Tràng An is a scenic area located in Ninh Bình Province, near Hoa Lư, Vietnam. It is famous for its boat cave tours. On June 23, 2014, during the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in Doha, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex includes Hoa Lư and Tam Cốc/Bích Động.

Location

Trang An wharf is located 3 kilometers to the south of Hoa Lu ancient capital, 7 kilometers west of Ninh Binh city along Trang An boulevard, and 16 kilometers north of Tam Diep city through Tam Coc. The Trang An – Tam Coc area covers more than 6,172 hectares and is a special protection zone for scenic spots. This zone is part of the Hoa Lu special-use forest, included in the preservation plan for Hoa Lu ancient capital, and also part of the Trang An World Heritage site, which spans 12,252 hectares. Within the Trang An landscape complex, the Hoa Lu ancient capital is in the north, the Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourist area is in the south, and the Trang An eco-tourism area is in the center. These three areas are connected by the Hoa Lu special-use forest, which includes limestone mountains, rivers, lakes, and swamps.

Diverse ecosystems

Trang An has two main types of ecosystems: limestone mountain ecosystem and aquatic ecosystem. The variety of living things in the area helps create these two ecosystems.

At Hoa Lu, the natural vegetation includes limestone forests and evergreen forests found in valleys between limestone areas. Studies by the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (FIPI) and the Ninh Binh Forest Protection Department show that the terrestrial ecosystem in Trang An has more than 600 plant species and 200 animal species, many of which are listed as endangered in Vietnam. The aquatic ecosystem includes about 30 types of tiny water animals called zooplankton, 40 types of bottom-dwelling creatures called benthos, and many rare species. One example is the striped neck turtle, which needs special protection.

Trang An is home to more than 310 rare and valuable plant species, such as cycas, sua, Indian mahogany, orchids, Chinese yam, honeysuckle, juniper, and lettuce. It also has endangered animal species, including the mainland serow, leopard, and phoenix pheasant.