Hoa Lu Ancient Town - A Hot Check-In Spot in the Heart of Ninh Binh

Hoa Lu Ancient Town is a check-in spot in the heart of Ninh Binh, showcasing beautiful ancient architecture blended with modern space. This place preserves historical and cultural values, attracting visitors with its small streets, charming cafes, and unique photo spots. More than 80% of visitors spend time taking photos and experiencing the exquisite cuisine here.

Overview of Hoa Lu Ancient Town

Hoa Lu Ancient Town officially opened on January 27, 2022 (25th of the 12th lunar month) at Ky Lan Lake, in the center of Ninh Binh city. The project was built to recreate the history of Dai Viet from the 10th century, while also introducing the cultural space and unique customs of people from various regions.

Hoa Lu Ancient Town features beautiful ancient architecture

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The ancient town is located right at the gateway of the city, next to Bac Pagoda, divided into two main areas:

• One side is an exhibition area showcasing and selling traditional handicraft products such as Ninh Hai embroidery, Bo Bat ceramics, Bo De leaf paintings… along with products from other provinces like Y Yen bronze casting, Ha Duong toy figurines, Nam Dinh sesame candy, Hanoi cake.
• The other area focuses on cuisine with bun cha, bun thang, fast food, and drinks served to visitors. About 85% of visitors to Hoa Lu Ancient Town visit both areas to experience culture while enjoying exquisite cuisine.

Heritage road with ancient houses

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Directions and transportation to Hoa Lu Ancient Town

To get to Hoa Lu Ancient Town, you can easily travel from Hanoi and neighboring provinces. Visitors can choose one of the following means of transport to explore the ancient space and enjoy unique cuisine right in the heart of Ninh Binh.

By bus

If departing from Hanoi, you can take a bus at Giap Bat or My Dinh station to Ninh Binh. Many reputable companies like The Sinh Tourist, Sao Viet, Ninh Binh Eco Bus,… with a travel time of about 2 - 2.5 hours. Upon arriving in Ninh Binh, visitors can continue to travel by taxi or motorbike taxi to the ancient town.

Traveling by bus to the ancient town

Self-driving a motorbike or car

Visitors can take National Highway 1A or Phap Van - Cau Gie expressway, a distance of about 100km, with a travel time of 2 hours. When entering Ninh Binh city, following Tran Hung Dao street will lead directly to Hoa Lu Ancient Town.

Visiting costs and experiences at the ancient town

When visiting Hoa Lu Ancient Town, visitors do not need to spend money to explore the entire area. Visitors can rent traditional costumes from 50,000 - 150,000 VND to transform into ancient characters, creating unique photos.

The food area here serves local specialties from Ninh Binh such as fried rice, mountain goat, allowing you to enjoy while experiencing local culinary culture. Additionally, local guide services are available for about 500,000 VND/session to help you understand more about the history and interesting stories of the ancient capital Hoa Lu.

The ancient town offers many attractive services

About unique culture and cuisine in the heart of Ninh Binh

Hoa Lu Ancient Town is an attractive check-in destination, offering visitors a journey to experience culture, cuisine, and entertainment rich in Vietnamese essence. From traditional dishes to ancient architectural spaces, this place allows you to relax while exploring local history and culture in a vivid way.

Traditional delicious dishes in the heart of Ninh Binh

Traditional food stalls include sticky rice cake, gai cake

The food area at Hoa Lu Ancient Town offers many distinctive folk dishes such as sticky rice cake, gai cake, banh chung, honey cake,… These are long-standing dishes that retain their traditional flavors, helping visitors fully appreciate the rustic essence of Vietnamese cuisine.

In addition, there are also stalls selling fast food, drinks, and local specialties to meet the diverse needs of visitors. About 70% of visitors choose to try at least 3 dishes when coming here.

Experience the ancient space of Hoa Lu Ancient Town

The Tu An tower, a prominent architecture by the lake

Located by Ky Lan Lake, the Tu An tower is an impressive highlight with its unique architecture, shimmering at night when the lights reflect on the lake surface. Visitors can experience boating, releasing lanterns with an entrance fee of: 80,000 VND/adult, 0 VND/children under 1.2m, children under 2 years old are free. In addition, the Ky Lan Pagoda (Bac Pagoda) with a height of 27m, three curved roofs, made from red granite is a popular check-in spot.

Entertainment activities rich in folk identity at the ancient town

Xam singing or Tac Xinh dance reflects folk culture

Hoa Lu Ancient Town offers many unique cultural experiences with performances of water puppetry, Xam singing, Then singing, Cheo singing, and Tac Xinh dance. Visitors can also participate in folk games such as rope skipping, tug of war, and O an quan,… These activities take place from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM daily, creating a lively play space, both entertaining and learning about traditional culture.

Photo spots and classic costumes

Ky Lan Pagoda is a majestic Bac Pagoda

Hoa Lu Ancient Town features many ideal check-in spots such as Ky Lan Lake, the heritage road, incense stalls, Mother Temple, the map “Vietnam in me is…”. Visitors can rent traditional costumes from various Vietnamese dynasties or wear ao dai, combined with the ancient scenery to capture impressive photos. About 60% of visitors here choose to wear traditional costumes to experience the nostalgic atmosphere.

The best time to explore Hoa Lu Ancient Town

To have a complete experience at Hoa Lu Ancient Town, choosing the right time to visit is very important.

Hoa Lu Festival in the 3rd lunar month

Releasing shimmering lanterns

In the 3rd lunar month, Hoa Lu Ancient Town is vibrant with traditional festival activities. Visitors can participate in processions, watch lion dances, Cheo singing, Xam singing,… The bustling atmosphere, full of colorful culture helps you clearly feel the spirit of the ancient capital.

Spring has a pleasant climate and fresh scenery

Spring brings fresh air, mild temperatures, and lush greenery. This is the ideal time to stroll, take photos, and enjoy the ancient scenery of the town, avoiding the summer heat or the cold rain of winter.

Fully explore the nearby attractions of Ninh Binh

Visitors can combine a visit to Trang An, Bai Dinh Pagoda, or Tam Coc - Bich Dong. Visiting multiple sites in one journey saves time and allows you to fully experience the natural scenery and cultural-historical values of Ninh Binh.

Tips and experiences when visiting Hoa Lu Ancient Town

To make your exploration of Hoa Lu Ancient Town more complete, you can refer to some useful experiences below:

Explore Hoa Lu Ancient Town fully by visiting during the festival season

• During major festival occasions, the ancient town area is often crowded, so if you want to visit comfortably, you should choose weekdays or outside of peak season.
• Hoa Lu Ancient Town is beautiful both day and night, with natural light or shimmering lanterns creating wonderful photo spots.
• The lanterns hanging throughout the town create an ancient and poetic atmosphere, perfect for taking photos and enjoying the scenery.

Hoa Lu Ancient Town is an ideal destination to enjoy traditional cuisine, explore ancient architecture, and take stunning photos right in the heart of Ninh Binh. The best times to visit are spring, early summer, or during the Hoa Lu festival. Visitors can combine visits to Trang An, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Tam Coc, Bich Dong,... to make the trip more complete. See more Ninh Binh tours at nvktravel.com to plan your journey in detail.