Trang An Scenic Complex, often referred to as the ‘Ha Long Bay on land,’ comprises three conservation areas: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Cultural and Historical Relic Area, Trang An – Tam Coc – Bich Dong scenic area, and Hoa Lu special-use primeval forest, covering a total area of about 12,251 hectares. Renowned for its landscape, geology, geomorphology, biodiversity, socio-cultural, and historical values, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is considered an ‘Outdoor Geological Museum.
Over 250 million years ago, through an extended period of weathering caused by changes in the Earth, climate fluctuations, and the ebb and flow of seas, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex has encapsulated hundreds of valleys, caves, and a myriad of rare animals and plants. The diverse and harmonious natural environment, encompassing creatures, caves, and water bodies, forms a landscape of ‘green mountains and blue water’ that blends charmingly and poetically, resembling a giant, magnificent natural painting where the heritage of nature and humanity are inseparable. The landscape and aesthetic value of Trang An are considered rare on a global scale.
Regarding plants, to date, 134 families with 384 genera and 577 species have been documented, including 10 species listed in the Vietnam Red Book requiring protection and 7 species recorded for the first time in the Vietnamese flora. Additionally, there are 311 species from 240 genera, spanning 105 families of vascular plants with medicinal properties, such as Binh Voi, Vuong Tung, Kim Ngan, Hoang Nan, Mai Nui, Huyet Giac, Bach Bo, and more. Apart from the rich flora, Trang An exhibits great diversity in animal species, with aquatic animals including 30 floating species and 40 bottom species. While there is no comprehensive data on terrestrial animals, local residents and tourists frequently encounter many precious and rare species, including monkeys, chamois, color-changing civets, pangolins, geckos, otters, wild cats, starlings, parrots, teal, and more. Notably, Trang An is home to crested snakes, ground phoenixes, and striped-necked turtles, which are considered extremely precious and rare animals requiring protection.
Not only that, but Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex also boasts the outstanding value of being home to the most attractive Karst geomorphology globally, a result of continuous geological activities spanning hundreds of millions of years. Covering the landscape are forests and majestic cone-shaped towers reaching up to 200 meters high, with closed narrow hollows, surrounded by interconnected rivers and mountains, and swamps connected by a long underground stream system of up to 1 kilometer. The harmony of rocks, rivers, forests, and sky in Trang An creates a lively, beautiful, and poetic natural world.
According to research conducted by experts from the Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, the Trang An Karst region is the southeast end of the limestone strips from the ancient Tethys ocean branch, pulled from China into Vietnam, forming a series of unique Northwest limestone plateaus. After passing through Cuc Phuong National Park to Trang An, they transform into mountain blocks and narrow mountain ranges interspersed with valleys. It can be said that nowhere else in the world can one witness a scene of ‘fossils emerging on land’ like here. The diversity of the natural environment and the harmony between creatures, caves, and water bodies create the charming, poetic landscape of ‘green mountains and blue waters,’ resembling a magnificent, giant natural painting. International geologists affirm that this is a typical example of a humid tropical limestone tower at the final stage of geomorphological development, serving as a model to identify and compare with other areas worldwide.
Blending with the structure and beauty of the Karst landscape is a carpet of primeval tropical forests, with morning dew and afternoon clouds all year round, creating an enchanting landscape. The Hoa Lu Cultural Historical Environmental Forest is a limestone sandstone area rising in the middle of the relatively flat coastal plain of Northern Vietnam, with forests on limestone mountains interwoven with many beautiful caves, such as Thien Ha, Vai Gioi, Tien Ca, Ba Co, Aquarium, But Cave, Sinh Duoc Cave… These caves create famous tourist routes like Trang An and Tam Coc – Bich Dong. The Heritage’s beautiful natural environment blends perfectly with the picture of rural life, gardens, and fields, interspersed with small villages connected by trails, and a network of rivers and streams. Canals create beautiful, shimmering, magical water paintings. The pagodas, temples, and palaces leaning against the cliffs with ancient, mossy, and deep tiled roofs create a discreet cultural element, evoking the secrecy and eternity of spiritual beliefs containing the indigenous values that harmonize with the landscape. It can be said that Trang An is a very special place where culture meets wonder, mystery, and majesty in the harmony of the natural and cultural world, as well as the history of the Ancient Capital.
Containing outstanding global values, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is a combination of natural, spiritual, and historical values that has been honored by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage. With outstanding values in natural landscape, ecological diversity, and geological formations, this place is undoubtedly a great tourist destination not to be missed by travelers from all over.
