1. How to get to Ha Nam (Ninh Binh) region for the September 2nd holiday
Traveling from Hanoi to Phu Ly center (now Ninh Binh province) if you are considering traveling to Ha Nam on September 2nd requires a detailed plan. With a distance of only about 60-70km, tourists have many transportation options, from flexible and comfortable to cost-saving.
1.1. Buses and Limousines: Popular but Competitive Options
The Hanoi - Phu Ly route is one of the busiest passenger transport routes, with hundreds of trips operating daily. The competition among bus companies has brought great benefits to consumers, reflected in reasonable prices and continuously improving service quality. Many high-end limousine bus companies offer pick-up and drop-off services at both Hanoi city center and points within the Phu Ly area, even serving passengers from Noi Bai airport.
Tourists can refer to some reputable bus companies. Thoi Dai 4.0 Limousine and Phiệt Học are two prominent names in the 11-seater limousine segment, highly rated for service quality and competitive prices, ranging from 100,000 - 110,000 VND/ticket. These companies have frequent departures from early morning to late night and usually commit to not increasing prices during holidays.
A more premium option is Phuc Khang Chau, with departures approximately every hour, ticket prices at 130,000 VND, specializing in door-to-door pick-up and drop-off services, including the Noi Bai airport route.
If looking for a more economical option, Viet Trung Limousine offers 9, 16, and 29-seater vehicles with varied prices, from 50,000 - 170,000 VND, also providing airport transfer services. Additionally, major bus companies like Sao Viet also operate this route with diverse options from 9-seater limousines to 40-seater sleeper buses, catering to various passenger needs.
However, this very convenience poses a significant challenge during the National Day holiday. The demand for traveling to Ha Nam on September 2nd is expected to surge, especially for limousine buses and shared cars offering door-to-door service. Overcrowding and tickets selling out early are unavoidable. Therefore, booking tickets in advance through online platforms or the bus company's hotline is almost mandatory to ensure a guaranteed seat and a smooth start to your holiday.
Bus & Limousine: an affordable but also competitive option during the September 2nd holiday (Source: collected)
1.2. Train: A Stable Option
Amidst the context of road routes like the Phap Van - Cau Gie expressway potentially being crowded during the holiday, train emerges as a smart and reliable travel solution for the September 2nd trip to Ha Nam . With a journey lasting only about 1 hour over a distance of 56 km between Hanoi Station and Phu Ly Station, trains not only help tourists avoid the fatigue of traffic jams but also offer an opportunity to admire the peaceful Northern Vietnamese countryside scenery.
Train ticket prices on the Hanoi - Phu Ly route are relatively reasonable, starting from 50,000 VND for an air-conditioned soft seat. Hanoi Station is located at 120 Le Duan Street, Dong Da District, while Phu Ly Station is situated right on National Highway 1, Hai Ba Trung Ward, convenient for traveling to accommodation points in the area.
Tourists can choose train services such as SE7 departing at 06:00, SE5 at 09:00, SE9 at 14:30, SE3 at 19:30, and SE11 at 22:20. Ticket prices vary widely, with air-conditioned soft seats ranging from approximately 63,000 VND. For a more comfortable option, a 6-berth sleeper cabin costs from 109,000 VND and a 4-berth sleeper cabin costs from 125,000 VND, depending on the specific train and booking time.
Trains are an economical and convenient means for tourists wanting to go to Ninh Binh (former Ha Nam) (Source: collection)
1.3. Personal Vehicles and Taxis
Traveling to Ha Nam on September 2nd by personal car or motorbike offers maximum flexibility, especially suitable for families or groups of friends who want to freely explore destinations far from the center. However, this flexibility comes at the cost of potential prolonged traffic jams and fatigue for the driver. Fuel costs and tolls are also factors to consider. To minimize waiting times, tourists should consider departing during off-peak hours such as very early morning or late noon. Taxis are the most expensive option and cannot avoid general traffic congestion.
2. Top Must-Visit Destinations When Traveling to Ha Nam on September 2nd
The land of Ha Nam (former) is witnessing a strong resurgence in tourism, especially spiritual tourism. Large-scale investments in magnificent structures like Tam Chuc Pagoda and the allure of ancient pagodas like Dia Tang Phi Lai Tu have created a new spiritual tourism triangle at the southern gateway of Hanoi, along with Huong Pagoda (Hanoi) and Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh). This region attracts not only Buddhists but also young people for pilgrimage and exploration. Here are some spiritual destinations you must visit on your trip to Ha Nam on September 2nd .
