If you are drawn to a journey that incorporates spirituality, history, and breathtaking landscapes, then this tour is for you. Among the most famous highlights to be introduced on the tour to Ninh Binh are Phat Diem Stone Church, which people call the “Vatican of Vietnam." It is an architectural construction beautiful and uniquely combined with traditional Vietnamese and Gothic styles, standing as a profound symbol of Catholic heritage in Vietnam. Join us on Ninh Binh Catholic Tours to explore this landmark, and you will have such a spiritual and culturally abundant adventure to foster the beauty and depth of Ninh Binh tours!
It all began in the late 19th century with the extraordinary vision of Father Pierre Tran Luc, better known as Father Sau. His tireless dedication and passion gave this wonderful structure life; it took more than over twenty years to complete and finally finished in 1898. For over 130 years, Phat Diem has stood firm and emerged as an enduring symbol of the Catholic faith in Vietnam. This pearl of history still attracts worldwide visitors and is one of the necessary stops for any Ninh Binh Catholic Tour.
Phat Diem Stone Church
The harmony of architecture between East and West is typified by the Phat Diem Stone Church. This church is strangely designed with both Gothic and traditional Vietnamese elements, making this structure appear so sacred and full of artistic beauty. Constructed from both stone and wood, it has intricate carvings that denote signs of religion and culture. Every single detail, from the arch up to the woodwork, speaks of the skillfulness and artistry of the Vietnamese craftsmen.
The most striking feature of the church, perhaps, is the Phuong Dinh bell tower, which is tall and squarely shaped and epitomizes the traditional architecture of Vietnam with a tinge of Gothic style. It houses a big bell, and the resonant sound of the big bell fills up the surroundings, creating an atmosphere of peace and contemplation. Compared to other stone churches, the Phat Diem itself reveals handmade wood interiors and altars that correspondingly have symbolic meanings for either faith or nature. Such designs make the place of worship a work of art.
The Phat Diem Stone Church is sometimes affectionately referred to as the “Vatican of Vietnam" because it is one of the main places of pilgrimage for Vietnamese Catholics. It is a very spiritually significant church, and during big religious events such as Christmas and Easter, it becomes the center of festivity and holiness. The whole church is adorned with lights and ornaments, making it very warm and respectful inside; locals and travelers alike are attracted to this.
Architectural of Phat Dien
05:30 AM – Departure from Hanoi
Bright and early, we start our journey! Our Impress Travel guide and driver will pick you up in Hanoi, and then take you on a scenic drive through the beautifully moving Vietnamese countryside. As the city gives way to the day, there are lush rice fields bathed in the early morning dew, quaint villages, and distant mountains-a pictorial landscape unfolding around us. This is an introduction to the Ninh Binh Tours, which means showing a lot of serenity.
08:00 AM – Arrival at Tam Coc
First, we’ll stop at the enchanting Tam Coc, sometimes called “Halong Bay on land." We will board the traditional boats and smoothly sail down the serene river, set amidst towering limestone karsts and emerald-green rice paddies. This is a photo opportunity! Along the way, you will also pass through three natural caves- Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba, a very special formation with a cool atmosphere inside each of them. Tam Coc has to be an unforgettable stop for any tour in Ninh Binh Catholic Tours since the combination of nature is so beautiful here that much serenity embalms the surroundings.
10:00 AM – Visit to Bich Dong Pagoda
The next morning, we visit Bich Dong Pagoda, an ancient command overlooking a mountain. It is also known as “The Second Most Beautiful Grotto in Vietnam". Bich Dong is an ancient temple complex built into the face of the mountain covered with greenery. Upstairs to the pagoda lie a few flights of stairs, and from there comes a place of serenity and sacredness, which is perfect for quiet moments of reflection. Here, you are about to catch some quiet moments and draw on a mixture of nature and spirituality that Ninh Binh Tours prides itself on.
Bich Dong Pagoda
11:45 AM – Lunch at a Local Restaurant
Now, it is time to have a rest and enjoy a deliciously prepared Vietnamese meal at one of the local restaurants. It is time to taste one of the specialties in Ninh Binh: goat meat, crispy rice, and other specialties of traditional Vietnamese food. This lunch is more than just a meal; hence, it’s about savoring the authentic flavors of the Vietnamese countryside that perfectly complement our Ninh Binh Catholic Tour.
