Ninh Bình province Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Ninh Bình province

Tỉnh Ninh Bình

Province

Bích Động valley, near Tam Cốc in Tràng An UNESCO World Heritage Site • Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex • Phát Diệm Cathedral • Bái Đính Temple • Hoa Lư • Mountain Ngọc Mỹ Nhân • Cave Vân Trình • Cúc Phương National Park • Thung Nham

Seal

Nickname(s):

Serenity

Location of Ninh Bình within Vietnam

Country

Vietnam

Region

Red River Delta

Capital

Ninh Bình

Area

• Total

1,411.78 km² (545.09 sq mi)

Population

(2022)

• Total

1,210,700

• Density

857.57/km² (2,221.10/sq mi)

Demographics

• Ethnicities

Vietnamese, Mường, Tày, H'Mông

GDP

• Total

VND 47.205 trillion
US$ 2.050 billion

Time zone

UTC+07:00 (ICT)

Area codes

229

ISO 3166 code

VN-18

Ninh Bình is a special province located in the northern part of Vietnam. It's part of the Red River Delta region. This province is famous for its many natural wonders and historical sites.

You can find beautiful places like Cúc Phương National Park and Vân Long, which are protected areas. There are also amazing caves and rivers at Tràng An, Tam Cốc-Bích Động, and Múa Caves. History buffs will love the ancient capital of Hoa Lư. You can also visit Vietnam's largest Buddhist temple, Bái Đính Temple, and the unique Phát Diệm Cathedral. Because Ninh Bình is close to Hanoi, it's easy to visit for a day trip!

Geography of Ninh Bình
Top Travel Destinations
- Thung Nham Bird Park
People and Cultures
- Ethnic Groups in Ninh Bình
Cool Places to See
How Ninh Bình is Organized
Local Festivals
Handicrafts of Ninh Bình
Getting Around
Images for kids
See also

Geography of Ninh Bình

Ninh Bình is in the southern part of the Northern Delta region. It sits between the Red River and the Ma River. To the north, it shares borders with Hòa Bình and Hà Nam. To the northeast, it borders Nam Định. To the south and west, it's next to Thanh Hóa. Ninh Bình also has a small coastline along the Gulf of Tonkin.

The province covers an area of about 1,411.78 square kilometers (545.09 sq mi). Around 898,500 people live here.

Top Travel Destinations

Thung Nham Bird Park

Thung Nham Ninh Binh, also known as Thung Chim (Bird Valley), is about 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) west of Ninh Bình city. This area is over 300 hectares (740 acres) large. It includes beautiful forests, flooded areas, cave systems, and a bird garden. Many different kinds of birds live here, including some rare species. Thung Nham is known for its wild and natural beauty, making it a popular spot for tourists.

People and Cultures

Ethnic Groups in Ninh Bình

The main group of people living in Ninh Bình are the Viet, also known as the Kinh. They make up more than 98% of the population. Other ethnic groups also live here, such as the Dao, Hoa, Hmong, Mường, Nùng, Tày, and Thai. In total, there are 23 different ethnic groups in the province.

Cool Places to See

Natural Wonders

Tam Cốc-Bích Động: Famous for its beautiful caves and rice paddies.
Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone: A great place to see nature and birds.
Múa Caves (Hang Múa): Offers amazing views from the top of a mountain.
Tràng An: A UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning limestone karsts, caves, and rivers.
Cúc Phương: Vietnam's oldest national park, with ancient forests and historical caves.
Địch Lộng cave and pagoda: A peaceful cave and temple.

Did you know? Ninh Bình was one of the main filming locations for the movie Kong: Skull Island!

Wildlife Conservation Centers

Ninh Bình is home to several centers that help protect animals:

Bear Sanctuary Ninh Bình: A safe home for bears rescued from illegal wildlife trade.
Endangered Primate Rescue Center: Helps protect rare monkeys and other primates.
Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program: Works to save meat-eating animals and pangolins.
Turtle Conservation Center: Focuses on protecting different types of turtles.

Ecological Reserves

Cúc Phương National Park: A large area of primitive forest, great for exploring nature.
Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve: A beautiful wetland area, perfect for boat trips to see wildlife.

Historic Sites

Bích Động pagoda and cave: An ancient pagoda built into a cave.
Bái Đính Temple: A huge complex of Buddhist temples.
Ban Long Pagoda: Another historic temple.
Dinh and Le Temples: Temples dedicated to ancient Vietnamese kings.
Hoa Lư ancient capital: The former capital city of Vietnam, with many old buildings.
Hoa Lư Citadel; Nhat Tu Pagoda: Remains of the old fortress and a pagoda.
Phát Diệm Cathedral: A unique church built with Vietnamese architectural styles.

The old city of Ninh Bình is a very important historical place in Vietnam.

How Ninh Bình is Organized

Ninh Bình province is divided into eight main areas. These include two larger cities and six smaller districts.

The two main cities are:

Ninh Bình: This is the capital city of the province.
Tam Điệp

The six districts are:

Yên Mô
Yên Khánh
Nho Quan
Kim Sơn
Hoa Lư
Gia Viễn

These areas are further divided into smaller towns, communes (like villages), and wards.

Local Festivals

Ninh Bình has several interesting festivals throughout the year:

Thái Vi festival (Ninh Hải - Hoa Lư): Held in the third month of the lunar calendar.
Trường Yên Festival
Yên Cư Festival
Nộn Khê Festival

Handicrafts of Ninh Bình

The province is known for its beautiful handmade goods:

Embroidered handicrafts: You can find these in Hoa Lư District.
Sea reed handicrafts: Made from sea reeds in Kim Sơn District.

Getting Around

Ninh Bình is about 91 kilometers (57 mi) from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It's easy to get there by both train and bus. There are express trains connecting Ninh Bình with Hanoi to the north and Thanh Hóa and Vinh to the south. Buses from Hanoi's South Bus Station also travel to Ninh Bình, offering another convenient way to visit.