1. Kim Bang Tourism: an ideal destination for exploring Ha Nam
1.1. Where is Kim Bang? Why visit Kim Bang in 2025
Located northwest of the former Ha Nam province (now part of Ninh Binh province), Kim Bang is approximately 60 km south of Hanoi's center. This place is favored by nature with a unique semi-mountainous terrain, featuring mountains, lakes, forests, and fertile plains. Kim Bang is also a gateway connecting the former Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, and Hoa Binh provinces, convenient for tourists to travel and combine multiple attractions in one trip.
Kim Bang is an attractive tourist destination for visitors. (Source: Collected)
Kim Bang has a mild climate, with cool air year-round thanks to its primeval forest cover. Kim Bang tourism in 2025 becomes a more attractive choice as tourism infrastructure is focused on development, from transportation to accommodation types and culinary services, enhancing quality.
The historical and cultural values of Kim Bang are expressed through a system of ancient relics, where traces of ancient Vietnamese people dating back over 10,000 years were found in the Tam Chuc area. Archaeological findings belonging to the Hoa Binh culture along with Dong Son vestiges contribute to the attraction for those who love to explore national identity. With a blend of natural scenery and cultural depth, Kim Bang is a suitable destination for those who wish to experience a land rich in tradition, close to Hanoi.
1.2. The most attractive types of tourism in Kim Bang
When visiting Kim Bang , visitors can experience a spiritual journey at Tam Chuc Pagoda, the largest pagoda in the country today. Tam Chuc Pagoda, along with Huong Pagoda and Bai Dinh Pagoda, form a "spiritual golden triangle", attracting a large number of pilgrims each year. Additionally, Truc Temple – Ngu Dong Son and Ba Danh Pagoda create a diverse network of spiritual destinations, meeting the needs for worship and exploration of traditional cultural beauty.
The natural landscape is a major highlight of Kim Bang, featuring Bat Canh Son with 8 adjacent mountains like a picturesque landscape painting. The Ngu Dong Son cave system, hidden deep beneath Thi Son mountain, opens up a mystical space with unique stalactite formations. Visitors can go hiking, camping, take photos, or organize picnics amidst the fresh natural scenery.
Kim Bang is also home to many traditional craft villages such as Quyet Thanh pottery, Nhat Tan carpentry, and Lac Nhue weaving. Here, visitors can witness the handicraft production process firsthand and choose unique products as gifts. Local cuisine also leaves its own mark with delicious mountain goat dishes, fresh Day river fish, and Kim Bang rolled cakes, making it an ideal stop for those who love exploring regional cuisine.
2. Guide to the most convenient way to travel to Kim Bang in 2025
Traveling from Hanoi to Kim Bang:
Those who choose Kim Bang tourism from Hanoi usually prefer to travel by bus or limousine due to convenience and diverse departure times. Currently, there are fixed bus routes from both Giap Bat and My Dinh stations to Kim Bang daily, with ticket prices ranging from 100,000 to 360,000 VND depending on the vehicle type and accompanying services.
The average travel time is only about 1 hour and 15 minutes, which is very suitable for short weekend trips. For travelers with family or friends, limousines are an ideal choice thanks to their spacious interior, comfortable reclining seats, air conditioning, and convenient wifi, making the journey more comfortable.
If traveling by private car, visitors will have more control and flexibility on their journey. Simply follow the Phap Van – Cau Gie – Ninh Binh expressway or National Highway 1A, then turn towards old Ha Nam in the direction of Phu Ly – Kim Bang. This route has good infrastructure investment, smooth road surfaces, and clear signage, making it very convenient for those who want to stop for sightseeing or enjoy local specialties along the way.
For young groups who enjoy adventurous trips, motorcycles are also an interesting option. You can comfortably stop at any beautiful spot along the journey, experiencing the fresh air of the Northern countryside more vividly. However, pay attention to the weather, prepare adequate protective gear, and check your vehicle thoroughly before departing to ensure safety.