1:00 PM – Guided Tour of Phat Diem Stone Church
The moment of our Ninh Binh Catholic Tour Phat Diem Stone Church is finally here. It is an amazingly great structure recognized as the masterwork of Gothic and Vietnam architecture; it is more popularly known as the “Vatican of Vietnam." Our knowledgeable guide will be leading you on a journey through the church’s history to explain its construction in the late 19th century by Father Pierre Tran Luc. You will get to see the magnificent Phuong Dinh bell tower, hand-carved altars, and beautiful woods and stones representing both Catholic and Vietnamese cultural symbols. Every nook and corner of Phat Diem speaks its tale, and that is a promise from our guided tour not to let you miss even a single detail!
4:00 PM – Return to Hanoi
After an action-packed day of scenery, spiritual sites, and lifetime memories, we’ll begin our relaxed drive back toward Hanoi. This is a great opportunity to talk about today’s events with your fellow travelers or to simply kick back and relax as the scenes whizz by on the return journey into the city.
Visits to the Phat Diem Stone Church, among other tour stops on our Ninh Binh Catholic Tours, are available throughout the year, with each particular time of the year offering something special. For tourists who are more into local religious traditions, it is especially magical around Christmas. The church is superbly decorated, and local celebrations give an added vibrancy to the tour, making it both festive and spiritual. If you prefer the weather to be milder and the areas not so crowded, then spring is your season. That is when the landscape is full of lushness, and hence the stay will be more comfortable and scenic.
Comfort is essential when embarking on Ninh Binh Catholic Tours. Here is a selection of a few tips that will help make the day as enjoyable as possible:
Ninh Binh Tours are designed to be easygoing and comfortable; here are some more practical tips that will get you even more value out of your trip:
As a visitor to Ninh Binh Catholic Tours, it is crucial not only to be respectful of the local way of life but also of the places they are going to and will visit, such as the Phat Diem Stone Church. Here are a few dos and don’ts that could help a visitor fit in and respect their culture:
Com Chay (Crispy Rice)
Com Chay is the signature specialty of Ninh Binh Tours and what one must buy for their visitors. This crispy rice confection is prepared by frying rice in oil until it forms a congealed golden crust, then sprinkling it with savory flavors such as shredded pork or chili paste. Each crunchy bite presents a delicious combination of crispiness and umami that one would like to share with family and friends.
Ruou Kim Son (Kim Son Rice Wine)
Try Ruou Kim Son, the famous rice wine of Ninh Binh, for something different and full of flavor. Reputedly very smooth yet robustly flavored, this wine is made from local sticky rice and carefully distilled to make a potently aromatic drink. Very popular in celebrations and with several people believing in its health properties, it represents a memorable souvenir of the traditional spirit of Ninh Binh Tours.
Ruou Kim Son
Nem Chua Yen Mac (Fermented Pork Roll)
The local delicacy Nem Chua Yen Mac is made by fermenting minced pork with spices in leaves. These are sour, a little spicy rolls with a great texture, combined with rice wine. Due to the complex flavor of the dish, this will serve well as a gift for people who show great fascination with adventurous flavors and authentic Vietnamese food.
Nem Chua Yen Mac
Mam Tep Gia Vien (Fermented Shrimp Paste): This dish will give you the true, specific taste of the traditional cooking of Ninh Binh’s people. The composition is very simple, with the main ingredients of fresh shrimp and salt. A sweet but pungent flavor will make it remembered for a long time; rice or vegetables would be great partners for this specialty.
Thit De Kho: This is dried goat meat, one of the regional specialties. What’s more, this dried goat meat is peculiar and portable to snack. Seasoned and dried to perfection, this snacky treat is going to make savory, smoky flavors for a road trip or as a unique gift.
In short, Ninh Binh Catholic Tours will light up a great trip to Enjoy the natural beauty combined with rich history and spiritual depth: from poetic landscapes in Tam Coc to the architectural masterpiece – Phat Diem Stone Church to discover the heart of Vietnam’s Catholic hub. Do not miss your chance to witness these breathtaking sites with Impress Travel-book your tour today and unlock the sacred beauty of Ninh Binh!
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
Ninh Binh Tours – Impress Travel offers travelers the daily excursions – Small group deluxe tours, private Ninh Binh Vietnam package tours for the real experience of Ninh Binh’s discovery about the culture, history, tradition, local lifestyle, religion, and admiring of the breathtaking scenery of limestone island, rivers, water rice fields in Tam Coc and national park of Cuc Phuong with trekking and homestay at Muong Family. Ninh Binh Tours and private package tour’s highlights:
