Along with the Trang An Scenic Landscape complex and Tam Coc-Bich Dong National Park, the untouched and pristine beauty of Van Long Lagoon has attracted many travellers to the northern province of Ninh Binh.

A boat tour on Van Long Lagoon

Located in Ninh Binh province's Gia Vien district, some 80km from Hanoi, the 3,500-ha lagoon is considered the biggest wetland nature reserve site in the northern delta and home to thousands of rare fauna and flora species, many of them on the brink of extinction.

Travellers will be impressed with the imposing cliffs and mountains and vast lakes of Ninh Binh.

Bamboo basket boat tours can be taken in a tranquil atmosphere with the familiar sounds of nature in the early morning or late afternoon, where tourists can view flocks of storks returning to their nests at sunset.

Although it opened for tourism in 1998, Van Long is still as untouched as ever and is popular with local and foreign travellers, especially international filmmakers.

Film director Jordan Vogt-Roberts shot the Hollywood movie Kong: Skull Island at the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Tam Coc-Bich Dong National Park and Van Long Lagoon.

VNA