2.1. A Serene Spiritual Haven: Return to Peace
2.1.1. Tam Chuc Pagoda: The World's Largest Spiritual Wonder
Address: Tam Chuc Ward, Ninh Binh Province.
A trip to Ha Nam on September 2nd cannot miss Tam Chuc Pagoda - the great spiritual destination of this land. Likened to "Ha Long Bay on land," the Tam Chuc Pagoda complex is a massive Buddhist architectural work, located on an area of nearly 5,100 hectares with a unique "leaning on mountains, facing water" posture. The journey to explore Tam Chuc is a multi-layered experience, from natural landscapes to magnificent architectural works.
Visitors begin their journey at the Thuy Dinh Guesthouse, a traditional curved-roof architectural structure reflected in the lake, where they purchase service tickets and prepare for the trip. From here, visitors can choose to travel by boat or electric car to the central area. If traveling by boat, visitors will cruise on Tam Chuc Lake, admire the 6 small mountains rising from the lake, associated with the legend of "Tien Luc Nhac" (Front Six Musical Notes), and visit the ancient Tam Chuc Communal House, restored on a small island. After passing through the Inner Tam Quan Gate, visitors will be amazed by the Column Garden with 32 monolithic green stone columns, each about 14m high and weighing 200 tons, intricately carved with Buddhist teachings.
Next is the Three Palaces area, including Quan Am Palace, Phap Chu Palace, and Tam The Palace, housing giant solid bronze Buddha statues and thousands of exquisite stone bas-reliefs. The final and highest point of the journey is Ngoc Pagoda on Thất Tinh Mountain peak, a structure entirely made of red granite, where visitors can take in the magnificent panoramic view of Tam Chuc after conquering hundreds of steps.
Regarding practical information, visitors get free entry but must purchase service tickets to access the spiritual area. Round-trip electric car tickets cost approximately 90,000 VND per person, while boat tickets range from 200,000 to 270,000 VND depending on the boat type. There are also combo packages including transportation and lunch buffet. The pagoda is open from 6 AM to 9 PM. Due to the extremely large grounds, visitors should wear sneakers or flat shoes for easy movement and prepare polite, modest attire, especially when entering prayer halls, avoiding short skirts or revealing clothing.
Tam Chuc Pagoda vibrant colors of the festival season (Source: collected)
2.1.2. Dia Tang Phi Lai Tu Pagoda
Address: Ninh Trung Hamlet, Liem Son Commune, Ninh Binh Province.
The next destination you should visit on your Ha Nam 2/9 trip is Dia Tang Phi Lai Tu Pagoda. As an ancient pagoda with a history of over 1,000 years, Dia Tang Phi Lai Tu Pagoda has recently become a popular destination attracting a large number of tourists thanks to its serene beauty and unique architecture. The pagoda leans against a mountain range with green pine forests, flanked by hills likened to "left green dragon, right white tiger". The highlight of the pagoda is a large courtyard covered with pristine white pebbles, on which are 12 circles symbolizing the 12 causal links of human existence according to Buddhist teachings. The pagoda's space harmonizes with nature, with herb gardens, fruit trees, and orchid trellises, creating a sense of peace and transcendence for anyone who visits.
The pagoda is open free of charge for visitors from 6 AM to 6 PM daily. A small note is that visitors can contact in advance to register for a vegetarian meal at the pagoda. For a complete experience, you should take time to climb the hill behind the pagoda to get a panoramic view of the serene space of the ancient pagoda.
Ksitigarbha Phi Lai Pagoda: "A paradise" amidst the mortal world (Source: Vietnam News Agency)
2.1.3. Ba Danh Pagoda – Truc Temple – Ngu Dong Thi Son Complex
Address: Ly Thuong Kiet Ward, Ninh Binh Province.
This is a cluster of adjacent historical and scenic relics, ideal for a half-day combined tour. Ba Danh Pagoda, famous for the saying "as deserted as Ba Danh Pagoda", is actually an ancient pagoda with the largest scale in the old Ha Nam region, covering an area of about 10 hectares, worshipping Pháp Vũ (Phap Vu), the deity in charge of rain and wind.
Ba Danh Pagoda - one of the most ancient pagodas in old Ha Nam (Source: collected)
Nearby is Truc Temple, a serene temple hidden amidst a bamboo forest hundreds of years old, dedicated to the national hero Ly Thuong Kiet. The temple is built with ironwood in the traditional "Dinh" (丁) architecture and still preserves many valuable artifacts.
