Mua Cave Ninh Binh: Hike To Incredible Viewpoint
Located approximately 90 km from Hanoi, Mua Cave, known as Hang Mua, is an excellent place to visit in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
This article is a complete travel guide to Mua Cave, with essential tips to make the best of your trip to this beautiful spot.
Things to know about Mua Cave
Mua Cave is located at the foot of an upside-down bell shape mountain. The area is also built into an eco-tourism destination combining mountain climbing sports.
An easy hike to the mountain’s peak will give you a breathtaking view of the land of Hoa Lu Ancient capital.
The meaning of its name
The legend says after Dinh Emperor moved his capital to Hoa Lu, he often came to the cave to listen to the performances of female singers there. Therefore, it was given the name Hang Mua, translated as “Dance Cave.”
Essential tips for visiting Mua Cave
- Where to stay: I stayed at Trang An Retreat and loved it!
- What to wear: lightweight, athletic shoes for easy climbing
- What to bring: Bring a bottle of mineral water because you will need it
- Best time to visit: morning or afternoon (before 5 pm)
- Parking: You should go straight to the gate to buy tickets and enjoy free parking. Don’t stop at the parking places before the gate.
- Toilet tips: Go to the toilet first if you don’t want to climb twice
- Safety rule: Don’t push and jostle when taking photos. Also, it’s pretty challenging to hike up 500 steps, so you need to be healthy.
How to get to Mua Cave Ninh Binh
Mua Cave is about 4km from Trang An complex and 8.4 km from Tam Coc – Bich Dong Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
To get to Mua Cave, you first need to get to Ninh Binh.
Taking a bus or an early train is an excellent way to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours. You can reserve your tickets here.
After arriving in Ninh Binh, you can book a taxi or Grab a car to Mua Cave. You can also rent a bike and follow the signs to Mua Cave from Trang An or Tam Coc.
Mua Cave entrance fee
The ticket price to Mua Cave is 100,000 VND per person.
The fee already includes the parking fee, so you should avoid all the people waving and asking you to park in the place on the way to the ticket gate.
They are quite aggressive, so ignore them!
Best places to stay in Ninh Binh
Although it takes a day to visit Mua Cave, I suggest staying overnight to explore other attractions in Ninh Binh, such as Trang An, Tam Coc – Bich Dong, and Hoa Lu.
I stayed at Trang An Retreat and enjoyed my stay. The resort was beautiful and had a swimming pool to enjoy after a long humid day exploring Ninh Binh.
Although it’s located in a remote area, the resort’s location is convenient. You can easily reach Trang An and other places by bike or car. We rented a bike here, and the price was affordable.
Best time to visit Mua Cave
Although you can visit Ninh Binh at any time of the year, you should avoid going during the rainy season because it will affect the trip.
The best time to visit Mua Cave is from the end of April to May, when Tam Coc is in the golden season of ripe rice.
The golden color of the rice field merging with the green water creates beautiful natural scenery.
Exploring Mua Cave Ninh Binh
Unlike the other hustle and bustle tourist areas, Mua Cave has its own charming and peaceful beauty.
The road to the top of the mountain is quite similar to China’s Great Wall architecture. From the bottom of the mountain, you can see the white stone steps leading to the top.
On the two sides of the stairs, the ornate stone lines have dragon or phoenix figures carved with the elegant and beautiful art of the Tran dynasty.
Hiking up the mountain, I was amazed by the beauty of the Tam Coc area – a famous scenic spot in Ninh Binh.
With 486 challenging steps, Mua Cave opens with a spectacular view that embraces the whole landscape of Ninh Binh.
Besides hiking up the mountain’s peak, I enjoyed walking around the area. The eco-lodge is beautiful, with sitting areas and a waterfall.
What to eat in Ninh Binh
Mountain goat and scorched rice are the most famous dishes in Ninh Binh. You can find a few restaurants along the way from Trang An to Mua Cave.
