Nam Dinh is a coastal province in the Red River Delta of Vietnam. The province is contiguous Ha Nam to the northwest, Thai Binh to the north and Ha Nam to the south. With 74km long pristine seaside and great potential to develop fishing and water tourism economy, Nam Dinh is without a doubt one of the key agricultural regions in the North of Vietnam. Nam Dinh might not be famous for being a top tourist destination. But if you are looking for a new place to discover during your Vietnam holiday, the province can offer you some great attractions which are complete worth visiting.
It has a tropical climate. You can see it all year round. But if you want to avoid from the heat. Don’t travel Nam Dinh during summer time from May to early August. If you do like a festival, January in Lunar calendar is the best time to see those festivals
Nam Dinh is 90km from Hanoi. From Hanoi, you can take the train to get to Nam Dinh. If you travel to Nam Dinh by car, you can go along National Highway No.21 that links National Highway No.1A to center of Nam Dinh.
Thing Long Beach is located in Hai Hau, Nam Dinh. The beach has just become popular among tourists recently. The beauty of Thinh Long Beach is absolutely untouched with very clean and clear water. One of many things that make Thinh Long Beach unequalled in comparison with other beaches on the coast of Northern Vietnam is that it isn’t affected by hot winds from Laos, which makes the weather cooler and very nice. Moreover, Thinh Long is also a wonderful attraction for the beginning surfer. Tourists can hire a canoe to ride round the seashore and discover rock islands off the coast. You also can visit fishing villages to experience more the daily life of local people.
Xuan Thuy National Park is situated in Giao Thuy District, Nam Dinh, 160km from Hanoi. The park is a perfect destination for tourists who want to discover the wild nature of northern Vietnam with amazing biodiversity. Xuan Thuy National Park itself was actually declared Vietnam's first Ramsar site of Vietnam in 1989. It is home to more than 110 aquatic plant species, 500 species of benthos and zooplankton. The best time to visit this park is from September to April. Tourists can go trekking or take a boat to get to Con Ngan Island and Con Xanh Island.
Tran Temple is one of the most famous destinations in Nam Dinh. The kings of the Tran Dynasty and their mandarins are worshiped there. Tran Temple consists of three main buildings: Thien Truong Temple (Up Temple), Trung Hoa Temple (Center Temple), and Co Trach Temple (Down Temple). Tran Temple Festival is held annually in January 15th. Tourists would definitely not want to miss this as you will have chance to join a lot of traditional activities and pray for good fortune in life, and especially in business.
Some great food that you should definitely try when traveling to Nam Dinh include grilled fish under a pot, anabas sticky rice, Hai Hau longan cake, Siu Chau sweet of Nguyen Huong, the grilled oyster with the unique technique of walking on stilt and Vy Duong rice cake.
5 key points to know about Nam Dinh
1. Nam Dinh is located between Ninh Binh and Halong Bay, making it a perfect 1-night stop.
2. Nam Dinh City itself is not attractive, but the countryside around it is lovely (and that’s where we’re heading!).
3. The region between Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh is considered one of the cradles of Catholicism in Vietnam (boasting the Phat Diem Cathedral), and the Nam Dinh region specifically is home to some of the most beautiful churches in Vietnam.
4. Nam Dinh is a province with a long coastline, where fishing is particularly important.
5. This is where Pho Bo (the famous noodle soup dish from Northern Vietnam) was created!