Kim Bang bus station is located right in the center, convenient for traveling to prominent tourist spots such as Tam Chuc tourist area, Song Day lake, or Kien Khe craft village. From here, you can easily rent a taxi, electric vehicle, or motorbike to explore the surrounding destinations. During peak season, especially during the Tam Chuc Pagoda festival, it is advisable to book tickets in advance through reliable bus company apps or websites to ensure a smooth journey, avoiding sold-out tickets or crowds when departing.
How to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Kim Bang:
The most convenient option for the journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Kim Bang is to fly directly to Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi), then travel by road to Ha Nam. The total flight time is about 2 hours and 15 minutes, with airfare ranging from 1,000,000 – 8,500,000 VND per way, depending on the airline and seat class.
Traveling by plane to Hanoi is an option chosen by many tourists. (Source: Collected)
After landing, tourists can choose to travel to Hanoi center by taxi, ride-hailing car, or bus, then take a coach or limousine to Kim Bang. Bus routes from Giap Bat, Nuoc Ngam, or My Dinh stations all have continuous trips during the day, very convenient for guests from the South.
The total travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Kim Bang is usually about 4 hours 30 minutes, including flight time, waiting for luggage, and road travel. If planning a trip to Kim Bang, you should book flight tickets 2-3 weeks in advance to get promotional prices and choose flight times that suit your itinerary. Additionally, you should book bus or limousine tickets from Hanoi to Kim Bang one day in advance, especially during peak tourist season or the Tam Chuc pagoda festival to avoid fully booked situations.
To save costs and optimize the experience, you can compare ticket prices through major websites like Traveloka, Skyscanner, or domestic airline apps. Prioritize booking tickets mid-week, as prices are often lower than on weekends. For large groups or families, consider choosing a package tour including flights, transportation, accommodation, and entrance tickets, saving time, ensuring a smooth journey, and reasonable costs.
Transportation within Kim Bang district:
At Tam Chuc tourist area, electric cars are the most popular means of transport, the round-trip ticket price for adults is 50,000 VND. Electric cars travel through points like Tam The Temple, Quan Am Temple, and Ngoc Tower, helping tourists easily visit an area of over 500 hectares without much effort.
Additionally, tourists can choose to travel and sightsee by boat on Tam Chuc Lake. Ticket prices range from 100,000 - 320,000 VND/person. Children under 1m tall are free of charge, children from 1m to 1.3m tall are charged 50% of the ticket price, and children over 1.3m tall will be charged the full ticket price.
For those who love tranquility and want to experience rural life, renting a bicycle is an ideal choice. Additionally, taxis and ride-hailing motorbikes here are also easy to identify, convenient for traveling between tourist spots in different locations.
To save costs during your Kim Bang trip, you should use group services and consult digital maps to shorten travel routes. Many local craft villages still primarily use cash payments, so prepare enough small bills when buying goods or using services.
Discover Kim Bang with a series of destinations that fascinate tourists
3.1. Tam Chuc Pagoda
Tam Chuc Pagoda is an indispensable highlight of a Kim Bang trip, covering an area of over 5,100 hectares and is known as the largest pagoda in Vietnam. The structure is built with the characteristic architecture of "back against the mountain, facing the lake", creating an open space amidst the majestic nature of Ha Nam. It is also one of the famous modern Buddhist cultural centers in the Northern region, belonging to the "spiritual golden triangle".
One of the interesting experiences here is a boat trip on Tam Chuc Lake. Afterwards, continue the journey by electric car to structures like Tam The Temple, notable for its statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, Quan Am Temple, and the solemn Phap Chu Temple.
Majestic natural scenery at Tam Chuc Pagoda. (Source: Collected)
The pagoda is open from 6 AM to 9 PM daily, with no entrance fee for the main area. The Vesak Grand Ceremony 2025 will be a large-scale international Buddhist event, attracting a large number of Buddhists and domestic and international tourists, with many special rituals and diverse cultural performances. Participating in the festival, visitors will feel the sacred atmosphere and be filled with positive energy.
