Hang Mua, also known as Mua Caves, is one of the best things to do in Ninh Binh. I spent five days in Ninh Binh on my Vietnam trip, and getting a bird’s eye view of the area from the viewpoints at the top of Hang Mua was one of the highlights.
Although visiting Hang Mua is straightforward, there are a few important things to know so that you can fully enjoy your time and avoid getting scammed.
How to get to Hang Mua
Hang Mua is in Ninh Binh province, which is located in northern Vietnam. Most people visit Hang Mua from either the town of Tam Coc or Trang An in Ninh Binh, since both towns are close to Hang Mua. You can choose to either rent a bicycle or scooter to bike/drive over.
Some people decide not to stay overnight in Ninh Binh and will visit by taking a day trip from Hanoi. Ninh Binh is a 1.5-hour drive from Hanoi, so it’s easy and fast to get to – either through a guided tour or by the bus. To take the bus, book your seat on 12Go.Asia.
Read more information on how to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi here.
Where to park
As you’re driving or biking up to Hang Mua, you may be approached by locals who will invite you to park your bike or scooter with them. Ignore them, since this is a parking scam that you’ll often come across in Ninh Binh. Some people are more aggressive about trying to stop you. In fact, I almost hit a guy because he stood directly in front of my bike.
These locals say that you can park with them for free. However, they’ll later tell you that you need to buy something from them in exchange. The cheapest thing they sell will be more than what the official parking area charges.
To park your bike or scooter and avoid getting scammed, keep on going until you reach the entrance of Hang Mua. It’ll be obvious, as it’s located at the end of the road.
There’s an official parking area past the entrance where it costs 10,000 VND ($0.40 USD) to park motorbikes and 5,000 VND ($0.20 USD) for bicycles. You may even be able to park for free, as I was able to with a bicycle. There are also other reports of people being able to park their bikes for free.
Opening hours
Hang Mua is open every day from 6 AM to 7 PM. I recommend either going early in the morning when there’s less people or going toward the end of the day to enjoy the views as the sun goes down. It’s best to avoid Hang Mua in the afternoon since there’s no shade and it’ll be very hot climbing up to the viewpoint.
Entrance fee
It costs 100,000 VND (~$4 USD) to enter, which is a small fee for the amazing views that you get.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Hang Mua is the same as the best time to visit Ninh Binh, which is from November to April. This is Vietnam’s dry season, when the weather is warm but not hot, and there are usually clear skies. I visited in January and thought it was a great time to go. While it was a bit cloudy when I went to Hang Mua, it wasn’t too hot and there wasn’t any rain.
Another great time to visit Hang Mua is when the rice fields turn from green to a golden yellow. This usually occurs from May to early June and it marks the harvest season. If you want to see yellow rice fields, make sure to time your visit correctly. You don’t want to turn up only to see that all the rice has been harvested. The only downside of visiting during this time is that May and June are hot and humid.
What to see
There are three main things to see in Hang Mua: the viewpoints, Hang Mua Cave, and the garden. People usually spend the most time at the viewpoints. This is because you’ll need to climb 500 stairs to reach the peak and the viewpoints are the most impressive aspect of Hang Mua.
Hang Mua viewpoint
The main draw of Hang Mua is its incredible views, and it actually has two viewpoints that you can visit. As you climb up the stairs, you can veer off to the right to a pagoda or take a left to reach a dragon statue. Both viewpoints are fantastic, with each providing a slightly different view of Ninh Binh’s landscape.
The pagoda viewpoint is a bit easier to reach since it’s lower. It provides a great view of the fields, and you can see that the paths in the fields create the shape of a lotus flower.
The dragon viewpoint is higher than the pagoda, so you can get a good look at all the stairs that you’ve climbed and the pagoda in the distance. The dragon statue is also impressive and can be climbed. However, the rocks around the area are very sharp, so be careful if you decide to climb up.
Mua Caves
Although there is a cave system at Hang Mua, the only cave that you can visit is Tiger Cave. It’s small and doesn’t take much time to visit. It’s also not as impressive as the caves that you can see on either the Trang An or Tam Coc boat tours. I recommend quickly popping in but spending most of your time up at the viewpoints, which are the main attraction.
Garden
Hang Mua Ecolodge also has beautiful gardens that can act as cute backdrops for photos. There are also tables, chairs, and a shop where you can buy snacks and drinks. Aside from the gardens, you can follow the paths that go out into the fields.
More resources for traveling Vietnam
- 13 Best Things to Do in Ninh Binh and Tam Coc
- Ninh Binh 1 Day Itinerary: Top Sights and Activities
- The Best Time to Visit Ninh Binh and Tam Coc
- How Long to Stay in Ninh Binh
- How to Get to Ninh Binh From Hanoi, Sapa, Hue, and More
- 5 Complete Itineraries to See North Vietnam in 7 Days
- How to Solo Travel Vietnam
- 5 Best Hostels and Homestays I Stayed at in Vietnam
