Van Long Nature Reserve Nature Reserve

Address: Van Long Nature Reserve, Gia Viễn District, Ninh Bình Province, Vietnam

Hours: Daily (daylight hours)

Admission: No formal entrance fee for the reserve itself; boat tours paid locally

Overview

Van Long Nature Reserve is a protected wetland and karst area in Ninh Binh province, Vietnam, known for its flooded limestone peaks and important wildlife habitat. It is noted for its karst lagoon and as a conservation area for rare primates.

What visitors find

A landscape of low, flooded plains punctuated by steep limestone karsts and narrow water channels. Visitors commonly take small, local boat trips through the lagoon to view cliffs, aquatic birds and the reserve’s karst scenery.

History

Designated to protect the karst lagoon and associated wetlands and to conserve locally threatened species. Conservation work has emphasised habitat protection for endemic and endangered species.

Location

Located in Gia Viễn District of Ninh Binh province, set inland from the Gulf of Tonkin within the Red River Delta region of northern Vietnam.

• Wildlife highlight: Serves as one of the last known wild habitats for the Critically Endangered Delacour’s langur, making it important for primate conservation.
• Visitor activity: Small, non-motorised boat tours run through the lagoon and karst channels to view limestone cliffs and birdlife; tours are typically organised from nearby villages.

What to See#

• Karst lagoon: A shallow karst-fringed lagoon where small, motor-free boat trips follow narrow water channels between limestone peaks and flooded plains.
• Wetland plain: Low-lying flooded grassland and seasonal wetland that supports waterbirds and is used by local farmers outside the core reserve.

• Book a boat trip at sunrise or early morning - Van Long is quietest then, the water is calm and bird activity (including herons and other wetland species) is highest.
• Hire a local rowboat from the small docks at Gia Van commune rather than larger tour operators; smaller boats move more quietly through the reed-fringed channels and allow better wildlife viewing.
• Van Long is typically much quieter than nearby Tam Coc; if you want solitude, request a later or earlier departure than the main mid-morning slots and tell the boat operator to avoid the busiest docks.