Van Long Nature Reserve 2026: Boats, Langurs & Tickets

Van Long Nature Reserve (Khu bảo tồn thiên nhiên đất ngập nước Vân Long) is a protected wetland of about 3,000 hectares in northern Ninh Binh, around 17 km north of Hoa Lu. Known as the “Ha Long Bay on land”, it is famous for silent bamboo-boat trips between limestone peaks, Ca Cave and the critically endangered Delacour’s langur. Boat tickets cost about 100,000 VND per person.

Status (checked October 2026): open daily as normal, with bamboo boats running roughly 7:00–17:00 at about 100,000 VND per person (2025 provincial price list). Heavy rain in the typhoon season (July–September) can occasionally pause boat trips.

Why Van Long Nature Reserve is worth seeing:

Peaceful karst scenery: limestone peaks reflected in a calm lagoon, with almost no motor noise.
Rare wildlife: the largest wild population of the Delacour’s langur, found only in Vietnam.
International recognition: a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance since 2019 and on the IUCN Green List since 2020.
Movie location: scenes of Kong: Skull Island (2017) were filmed here.
Far fewer crowds than Trang An and Tam Coc.

Van Long Nature Reserve at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Khu bảo tồn thiên nhiên đất ngập nước Vân Long (Đầm Vân Long)
Location	Spans Gia Van, Gia Vien and Gia Hung communes, northern Ninh Binh province; boat wharf in Gia Van
Distance	About 17 km north of Hoa Lu, 20–25 km from Ninh Binh city and about 85–90 km from Hanoi
Size	About 3,000 hectares (figures range from 2,700 to 3,500 ha), mostly limestone hills with a central wetland
Known for	Bamboo-boat trips, karst landscape, Ca Cave, Delacour’s langurs, waterbirds
Recognition	Nature reserve since 2001; Ramsar site (2019); IUCN Green List (2020)
Opening hours	Daily, about 7:00–17:00
Entrance fee	About 100,000 VND (about US$4) per person including the bamboo boat
Time needed	1–1.5 hours on the water; 2–3 hours with cycling around the reserve
Best time	October–April for clear weather and birds; May–June for green rice; early morning for wildlife
Nearby	Kenh Ga Floating Village, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Hoa Lu, Trang An
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia

Is Van Long Nature Reserve Worth Visiting?

Yes, it is the calmest and most natural boat trip in Ninh Binh. The scenery is comparable to Tam Coc, yet the reserve sees a fraction of the visitors, and the lagoon is so still that the peaks reflect perfectly on a windless morning. Seeing langurs is never guaranteed, but the chance is real.

Best for: nature lovers, photographers, birdwatchers, couples and anyone tired of busy boat queues.
Skip if: you want caves you can sail through for a long time; Trang An’s boat route has more and longer caves.
Short on time: a 1-hour boat loop to Ca Cave gives you the essence of Van Long.

History and Background of Van Long

Van Long lies at the northern tip of the limestone range that runs from Pu Luong through Cuc Phuong into Ninh Binh. It is one of the few intact lowland inland wetlands left in the Red River Delta: about three-quarters of the reserve is limestone hills and the rest is flooded lowland fed by springs and rivers.

The Ninh Binh provincial authorities created the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve on 18 December 2001, mainly to protect the Delacour’s langur. Community tourism began in 1998, and local villagers still row the visitor boats today. When the reserve was founded there were only about 50 langurs; thanks to protection, recent counts put the population at well over 200, and a 2026 report put it at more than 300, more than half of the species’ known wild population.

International recognition

Van Long was designated Vietnam’s 9th Ramsar site (and the world’s 2,360th) in 2019 and received its certificate the same year. In 2020 it joined the IUCN Green List of well-managed protected areas.

Kong: Skull Island

In 2016 Hollywood crews filmed scenes of Kong: Skull Island in Ninh Binh, including Van Long, which brought the reserve international attention after the film’s release in 2017.

What to See at Van Long Nature Reserve

1. The bamboo-boat trip

Boats are small, flat bamboo or composite craft that usually take two passengers, rowed by local villagers. The standard trip of 1–1.5 hours follows channels between reed beds and limestone peaks, and the only sound is usually the oar.

2. Ca Cave (Fish Cave)

The highlight of most routes is Ca Cave, a water cave about 250 m long that boats pass through when the water level allows. Look for stalactites and the small pond inside.

3. Other caves and karst landmarks

Routes may also pass Bong Cave and other smaller caves, and the narrow passage of Kem Tram. Which ones you see depends on the route and water level on the day.

4. Delacour’s langurs

The Delacour’s langur is a black primate with a striking white “shorts” pattern, critically endangered and found only in northern Vietnam. Scan the cliffs in the early morning or late afternoon; rowers often know where groups have been seen recently.

Wetland and limestone karsts at Van Long Nature Reserve, Ninh Binh — Van Long’s karsts are home to the rare Delacour’s langur. Photo: JakobHosp, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

5. Birds and wetland life

Herons, egrets, kingfishers and cormorants are common, and migratory waterbirds arrive from about November to April. The water is so clear in places that you can see waterweed swaying beneath the boat.

