🌿 Van Long + Thung Nham - "bay without waves" and bird valley

If Tam Co and Trang An are Ninh Binh's signature landmarks, then Van Long and Thung Nham are treasured only by those who stay longer than a day. Van Long is the Red River Delta's largest freshwater reserve, covering 3,500 hectares. It's known as the "bay without waves" for its perfectly still emerald waters, which reflect the limestone mountains like a mirror. It's home to the world's only population of Delacour's langurs, a critically endangered primate endemic to northern Vietnam. According to the latest estimates, there are only 150–160 individuals left in the world, and most of them are found here. After the reserve, the route leads to Thung Nham, a bird valley with a boat ride through a cave and thousands of egrets and ibises perched in the trees. This is a tour for those who value peace and untouched nature more than tourist infrastructure.

🔍 What awaits you

• ⭐ Van Long — "bay without waves" — a 90-minute sampan ride on mirror-smooth waters among karst cliffs, reed beds, and lotus fields; a guide explains the reserve's flora and fauna

• 🦍 Delacour's langurs are a critically endangered primate: black-and-white monkeys with white "trousers"; they can be seen on rocks along the shores. The global population is less than 300 individuals, of which 150–160 live in Van Long. Sightings are not guaranteed, depending on the time of day.

• 🦅 Thung Nham - Bird Valley - an eco-park inside the Trang An complex: thousands of white herons, ibises, and ducks nesting in the trees; the best photos are at sunset, when the birds return

• 🕳️ Hang But Cave is a dark, cool cave inside the bird park, accessible by boat; admission is included in the Thung Nham ticket.

• 🌸 Lotus Fields - In May and June, Van Long is covered with pink lotuses; one of the most beautiful landscapes in Ninh Binh

• 🐦 Wild nature without the tourist bustle - both sites are significantly less visited than Tam Co and Trang An; here you can actually see the dawn mists, herons on the branches, and silence

ℹ️ Important information

• Van Long : the largest freshwater reserve in the Red River Delta, covering an area of ​​~3,500 hectares

• Delacour's Langur : The global population is fewer than 300 individuals, with 150–160 of these in Van Long. The species is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

• Green List Certification : Van Long received IUCN Green List certification in 2020.

• Best time to see langurs : Early morning (07:00–09:00) – the monkeys feed on the rocks

• The best time for lotuses : May–June

• The best time for birding in Thung Nham is 16:00 PM–18:00 PM, when herons arrive en masse to roost.

• Best season : May–October (high water level in Van Long, lotuses); April–November – for birds

• Physical activity : minimal - both tours are primarily by boat and on flat paths

• Tourist load : significantly lower than in Tam Co and Trang An

⭐ Tourist reviews

Lena K., Berlin, Germany ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Ich war ehrlich gesagt skeptisch, da Van Long nicht so bekannt ist wie Tam Coc. Aber dieser Ort hat mich komplett überrascht. Das Wasser ist so glatt wie ein Spiegel, die Kalksteinberge spiegeln sich perfekt darin. Und dann - plötzlich - sahen wir die schwarz-weißen Languren auf den Felsen! Unglaublich! Thung Nham am Nachmittag war auch wunderschön, besonders als die Reiher beim Sonnenuntergang zurückkehrten. Für Naturliebhaber ist das eindeutig der beste Ausflug in Ninh Binh.”

("I was skeptical about Van Long, as it's not as well-known as Tam Co. But this place completely surprised me. The water is like a mirror, the mountains are perfectly reflected. And suddenly, we saw black-and-white langurs on the rocks! Incredible! Thung Nham in the afternoon was also beautiful, especially when the herons returned at sunset.")

James T., Dublin, Ireland ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Van Long was the highlight of my entire Vietnam trip. I'd done Tam Coc the day before and thought it was beautiful - but Van Long is something else entirely. No other tourists, no hawkers on the water, just silence, reflections, and limestone. We spotted a small group of Delacour's langurs on the cliffs - our guide said it was lucky timing. The boat woman rowed with her feet, completely unfazed, as if the most critically endangered primates on earth were just part of the daily commute. Thung Nham at sunset sealed the deal."

Mei Lin C., Singapore ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Most people skip Van Long and Thung Nham, which is honestly their loss. I came specifically for the langurs after reading about them and was lucky enough to see four of them resting on the rocks — white legs dangling, completely unbothered by our boat. The water at Van Long is the clearest I've seen in Vietnam. Thung Nham was more of a relaxed birdwatching experience — very peaceful, lovely cave, and a real break from the busier tourist circuit.”

Carlos M., Barcelona, ​​Spain ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Van Long y Thung Nham son los lugares más tranquilos y auténticos que encontré en todo Vietnam. Sin aglomeraciones, sin vendedores en el agua, solo naturaleza pura. Los lángures de Delacour son increíblemente raros - ver tres de ellos en las rocas fue un momento que no olvidaré. Thung Nham al final del día, con las garzas volviendo a sus nidos al atardecer, fue como ver un documental de la BBC en vivo. Una jornada perfecta para los amantes de la naturaleza.”

("Van Long and Thung Nham are the most quiet and authentic places in all of Vietnam. No crowds, no vendors on the water, just wild nature. Delacour's langurs are incredibly rare—seeing three of them on the rocks is something I'll never forget. Thung Nham at sunset with the returning herons is like a live BBC documentary.")

Yuki N., Osaka, Japan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
「ヴァンロンはニンビンで最も静かな場所で水面に映る石灰岩の山々は息をのむほど美しく、他の観光客もほとんどいませんでし岩の上で見ること大変驚いていました。夕方が特に素晴らしくHome page巻でした。自然好きには絶対おすすめです。」

("Van Long was the quietest place in Ninh Binh. The reflection of the limestone mountains in the water was breathtaking, and there were hardly any tourists. We saw Delacour's langurs on the rocks—the guide was also surprised. The Thung Nham bird valley was especially impressive in the evening: thousands of herons were returning to the trees.")