For the nature lover, Van Long Lake is an ideal destination offering more than what you may expect. Known as “No Wave Bay” for its mirror-like clearness and stillness, it is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna and spectacular landscape which is paradise to those who truly appreciate nature.

Van Long Lake is located at Gia Van Commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province. With a land area of almost 3,500 hectares, it is the biggest wetland nature reserve in the Northern Delta Region of Vietnam. Thousands of animals, plants and aquatic organisms can be found here, including endangered species listed in the Vietnam Red Book and the World Red Book. The flora and fauna are identified by karst and wetland ecosytems in the Red River Delta. It is home to 39 animal species, 100 bird species and 722 plant species. Among the rare creatures found here are king cobra, water monitor (Varanus salvator), python molurus, oriental rat snake (Pytas mucosa) and the red-headed krait, all listed in the Vietnam Red Book.     

The Delacour Langur (Trachypthecus delacouri) can also be found here, a critically endangered species which can only be found in Vietnam. There are over 40 of the said creature in the lake, considered the biggest population in the whole country. They usually spend most of their time at Hoang Quyen Mountain where they can be seen sitting, eating or playing in the early morning or afternoon.   

Aside from its abundant plant and animal life, Van Long has a thousand caves that are generally untouched and simply beautiful. Bong (Shadow) Cave, Ca (Fish) Cave and Rua (Turtle) Cave are just some of these, whose names have significant and in fact interesting meanings having taken from legends and important local tales of mountains such as Ink-Slab Mountain, Book Ark Mountain, Table Mountain and Cat Scratching Mountain.

Cua Chua (Pagoda Gate) Mountain is another must-visit because of its cliffs which have murals and odd shapes discovered by scientists and explorers centuries ago. The drawings are said to be paintings of humans and hieroglyphics which only appear clear when wet.

At present, several organizations such as the Dutch government, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the Cuc Phuong Endangered Primate Rescue Centre (EPRC) are helping Van Long Lake in its preservation efforts. Tourists from all over the world, especially from Europe and South Korea, often visit the lake and it is crucial to conserve the place of its natural state.   

Van Long Lake can be reached by small bamboo basket boats which glide peacefully across the lake, respecting its serenity and adding to its overall beauty. Summer, between May and September, is perhaps the best time to visit Van Long Lake because it is when the lotus blooms, blanketing the whole place with simple but breathtaking beauty.