What Awaits in Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc, the Landscape Being Proposed for World Heritage Status?

Ninh Binh has long secured its place on Northern Vietnam’s tourism map with layers of limestone mountains, emerald waterways, ancient pagodas, caves and landscapes that feel both majestic and contemplative. Beyond familiar destinations such as Trang An, Tam Coc and Bai Dinh, the former capital land is now drawing attention with the nomination dossier for the Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc Cultural and Ecological Landscape of Delacour’s Langur, submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a World Heritage Site.
The proposed area brings together outstanding values in nature, culture, archaeology and biodiversity. Its three main components include Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, Kim Bang Species and Habitat Conservation Area for Delacour’s langur, and the Tam Chuc Scenic and Archaeological Complex. When connected by a continuous ecological corridor, these spaces form a rare landscape system where limestone mountains, wetlands, natural forests, cultural relics and local life meet in quiet harmony.
For travelers, exploring the Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc route is more than an ordinary sightseeing trip. Each destination opens a different story about nature, heritage and the conservation of a rare primate species living among Vietnam’s limestone cliffs.

Van Long - The Quiet Beauty of a Wetland Landscape

Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve features a vast lagoon, limestone mountains reflected on the water surface and a natural ecosystem of exceptional value.
People often call Van Long by a poetic name: “the bay without waves.” Its calm, clear water reflects clouds, reeds and vertical limestone cliffs, creating the feeling of a giant ink-wash painting. Sitting on a bamboo boat as it glides deep into the wetland, visitors can easily sense the slow breathing rhythm of nature. There is no noise and no rush, only the gentle sound of oars touching the water, birds calling to one another and a peaceful space stretching into the distance.
 
The charm of Van Long comes from the meeting point between scenery and ecology. This large wetland is home to many rare species of flora and fauna, with Delacour’s langur standing out as one of the most remarkable. This endemic Vietnamese primate is among the world’s highly threatened species. For nature lovers, the moment of seeing a troop of langurs moving across the limestone cliffs in the early morning or late afternoon is truly special.
Van Long does not attract visitors through excitement or noise. Its beauty lies in its pristine stillness and the feeling of stepping into a natural world that has preserved its own rhythm through the years.

Kim Bang - An Important Habitat for Delacour’s Langur

While Van Long impresses visitors with its peaceful water surface, Kim Bang reveals another layer of scenery with limestone mountains, natural forests and rugged cliffs. This distinctive terrain creates a suitable habitat for wild populations of Delacour’s langur.
Kim Bang Species and Habitat Conservation Area for Delacour’s langur plays an important role in the connected ecosystem of the proposed heritage landscape. Steep limestone ranges, forested mountains, caves and cliffs provide conditions for this primate species to live, feed and move. With its strong dependence on limestone forest habitats, Delacour’s langur relies greatly on the quality of the natural environment.
 
From a tourism perspective, Kim Bang is more than a connecting point on the map. Its limestone landscape contributes to the ecological continuity between Van Long and Tam Chuc, adding deeper ecological value to the nomination dossier. The heritage value, therefore, does not come from separate destinations alone, but from the entire connected landscape system.
For those who love nature, Kim Bang encourages a slower way of traveling: observing more carefully, listening more deeply and appreciating the values being quietly protected behind the green mountains.

Tam Chuc - Where Culture, Spirituality and Landscape Meet

Tam Chuc belongs to the former Ha Nam area, now part of Ninh Binh province. When this name is mentioned, many travelers immediately think of Tam Chuc Pagoda, with its grand scale, solemn worship space and beautiful setting of lake and mountains.
 
However, in the story of the World Heritage nomination, Tam Chuc carries a broader meaning than that of a spiritual tourism site. This area belongs to the Tam Chuc Scenic and Archaeological Complex, which preserves cultural, historical and archaeological traces linked to the long process of human adaptation within a karst environment.
The appeal of Tam Chuc comes from the combination of nature and spiritual life. Visitors can stroll through the landscape, offer prayers, learn about the architecture, admire the lake surrounded by mountains or simply find a quiet moment within the open space.
When placed within the Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc route, this destination makes the journey feel more complete. On one side lies a peaceful wetland, on another a limestone habitat rich in conservation value, while in between unfolds a cultural and spiritual space with its own character. These three layers of experience together create the unique identity of a landscape currently being proposed for World Heritage status.