Truc Temple - a temple preserving many valuable ancient artifacts (Source: collected)
Finally, visitors can explore Ngu Dong Thi Son, a system of 5 interconnected caves located deep within Cam Mountain, stretching over 100 meters. Inside is a magical world of stalactites and stalagmites with countless unique shapes, and notably, some stone slabs, when tapped, will produce sounds like drums or gongs.
Discover Ngu Dong Thi Son with its magical stalactite formations (Source: collected)
To visit this entire relic area, the ticket price is 30,000 VND per person. Visitors should note that the path to Ngu Dong is quite steep and can be slippery, so move carefully.
2.2. Modern Entertainment Hub: Sun World Ha Nam
Address: Tien Hiep Commune and Lam Ha Ward, Ninh Binh Province.
The opening of Sun World Ha Nam in May 2025 has become a perfect "piece", adding modern entertainment elements to the region's rich cultural-historical tourism ecosystem. Previously, the destinations were mainly pagodas and craft villages. This lack of diversity had become a limitation, reducing attractiveness to dynamic tourist segments such as young people and families with children, thereby failing to create momentum for overnight stays. Sun World has solved this problem by creating a strong reason for tourists to extend their trip, combining spiritual sightseeing in the morning with vibrant entertainment experiences in the afternoon and evening.
Sun World Ha Nam - Top domestic entertainment destination (Source: Sun Urban Ha Nam)
Sun World Ha Nam Water Park is inspired by traditional water puppetry art, a cultural heritage of the land of Ha Nam itself. With an area of 19.37 ha, the park boasts 40 modern water slides and 14 themed game complexes, including a giant wave pool of 4,628 m² and a 500m long lazy river, promising thrilling experiences.
Park inspired by traditional water puppetry art (Source: collected)
Regarding prices, ticket prices for out-of-province visitors are 300,000 VND for adults (over 1m4 tall) and 250,000 VND for children (from 1m to 1m4), while children under 1m are free. The park often has promotional programs for local residents and tickets after 5:00 PM at a more attractive price, around 150,000 VND. Operating hours from Monday to Friday are from 09:00 to 18:00, and on weekends or holidays are from 09:00 to 19:00. Inside the park, there are full services with restaurant systems such as Dong Ngu, Dao Thuc, along with fast food stalls, convenience stalls, and refreshment areas. This will be an ideal destination for you in the upcoming Ha Nam tourism 2/9 trip.
2.3. Beauty of craft villages and nature
2.3.1. Nha Xa Silk Weaving Village
Address: Moc Nam Commune, Ninh Binh Province.
With a history of over 700 years since the Tran Dynasty, Nha Xa silk village is where visitors can fully experience the quintessence of a traditional craft village. The clacking sound of weaving looms echoes throughout the village. Nha Xa silk is famous for its softness, lightness, coolness in summer, and warmth in winter. The special feature that makes Nha Xa silk a brand is the manual dyeing technique using completely natural ingredients such as brown catechu, bang leaves, and betel leaves, creating rustic, durable colors that are safe for the skin. Visitors can visit the production process, chat with artisans, and shop for quality silk products such as scarves, ao dai, and fabrics....
To buy quality products, visitors can apply a few small tips. When gently crumpling the fabric, real silk will wrinkle less and quickly flatten out. The feeling when touching real silk is also very cool and smooth. A more accurate test is to burn a small thread; if it is real silk, the thread will burn with a burnt smell like burnt hair and the ash can be rubbed into a fine powder, while blended silk will clump.
Witnessing the process of making silk at Nha Xa village (Source: Ha Nam Newspaper)
2.3.2. Vu Dai Village (Dai Hoang Village)
Address: Hoa Hau Commune, Ninh Binh province.
This famous village, which emerged from the literary works of writer Nam Cao, is an unmissable destination for literature lovers and those who wish to return to the ancient Northern Vietnamese countryside. The highlight of the village is Nha Ba Kien, a majestic three-bay wooden house made of ironwood, over 100 years old, yet it still retains its ancient architecture almost intact with 16 ironwood pillars and a traditional tiled roof. Besides, Vu Dai village is also the homeland of the renowned clay pot braised fish dish. Visitors can visit production facilities to witness firsthand the elaborate processing: black carp is continuously braised for 12-15 hours using longan wood embers in characteristic clay pots, along with over 16 types of traditional spices, creating a fish dish with firm meat, soft bones, and an unforgettable rich flavor.
Vu Dai Village - a special literary destination (Source: collected)
2.3.3. Kem Trong Tourist Area
Address: Boundary between Thanh Hai commune and Gia Thanh commune, Ninh Binh province.
