Mua Caves is one of Ninh Binh’s most unique destinations, offering a breathtaking bird’s-eye view over the whole Tam Coc – Bich Dong Tourism Area.

Let’s learn more about this fantastic tourist spot with Fola Travel in the article below.

Overview of Mua Caves

Mua Caves is situated in the Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourism region, a central part of the Trang An Scenic Complex. Legend has it that when King Tran Thai Tong returned to the ancient capital of Ninh Binh, he frequented Mua Caves to watch imperial maids perform arts and dance, hence the name of the place (Mua translates to “dancing”).

Located on Ngoa Long Mountain, Mua Caves captivates visitors with its breathtaking panoramic natural scenery. Despite becoming a tourism site since 2000, under the protection of the Ninh Binh management board, Mua Caves still retains its wild ecosystem and natural environment.

Today, Mua Caves is a famous ecotourism and mountain climbing attraction in Ninh Binh. Mua Caves was named #1 among the top five most popular Ninh Binh attractions on TripAdvisor in 2018.

What makes Mua Caves special?

When visiting Mua Caves, the first thing that attracts visitors is the path leading to the top of Mua Mountain, inspired by the famous Great Wall of China, with both sides of the steps decorated with beautifully carved stone statues of majestic dragons and phoenixes.

View from hang mua to Tam Coc rice fields and mountains in Ninh Binh. — View from the peak of Mua Caves.

From there, they may gaze far away and take in the view of the deep green Tam Coc mountains, which descend to the expansive rice fields and meandering rivers. It can be said that this precious scenery is what makes the reputation of Mua Caves Tourist Area!

Location & How to get to Mua Caves

Visitors from Hanoi center only need to travel less than 100 kilometers to reach Mua Caves, therefore, you can select one of the following modes of transportation:

Motorbike: If you want to explore Mua Caves by yourself, a motorbike is the best option. From the heart of Hanoi, take the old National Highway 1A past Ha Nam before heading towards Ninh Binh. After arriving in Ninh Binh, turn left at the sign for Trang An. Continue along Highway 491C until you reach Khe Dau Ha Village. Mua Caves is located straight ahead from here.
Bus: If you are not confident in your driving abilities, you can take a bus. My Dinh and Giap Bat bus terminals now provide excursions to Ninh Binh. When you arrive at Ninh Binh Bus Station, take a cab to Mua Caves.
Train: If you want a distinctive experience, take the train. Currently, there are numerous trains traveling to Ninh Binh from Hanoi in about 1,5 to 2 hours.

Fola Travel provides Ninh Binh excursions that pick you up and transfer you from Hanoi City to Mua Caves at a reasonable price via shuttle bus, limousine, or private vehicle. Tourists will enjoy a stress-free travel in new, comfortable automobiles equipped with complete air conditioning and professional drivers!

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Conquering Mua Mountain

The journey to the top of Mua Caves is not easy, with approximately 500 twisting stairs, but the stunning landscape along the way will be a fantastic reward and motivation to keep going.

The higher you go, the more impressive the natural scenery becomes. You can see the lush tree ranges running down to the foot of the limestone mountains. Reaching the top of Mua Mountain, visitors can breathe in the fresh air, enjoy the cool breeze blowing gently, and admire the panoramic view of Tam Coc Tourist Area: from the mountains, hills, forests, to the rice fields, rivers, and small boats drifting along the water.

A girl sitting on Hang Mua peak with view of Tam Coc behind. — View from Mua Caves viewpoint.

To make this experience more special, visitors can try hiking Mua Mountain early in the morning or late in the afternoon to watch the sunrise and sunset. Nothing in words can capture the beauty of this view; you have to be there to experience it.

Visit Mua Caves’ lotus pond

In addition to climbing the mountain to enjoy the view, there are many attractive sites at the foot of Mua Caves that are ideal for photography, such as the lotus pond.

A lotus lake with mountains afar and a wooden trail run to the middle of the lake. — Lotus Lake in Mua Caves.

Every summer, the lotus pond here is filled with the vibrant hues of blooming lotus flowers, bringing a pleasant, gentle aroma. Rent a lovely outfit and row a boat to the center of the lotus pond, and you will have more Insta-perfect photos than in the studio!

Take pictures at the cactus or mushroom garden

Aside from the lotus pond, the distinctive and amusing cactus garden and mushroom garden are two popular visitor spots near the foot of Mua Caves, particularly for photo opportunities!

Tam Coc

Tam Coc is the primary attraction of the Tam Coc – Bich Dong Tourism Area, which has water caverns hidden under tall limestone ranges. Visitors can take a boat and have a relaxing time drifting around the lake amidst the picturesque natural environment.

Bich Dong Pagoda

Bich Dong Pagoda is a well-known spiritual site in Mua Caves, with a distinctive construction and an impressive location, with its back leaning against the mountain and facing the river.

Trang An

As the most famous tourist destination in Ninh Binh, taking a boat along Trang An Eco-tourism Area promises to bring visitors a comfortable, relaxing, but equally joyful experience amidst the majestic nature.

Thung Nham Bird Park

Thung Nham Bird Park is a part of the Thung Nham Eco-tourism Area, a beautiful place not only with a large-scale bird habitat, a poetic river system, but also distinctive outdoor leisure areas such as camping sites and flower gardens.

Overview of the bird park in Ninh Binh with a golden field and many birds flying through. — Thung Nham Bird Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you need to pay to enter Mua Caves?

The current admission cost to the Mua Caves tourism area is 100,000 VND, around US $4 per person, with children under 1 meter tall entering for free.

When booking a Mua Caves trip with Fola Travel, travelers do not have to worry about the expense of sightseeing because it is all included in the tour price. You only need to book the tour and enjoy!

2. Tips for visiting Mua Caves

To reach the top of Mua Caves, tourists must climb roughly 500 stairs. As a result, sneakers will be an appropriate alternative to high heels.
Prepare a small bottle of water to quench your thirst on your approach to the summit of Mua Caves!
You may check in anywhere in Mua Caves, not just at the summit of the mountain. Instead of waiting in line for their turn, tourists may take photographs on the vacant stairs or at the foot of the mountain first!