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You are
planning a trip to Vietnam and are having difficulties
deciding where to go and what to do, what you cannot miss
and what to skip. From the feedbacks of our customers,
Tailormade Vietnam Holidays would like to recommend some
activities considered by travellers as must-do's when you
are in Vietnam....
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Van Long nature
reserve
Van Long Nature Reserve is located about 90 kilometers south of
Hanoi.
Near the Hoa Lu old capital and
Tam Coc-Bich Dong sites, the nature
reserve is a must-see destination for tourists visiting
Ninh Binh
Province.
The Van Long Nature Reserve lies amidst the seven communes of Gia Vien
District on the northeast section of the province and 17 km. from the
town of Ninh Binh. The reserve extends over 3,000-hectares and is the
largest in the northern plain.
Tourists who come to admire the reserve will have the opportunity to
view rich flora and fauna within the most bio-diversified wetland in
Vietnam, according to research by national and international scientists.
The eco-tourism destination was built by the Association of Forest
Investigation and Zoning based on a community self-management model
sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam.
This model has helped to promote community participation in terms of
conservation and the sustainable use of biological resources to maintain
the riverine wetland ecosystem of Van Long Nature Reserve.
The reserve boasts 457 higher order species of plants including eight
species recorded in Vietnam’s Red Book. Van Long’s fauna includes 39
species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Some of these species
have been classified as globally endangered animals such as the
white-breeched langur. There are currently only 50 langurs in the world.
Starting at Van Lam wharf, tourists can view the varied landscape of the
Van Long wetland via basket boats. The natural scenery featuring
imposing mountains and tranquil reservoirs offer peaceful surroundings
that put tourists at ease.
The surroundings are so calm and quiet that tourists can hear the sounds
of the oars rowing, the fishes swimming and the birds singing. The
reservoir water is clean and bears the green color of the water-plants
and mosses from beneath.
Traveling deeper on the reservoirs, the scenery becomes wilder and is as
beautiful as a watercolor painting with a flock of white storks within
the mountain peaks and dragonflies flying up the face of the reservoir.
The boats will float through mountains with intriguing names such as Meo
Cao (scratching cat), Co Tien (lady fairy), Mo Coi (orphan) and Hon Sach
(book); each of these names are rooted in old Vietnamese legends and
folk tales.
Along with the diverse fauna and flora in Van Long Nature Reserve, there
are also 32 beautiful caves such as Ca (fish), Rua (tortoise), Chanh
(lemon) and Bong (shadow) caves waiting to be discovered.
Each cave is beautiful, but according to the locals, Ca Cave under the
foot of Hoang Quyen Mountain is considered the most beautiful and the
longest (250 meters). There are many kinds of fish in the cave. People
say that a black fish weighing 45 kilograms was once caught here, which
gave the cave its name.
The other caves include Thung Doi (Bat), the tallest one (210 meters)
and Bong, the widest (16 meters). There is also a cave named Luon
(creep), where tourists have to bend down when passing through its gate
to avoid the stalactitiles from the ceiling of the cave.
When passing through, tourists will discover a lake, surrounded with the
walls of mountain.
Visiting Van Long, tourists should not also miss the other cultural
relics such as the tree of fig, aged 600 - year - old, Chi Le and Mai
Trung pagodas, the temples of Le Kha Lang, the Nguyen God, the pagoda
and Dich Long cave, the remnants of Dinh Tien Hoang King temple and the
picture in the wall of Meo Cao Mountain. Before leaving Van Long,
tourists could not forget tasting the specialty of Ninh Binh Province, a
dish made from the meat of mountain goat and chicken.
RELATED INFORMATION
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