Updated: 19 Oct 2020
Mua Caves is worth being visited in Ninh Binh, save the time to read our tips to know why?
The cave is attractive with the best panoramic view from it's peak. Someone compares Mua Caves as The Vietnamese Great Wall. If you have short time in Hanoi, Vietnam, Mua Caves is your best choice for one day or 2 day trips for someswhere nearby Hanoi city. According to Tripadvisor: Mua Caves - Top 1 Tourist Destination in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
Mua Cave - Best Panoramic View From The Top
Why Mua Caves is Top 1 Tourist Destination in Ninh Binh?
Mua Caves- Nearby Location For A Short Trip.
Mua Caves is near Hanoi city, far from it about 90 km. It belongs to a cultural land of Ninh Binh. Mua caves is located in Khe Dau Ha village, Ninh Xuan commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. Together with Trang An ecological tourism complex, the terrain of Mua cave looks majestic with rolling mountains surrounding a whole large delta like a rampart is protecting the country inside.
Mua Caves name: Do you know that the name of Mua caves was originated from an old time story, when the King Tran came to Hoa Lu captital, he often stopped at Mua cave so there were dancing performances by emperial maids, so people call the cave is “Mua” ( dancing)
Cheap Entrance Fee Ticket of Mua Caves
- Ticket Price: 100.000 VND/person ( US $4 )
Mua Caves - The Charming Beauty of Ninh Binh:
Attractive beauty – Less touristy than other places in Ninh Binh. You must hike up 486 stone steps to see the beautiful sceneries on the peak of Mua Mountain. The road is similar as Great Wall Of China. But this is Vietnam. Smaller but beautiful with rice fields. It is steep but you can slowly climb up and taking the nice photos - derseving your time and health. Up on the top of Mua Caves, it is windy and cool. You can spend some minutes to relax.
Top View From Mua Caves
When should you visit Mua Caves ?
- Summer ( April To September): It is ideally to visit Mua Caves to have a clear panoramic view or rice fields along Ngo Dong River.
- For other times, it is not best but it is cooler than Summer, you maybe miss the harvest season ( May and August). To combine with other activities such as Hoa Lu Capital, Tam Coc Boat Ride or Trang An Boat Tour, Mua caves is always the first option for anytime.
- One tipe: It is one day trip or short actitive to Mua caves, you can book or arrange this trip just one or 2 days before. So you can see the time. Raining days or gray sky, Mua caves will be slippery and unclear.
What things to do in Mua Cave ?
- Take photos at the virtual tower: It is the highest tower in Mua Caves with Vietnamese Traditional Architecture. This tower, everyone usually take photo to upload on social netword- the virtual world.
- Explore Dragon Peak Sunset + The Goddness of Mercy Shrine: On the top of Mua Caves, there are two roads: One path to The Goddness of Mercy Shine and the other is a dragon with beautiful stonework. Sunset time is around 6PM, but you can see it before 05.00PM ( When the cave closes, if late, it is dangerous to walk down).
- The most amazing view: From the top of Mua Caves, you have a most realistic and vivid panoramic view of Tam Coc with fields, blue rivers running slow and lazy, and majestic limestone mountains, the combination makes a wonderful picture. The scene of Mua cave will surely captivate your heart and you will have an unforgettable impression on your travels. Nature lovers and photo lovers should not miss this place on their journey
- Tiger Cave + Flower Garden: Tiger Cave is located on the left of the entrance. Walk through the artificial lakes, through the small paths and an ancient large, mossy green artificial lake is the entrance to the cave. This cave don’t have a large surface area. There is an underground stream deep inside cave. However, it only appears during the summer. Located on the right hand side of the entrance is the valley of colorful flowers. A large lotus lake. However, if you come here in the summer, you will have the opportunity to take photos and enjoy the lotus.
Attraction and Activities Nearby Mua Caves.
Mua Cavesis one of the most popular attractions that you can combine with some other places. Besides, there are other destinations nearby, so you can expand your schedule.
Such as Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Tam Coc, Bich Dong Pagoda, Thung Nham Bird Park, Thien Ha Galaxy, Trang An landscape complex, Bai Dinh pagoda complex, Phat Diem Church, Cuc Phuong National Park. All of them has their own appeal.
Among them, you can consider Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Thung Nham Bird Park, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An Grottoes. They are the most popular tourist destinations and are near Mua Cave.
Tam Coc Bich Dong:
Bich Dong is a temple surrounded by a lake with blooming lotus flowers. The path to the top of Bich Dong goes through a cave decorated with impressive statues. And on the top of Bich Dong, you will have a grandstand view. This is also a great place to have beautiful memories for your trip. The best thing is the entrance fee to Tam Coc – Bich Dong to be free!