Kem Trong is a national scenic spot, where the gentle Day River flows meandering between two imposing limestone mountain ranges, creating a picturesque landscape that once inspired the poetry of poet Ho Xuan Huong. The best experience here is to take a boat trip down the river, admire the majestic yet poetic natural scenery, explore pristine caves like Bat Cave, Luon Cave... and feel the peace of a water and mountain region.
Kem Trong: Exquisite natural scenery of Ninh Binh (old Ha Nam) (Source: collected)
3. Enjoy the culinary essence of Ha Nam (Ninh Binh)
When you travel to Ha Nam on September 2nd, you cannot miss the local cuisine. The cuisine of the Ha Nam region (old) carries the distinct flavors of the Northern Delta, with simple yet delicately prepared dishes that leave a deep impression on diners.
3.1. Phu Ly Grilled Pork Sausage Rolls & Rice Noodle Soup with Mud Carp: A culinary duet of Phu Ly land
When you travel to Ha Nam on September 2nd, you must try Banh Cuon and Bun Ca - the two most characteristic breakfast dishes of the Phu Ly area. Although these dishes can be found elsewhere, experiencing a plate of Phu Ly Banh Cuon or a bowl of Ha Nam rice noodle soup with mud carp still holds unique characteristics that form the local culinary brand.
The biggest difference of Phu Ly grilled pork sausage rolls with rice noodle soup lies in how it is eaten. Instead of being served with cinnamon pork sausage or regular pork sausage, Phu Ly Banh Cuon is eaten with skewers of grilled pork sausage placed inside a bowl of rich sweet and sour dipping sauce. A standard sausage skewer must be grilled over charcoal until it has an attractive golden-brown color, without any burnt smell. Especially, although the sausage is well-grilled, it still retains its tenderness and the sweet, fragrant taste of fresh, delicious meat.
Enjoy the famous Phu Ly steamed rice rolls with grilled pork when visiting Ha Nam (Ninh Binh) (Source: collected)
Meanwhile, snakehead fish vermicelli is a specialty of the flooded plain region, using natural snakehead fish, with firm and sweet meat. The fish is carefully deboned, fried until crispy, eaten with a broth simmered from fish bones with a naturally sweet and clear taste, served with mustard greens and tomatoes, carrying the strong flavor of the countryside.
A rustic specialty of Ninh Binh (former Ha Nam) named Bun Ca Ro Dong (Source: collected)
To enjoy Banh Cuon Cha, tourists can visit famous addresses such as Linh Chi restaurant at 5A Tran Phu or Thai Thang restaurant at 273 Ly Thuong Kiet. For Bun Ca Ro Dong, Ha Nam Bun Ca restaurant at 157 Tran Hung Dao and Hien Hoa restaurant at 196 Nguyen Van Troi are unmissable suggestions.
3.2. Kim Bang Mountain Goat: A Specialty from the Cliffs
Another signature dish that you must try at least once when traveling to Ha Nam on September 2nd is Kim Bang mountain goat. The limestone mountain area of Kim Bang is an ideal place for natural goat grazing. The goats climb the cliffs and eat many types of precious medicinal herbs, making the goat meat here very firm, delicious, low in fat, and highly nutritious. From goat meat, local people have processed it into many special dishes such as rice husk-steamed goat, lemongrass-steamed goat, five-spice grilled goat, lime-marinated raw goat, goat hot pot, and nutritious goat porridge.
To enjoy this specialty, tourists can find reputable restaurants:
De Cay Khe restaurant at 250 Le Cong Thanh has been a brand for 25 years, famous for its lime-marinated raw goat and rice husk-steamed goat dishes.
De Lam Thu restaurant at 55 Nguyen Khuyen, Kim Bang ward, specializes in grilled goat and traditional herb-stewed goat with traditional flavors.
Thuy Son restaurant at 46 Le Cong Thanh is also a good choice with its five-spice grilled goat in a cozy atmosphere.
Taste the unforgettable Kim Bang goat meat (Source: collected)
3.3. Ba Phong Sweet Soup: A sweet treat
Address: No. 1 Chan Cau street, Phu Ly ward, Ninh Binh province.
After a long day of exploration, stopping by Ba Phong Sweet Soup shop is a great choice. This nearly 20-year-old sweet soup shop is a familiar address for locals, famous for its diverse menu from mixed sweet soup, pomelo sweet soup, black bean sweet soup... to seasonal sweet soups. With very affordable prices, only from 10,000 - 15,000 VND per cup, this is an ideal spot to cool down and enjoy sweet, rustic flavors.
