, this hands-on session introduces you to the delicate art of Vietnamese embroidery, a centuries-old craft passed down through generations. Guided by a skilled local artisan, you’ll learn simple yet elegant stitching techniques, allowing you to create your own unique piece of embroidery to take home. Whether you’re an art lover or simply looking for a meaningful cultural experience, this workshop offers a beautiful blend of tradition, creativity, and local connection—an unforgettable way to immerse yourself in Vietnam’s rich heritage.

5. Savor the local cuisine

A visit to Van Long is incomplete without tasting its famous local cuisine. Among the Van Long must-try specialties are grilled goat meat, which is renowned throughout Ninh Binh for its distinct flavor, mountain snails, a delicacy found in the limestone caves, grilled snakehead fish, and crispy scorched rice (Cơm cháy), a popular snack loved by both locals and tourists.

>> Read more: Top 7 dishes to taste while travelling in Ninh Binh

Where to Stay in Van Long?

Van Long offers a plethora of accommodation options for different classes and price ranges. Here are some of our recommendations:

1. Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh

Emeralda Ninh Binh Resort is situated on the edge of the Van Long Nature Reserve and offers spacious villa-style rooms equipped with complimentary internet access. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, the resort features a spa, three swimming pools, and two restaurants. 

The resort is a 30-minute drive from the Tam Coc-Bich Dong Cave and is located 30 kilometers from Cuc Phuong National Park.

Address: Van Long Nature Reserve, Gia Van commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh.

Price: From 3,867,500 VND per night

2. Huong Tra Ninh Binh Hotel

Huong Tra Ninh Binh Hotel offers a range of 27 modern rooms. This hotel has a spacious garden and a restaurant that can accommodate up to more than 500 people.

Address: Gian Khau, Gia Tran commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh.

Price: From 487,805 VND per night

3. Nep House Homestay

A charming homestay nestled in a small valley in Lang Van village. Nep House has 6 rooms in total, with 3 room types, offering mountain and garden views. It offers an elevator, a shared kitchen, free self-service laundry, and organized tours for guests.

Nep House Homestay is 17 km from Bai Dinh Pagoda, 7 km from Duc Thanh Nguyen Temple, 13.8 km from Trang An, 21.5 km from Tam Coc (about 30 minutes by car), and 42 km from Phat Diem Stone Cathedral.

Address: Lang Van Village, Lang Noi Hamlet, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh.

Price: From 1,100,000 VND per night

How to Get to Van Long?

The distance from Ninh Binh city center to Van Long Nature Reserve is about 20 km, which takes only 30 minutes by car. Here are some transport options to reach Van Long from Ninh Binh city center: 

Taxi: Taxis are easily available from Ninh Binh city center.

Bus:  From Ninh Binh City, take bus No.01 or 09.

Bicycle/ Motorbike: For those staying nearby, cycling or riding a motorbike is a great way to explore the reserve at a leisurely pace.

>> Read more: Hanoi - Ninh Binh: How to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi?

Essential Travel Tips

- Don't forget your sunscreen, hat, or umbrella for sun protection. Make sure to bring binoculars if you plan on bird-watching.

- When taking a boat tour, the maximum load is 3-4 people per boat (including the rower).

-  A small tip of around 40,000 to 100,000 VND per boat is appreciated.

- During your boat trip, respect the environment and do not litter in the lagoon.

- Please note that any act of hunting or harming animals in the ecological zone is strictly prohibited.

That's all you need to know about the Van Long Nature Reserve and its surroundings. We hope you find this article useful and that you will be ready for your trip to Van Long after reading it. If you have any questions, please ask in the comments section or contact us directly by email at: sales@authentiktravel.com! We wish you good health and good travels!

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>> The 11 must-see attractions of Ninh Binh