Story: Nguyen Truong Quy
Photos: Ba Ngoc
There’s no better place for a spring journey than Ninh Binh – a region brimming with culture, history, and scenic beauty.
Today’s folk song, oh passionate song, the waves of the East Sea surge, exciting day and night…
– Listening to this afternoon’s folk song – music by Nguyen Cuong, lyrics by Le Huy Quang.
Few places carry such deep layers of history and culture as this region, once part of the Son Nam Citadel, later merged into Ha Nam Ninh Province, and now known as Ninh Binh. Spring is the perfect moment to return, to revisit a place reshaped by administrative lines yet unchanged in spirit, letting the heart drift through the timeless flow of an ancient spring landscape.
This region occupies the entire southern bank of the Red River Delta, where the Ngoc Lu bronze drum, Vietnam’s foremost national treasure, was discovered. It is the birthplace of the Dinh and Early Le dynasties, linked with the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. It is also the heartland of the Tran dynasty and the Thien Truong estate, home to countless historical figures, scholars, and national heroes. Spring is the season to wander through the temples dedicated to these luminaries and heroic ancestors who founded the nation, ushered in eras of prosperity, and shaped the legacy of Dai Co Viet and Dai Viet.
Spring is also the season when travelers set foot in this land of majestic mountains and poetic waters – “the village before, the hamlet behind, veiled in drifting mist; the fading light of dusk, gentle as if barely there…” (Thien Truong Van Vong, translated from the poetry of Tran Nhan Tong). Its graceful landscape, deep rivers, and towering peaks have shaped the character of its people through layers of cultural alluvium. From the western highlands to the coastal plains, the land continues its quiet expansion. Branches of the Red River carve out wetlands tucked among limestone ranges, forming what is often called a “terrestrial Ha Long Bay.” Ancient forests and precious nature reserves are carefully protected, inviting exploration and offering fulfillment in a region that has steadily risen to become a remarkable destination on the international tourist map.
Blessed with more than 5,000 recognized relics, including the Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and eight Special National Relics, Ninh Binh also possesses a distinct “soft power”: a rich tapestry of intangible culture, from hat van, xam singing, cheo opera, ca tru, and hat dam to trong quan. This fertile region yields exceptional produce, which local hands shape into rustic dishes that taste of home.
Spring in Ninh Binh is a feast for the eyes, ears, and palate. There’s no better reason to embark on a spring pilgrimage with Heritage Guide.


