Mua Cave (Dancing Cave) is praised as one of the most beautiful locations in Ninh Binh. Mua Cave Vietnam is also listed by the press as one of the places not to be missed in the North of Vietnam. It is a fairyland, or as closest as anything we have ever seen.
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Mua Cave History
Mua Cave is located at the foot of Mua Mountain. According to folk legend, upon coming back to the area for his military campaign, King Tran Thai Tong (1st King of the Tran Dynasty in Vietnam) usually came to this cave to enjoy all the songs and dances performed by his odalisques. That’s why people call it Mua Cave - which means the cave of dances or the dancing cave. People now use the name Mua Cave to refer to the whole tourist area around it.
Mua Cave is now a tourist destination located in the core area of Trang An Landscape Complex (inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in June 2014), about 10km from Ninh Binh City and more than 90km from Hanoi.
Why Is Mua Cave So Special?
Mua Cave is praised by beautiful names such as "The Muse of Tam Coc", "The Queen of Trang An" or "The Great Wall of Vietnam". Mua Cave has geological and geomorphological characteristics typical of limestone mountains that are up to millions of years old.
The highlight of the Mua Cave tourist attraction is the beautiful scenery of the stairs leading to the top of Mua Mountain with nearly 500 white stone steps. On both sides of the road leading to the top of the mountain, there are many stone sculptures of Nghe (A Vietnamese mystical animal), or eagles - animals that made a mark on the spiritual culture of the Vietnamese people. The top of the mountain has a statue of a dragon (The Mua Cave dragon of Ninh Binh) flanking the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
It also has the only natural observatory of Mua Mountain in Ninh Binh. At an altitude of 142 meters, visitors can feast their eyes on all the beauty of the land of Tam Coc, Trang An, especially during the green and ripe rice seasons, and the winding Ngo Dong River below.
Mua Cave “skyscraper”
This tower has interesting Buddhist architectural features; it has a square base symbolizing earth, a round part symbolizing water, the pointed cones pointing to the sky symbolizing fire, a parasol symbolizing wind, and the top part symbolizing Emptiness. It is a favorite spot for photography lovers.
Mua Cave Lotus Pond
The lotus pond of Mua Cave tourist attraction is another ideal place for taking pictures, especially in the early morning because the Lotus has a characteristic of blooming in the early morning and gradually fading in the afternoon.
Other Attractions You Must Visit
It is convenient that Mua Cave viewpoint is located near Ninh Binh's most famous tourist attractions.
Trang An
From Mua Cave, it only takes 4km to reach Trang An. This is a very familiar tourist destination of Ninh Binh. You will get on a boat trip through limestone caves, rice fields, the filming location of Kong: Skull Island, and temples.
Bai Dinh Pagoda/Templet
Bai Dinh Pagoda is considered the largest complex of Buddhist temples in Vietnam. It has become a popular site for Buddhist pilgrimages from across Vietnam and has broken many Asian and Vietnamese records.
Tam Coc
Tam Coc means the Three Caves, just like in Trang An, you will also travel on boats through the three greatest caves in the area.
Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park is also the first national park in Vietnam. This national park has a rich and diverse flora and fauna of the tropical rainforests. Many species of animals and plants at high risk of extinction are discovered and preserved here.
Food and Accommodation
Many restaurants in Mua Cave have all the best dishes of Ninh Binh cuisine. There is also a wide range of accommodation options in Mua Cave such as hotels, resorts, and villas that ensure visitors have the best experience
Best Time to Visit Mua Cave?
In spring, visitors should visit Mua Cave in the morning to enjoy the fresh air and the chill environment of the first season of the year. Mua Cave's viewpoint, though, is easiest on the eye in the summer, which gives you a natural background for taking your best pictures.
How to get to Mua Cave?
Currently, bus stations in Hanoi have bus lines to Ninh Binh, which take about 2 hours. However, the disadvantage is that the bus must stop at Ninh Binh bus station, which is pretty much the same as traveling by train. To get to Mua Cave, you must take a motorbike taxi or taxi with prices ranging from 50,000 VND to 100,000 VND/trip. You can also travel by private vehicle such as a motorbike or car (you can either drive yourself and use Google Maps or hire a driver).
>> Book Full Day Tam Coc & Hang Mua Cave Tour
Side Notes to Visiting Mua Cave
- The entrance fee is around 100.000 VND (4.00-5.00USD)
- Bring sneakers during your trekking, then you can put on your high-heel for a selfie when you reach on top.
- Don't wear clothes that are too revealing when viewed from below
See more articles on this topic:
>> Ninh Binh Complete Travel Guide
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