3.2. Truc Temple – Ngu Dong Son
Truc Temple is famous as a place to commemorate the merits of national hero Ly Thuong Kiet, located amidst a year-round green bamboo forest. This relic is associated with many legends about the talented general, contributing to honoring the historical and cultural values of Kim Bang tourism. The temple grounds are surrounded by ancient bamboo groves, creating a pure and peaceful space.
The Ngu Dong Son system consists of 5 natural caves connected inside Thi Son mountain, leading visitors on a fascinating exploration journey. Stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes, magnificent, formed over thousands of years, opening up a shimmering, magical space. The surrounding area retains its wildness with diverse flora and fauna, very suitable for trekking and picnicking activities.
Here, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy Hat Dam art, a traditional folk song genre of Ha Nam performed by local artisans. The smooth, deep melodies of Hat Dam tell about the life, labor, and emotions of the Northern Delta region. During festivals, Hat Dam performances create a lively atmosphere, preserving local cultural beauty.
3.3. Bat Canh Son
Bat Canh Son makes a strong impression on the Kim Bang tourist journey with a complex of 8 connected mountains, creating a unique natural landscape. Each mountain has its own beauty, blending with rivers, lakes, and lush four-season vegetation, creating a feeling of being lost in a fairy tale.
The Bat Canh Son mountain climbing route is suitable for many people due to moderate slopes and easy trails. Diverse flora and fauna, including many rare bird species, forest butterflies, and myriad wild flowers, offering an experience close to nature. From the mountaintop, the entire Kim Bang landscape unfolds with green rice fields and the gently winding Day River.
For safe climbing, visitors should prepare shoes with good grip, bring enough water and light snacks. Avoid moving during heavy rain as the path can be slippery and fog can obscure visibility. There are many wide grassy areas on the mountain suitable for camping, picnics, or outdoor activities with friends and family.
3.4. Ba Danh Pagoda
Ba Danh Pagoda stands out with its ancient architecture, rich in tradition after hundreds of years of existence. The entire structure uses precious ironwood, characteristic curved tiled roofs, and intricately carved beams and columns showcasing the talent of ancient artisans. The pagoda's location is arranged based on feng shui principles, with its back against the mountain and facing the river, creating a serene and sacred atmosphere.
The space of Ba Danh Pagoda brings a sense of tranquility, with a spacious courtyard and the shade of ancient trees providing coolness year-round. Coming here, the Kim Bang tourist journey becomes complete when visitors take time to worship Buddha and pray for peace and health for their loved ones. Visitors can participate in New Year's peace-praying ceremonies or offer incense according to local traditions.
Ba Danh Pagoda with a peaceful, tranquil space. (Source: hson)
The entrance fee is about 30,000 VND per person, and the pagoda welcomes visitors from 6 AM to 6 PM. The parking area is spacious and safe for both motorbikes and cars. The quiet, serene atmosphere here is very suitable for those who want to find inner peace, away from the bustling pace of big cities.
3.5. Kim Bang Traditional Craft Villages
Quyet Thanh Pottery is a traditional craft village on the Kim Bang travel journey, known for its exquisite household and decorative pottery products. The pottery-making process still retains ancient techniques, from kneading clay, shaping, to traditional wood-fired kilns. Visitors have the opportunity to witness the crafting stages firsthand and try making pottery themselves, creating unique products.
Nhat Tan Wood carving impresses with its fine art wood carving and high-end furniture production. Artisans here use many precious woods to create exquisite works of art. Products range from wooden statues with feng shui meanings to traditional patterned tables, chairs, cabinets, and shelves, attracting many interested tourists.
3.6. Emerging Tourist and Entertainment Destinations
Kem Trong is one of the famous natural scenic spots and is gradually becoming a new attractive tourist destination in Ha Nam. The scenery here changes throughout the day. In the morning, a hazy mist covers the mountains, and at noon, the sunlight shines, making the water surface sparkle like silver.
