Recently, An Trang eco-tourism has been well-known as film production place of the famous movie “Kong: the Skull Island”. This post will provide all information you need about Trang An
When you arrive the ticket counter of Trang An eco-tourism. It costs 200,000VND/adult. With the same ticket, you will have to choose one among 2 options
- Option 1: route to the film production, visit the village which appeared on Kong. (most foreigners choose this route). With this route, you will stay less time on the boat, and just go through 3 caves.
- Option 2: You will spend 90% of time on boat, sailing through 9 caves.
How to go to Trang An from Hanoi?
Option 1: book a day tour (group tour) for just (from) 600,000VND/adult (include lunch, transportation and tickets).
Option 2: If you are a biker, put your helmet on, turn on Google location and JUST GO!!!!
Option 3: Shuttle bus!!!
Luckily, there is a Limousine shuttle bus going directly from Hanoi to Trang An eco-tourism entrance gate.
That is a 9 seat Limousine car, very comfortable, clean and fast. Ticket from Hanoi to Trang An is 150,000VND/person. There are many pick-up places in Hanoi. You can call them to book for your trip. The hotline is 1900.1731 (I’m pretty sure they can speak English).
You had better booking the returned way as well because there are very limited seats and they are gone very fast. If you fail to book the returned way, you should catch a taxi to the main road where you can catch another shuttle bus on the way to Hanoi.
You might wonder why I don’t tell you to go to the bus station in Ninh Binh city to buy a ticket and then go back to Hanoi, that sounds very easy for you as a foreigner. Well, from my own experience, the last bus to Hanoi from Ninh Binh bus station depart at 4:00pm. If you are not lucky enough, then tell the driver to go to the main road, wave your hand on the road, put your thump up, catch any bus from any city to Hanoi that you can see. I’m sure there are plenty of bus will stop for you, they even approach you before you call for them. Price will be from 70,000VND to 150,000VND/person, depends on a sitting coach or sleeping coach.
Best time to go to Trang An?
I have been to Trang An twice, and I can tell you that the best time to go to Trang An is after rainy days. In July and August, after many raining days, choose a day when it has just stopped raining to go.
Why?
After raining day, the color of the water will be changed to the clear green color. You can see fishes, seaweeds clearly. See my photos for evidence.
In June, when the paddle field turn into yellow. You can enjoy the view from Hang Mua (Mua cave/Dancing cave) – This cave is close to Trang An.
What to eat in Trang An eco-tourism?
There is a restaurant in Trang An eco-tourism, close to the ticket counter. Foods is good enough and clean. You don’t need to go anywhere outside.
Ninh Binh is well-known for burnt rice and goat meat. You should try 2 of those. (From my own experience, grill goat meat is very strong to chew, eat with beer is good).
What to do in Trang An?
As I mentioned above, there are 2 routes.
Route 1: Go to 3 caves and King Kong film production
I haven’t go on this route so here is collection photos from my friends.
Route 2: 9 caves
I will tell you about my route which go through 9 caves. There will be 4 people per boat.
In raining season, the water line will be higher. Therefore, the caves will also be more narrow (which brought me an exciting trip). When you go inside the cave by boat, just watch your heads! You will have a true feeling of adventure.
There is an interesting thing in the biggest cave. There is a place inside the cave for storing alcohol in old big bottle.
(If you have watch or read the novel “The lost tomb diary”, you will be very excited how there could be a such a similar place in real life, the only difference is: in the novel, that place is to store the mummy……)
Except the time on boat, you will also go to many temples. You can choose to go to all of them for just some of them. It depends on you.
There is a temple where you can feed the big fish. That temple was appeared on to reality Korean show called “Running man”.
What else can I do in Trang An?
Apart from Trang An, there are my other place to go as well such as Am Tien temple, Hang Mua (Dacing cave), Bich Dong pagoda, Hoa Lu.
If you only have 1 day, then just go to Trang An and Hang Mua cave. Mua cave is very beautiful. Prepare for climbing 1000 steps to the top of the mountain, then look down to the paddle field. If you go on June, you can see yellow paddle field. If not, It will not be as beautiful as expected.
I’m going to produce a video for Trang An soon. Follow me of my Facebook page to keep up to date.
Thank you for reading!