Tuyệt Tịnh Cốc (động Am Tiên)

Beautifully peaceful place when I visited on a Saturday afternoon.
Calming lake with surrounding mountains, temple and cave.
Really enjoyed a couple of chillout hours walking and sitting outside a cafe here on a Saturday afternoon.

We cycled here from our homestay at about 4pm so it was quiet with barely anyone walking around. It is gorgeous with amazing views and very helpful staff - even the security guard was great as he helped us pump up our bike tyres! You pay a very small fee to park your bike or you can pay to take it in and cycle around the lake. Two temples to walk up to - the cave one was so beautiful.

Loved it here, very beautiful spot! Seems to mostly be used for photos more than anything else, but you can see why.
A frustrating thing is that we cycled there from Ninh Binh but couldn’t use our own bikes to cycle round the lake. If you want to cycle then you have to hire a bike instead.
To be honest though I wouldn’t bother with a bike, it’s not that big to warrant it unless you really just want to go around the lake in the shortest time possible. I’d say take your time and walk instead.

Beautiful view , bicycle is not really necessary because the lake is quiet small, and 50k vnd/h is way to expensive to rent it.

Really beautiful and not busy, none of the big tourist buses come here, a hidden gem!

Recommend going here for great vibe and fresh air. We enjoyed walking around the road, the lake and watching mountains with natural goats. This place was not crowded on weekend though. You can go in the afternoon at 3-4pm and stay till 5pm to watch the sunsets on mountains. It was a stunning experience to us.

[Update on 3 Oct 2023]

The ticket is now 50.000VND. The place is still beautiful as always. However, Ninh Binh is freaking hot this time, the sun burns us all, no one dares to walk under this heat lol. Good side is it's not a tourism peak, you can barely find anyone else except for yourself, it's fresh and private.
Last time I came (in January, 2 years ago), it was in the cold season and not too sunny, the walk was so much more enjoyable. I love that time better.

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Splendid scenery!
I love the place. It's totally worth a visit. The ticket is only 20.000VND per person. But parking is 10.000VND per motorcycle. If you visit Hoa Lu on the same day, the tip is just park your bike at one place and walk to the other by acrossing the street.
You will walk through a tunnel to a beautiful lake with high karst surrounding. It's clean and fresh. You can walk or cycle along the lake to enjoy the majestic landscape. It should take less than an hour for a leisuring walk.

Had to pay for a ticket but it was worth it I think.
We went a little bit before sundown and it was almost empty! So nice
We walked around the lake and I highly recommend that. I don’t think you need to rent a bike.
There’s even a little section for kitties ❤

Beautiful experience to cycle around the track being surrounded by hills. There are Pagodas and fishes you can enjoy along your cycling route. Entry was 20k VND per person and 50k VND was the cycle rent. Rent a cycle and just enjoy being engulfed in nature!

Found this place after going to trang an well worth the entrance fee to walk around the pond and climb the pagoda

On the day we were there there was a ceremony going on and the songs that they were singing filled the location with a beautiful sound

A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience

We arrived late in the day and there was no one there but it was a Wednesday in early April

Am Tien cave is located in the complex of Hoa Lu ancient capital, in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. The cave is located halfway up the mountain with an altitude of more than 500m above sea level, so the climate here is cool all year round. The cave has another name, Dragon Cave, because when looking at the cave from afar, it looks like the mouth of a Dragon. This is the place where, after ascending to the throne, King Dinh Tien Hoang assigned martial arts master Truong Ma Ni and his son Truong Ma Son to be in charge of the valley adjacent to Hoa Lu citadel.

The father and son of the lieutenant-general, surnamed Truong, converted this dangerous place into a court of law to help the king rule the country. Before the construction of the court at Am Tien cave was completed, the Dai Viet historical records of the toan thu were recorded: "King (Dinh Tien Hoang) wanted to use his power to dominate the world, so he set up a large cauldron in the court yard and raised fierce tigers in cages. , ordered that anyone illegally should be punished for leaving the cauldron of oil and feeding the tigers."

👍🤩😍 Love this place , fresh air , serenity, calm and very good for meditating , wedding photo etc. The lake is so calm and serene, marvelous ancient temple and fantastic bird eye view of the whole place . 😀 🤩👍

Very nice and calm oasis. We went there pretty early in morning so no big crowds. Could advise fish feeding and going up to temple, to see nice lake view. Please remember to take your hat. ☺

Beautiful lake in between the mountains! The temple is at the top of the mountain so there will be quite a flight of steps. Bikes and carriages are available to rent if you don’t feel like walking. But it’s totally walkable so don’t let them scare you into thinking it’s a lot of walking like they did with me HAHAH

It is so lucky for us to come here in such a nice weather day. You can see deep inside the lake, and the lake reflect the moutain clearly. It makes a stunning picture. Many couple come here to take wedding picture

Very beautiful and a great place to take nice pictures. Recommended photo points are in the tunnel, by the water, and at the top of the hill. You will need to hike up (there are stairs to the top of the hill). The view from the top the best in that area.

Absolutely gorgeous valley with a manmade lake just across the street from Hua Lu. It’s only 20k VND to enter and mostly devoid of tourists. It’s been one of my favorite places to visit in the Ninh Binh area as it offers a scenic landscape, breathtaking panoramic views, and even a hidden cave temple. Highly recommend for anyone in the area that is visiting.

02/02/18. Nice & quiet little lake for sightseeing, taking a break from all the crowded tourist. 20k to go in to both Tuyệt Tình Cốc & Động Am Tiên. Very nice view of the lake from the top of the Temple.

Gorgeous place to visit as long as the weather is nice. Definitely a great place you can walk or bike around as there is a entrance fee to get in but you won’t regret it. The scenery here is amazing!!!!

We have just returned from an amazing family trip to Ninh Binh! Exploring picturesque landscapes straight out of a painting, we truly felt that nature is a magnificent work of art. Passing through mystical caves, rowing boats on the Ngo Dong River surrounded by low-lying limestone mountains, and visiting ancient temples, we had unforgettable experiences. Ninh Binh is truly a paradise of harmony between humans and nature. This trip not only brought joy and happiness to us but also created cherished memories with our family. We experienced beautiful scenery together, savored unique local cuisine, and had intimate conversations in the peaceful surroundings of Ninh Binh. We will definitely return one day to continue exploring the wonders that this city has to offer. #FamilyTravel #AmazingExperience #NinhBinh"