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April 28, 2024
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Hang Mua Viewpoint, Ninh Binh Vietnam
The Hang Mua Viewpoint is located in Vietnam in the Ninh Binh area, also known as the Halong Bay on land. You can get there easily from both Ninh Binh city which is five kilometers away and Tam Coc which is four kilometers away. It’s even easier to get there from the town of Trang An which is only a short walk away.
If you are wondering where to base yourself to visit the Mua caves viewpoint, then I highly suggest staying in Tam Coc. The city of Ninh Binh is a big dusty place that is actually quite far away from all the attractions in the neighborhood. Trang An and the area around the Mua caves are quite nice but you won’t have that many options for eating out around your accommodation.
Tam Coc, however, has a decent amount of restaurants, tour operators, and a bunch of homestays and guesthouses to choose from. It was actually much busier than I had imagined it before my trip but after spending almost two weeks there, I came to love the little tourist town with its great facilities.
→ Also read: Bich Dong Pagoda in Tam Coc: A Travelers’ Guide
Now what is the Hang Mua viewpoint and how does it relate to the Mua Caves? The Hang Mua caves and viewpoints are touristic attractions near Tam Coc and Ninh Binh. It has a few caves and two viewpoints from which you’ll have a gorgeous view over the surrounding rivers, rice fields, and karst mountains.
Hang Mua caves+viewpoints, Ninh Binh province
Before visiting Mua Cave and the viewpoints I had the idea that this place was still relatively untouched by tourism but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The area around the caves and the viewpoints are set up a bit like an amusement park and there’s even a hotel onsite, the Mua Caves Ecolodge.
On the street leading to the entrance, there are a dozen of people who want to offer you a parking space for your motorbike or bicycle. Don’t do it, it’s a scam. Don’t park your vehicle here but park it for free at the beginning of the street or near the entrance to the left for a small charge.
Hang Mua actually means dancing cave. Legend says that it was named like this during the first Vietnam-Mongolian war in the 13th century. At that the time, the royal family had to escape Thang Long (Which is now Hanoi) and they relocated to Ninh Binh. The Mua Caves were chosen by the king as a place for entertainment and whenever he felt like it he would summon a few beautiful dancers to dance near the cave, hence the name, Hang Mua.
If you are interested in this, there are music shows that recreate these dances but at the time of my visit, it was not clear where and when they took place.
Hang Mua Viewpoint, Ninh Binh ,Vietnam
While most people refer to this location as “Hang Mua viewpoint” or “Hang Mua Peak”, there are actually two viewpoints, the dragon viewpoint, and the pagoda viewpoint.
To get to the viewpoints, you will have to walk 500 steps up a steep staircase that splits halfway. Even if you have a good level of fitness, be ready to work up a sweat, even if it’s not hot and sunny! We visited the Hang Mua viewpoint in December when it was only 18 degrees Celsius but it was still a tough way up.
The steps are also very uneven and sometimes pretty high so be careful!
Hang Mua Vietnam
Dragon viewpoint is the viewpoint you’ll reach when you turn left on the staircase where it splits. It has the most spectacular views of the two viewpoints because this karst mountain is a bit higher than the one where the Pagoda viewpoint is located.
At the top of the viewpoint, you’ll have a magnificent view of the Ngo Dong River River, the karst mountains, the Pagoda viewpoint, the rice fields, and the lotus pond.
You will see little boats on the river that are steered by mainly women who use their feet to propel the boat. This is a part of the Tam Coc cruise and, while it seems like a beautiful trip, the best boat tour in the area is the one of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, which is an official UNESCO-protected site.
At the top, you can see a lying dragon statue and a large statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The statues were placed at this location to put the Mua Caves complex under their divine protection and to bless the area with prosperity.
While daredevils like to climb the rocks around the dragon statue to take photos, I was rather happy to sit near the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and soak in the views.
When you turn right at the fork, you will see another staircase that will lead you to the pagona viewpoint. Because of it’s lower location than the dragon viewpoint the views aren’t that spectacular but still quite amazing.
When I visited, this peak was much calmer than the other viewpoint but, in any case, be prepared to share both peaks with hordes of tourists, even during low season in the middle of the winter.
The lotus pond next to Hang Mua surrounded by rice paddies
I didn’t notice it on my arrival at the Mua Caves but from the viewpoints, you suddenly have a spectacular view over a lotus pond with a boardwalk walkway.
The lotus flowers weren’t in bloom at the time of my visit but it was a spectacular view either way and makes for a nice walk after visiting the viewpoints. Do be aware that this place will also be crawling with tourists.
Hang Mua Caves, Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Aside from the viewpoints, there are also two caves at the complex but…don’t expect too much of these caves. Especially if you have visited the caves of Phong Nha NP or you took the Trang An boat tour, these caves can feel a bit like a joke.
Next to the entrance, you can find Tiger Cave, which has a nice statue of a Tiger in it but that’s it. A little further on the complex you can find the pearl spring cave.