6. Village roads and rice fields

Quiet roads around the reserve pass villages, temples and rice fields. Many hotels and tours offer bicycles, an easy way to add an hour of countryside to the boat trip.

Van Long Tickets and Opening Hours (2026)

Item	Details
Bamboo boat ticket	About 100,000 VND (about US$4) per person
Boat capacity	Usually two passengers per boat
Children	Children under about 1 m often ride free; ask at the ticket office
Opening hours	Daily, about 7:00–17:00
Boat trip length	About 1–1.5 hours
Ticket office	Van Long boat wharf, Gia Van

Prices follow the Ninh Binh tourism price list published in 2025; older guides quote lower separate entry and boat fees, so check the board at the wharf.

How to Visit Van Long, Step by Step

Arrive at the Van Long boat wharf in Gia Van, ideally between 7:00 and 9:00.
Buy tickets at the office and wait for your boat number to be called.
Take the 1–1.5-hour boat loop; keep voices low to improve your chances of seeing langurs.
Pass through Ca Cave if the water level allows.
Back on land, cycle the village roads or continue to Kenh Ga or Bai Dinh.

Rules for a wildlife-friendly visit

Do not feed animals or throw food into the water.
Keep noise down and do not use drones without permission.
Take all rubbish back to shore.
Stay seated in the boat; they are small and tip easily.

How to Get to Van Long Nature Reserve

From	How	Time
Ninh Binh city	Taxi, Grab or private car	About 30 minutes
Tam Coc / Trang An	Private car, taxi or motorbike	About 30–40 minutes
Kenh Ga Floating Village	Car or bicycle	About 15–20 minutes
Hanoi	Private car or tour via the expressway	About 2 hours
Hanoi by public transport	Train or bus to Ninh Binh, then taxi	About 3 hours in total

Compare trains, buses and limousines in our Ninh Binh transportation guide.

Best Time to Visit Van Long Nature Reserve

When	What to expect
November–April	Dry season and migratory birds; cool, sometimes misty mornings with soft light.
May–June	Green and golden rice fields around the reserve; hot middays.
July–September	Hot and rainy; lush scenery but storms can interrupt trips.
Late September–October	Rice harvest and pleasant temperatures.
Time of day	7:00–9:00 for wildlife and reflections; late afternoon for warm light.

Local Expert Tips for Van Long Nature Reserve

These tips come from years of arranging Ninh Binh tours for international travellers.

Go first thing in the morning: langurs are more active and the lagoon is at its calmest.
Bring binoculars or a zoom lens; langurs usually sit high on the cliffs.
Wear a hat and sunscreen; the boats have no roof, though rowers often provide conical hats or umbrellas.
Combine Van Long with Kenh Ga Floating Village and Bai Dinh for a quiet northern loop.
Choose Van Long instead of Tam Coc on weekends and Vietnamese holidays, when the southern boat trips are crowded.
Read our Ninh Binh travel tips before you go.

Van Long Nature Reserve vs Tam Coc

Feature	Van Long	Tam Coc
Scenery	Open lagoon ringed by peaks	River through rice fields and three caves
Caves	Ca Cave (about 250 m) and small caves	Three river caves
Wildlife	Delacour’s langurs, waterbirds	Limited
Crowds	Quiet	Busy, especially at weekends
Price (adult)	About 100,000 VND	About 250,000 VND including boat (2025)
Recognition	Ramsar site, IUCN Green List	Part of the UNESCO Trang An Landscape Complex

Our view: Tam Coc is more famous, but Van Long is more peaceful and better value. If you have time for two boat trips in Ninh Binh, do Trang An plus Van Long.

Nearby Attractions

Kenh Ga: a floating fishing village with a hot spring, about 15–20 minutes away.
Bai Dinh Pagoda: the giant Buddhist complex south-west of the reserve.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital: Vietnam’s 10th-century capital.
Trang An: the UNESCO-listed karst and cave boat trip.
Mua Cave viewpoint: about 500 steps to a famous panorama.
Cuc Phuong National Park: primary forest and primate rescue centre.

Sightseeing in Ninh Binh for First-Time Visitors: Where Van Long Fits

Two days in Ninh Binh? Spend day one at Trang An, Hoa Lu and the Mua Cave climb. On day two, start at Van Long at 7:00, visit Kenh Ga or Bai Dinh before lunch, and end at Tam Coc or Thung Nang for sunset. Book a homestay with help from our guide to where to stay in Ninh Binh, and try local goat and crispy rice from our Ninh Binh food guide.

Plan your trip with our Ninh Binh travel guide and Ninh Binh tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Long Nature Reserve

1. What is Van Long Nature Reserve famous for?

Van Long is famous for peaceful bamboo-boat trips through a karst wetland, Ca Cave and the largest wild population of the critically endangered Delacour’s langur.