Delacour’s Langur - A Symbol of Nature Conservation in Vietnam

The most important highlight of the nomination dossier is Delacour’s langur. This primate species is endemic to Vietnam and is easily recognized by its black fur, distinctive white rump, long tail and close association with forests on limestone mountains.
Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc plays a special role in the survival of Delacour’s langur in the wild. Protecting this rare primate is not only the responsibility of one locality, but also part of Vietnam’s wider effort to conserve biodiversity.
For tourism, Delacour’s langur should be seen as a symbol of conservation, not as a “check-in attraction.” Every visitor entering this sensitive ecological area should move more gently, speak more softly, follow environmental protection rules, avoid disturbing natural habitats and never interfere with wildlife.
A beautiful land will hold lasting value when its beauty is preserved with knowledge and respect.

The Value of a Living Heritage Landscape

The significance of Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc does not lie only in its limestone mountains, water surfaces or cultural structures. Its greater value is created through the resonance of nature, rare species, prehistoric traces, spiritual life, local communities and conservation efforts taking place every day.
Within this space, visitors can experience Ninh Binh through many layers. Nature appears in the still water of Van Long, the limestone mountains of Kim Bang and the forests clinging to rocky cliffs. Culture is reflected through Tam Chuc, archaeological traces and the rhythm of local life. Ecological depth is expressed through the story of protecting Delacour’s langur and its natural habitat.
Thanks to this interweaving of values, the proposed heritage route is suitable for many types of travelers. Nature lovers can take a boat ride in Van Long, observe the wetland ecosystem and learn about Delacour’s langur. Those interested in culture and spirituality can visit Tam Chuc, Long Doi Son Pagoda, Dia Tang Phi Lai Tu or other nearby destinations. Families, groups of friends and business travelers can also combine the journey with a short getaway near Hanoi.

Suggested Itinerary for Exploring Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc

With its relatively short distance from Hanoi, visitors can arrange a 2-day-1-night journey to explore Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc at a more relaxed pace.
On the first day, the journey can begin from Hanoi, traveling toward Phu Ly or Kim Bang, then continuing to Tam Chuc for sightseeing, worship and views of the vast lake and mountain landscape. Morning or early afternoon is often suitable for sightseeing, as the weather is more comfortable and visitors have more time to fully appreciate the scenery.
In the evening, staying overnight in central Phu Ly helps make the itinerary lighter, especially for families with young children, elderly travelers or those who do not want to move around too much in one day. This is also a good time to enjoy dinner, take a walk around the city or simply rest after a day of exploration.
On the second day, Van Long is a worthwhile choice for the morning or late afternoon. A boat trip across the lagoon will take visitors through still water, limestone cliffs reflected on the surface and poetic natural spaces. The journey can then end with a light lunch before returning to Hanoi.
With more time, travelers may extend the itinerary to Trang An, Hang Mua, Tam Coc, Thung Nham or Bai Dinh. For a short getaway, however, the Tam Chuc - Kim Bang - Van Long route is already enough to create a weekend filled with nature, culture, spirituality and peaceful pauses.

Staying in Phu Ly - A Convenient Gateway for the Heritage Journey

Along the Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc route, Phu Ly holds a convenient position thanks to its flexible connections with Hanoi, Kim Bang, Tam Chuc, Van Long and surrounding areas. Choosing accommodation in the city center allows travelers to divide the itinerary more easily, reduce travel pressure and enjoy more time to rest.
Tien Loc Palace offers a suitable accommodation choice for those seeking a convenient, well-prepared and welcoming stop in central Phu Ly. Located on National Highway 1A, the hotel provides easy access to cultural and spiritual destinations, entertainment areas, industrial zones and the city center.
 
After a day of boating in Van Long, visiting Tam Chuc or exploring the Kim Bang landscape, returning to a clean room, enjoying a meal in a comfortable space, sipping a gentle cup of coffee or exercising at the high-floor gym can help bring balance to the journey. Sometimes, the fullness of a trip does not come from seeing as much as possible, but from having a pleasant place to rest, allowing both body and mind to recover.

Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc: A Promising Journey for Ninh Binh Tourism

The development of the nomination dossier for the Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc Cultural and Ecological Landscape of Delacour’s Langur marks an important milestone for Ninh Binh tourism. If inscribed in the future, this landscape will have the opportunity to gain wider recognition on the world heritage map, while also requiring higher standards in nature conservation, habitat protection and sustainable tourism development.
For travelers, the present moment is an ideal time to begin discovering a land rich in value, with many layers of beauty still waiting to be explored. From the tranquil water of Van Long and the limestone mountains of Kim Bang to the spiritual space of Tam Chuc, each destination contributes a piece to the emerging heritage picture.
For those who enjoy short trips near Hanoi and are looking for a journey that combines nature, culture, spirituality and ecological depth, Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc deserves a place on the travel calendar.
To make the trip more convenient, guests can choose to stay in central Phu Ly and arrange the itinerary at a gentler pace. Tien Loc Palace is honored to be a warm, well-prepared and convenient stop for journeys into the heritage landscapes of Ninh Binh.