Hang Mua viewpoint, Ninh Binh, Vietnam
The complex is definitely worth exploring but keep in mind that this place is very touristy and you will have to share it will dozens of other tourists. I was a little put off by that that at first, but it was soon gone after I climbed up to the viewpoints and witnessed the wonderful panoramic views.
The viewpoints are worth the entrance money but the caves and other onsite facilities like the restaurant aren’t really worth the time. The lotus pond is a nice additional feature but it didn’t really blow my mind because it felt too staged. I prefer things that are more wild and more natural.
The entrance fee to enter Hang Mua is a little bit higher than what you would expect in Vietnam. You need to pay VND 100 000 per person which is about €/$ 4. You can find the ticket booth on the left side while facing the entrance gate.
Hang Mua stairs to Dragon viewpoint and the lotus pond
The Mua cave complex is open from 6 A.M. in the morning and closes at 7 P.M. The complex is open every day so there no need to plan much ahead if you want to visit this attraction.
Here are the websites I personally use whenever I travel to Vietnam:
Booking.com: For the best cheap guesthouses, homestays or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For unique immersive homestays in the cities as well as in the Vietnamese countryside
12GO and Bookaway: The best transport websites for long-distance buses and train travel in Vietnam
GRAB: for taxi rides in cities and nearby attractions
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Vietnam
Eatwith: Dine with locals inside their home for an immersive foodie experience
Withlocals: Experience cities in Vietnam with local people that shows you around. This is a good idea if you want to stray off the beaten path!
Viator and Get Your Guide: For (vegan) food tours, street food tours and tours in general
Get your Visa for Vietnam online through the Evisa website
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is without a doubt Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Get access to mobile data straight away when entering the country with a Vietnam E-sim or an Asialink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries.
Mua caves is an all-year-round destination as is the whole region around Ninh Binh. Do keep in mind that the sky can be dark and cloudy in the winter. However, the temperate is great at that time of the year to climb the stairs. It’s better to conquer the step up to the viewpoints at 20 degrees Celcius with no sun than in the scorching heat of the summer months.
If you want to visit the area in the green season, when the rice is growing then the best time to visit the area is around March, April, and August. If you want to visit for the harvesting season, when the fields turn to a golden yellow color, it’s best to visit in May or October.
Tam Coc is the best place to stay to visit Hang Mua viewpoint
If you want to visit Mua Cave Viewpoint, the best best place to stay is in Ninh Binh, Tam Coc or Trang An village. From either location, you can hire a motorbike or a bicycle to make your way to Hang Mua Caves.
From Trang An and Tam Coc, it’s even doable to walk to Hang Mua since the complex is only 2,5 kilometers away from Trang An village and 3,5 kilometers from the center of Tam Coc.
If you want to visit Hang Mua viewpoint on an organized tour then there are many options to choose from starting from Hanoi. Here are a few tours starting in Hanoi that make a stop at Hang Mua:
As said before, you can choose to stay in the center of Ninh Binh city or in Tam Coc or Trang An. Ninh Binh city is a very dusty and busy city that doesn’t have much charm so I would opt to stay in Tam Coc or Trang An. Trang An is a nice location if you like peace and serenity, while Tam is better for people who like to have some tourist facilities like travel agencies and a wide array of restaurants to choose from.
I stayed both in Tam Coc and Trang An and each location has its charm. Trang An is conveniently located near the starting point of the Trang An Scenic Landscape boat tours and is closer to Hang Mua but, for a more buzzing experience, staying in Tam Coc might be the better choice.
Here are some accommodation options where I stayed myself or that I checked out during my time in the area:
TRANG AN:
TAM COC:
In my opinion, no, I wouldn’t want to stay at Hang Mua Ecolodge. There are far better places to stay in the area that are more conveniently located near shops, restaurants, and other attractions.
It is, however, an ecolodge, but I can’t seem to find anything online about their sustainability policy. If you fancy hotels and a tad more luxury instead of homestay and locally-owned guesthouses then staying here is a better choice ecologically compared to staying at a regular hotel.
However, if I would need to pick an eco-resort around Tam Coc, I’d prefer to stay at Tam Coc Garden Resort. It is way more beautiful than Hang Mua Ecolodge and located in a serene location in the rice fields, away from the crowds that visit Hang Mua.
There are a few homestays and guesthouses around the Mua Caves if that’s what you’re looking for. Do keep in mind that there aren’t many restaurants to choose from in this area. A lot of things also seemed a bit deserted but this could be due to the fact that I visited during the winter months. Hang Lan Bungalows, Chi Homestay and Hang Mua Bamboo homestay look great.
Thung Sen, Tam Coc, Vietnam
There aren’t that many restaurants around Hang Mua but there are some excellent options a little further afield in Tam Coc! Vegans won’t have trouble finding delicious plant-based food in Vietnam. Here are my favorite restaurants in the area:
Lookout point on the way to the top of dragon viewpoint
The Hang Mua Viewpoints are an amazing and unique attraction that any traveler should experience. This is a one-of-a-kind spot that is definitely worth the trip. Just be aware that it is very touristy and that the caves are not worth visiting.
If you have any questions about this Hang Mue Vietnam travel guide, drop them below or leave me a message through my contact page!
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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