Visitors can take a boat trip along the river to admire the scenery, explore small caves hidden in the mountains, and feel the rare tranquility and wildness in the heart of the North. Not only does it possess scenic value, Kem Trong is also associated with many historical anecdotes, poetry, and folk legends, becoming a symbol of Ha Nam's river and mountain beauty.
Sun World Ha Nam is the largest and most modern entertainment complex in Ha Nam, promising to become the "tourism heart" of the Red River Delta. Located near the Tam Chuc Pagoda complex, this tourist area combines vibrant entertainment spaces, indoor-outdoor amusement areas, and an ecologically designed landscape system. Visitors can experience water parks, thrilling game areas, light gardens, or spectacular water music performances in the evening.
Not only attracting young people with its dynamism and modernity, Sun World Ha Nam is also an ideal destination for families with many activities suitable for all ages. The emergence of this entertainment complex contributes to refreshing the tourism image of Ha Nam, offering a perfect blend of nature, culture, and modern entertainment.
4. Traditional Festivals and Interesting Experiential Activities in Kim Bang
4.1. Tam Chuc Pagoda Festival at the Beginning of the Year
The Tam Chuc Pagoda Festival usually begins on the 12th day of the first lunar month and lasts until the end of the third lunar month, bringing the most vibrant and characteristic spiritual atmosphere of the year. During this time, Kim Bang tourism becomes particularly bustling as tens of thousands of Buddhists and tourists from all over come to the pagoda to pray for peace and blessings for the new year. During the festival days, the scene at Tam Chuc Pagoda becomes sacred with incense smoke and the ringing of bells throughout the space.
Notable ceremonies include a solemn palanquin procession with the participation of many Buddhists, and a prayer ceremony for national peace and prosperity led by monks. Additionally, there are lion dances, dragon dances, and folk art performances continuously held throughout the festival. The chanting ceremony for national peace and prosperity is held daily, attracting thousands of Buddhists to participate, creating a solemn and respectful atmosphere.
Spring festival at Tam Chuc Pagoda. (Source: Lao Động Newspaper)
When attending the festival, visitors should choose neat, polite attire, respect Buddhist rituals, and participate in incense offering in the correct order. Besides the main rituals, there are also cultural activities such as Buddhist painting exhibitions, traditional musical instrument performances, and releasing flower lanterns on Tam Chuc Lake, leaving many beautiful impressions in the hearts of attendees.
4.2. Truc Temple Festival
The Truc Temple Festival is held from the 1st day of the first lunar month to the 10th day of the second lunar month, characterized by the traditional Northern Vietnamese festival atmosphere. Visitors coming for Kim Bang tourism during this time will witness palanquin processions and ceremonies commemorating the hero Ly Thuong Kiet, taking place solemnly amidst the resounding drums and gongs.
The festival consists of two parts: the ceremony and the festivities. The ceremony is solemnly organized with rituals such as palanquin processions, incense offering, and traditional sacrifices... showing the reverence of later generations for the national hero. The festivities are lively with many attractive cultural, artistic, and folk games such as: wrestling, human chess, cooking contests, Chau Van singing, Dam singing..., especially Xuan Du Dam singing, a traditional folk art form unique to the Kim Bang region, bearing the deep imprint of the spiritual culture and rich spiritual life of the local people.
4.3. Experiences not to be missed during the festival
Visiting pagodas to worship Buddha at the beginning of the year is one of the characteristic spiritual cultural aspects when visiting Kim Bang. Visitors can immerse themselves in the rituals, offer incense, and receive blessings from the monks. The sacred atmosphere at the pagodas and temples here will leave a deep impression on those who love ethnic spiritual experiences.
