Trang An Landscape Complex outstanding values

About 90km to the Southeast of Ha Noi, located in Ninh Binh province, consisting of three protected areas of 6,172ha mostly comprising traditional villages and paddy rice fields: Trang An – Tam Coc – Bich Dong Scenic Area, Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel Cultural – Historical Area, and Hoa Lu Special-Use Primary Forest, Trang An Landscape Complex has mixed natural and cultural property. This is a good destination for travelers in their Northern Vietnam tours

Trang An Scenic Area:  Tran Temple, Trinh Temple, Tu Tru Temple, Sinh Duoc Cave,  Dia Linh Cave, Nau Ruou Cave, May Cave, Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex…

Tam Coc – Bich Dong Scenic Area: Thai Vi Temple, Bich Dong Pagoda, Linh Coc Pagoda, Tien Grotto, Thien Huong Grotto, Thien Ha Grotto, Mua Cave,  But Cave, Ca Cave, Co Vien Lau Ancient Village, Thung Nham, Thung Nang …

Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel Cultural – Historical Area:  King Le Temple, King Dinh Temple, Kim Ngan Pagoda, Co Am Pagoda, Nhat Tru Pagoda, Duyen Ninh Pagoda, Thien Ton Grotto…

Dubbed as “Halong Bay on land” with colorful caves, invaded and reworked by the sea many times in the recent geological past but is now emergent on land Trang An Landscape Complex is a mountainous area attracts millions tourists every year who take a Ninh Binh tour. The scenic landscape of extraordinary beauty was produced by landform development in more than five million years. This is the beauty of a blend of towering cliff-bounded mountains draped in natural rainforest which are surrounded by deep and huge internal basins.  All of them are connected through a multitude of underground streams and caverns. Sitting on the boat, tourists can see the landscape, the sky, water, swimming fish, blue and green moss covered the rocks, watching the cave with the unique geological values exist for a long life on the line interleaved winding natural spring water.

Outstanding values:

Cultural value

The cultural and historical relics of Trang An as temples, pagodas, and palaces brings Trang An’s cultural value. Besides, containing the plentiful archaeological evidences such as pottery, shells, stone tools, animal bones, kitchen floor and human remains, etc, Trang An is an outstanding place in Vietnam and Southeast Asian that has its own cultural values. During the long period of time (more than 30000 years), the environment and the Earth’s history changed and the way human interacted with natural landscape and adapted to these changes created an extremely valuable archaeological documentary treasure.

Aesthetic value

Trang An attracts domestic and international tourists by the karst tower landscape – one of the most awe-inspiring and beautiful landscapes in the world. A breathtaking array of conical stone towers with the wonderful vertical walls rising suddenly 200 meters above the surrounding land and water has absolutely dominated the landscape. Rounded and linear depressions linked by gently flowing streams winding through subterranean caverns up to one kilometer in length are enclosed by the narrow interconnecting mountain ridges which have been compared to the legendary giant sword. Tourists can enjoy the myriad of appealing carbonate stalactites, curtains and other decorations that adorn the ceilings when sailing through these segments in small traditional sampans. The landscape, even clinging to the peaks and cliffs are covered by the dense rainforests. Mixing with natural and beautiful forests are vast rice paddy fields adjacent to the rivers, creating a picturesque spotty of colors, animated by the presence of local farmers and fishermen engaged in their traditional way.  A number of historic pagodas and temples sitting on the high valley and mountain peaks are the signification of the major religious and spiritual associations with the landscape. A picture of a countryside’s life with traditional gardens and paddy fields among the small villages connected by simple tracks, narrow path and a network of springs and canals is presenting clearly in these traditional rural areas.

Geology and geomorphology value

Trang An is showing the final stages of the evolutionary process of karst tower landscapes in a moist tropical environment.  The array of classical karst landforms, including towers and cones, valleys, depressions, subterranean rivers and caverns, etc are the remark of the product of deep dissection of an uplifted limestone over a period of millions of years.

Based on the three criteria: culture, aestheticism and geology – geomorphology, Trang An Landscape Complex was recognized officially as World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site by the), World Heritage Committee of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 23 June 2014.

Trang An Landscape Complex is a terrestrial tropical karst tower witnessed a lot of sea transformation and invasion with a humid monsoon climate similar to Ha Long Bay. Referred to as “ Ha Long Bay on land”, Trang An landscape focus on small areas and in variety of sizes and shapes existed an ancient bay illustrated by the water marks on the marine sediments of the Quaternary period, the limestone cliffs, abrasion terraces and the vestiges of oysters on them.

Together with Halong Bay and Sapa, Trang An is an interesting destination travelers should not miss when traveling to Vietnam.

Photo: internet