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Our boat tour in Trang An was the highlight of our trip to Ninh Binh. It is a masterpiece of nature. I lost count of how many times it took my breath away as we rowed through the Red River Delta.
The towering limestone karsts I saw came in different shapes and forms. Plants and moss covered them, giving them an even more ancient appearance. They are like giants frozen in time.
Yes, it’s nature’s time portal to the past. And seeing the temples along the boat trail made that impression even stronger.
Trang An is a marvelous experience that I want to preserve, so I’m sharing it with you today. Along with our story, you’ll find travel tips you can use if you plan to visit Trang An too.
Hi reader! It’s Eljon, and before we continue, I want to welcome you to my blog, Explore to Thrive. Here, I share my experiences with traveling, reflections on spirituality, personal growth and insights on building an online business, all to make a difference. But my mission goes beyond that. You can learn more about what I do by visiting my homepage.
Our Story to Give You an Idea to Enjoy Trang An Boat Tour
To summarize, Trang An gave us one of the richest travel experiences we had in Vietnam. It offered us a mix of naturaland cultural experiences, the very things that make Trang An one of the first mixed UNESCO heritage sites in Vietnam.
We saw not only karst mountains and temples.
We also explored caves and underground rivers, which were among the most interesting parts.
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According to our bus tour guide, these caves even hold archaeological evidence of continuous human activity. The timeline? It is surprising. It goes back about 30,000 years!
Yes, you read that right. We joined a group tour to explore Ninh Binh that day. We started from Hanoi, and after lunch, Trang An was our first stop. My friend, though, came along with me on this tour.
On our way to Trang An, our bus tour guide shared another fun fact.
As we took in the view of Trang An’s rugged terrain from the windows, he mentioned that it is actually called the Halong Bay of the Land. He said this is because its limestone karsts resemble Halong Bay’s famous seascape. And honestly, we could not disagree.
It was nearly 2 in the afternoon when we pulled into the parking lot of Trang An. Excitement buzzed through the air as everyone prepared to see the karsts up close for the first time.
Before we could step off the bus, our guide gathered our attention for a briefing. He reminded us not to linger too long in Trang An. We needed to respect the schedules of other travelers, he said. Be back by 5 in the afternoon.
Three hours would be more than enough to explore everything.
After handing us our reservation tickets for the tour, he waved us toward the turnstiles, where everyone eagerly began boarding the boat. Caught up in the excitement, we joined the flow without hesitation.
On our way from the parking lot to the turnstiles, we passed through a quaint open-air souvenir complex. Its charm was undeniable, with shops decorated in vibrant lanterns reminiscent of those in Hoi An.
It was a shame we didn’t stay longer. We could have discovered many Instagram-worthy spots.
The turnstiles and entrance to Trang An sat on a small island, accessible from the souvenir complex by crossing one of the two bridges that link it to the road. As we walked across, the first breathtaking view of Trang An unfolded before us.
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From this vantage point, the dock stretched out below, framed by the sweeping panorama of the nature park.
I wished I could linger there to capture a timelapse. Watching the boats glide from the dock along the winding river would have looked mesmerizing in motion. Yet, we pressed on toward the turnstiles, determined to ensure we could complete the tour on time.
For this trip to Vietnam, our ultimate goal was to unwind. Being jostled by crowds was the last thing we wanted. That’s why we chose Ninh Binh over the busier Halong Bay. The moment we reached the turnstile, we knew we had made the right choice.
There were no long lines, and after the lady at the gate checked our tickets, we walked straight to the boats. From the bridge, it took no more than five minutes to be on the water.
From what I read in the reviews, the boats in Trang An are sampans, small rowboats that typically carry four people, or five if you count the lady rowing. They are not very wide, so boarding can be tricky for first-timers.
From our experience, it felt like the boat could tip over if you lost your balance while stepping in. Once one person was on board, they had to sit in just the right spot to counterbalance the next person getting in.
When my friend and I boarded, I could not help but laugh softly. She clung to my arm and let out nervous little yelps with every unsteady step onto the boat. She wobbled carefully, her arms flailing slightly for balance. Her wide eyes darted around as if the boat might tip at any moment.
Yep, the simple act of boarding became hilariously memorable. LOL. Thankfully, our boat did not flipped.
Our two Korean bus seatmates joined us in the boat, filling it to capacity. The lady rowing climbed in after them, carrying two extra paddles. She spoke in Vietnamese as she handed us the paddles. I did not understand her words, but I guessed it was a polite invitation to row with her.
Moments after she untied the boat from the dock, we began drifting across the emerald water.
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The river curved gently, flanked on both sides by towering limestone karsts covered in thick greenery. Sunlight spilled between the cliffs, casting reflections that danced on the water like tiny flames.
They were some of the most breathtakingly tranquil scenes I have ever witnessed.
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Not every part of the boat tour offered stunning views, though.
Some stretches showed only ordinary hills and mountains. Those moments lasted a few minutes, and I must admit, they were a bit dull. I am just grateful to my friend and our Korean boatmates for bringing life to those otherwise boring moments.
My friend began teaching our Korean companions some cheeky Tagalog words, and I couldn’t stop laughing. Then even she made up a hilarious Tagalog song about herself, claiming she was the most beautiful and sexiest woman in the world. LOL.
Our poor Korean friends had no idea what they were singing, but they gave it their all, performing with boundless enthusiasm. My friend and I laughed so hard we could barely catch our breath.
Thankfully, our Korean friends didn’t mind at all and simply joined in the fun.