Spring, with its cool weather and lush greenery, is the ideal time for trekking and exploring natural landscapes. Bat Canh Son and Ngu Dong Son are suitable stops for activities like mountain climbing, picnicking, photography, or overnight camping. The rich ecosystem with many species of birds and wild animals is suitable for those who love observing and capturing moments of nature.
Check-in photos at Tam Chuc Pagoda, Truc Temple, or traditional craft villages will help visitors preserve memories of Kim Bang with its unique natural scenery and ancient architecture. Additionally, immersing yourself in experiences like making banh chung, weaving fabric, or pottery making with local people will provide interesting insights into the culture and life. In the evening, traditional art programs at craft villages or tourist areas will add more specialness to your trip.
5. Kim Bang Ha Nam Cuisine and top famous specialties to try in 2025
5.1. Top delicious Kim Bang Ha Nam specialties that must be tried in 2025
Kim Bang mountain goat is known to many Northern diners for its delicious meat quality because the herd is mainly raised freely on limestone mountain slopes. The goat meat is firm, low in fat, retains its natural sweetness, and is particularly different from conventionally farmed goats. The Kim Bang tourism journey will be more complete when enjoying dishes like steamed goat with lime leaves, charcoal grilled goat, goat hot pot, or goat blood pudding at famous addresses in Kim Bang.
Kim Bang mountain goat specialty is irresistibly delicious. (Source: Collected)
Day River fish in Kim Bang is always fresh and delicious, with firm, delicately sweet flesh, caught directly from the Day River flowing through the area. Dishes like clay pot braised fish with rich fish sauce, banana leaf grilled fish with a gentle aroma, or crispy fried fish with mountain vegetables offer an unforgettable flavor.
Phu Ly steamed rice rolls have thin, translucent wrappers, filled with minced pork mixed with wood ear mushrooms, crispy, fragrant, and sweet. The dipping sauce is balanced with a sweet and sour taste, combined with golden fried shallots and fresh herbs create a harmonious flavor. The green vegetables here are organically grown on alluvial soil, with a rich sweetness, perfect for accompanying grilled goat meat or dipping in chili sauce.
5.2. Kim Bang Craft Villages and Souvenir Addresses
Quyet Thanh Pottery Village is one of the prominent traditional handicraft destinations when visiting Kim Bang. This place is famous for its household ceramics and artistic decorative items bearing a strong handicraft imprint, from vases, bowls, jars, to exquisite decorative ceramic statues. Visiting the pottery workshops here, visitors can directly witness the meticulous production process, from hand-shaping, drying, glazing to high-temperature kiln firing. Not only can you admire the skillful hands of the artisans, but you can also choose or try to make a small ceramic product yourself to keep as a souvenir.
Not far away, Nhat Tan carpentry village offers a different atmosphere, where the sounds of chisels and saws blend with the aroma of fresh wood, creating the characteristic features of a traditional carpentry village. The fine art wood products and furniture here are exquisitely carved from precious woods such as ironwood, mahogany, and rosewood. Visitors can order custom-made items, with completion times usually ranging from 1 to 3 weeks depending on complexity, perfect for those who want to own a unique wooden piece.
Additionally, the souvenir shop complex at Tam Chuc tourist area is also an ideal place to shop for characteristic products of Kim Bang such as Quyet Thanh pottery, Nhat Tan woodwork, or handmade silk fabrics. When choosing to buy, visitors should prioritize reputable establishments, products with clear labels and origins, and should compare prices among different points of sale to ensure quality. If you need to buy in large quantities as gifts, you can contact the production workshops directly to place an order in advance, saving costs while ensuring uniform products, bearing the imprint of Kim Bang's craft village essence.
Kim Bang tourism in 2025 offers a perfect experience with majestic mountainous landscapes, diverse spiritual heritage, and unique cuisine, just 60 km from Hanoi. From the sacred Tam Chuc Pagoda to traditional craft villages, from delicious mountain goat to vibrant cultural festivals, all create an irresistible charm. Save this article, share your thoughts, and plan your impressive Kim Bang exploration trip soon!
