Nam Dinh, a province with a rich past, is located at 90km south-east of Hanoi, in the heart of the Red River Delta. Its neighboring provinces are Thai Binh, Ninh Binh and Ha Nam, and it is also bordered by the sea.
Nam Dinh has played a vital part throughout Vietnam’s History, especially when it was a secondary capital during the feudal era, when a lot of wars against the Chinese occurred. It is the birthplace of the kings of Tran Dynasty (13th & 14th centuries), and also of Tu Xuong, a very famous Vietnamese poet. Several events taking place in Nam Dinh have become well-known throughout the country, such as Pho Minh, Co Le and Phu Day festivals.
The city of Nam Dinh is a coastal town blessed with a large number of lakes and ponds. Rice, groundnuts, sugar cane, maize and “royal banana” (chuoi ngu) – a popular specialty – are the main local products. Fishing, aquaculture and shrimp farming are activities that are largely export-oriented but are also integral parts of the local economy. Besides, a lot of villages specialized in several handicrafts (wood carving, lacquer, copper smelting, textiles, and wrought iron) can be found in Nam Dinh region
Homestays
There is no hotel of international standard in the region. However, there are a lot of villages where you can have the opportunity to spend time in a local family and learn more about the local culture. If you are looking forward to live an incredible immersive experience in Vietnam, then Nam Dinh is a place of choice. As part of our Nam Dinh itineraries, we can offer homestays, bike trips and plenty of other interesting activities.
Xuan Thuy National Park
This natural reserve is located at 140km southeast of Hanoi, in Giao Thuy district. Since 2004, it is recognized by the UNESCO as part of the Red River Biosphere Reserve. The park occupies an area of 71km2 of a vast wetland which is home to a multitude of different bird species, most notably during bird migrations (215 species of birds live in forests and mangroves all year & 100 are migratory bird species). As a result, in 1988, it became the first Ramstar site in South-East Asia. Xuan Thuy National Park is a perfect destination for people wanting to discover an amazing biodiversity in the wilderness.
Tran Temple
Located at 90km from Hanoi, its pagodas, temples and mausoleums covers dozens of hectares, all of which standing on the old foundations of an ancient palace. Among the most notable: Thien Truong temple, dedicated to the 14 kings of the Tran Dynasty, Co Trach temple, dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao, and Bao Loc temple. Today, Tran Temple is an important pilgrimage site for Vietnamese.
Phu Giay
This site, located in Kim Thai town (Vu Ban district, Nam Dinh province) regroups several temples dedicated to Princess Lieu Hanh, one of the four Immortal Gods of Vietnam. During Phu Giay festival, people take part in the Chau Van rite: this religious art combines singing and dancing that you can see during the Hau Dong ritual of the worship of Mother Goddess (also known locally as the religion of the Four Places). The music is influenced by different popular currents of the Red River Delta, and are accompagnied by very poetic lyrics praising the virtues of the deities and of national heroes.
Keo Pagoda at Hanh Thien
This old pagoda was built in the 17th century and is located in Hanh Tien village (Xuan Hong commune, Xuan Truong district). It is dedicated to the superior monk Khong Lo – the founder of copper smelting. This monk was also talented in other disciplines such as medical practice, literature, poetry and architecture.
Pho Minh Pagoda
This pagoda is located at 3km in the North-West of Nam Dinh city. It was built under the Ly Dynasty and extended in 1262 during the Tran Dynasty. This vast complex includes a lotus pond, a pavilion floating on water, old trees and a 7-ton urn of a monk. Its unique architecture is a good representation of the Tran Dynasty edifices, with its 96 stone pillar bases carved with lotus, several stone statues of squirrels and two couple of statues representing dragons. Most notably, Pho Minh pagoda has a lotus-shaped tower, built in 1305.
The Bonsai Village of Vi Khe
Located at 5 km from Nam Dinh city and 95km from Hanoi, this village is interesting to visit for its bonsais and for people who want to escape in a peaceful and lovely town.
