The Van Long Nature Reserve lies amidst the seven communes of Gia Vien District on the northeast section of the province and 17 km. from the town of Ninh Binh. The reserve extends over 3,000-hectares and is the largest in the northern plain.

Tourists who come to admire the reserve will have the opportunity to view rich flora and fauna within the most bio-diversified wetland in Vietnam, according to research by national and international scientists.

The eco-tourism destination was built by the Association of Forest Investigation and Zoning based on a community self-management model sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam.

This model has helped to promote community participation in terms of conservation and the sustainable use of biological resources to maintain the riverine wetland ecosystem of Van Long Nature Reserve.

The reserve boasts 457 higher order species of plants including eight species recorded in Vietnam’s Red Book. Van Long’s fauna includes 39 species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Some of these species have been classified as globally endangered animals such as the white-breeched langur. There are currently only 50 langurs in the world.

Starting at Van Lam wharf, tourists can view the varied landscape of the Van Long wetland via basket boats. The natural scenery featuring imposing mountains and tranquil reservoirs offer peaceful surroundings that put tourists at ease.

The surroundings are so calm and quiet that tourists can hear the sounds of the oars rowing, the fishes swimming and the birds singing. The reservoir water is clean and bears the green color of the water-plants and mosses from beneath.

Traveling deeper on the reservoirs, the scenery becomes wilder and is as beautiful as a watercolor painting with a flock of white storks within the mountain peaks and dragonflies flying up the face of the reservoir.

The boats will float through mountains with intriguing names such as Meo Cao (scratching cat), Co Tien (lady fairy), Mo Coi (orphan) and Hon Sach (book); each of these names are rooted in old Vietnamese legends and folk tales.

Along with the diverse fauna and flora in Van Long Nature Reserve, there are also 32 beautiful caves such as Ca (fish), Rua (tortoise), Chanh (lemon) and Bong (shadow) caves waiting to be discovered.

Each cave is beautiful, but according to the locals, Ca Cave under the foot of Hoang Quyen Mountain is considered the most beautiful and the longest (250 meters). There are many kinds of fish in the cave. People say that a black fish weighing 45 kilograms was once caught here, which gave the cave its name.

The other caves include Thung Doi (Bat), the tallest one (210 meters) and Bong, the widest (16 meters). There is also a cave named Luon (creep), where tourists have to bend down when passing through its gate to avoid the stalactitiles from the ceiling of the cave.

When passing through, tourists will discover a lake, surrounded with the walls of mountain.

Visiting Van Long, tourists should not also miss the other cultural relics such as the tree of fig, aged 600 - year - old, Chi Le and Mai Trung pagodas, the temples of Le Kha Lang, the Nguyen God, the pagoda and Dich Long cave, the remnants of Dinh Tien Hoang King temple and the picture in the wall of Meo Cao Mountain. Before leaving Van Long, tourists could not forget tasting the specialty of Ninh Binh Province, a dish made from the meat of mountain goat and chicken.

Tourists could visit Van Long for one day or spend a night at Van Long Resort of Thao Son Co. to enjoy the fresh air of the rural area. The resort is located at Gia Van - Gia Vien - Ninh Binh, tel: (030) 641 290, email: info@thaoson-vanlong.com.vn.

Tourists could also book a two-day and one-night tour priced at US$60/pax through Jumbo Travel, Room 203, No. 12A Ho Xuan Huong Street, Hanoi, tel: (04) 944 6672, fax: (04) 944 6674, email: Jumbotravel@vnn.vn.