From
Ha Noi to Ninh Binh province is 93km on
National Highway 1. Ninh Binh has various landscapes because
of its proximity to the mountains of Non Nuoc and Canh Dieu.
These are some tourist attractions of Ninh Binh:
* Hoa Lu Ancient Royal Capital
: In 968, Dinh Bo linh ascended to the throne and took the
name of King Dinh Tien Hoang. The country was named Dai Co
Viet. Because of its half-mountain half-plain topography,
Hoa Lu was chosen as royal capital during 41 years (968-1009).
Twelve years were spent under Nha Dinh (Dinh Dynasty), and
the remaining 29 years were under Nha ien Le (Pre-Le Dynasty)
beginning with King Le Dai Hanh. King Le Dai Hanh was credited
with building many palaces and made the royal capital more
beautiful and magnificent. In 1010, Ly Thai To moved the royal
capital of Hoa Lu to Thang Long. Nowadays, tourists can see
two temples some 500m apart of each other : One in dedication
to King Dinh Tien Hoang and the other to King Le Dai Hanh.
On the 10th day of the lunar third month each year, a great
number of pilgrims come to Hoa Lu to pay tributes to Kings
Dinh and Le
*Bich Dong is a grotto located
in the Ngu Hanh Son mountain range, Minh Hai commune, Hoa
Lu district. In the 18th century, King Tu Duc visited Bich
Dong. Charmed by the marvelous scenery offered by the mountains,
rivers and pagodas, the king conferred on Bich Dong the title
"The second most beautiful grotto in Vietnam".
*Cuc Phuong
National Park covers an area of 25,000ha, three quarters of
which are limestone 
mountains. This primeval tropical forest was discovered in
1960, and turned into a national park two years later. Cuc
Phuong is famous for dozens of picturesque caves. The most
interesting of them is §éng Nguoi Xua (Ancient Man Cave) where
stone tools of prehistoric humans were found. The National
Park is home to some 2,000 species of flora. It is also home
to 262 species of animals, birds and reptiles, including elephants,
tigers, deer, flying squirrels, flying lizards and boas.
*Phat Diem Cathedral was built
in 1875-1898 in Luu Phuong commune, Kim Son district. This
cathedral is an architectural complex that combines the traditional
pagoda architecture of Vietnam and the Gothic style of Christian
architecture.
*Tam Coc
literally means 'Three caves' and is actually a combination
of three caves: First, Second and Third or Hang Ca, Hang Hai
and Hang Ba respectively. They are to be found in Ninh Hai
village of Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province, just 100 km
Southeast of Ha Noi. The only entrance to the compound with
the three caves is a three-hour long waterway starting from
Dinh Cac in Van Lam village. Having left the roadway, one
is greeted by hundreds of small boats waiting to take visitors
to Tam Coc. Sitting on boat enroute to Tam Coc, one is enclosed
by the scenic beauty of huge rocks standing along the river
and scattered green rice fields, all combining to form a poetic
painting of the countryside. An early morning ride only adds
to this scene a thick layer of fog, making one wonder if this
is indeed earth or Heaven? A 2-km ride from Van Lam would
take you to Hang Ca where you are welcomed by a real rainbow
in the water if it is morning time. The sun after rising high
above Hang Mua (Cave of Dance) creates this effect which pull
one's mind away from reality into a dream world. The rocks
eaten by sea water over thousands of years have been carved
into a series of caves here. Although the sea is far away
from the locality, now the caves remain. Rainwater has helped
to polish the caves and start up underground rivers.
Hang Ca
(the First Cave) is 127 m long under a big mountain stretching
on both sides of the Ngo Dong river. The river, having met
the mountain, enters it through the cave. Only nature could
produce such a miracle. The quiet movements of the oars create
a sort of musical rhythm inside the cave. As the boat leaves
the cave, one is startled to see what seems to be an old man
with a white beard fishing. High above is fairy flying in
the clouds. The picture is completed by some peasants collecting
fuel and a group of white goats grazing on the hills. As the
boat moves, visitors approach Hang Hai (the Second Cave).
Not less beautiful, the undisturbed water reflects the details
of the flowers and trees and rocks alongside its banks as
well as the blue sky and white clouds above. The cave is thus
full of water and clouds. Only a hundred metres away is Hang
Ba (the Third Cave) which is the coolest of the caves due
to its lower formation. The attraction here is the natural
light inside the cave reflected by the water. The huge and
even
rocks lying in the stream provide excellent platforms for
those who wish to bathe in the waters. Legend has it that
the fairies bathed here once and thereafter the stream has
been called Suoi Tien. Whether it is true or not, a bath in
the wild with the sounds from the jungle and the fragrance
of wild flowers is certainly an experience one would not like
to miss.-- VNS
THE
BEAUTY OF A PEARL
The Canh Dieu
(Wings of a Kite) is a mythical mountain range situated east
of Ninh Binh provincial town, 90km south of Ha Noi
and is associated with the incarnation of Cao Bien, a talented
general and magician of the Duong Dynasty. He was often seen
flying a paper kite, spying on and destroying the favourable
Germanic features of the country. He was downed once and for
all by a highly capable Taoist hermit and his broken wings
are said to have crashed into the mountain, hence the name
Canh Dieu (Wings of a Kite). The mountain range comprises
three peaks, the highest in the middle, the other two on both
sides spreading just like the wings of a flying hawk. The
erudite LeQuý Don (1726-1784), from Thai Binh, had the following
poem inscribed on the eastern cliff:
A deep-blue rock juts out of
the plains,
The mountain looks just like
a flying hawk.
A pagoda is up there perched
high
Among the three mountain toys
The river spanned by a bridge.
The mountain is as firm as a
sitting tiger
The stream winds like a dragon."
It is certainly a Wonderland
with caves and breath-taking views.
In 1821, King Minh Mang (1820-1840),
on a north-bound trip, made a stop-over at the mountain and
had the following inscription carved on the northern cliff:
"A small house rests at
the foot of the mountain,
A towered pagoda frowns from
atop the fortress
Sailboats drift slowly along
the river.
It was a painting.
I bent down to wash the "life-dust"coat.
Back in the capital, the King
dwelt at length on "life dust" agriculture and designed
a land-reclaiming policy, of which Nguyen Cong Tru was put
in charge. By late 1829, the latter had mobilised the population
to reclaim about 14620 mau (1 mau = 360 sq.m) and a new district,
Kim Son (mountain of gold), was established. A densely-populated
area was also picked out by Nguyen Cong Tru and given the
name Phat Diem (where Beauty comes from). Legend has it that
Phat Diem had a story behind it. Passing through Ninh Binh
provincial town, Nguyen Cong Tru "discovered" the
likeness of a bare-chested young girl, lying full-length on
her back, looking up at the boundless heaven, so chaining
the mountain to her. The mountain was thus given the name
Ngoc My Nhan (The Beauty of a Pearl). The head of the beautiful
girl faces the East Sea, in the territory of Kim Son, meaning
"Beauty comes from there". Thus the mountain has
thus come to have two names - "Wings of a Kite"
mountain and "The Beauty of a Pearl" -- two names
associated with two beautiful legends. (VNS)
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