The spiritual heart of Ninh Binh reveals itself in the treasure of a temple hidden deep in the stunning landscape of Tam Coc-Bich Dong. One of the most critical stops on our Ninh Binh Faith Tours, Thai Vi Temple plunges into the rich cultural and religious history of Vietnam’s Tran Dynasty. Lying amidst a landscape of breathtaking limestone karst and quiet rice paddies, this temple invites one for not only a tour in history but also for quiet moments of reflection. Allow us to take you on the tours of Ninh Binh Faith to explore this spiritual haven and serene beauty of Ninh Binh.
Thai Vi Temple
Built in the 13th century by King Tran Thai Tong, the Thai Vi Temple acts as an homage to the Tran Dynasty and their very important role in Vietnamese history. This is a dynasty remembered for its leadership, especially in defense against Mongol invasions. When you visit Thai Vi Temple on the Ninh Binh Faith Tours, you enter a historical site that celebrates Vietnam’s strength and resilience.
One thing you will note as you go to Thai Vi Temple is that its architecture is beautiful. It is not just any temple but is constructed from solid green stone; thus, giving it an impressive and enduring presence. Just imagine yourself strolling within the compound, admiring the stone pillars beautifying the temple. These pillars are carved in ancient Vietnamese motifs, including dragons, lotus flowers, and other religious symbols that symbolize the proficiency and skillfulness of Vietnamese craftsmen.
The dragons represent power and protection, while the lotus flower is a representation of purity and spiritual awakening. All these are deeply attached to Vietnamese culture, and getting a closer look will give appreciation for the attention to detail in every bit of the temple design. It is one of many reasons why Thai Vi Temple must be on the list for our Ninh Binh Faith Tours.
Thai Vi Temple is not only a center of historical interest, but it is considered to be a living place of worship for the Tran Kings, particularly. One of the most renowned persons related to the foundation of this temple is King Tran Nhan Tong, later to become the founder of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist Sect. His spiritual leadership continues to influence Vietnamese Buddhism to this day and considers of Thai Vi Temple as one of the sacred sites of his followers.
If you are fortunate enough to visit during the Thai Vi Temple Festival, held from the 14th to 16th of every March according to the lunar calendar, you will witness rituals and ceremonies in honor of the Tran kings, not only for paying homage to them as leaders but vibrantly colored, describing the cultural and spiritual traditions of the Vietnamese. That’s why the Thai Vi Temple is such an important stop on our Ninh Binh Tours, as it’s a place to feel the spiritual energy that has been nurtured here for centuries.
Set between limestone mountains and peaceful rivers, Thai Vi Temple harmonizes perfectly with its natural surroundings. The location in Tam Coc enhances the spiritual experience, allowing visitors to feel a sense of peace and balance between nature and spirituality. This connection to nature makes the temple a standout feature of our Ninh Binh Faith Tours.
Situated between the limestone mountains and tranquil rivers, the Thai Vi Temple blends perfectly with nature. Anchoring it in Tam Coc amplifies the spirituality one feels when the nature around him enables him to find a balance between nature and the spirit. Indeed, the connection with nature is what makes it such a special characteristic of our Ninh Binh Faith Tours.
Ngo Dong River
07:30 – 08:30:Then, we pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and give you a brief introduction to the cultural and spiritual significance of the fantastic sites that we are going to visit today. We promise an entire day packed with history, spirituality, and stunning natural beauty in Ninh Binh!
08:30 – 09:30: Go leisurely and romantically on a blissful boat ride through Tam Coc along the winding Ngo Dong River. Drift through lush green rice paddies and towering limestone cliffs, while gliding through three famous caves: Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba. This part of the journey is like walking into a landscape painting and is an ideal way to immerse oneself in the natural beauty that makes Ninh Binh Tours so special.
09:30 – 10:30: Come to the highlight of our Ninh Binh Faith Tour, the majestic Thai Vi Temple, which lies in the heart of Tam Coc. This sacred site invites you to enter inside and discover its rich history. The temple was built by King Tran Thai Tong himself. The place of worship is so serenely peaceful in dedication to Tran Dynasty and the very long-lasting influence on Vietnamese Buddhism.
