[ Around Hanoi ] [ Sights to see in Hanoi ]

There are a few interesting sights within easy reach of hanoi. To the south of Hanoi is a land version of Halong Bay combined with the remains of an ancient city. Also in this region you can visit Cuc Phuong, one of the few national parks in Vietnam. To the north of Hanoi is Tam Dao, an old French hill station, one that is definitely worth a visit.

The Huong pagoda is the name of a collection of pagodas and temples very sacred to people of the Buddhist faith. Set in the limestone rock of Huong Tich Mountain in beautiful and mystical surroundings, the pagodas are 67 km or two hours out of Hanoi. You can spend hours exploring the pagodas, and taking in the peaceful atmosphere. The main pagoda is set in a huge grotto containing a highly decorative shrine. At the entrance to the grotto you have the chance to have Buddha tell you your future, but do not expect an answer straight away. For 2,000 VND you buy a certificate that you fill in with your details and put in a collection box at the shrine. At a later time a Buddhist monk will burn it in an offering to Buddha.

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Hoa Lu is the ancient capital of the Dinh Dynasty and part of the Le Dynasty form the 11 century. It is set in beautiful surroundings next to Truong Yen village and has a very tranquil feel. Hoa Lu can be visited on a day trip from Ninh Binh, or if you are in a rush you can combine it with a trip to Tam Coc. The area surrounding Tam Coc and Bich Dong is characterised by stony outcrops not unlike those at Halong Bay, though a bit smaller in size and of course without the water. If you are there at the right time of the year, when the paddies are full of water, the reflections make Bich Dong, in particular, almost as beautiful as Halong Bay. At Bich Dong there is a 10,000 VND entrance fee to a series of pagodas (some that are in a state of renovation) and a fascinating collection of caves farther up the outcrop. Some of these caves were used by the Viet Minh to hide from the French during the First Indochina War. The caves are full of stalactites that have been carved into Buddhist images, as will as stalactites that are hollow upon which tunes can be played. There is a mute guide who is great value who can only make noises like bizarre bird calls as he shows you around, but still manages to get his messages across. In his tour you will climb all the way to the top of the outcrop. Although this was a very strenuous climb the view from the top was fantastic and well worth the effort. The rice paddies all reflect the surrounding peaks giving the effect of an emerald mirror. The guide costs 10,000 VND for a couple of hours of his time, though you could probably get a child to guide you for less.

At Tam Coc, which literally means three caves, the scenery is very similar to Bich Dong but you can observe it from a small boat that one of the locals will paddle you around in. This is quite a tourist scene so expect to have to bargain hard to get a decent price. During the boat ride you will have the opportunity to visit Thai Vi Temple and a series of cares as you drift along a shallow river densely packed with reeds and birdlife.

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Cuc Phuong is one of the nine National Parks in Vietnam. The park, which was established in 1962, consists of over 200 km of tropical forest and many grottoes. This reserve is rich in wildlife and natural beauty although it has suffered at the hand of logging companies. It also possesses historical significance as prehistoric tools were discovered in 1974 in two of the park’s grottoes, Hang Dang and Con Mong, and ancient tombs were discovered in another grottoe, Nguoi Xua. This cave is reached by along staircase and contains many stalactites in bizarre shapes. Some of the other caves are inhabited by thousands of bats. It is worth the long trip to go to Cuc Phuong, and the difficulty of this trip has left the park infrequently visited by foreigners.

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