Che Ba Phong - a must-visit dessert shop when visiting Ninh Binh (old Ha Nam) (Source: collected)
4. Accommodation Suggestions: From International 5-Star Hotels to Simple Homestays
4.1. Luxurious and Well-Equipped Hotels
The presence of major hotel brands such as Meliá Hotels International and Muong Thanh Group right in the center of Phu Ly is clear evidence of the area's tourism potential. This indicates that major investors have recognized the appeal of world-class destinations like Tam Chuc and Sun World. Now, tourists can enjoy international-standard accommodation services during their Ha Nam 2/9 trip.
Meliá Vinpearl Phu Ly, located at 60 Bien Hoa Street, Phu Ly Ward. This is the iconic 27-story tower of the area, offering 180 luxurious hotel rooms and apartments with full high-class amenities such as a four-season swimming pool, Vincharm Spa, gym, and adjacent to Vincom Plaza shopping center.
Meliá Vinpearl Phu Ly - a high-class hotel located in Phu Ly (Source: collected)
Muong Thanh Luxury Ha Nam, located in the land north of Hong Phu Bridge, Quang Trung ward. With 191 modern rooms, this hotel stands out with a diverse service system including many restaurants, bars, spas, and an outdoor swimming pool.
Riverside Hotel Ha Nam and Inco 515.9 Hotel are 3-4 star segment hotels, located on Le Hoan street, Hai Ba Trung ward, offering good quality choices, providing full basic amenities at a reasonable price and a convenient central location.
Muong Thanh Phu Ly - a "premium - high-quality - smooth" choice for tourists from Ninh Binh (former Ha Nam) (Source: collected)
4.2. Cozy, intimate homestays
The homestay segment in this area is still quite nascent compared to other major tourist centers, which presents both an opportunity and a challenge. For tourists visiting Ha Nam on September 2nd, this is an opportunity to experience local life authentically and cost-effectively. However, it should be noted that amenities may not be as complete as in hotels.
La Co Homestay, located at 2 QL1A, Quang Trung Ward, Phu Ly. It features a unique design with a close-to-nature ambiance, thatched roofs, and gardens, while still ensuring modern amenities inside.
Additionally, in the Thanh Liem area, near Dia Tang Phi Lai Tu Pagoda, there are many simple, rustic homestays such as Ba Nhiep (Thanh Phong Commune), Vinh Hien, and Co Bay (Thanh Phong Commune). These are ideal choices for those seeking tranquility and an authentic rural atmosphere at very affordable prices, ranging from 150,000 - 200,000 VND per night.
Palm Leaf Homestay - a romantic homestay chain located in Phu Ly (Source: collected)
5. Useful tips for a complete Ha Nam September 2nd trip
To have a complete and memorable Ha Nam September 2nd trip, visitors should be well-prepared. The first and most important step is to book services such as bus tickets, train tickets, and especially hotel rooms, particularly 4-5 star hotels, at least 1-2 weeks in advance to avoid sold-out situations or price hikes.
Regarding attire, you should bring both formal, modest clothing like long pants and sleeved shirts for visiting pagodas, and swimwear if you plan to visit Sun World. A pair of comfortable sports shoes is essential as you will be doing a lot of walking. Additionally, although large establishments accept card payments, having cash ready is still very necessary for small eateries, craft villages, and miscellaneous services. Don't forget personal items like power banks, sunscreen, and hats.
Once you arrive, understanding and respecting local culture is very important; maintain silence, speak softly at spiritual sites, and do not place offerings in the Tam Bao area. Finally, to optimize your time, you should plan your sightseeing by geographical clusters, for example, combining the cluster of Den Truc – Ngu Dong Thi Son – Chua Ba Danh in one morning, or dedicating a full day to explore Tam Chuc Pagoda and Dia Tang Phi Lai Tu Pagoda.
The land of Ha Nam (formerly), in its new guise as part of Ninh Binh province, has truly transformed into a multi-experience destination, meeting all visitor needs. The harmonious combination of thousand-year-old spiritual values like the grandeur of Tam Chuc, the serenity of Dia Tang Phi Lai Tu, with the vibrancy and modernity of Sun World Ha Nam has created an irresistible attraction. Added to this are the charm of traditional craft villages and the rich local culinary flavors, all weaving a colorful tapestry of tourism. A trip to Ha Nam September 2nd is a perfect opportunity for you and your family to directly explore, feel, and witness the promising new chapter of this heritage land, promising unforgettable memories.