Bai Dinh Pagoda:
Bai Dinh Temple is a large temple complex with many Asian and Vietnamese records established as the temple has the largest gold-plated Buddha image in Asia, the temple has the longest Arhat corridor in Asia, and the Maitreya statue. Southeast Asia’s largest bronze … You will be impressed by the religious and fascinating beauty of the Bai Dinh Temple complex. ! If you love ancient Asian architecture, you should mark this place on your map.
Trang An Grottoes:
Trang An complex is a breathtaking landscape of almost vertical limestone populations surrounding valleys and rivers. Also known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trang An will surprise you with the beauty of nature. You will take 2.5 hours by boat to visit famous caves such as Light cave, Dark cave, Ba Giot Cave, Nau Ruou, Sinh cave , Si Si cave, etc. Don’t forget to bring your camera as you will be taking great photos here.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital:
The former capital of Vietnam is located 90 km south of Hanoi, protected by high limestone mountains and earthen walls. Hoa Lu is a beautiful old city, the economic and political center of Dai Con Viet, a kingdom extending from northern Vietnam to the center during the 10th and 11th centuries.
How to comebine Mua Caves in your untimate itinerary:
- 1 Day with Mua caves: Start your trip from Hanoi in the morning, you will arrive in Ninh Binh at about 10:00, then spend your first time to visit Tam Coc, or Trang An, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital until noon. Find yourself a restaurant nearby for lunch. The next time, it’s used for exploring Mua cave on the top of Mua moutain. Come back to your bus to go to Hanoi at about 16:30- 17:00
- 2 Days visiting Mua Caves: Before you start climbing up the cave, staying 1 night in Ninh Binh on the previous day is a good ideal. Located under the foot of Mua mountain, known by many visitors “Mua cave Ecolodge” is a good place to stay. To know why it should be your choice or find other accommodations you can search to see.
How to Make a Perfect Trip to Mua Cave from Hanoi? Should I take a tour in Mua cave or I go by myself ?
Well, this question never gives you a correct answer. If buying a tour you don’t have to be worried about anything. Everything is well-organized by suppliers with a fixed schedule, restaurant, hotel, knowledge tourguide, transportation 2 ways…
It’s an example for a typical tour even including 3 places to visit in 1 day in Ninh Binh. Pick up 1 suitable itinerary for you: Bai Dinh Trang An Mua Cave ( Full Day Tour).
On the other hand, you like travelling by yourself or with your travel mates, here is some calculations for your trip:
- Transportation: From US $6- $15 ( Local Bus or rent a motorbike)
- Food: US $10- $20
- Bike/motorbike renting if you wan to go around Mua Cave: US $2- $5
- Mua cave ticket : ~ US $4/ticket
- Tea/coffee/drink: US $2- $5
Trang An Boat Tour
What to eat around Mua Caves?
Traditonal cuisine is a key to make your trip memorable. Find these dishes in Ninh Binh such as medium-rare goat meat with lemon, goat meat cooked on oil pan, baked goat meat, crisp rice dipped with sauce…to taste and learn more about cuisine in Ninh Binh
How to get to Mua Caves Ninh Binh?
From Hanoi to Mua caves
If you depart from Hanoi to Mua Caves, you can go by train, motorbike and bus. It takes you about 2 hours. Mua cave is only 6km away from the center of Ninh Binh city, so it’s easy for you to catch a taxi get to the hotel/homestay.
For the shuttle bus, there are two options: the buses will pick you up at the fore-arranged address or you can go catch the bus at the bus stations. If you want to catch the bus yourself, you can go to:
- Giap Bat bus station at 6 Giai Phong street, Hoang Mai district.
- Yen Nghia bus station at Highway 6, Ha Dong district.
- Nuoc Ngam bus station at 1 Ngoc Hoi road, Hoang Mai district.
- My Dinh bus station at 20 Pham Hung.
Tips for each sort of transportation from Hanoi: ( applied for 1 day trip)
- You should take a train departing from 6:00 am to save your 1 day if you have only 1 day in Ninh Binh. A train ticket costs from 80.000 VND
- Go by bus is the most popular form of transportation for foreigners. Price is from 150.000 VND/way but they will pick you up from your hotel/airbnb if you stay in the Hanoi center. Sometimes, some people feel more comfortable to hire a private car, which seems to be more suitable for families.
- Ride a motobike sounds interesting for any one who loves exploring. Viet Nam is a “world of motorbike” here you never find it difficult to hire a motorbike for 1 day. However to find a good renter in Hanoi can make you confused, don’t hesitate to contact Hanoi Explore Travel, our local colleague in Hanoi is willing to help you to hire a motorbike will the best price.
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