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Before I wrote this part of the blog post, my original plan was to suggest that if possible, you avoid filling all four seats of the boat when visiting Trang An. A fully loaded boat makes it much harder for the lady rowers to maneuver.
Personally, I felt sorry for our rower, carrying all four of us throughout the tour. By my estimate, my friend, our Korean friends, and I each weigh more than 70 kilos. Imagine how heavy that is to push against the water.
That said, I cannot deny that at some points, we genuinely enjoyed being four together on that boat. I cannot picture any other way we could have had as much fun.
If you are looking for the same kind of adventure, help the lady rower. As I mentioned earlier, extra paddles are provided so you can help glide faster across the water.
Speaking of rowing, that was another fun part of the trip.
My friend and I are competitive, so we pretended we were racing other tourist boats. Somehow, the other tourists picked up on our challenge and joined in. We never formally agreed on a race to see who could reach the cave first, yet it spontaneously happened.
Of course, we lost, lol, even though we were helping our rower paddle. I, for one, felt how heavy our boat was.
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Drifting into the cave in Trang An felt like stepping into an entirely new world. The sky is no more, replaced by stones and spectacular rock formations. They twisted and arched in every direction.
In some spots, we had to duck because the ceiling dipped dangerously close.
The cave had a lighting system, but it was still dim. We had to focus intently on the path ahead to avoid mishaps.
I remember getting mesmerized by a strangely shaped rock as we passed. I was completely lost in its detail until our boat rower gently but firmly reminded me to look forward. Random rocks had nearly grazed my head.
I believe we passed through two underground rivers, and it was by far the most adventurous part of the trip.
Apart from the caves, another part of the tour that really stood out was the temples. Honestly, they came as a complete surprise to us. We had no idea there were temples in Trang An.
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(I’m sure there were pictures near the ticket booths, but since we rushed in, we must have overlooked them and were amazed to discover the temples along the way.)
According to Google Maps, there are a few temples in Trang An: Thuy Dinh Temple, Hanh Cung Vu Lam Temple, Suoi Tiem Temple, Cao Son Temple, and Den Trinh Temple. During our tour, we only saw three of them: Thuy Dinh Temple, Hanh Cung Vu Lam Temple, and Suoi Tiem Temple.
From what we observed, tourists can disembark the boats to visit the temples.
Did we get off to explore them ourselves? No, we didn’t. We were worried the boat was moving very slowly and that we might overstay in Trang An.
Despite that, we were lucky to witness a cultural performance at Thuy Dinh Temple while on the boat.
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The moment felt epic and almost dreamlike.
It was as if I had stepped into the world of my favorite cartoon, Avatar the Last Airbender. I’m sure anyone who shared that moment with me felt something stir inside as well.
If you want to get an idea how, picture this.
You’re sitting in the boat, staring at a quaint temple rising above the emerald waters of the lagoon. The lagoon? It’s wrapped in towering karst that seem to watch over everything like ancient guardians. Then the performers start to play. The lady singer begins to sing songs that feel like enchantments. Their music drifts across the water and wraps around you, becoming the soundtrack of the peaceful world you’ve always imagined.
I’m not sure if there are always performers at Thuy Dinh Temple. When I looked at reviews and other photos, I mostly saw just the temple itself. I guess we were lucky that day.
Keep this in mind when you buy tickets: you can choose which route to explore in Trang An. Pick a route that includes Thuy Dinh Temple so you don’t miss the chance to see a performance like we did.
If you’re visiting Trang An on a group tour, the provider might choose the route for you. Make sure to confirm the route with them before booking. In our case, we were only fortunate that our tour organizer picked the right one.
After visiting Thuy Dinh Temple, we enjoyed more beautiful scenery for the rest of the tour, though nothing else stood out as much.
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We finished the loop and reached the dock around 4 pm. And when we got off the boat, we made sure to tip our rower.
It’s a good idea to do the same, especially if there are four of you in the boat and you’re a bit on the heavier side like we were! LOL.
We had an almost entirely positive experience, except that the boat tour can get really hot. Some parts of the tour are shaded by the nearby mountains, but other parts are fully exposed to the sun.
With the sun beating down and the humid tropical air, you’ll probably end up sweating a lot. So wear lightweight, breathable clothes that cover your shoulders and arms, like a long-sleeve cotton or linen shirt, and long pants to protect your skin from sunburn.
A hat or a Non La and an umbrella can make a big difference, as we found on our tour.
One more thing… We didn’t feel the urge to pee or poop during the tour, but it could be a real nightmare if someone did. The tour lasts about two hours straight, so make sure to take care of business before you go.
Final Thoughts About Our Boat Tour in Trang An
Based on everything we experienced during our trip, I see no reason not to recommend Trang An. It was a beautiful experience, and the time and effort we invested felt truly worthwhile.
Just so you may know, I had been struggling with work related stress at the time, and the boat tour helped ease it in a meaningful way. The landscape played a huge part, yet it would not have been the same without my friend and my new found friends.
The tour reminded me that although traveling alone offers more freedom and chances to learn, traveling with others creates memories that stay with you long after the trip ends.
There is so much more I want to share about Ninh Binh and Northern Vietnam from my own experience. From our full day trip from Hanoi to tips on how to spend an unforgettable day in the city (you must visit Bai Dinh Pagoda too) and even enjoying a relaxing two day trip in Sapa, I am here to help you make the most of your Northern Vietnam adventure.
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Let’s Go Explore Northern Vietnam!
Being in Ninh Binh puts you within easy reach of more beautiful places in Northern Vietnam. We made sure to see Sapa and Hanoi as well, and I am sure you would find them wonderful. Check out my 4-Day Vietnam Itinerary to learn more.
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