10:30 – 11:30: I will give you a tour of the temple. I share with you a little insight into the history behind the Tran Dynasty and its role in the spiritual practices of Vietnam. I’ll be able to inform you about King Tran Nhan Tong founder of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist sect and why this temple stands as one of the important stopovers on any Ninh Binh Faith Tour.
Lunch Break (11:45 – 12:45): You will have a delicious traditional lunch at a local restaurant. You will try some well-known dishes in Ninh Binh, like goat meat and crispy “com chay" or fried rice cake. It will give us another recharge for an exciting afternoon!
14:00 – 15:30: After lunch, we drive up to another sacred venue – the magnificent Bich Dong Pagoda partly constructed on the mountain’s side face and promising great scenery with a serene sense of meditation. From the Lower Pagoda to the Middle and further on to the Upper Pagoda, the three levels of this pagoda create an atmosphere of profound connection with nature and Buddha’s teaching that has passed through many eras.
15:30 – 17:00: Thung Nham Bird Garden will be the last destination of the day tranquil oasis in this region. You will have some time here to recollect everything that happened during this day with the help of nature and animals. The serenity of the atmosphere, and birds flying to get back into their nests, literally make it an ending for our Ninh Binh Faith Tour.
Thung Nham Bird Garden
17:00 – 17:30: Drive back to the hotel, you shall have enough time to read in your mind all the spiritual and natural beauty that you have witnessed throughout the day. I do hope this journey has indeed inspired you and brought you closer to the heart of Ninh Binh.
On our Ninh Binh Faith Tours, respect for local customs is very important. Remember to dress conservatively with long pants and tops that cover the shoulders of your body at temples like the Thai Vi Temple. Also, be in silence and observe mindfulness during rituals, so others would enjoy the serene atmosphere.
These trips recommend comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking around the grounds of temples or other grounds like Bich Dong Pagoda. Not to mention those essential sunscreen, hat, and water to keep you both protected and hydrated while you take in some of the lovely outdoor sceneries on our Ninh Binh Tours.
The best time for a tour with Ninh Binh Faith Tours is spring and fall when weather conditions are favorable. Moreover, there is the Thai Vi Temple Festival in March, which makes it a special month culturally speaking, as many traditional rituals and ceremonies take place during that period.
Photography in Ninh Binh Tours should be respective; hence, it is not recommended to use flashes inside temples or during religious events, unless their permission has been sought, in doubt. This way, you will make sure that you have captured the beautiful moments while not disrespecting the sanctity of such places.
If one wants an unforgettable spiritual journey, then Impress Travel will take care of everything related to Ninh Binh Faith Tours. Guides with years of experience leading impressive insight into both cultural and spiritual history offer their deep insight into the development of spiritual history in Vietnam. Our tailor-made itineraries create a balance between spiritual exploration and the natural beauty of Ninh Binh for a well-rounded enriching experience. Whether it be the visit to the sacred site of the Thai Vi Temple or the taking in the landscapes, Impress Travel ensures there is nothing left for you to take care of in making this a smooth journey with meaning.
We do genuine and responsible tourism, contributing to local communities’ development and conserving the culture. Small group sizes offer much more personal and contemplative tours. Ready for a spiritual journey? Impress Travel would love to hear from you to book your Ninh Binh Faith Tour by calling (+84) 912 379 189, or emailing us at info@impresstravel.com. Allow us to take you through the spiritual heart of Ninh Binh!
Hanoi Head Office
Saigon Office
Inside the temple
Thai Vi Temple and its surroundings make Ninh Binh one of the best options for faith based travelers. Rich in history, spiritually significant, and with breathtaking natural sceneries, the combination of cultural discovery and personal reflection of Ninh Binh Faith Tours stands out from the rest. Ready to explore? Book your trip to Ninh Binh Faith Tour with Impress Travel today for an unforgettable spiritual journey! Please click here for more details and to secure your spot. Don’t forget to regularly follow our Impress Travel for more interesting information about traveling to Ninh Binh and to book Ninh Binh Tour at the best prices.
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:
