Hang Mua Cave, Ninh Binh (Lying Dragon Mountain) – GUIDE

With panoramic views from atop Ngoa Long (Lying Dragon) Mountain, Hang Múa (Mua Cave) is a destination in Northern Vietnam you must see at least once.

According to folk legend, the locals began calling this area Hang Mua (Dance Cave) because King Tran Thai Tong of the 13th century came to this cave to enjoy singing and dancing.

As a popular pit stop on guided tours of Ninh Binh, Mua Cave offers travelers the chance to climb the “Vietnam Great Wall” and soak in the lush landscape from its observation decks overlooking gorgeous green rice fields and ancient limestone karsts.

Mua Caves is a must-see when visiting Ninh Binh and makes for an easy stopover on guided day trips from Hanoi.

Even though it’s crowded most days, I’m glad I got to experience another top attraction of Ninh Binh besides the Trang An boat ride.

Here is what to expect and know before visiting Mua Cave!

Guide to Mua Cave (Hang Mua) in Ninh Binh, Vietnam

Hang Mua Viewpoint – What to Know Before You Go

• Time to visit: 1 hour
• Steps to climb: 500!
• Time to climb to the top of Mua Caves: 20 minutes at an average pace
• Location: 15 minutes by car from Trang An (1hr 45m from Hanoi)
• Entrance Cost: 150,000 VND (entry is included with guided tours)
• Amenities: Bathrooms and water/snacks available on-site

Mua Cave Tickets & Tours

Most guided trips to Ninh Binh include Mua Cave as a stop on a full-day trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.

You can also rent a scooter or car and visit Mua Caves on your own if you have more time and are already comfortable navigating Vietnam’s crazy traffic!

I wouldn’t recommend getting a roundtrip Grab from Hanoi to Mua Cave/Ninh Binh because it will be expensive, and the availability of cars isn’t guaranteed. A guided all-day tour will be more budget-friendly, even if it’s not as flexible.

⚠️ BEFORE you book any tour, check the “maximum” number of persons allowed. Some tours will allow up to 20-40 (!!) people per group. To avoid this, book small group tours.

The Best Tours With Mua Cave

Option 1: Ninh Binh Highlights (Trang An, Mua Cave) Small Group Tour

• $52/person
• Trang An boat ride, Hoa Lu, Mua Caves, Bich Dong Pagoda (+ lunch and transfers)
• Small group and private available – certified by GetYourGuide
• Check availability & reserve your spot

Option 2: Tam Coc, Hoa Lu & Mua Caves, Village Biking (Full-Day Trip)

Option 3: Hoa Lu, Trang An and Hang Mua Cave Day Tour

• $33 – $38/person (Big vs small group pricing)
• Same route as option 1 (Mua Caves, Hoa Lu, Trang An)
• Choose between a big group (up to 40 people) or a small group (2-17 persons)
• Book it on Klook

Mua Cave Cost & Hours

Entrance tickets to Mua Cave cost 150,000 Vietnamese dong per person if you visit on your own (without a tour).

The site officially opens at 6:00 in the morning and closes at 7:00 pm at dusk.

The best times to visit are at sunrise or sunset for the light and to avoid peak crowds and the heat (there’s no shade up and down the mountain).

The 3 Different Mua Cave Viewpoints

About two-thirds up the stairs, there will be a fork in the path—left or right. The main stairs continue to the left toward the Tam Coco and the Lying Dragon (the highest viewpoint), whereas the right goes up to the Mua Cave Pagoda lookout.

1. Tam Coc Viewpoint

Tam Coc is one of the two natural areas inside the Trang An Scenic Complex Landscape (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which you can visit by sanpam boat.

From this observation deck at Mua Cave, you get a wonderful, unhampered view of a section of the Ngo Dong River and the boats exiting out of one of the three Tam Coc caves (Ca, Hai, Ba).

If you have a big camera lens, this is the time to use it to zoom in on the boats far below! However, a wide angle or standard lens captures the scenery perfectly, with the limestone karsts, river, and rice fields.

Turn around, and this viewpoint also offers great views of the Mua Cave Pagoda!

2. Lying Dragon Mountain Statue Viewpoint

The most popular viewpoint of Hang Mua is at the very top of the mountain.

Climb the remaining section of stairs to see the “Lying Dragon” up close and the statue of Kwan Yin Buddha, which faces in the direction of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.

The view of Tam Coc and Ninh Binh is about the same (just from a higher level) at this point, so the main draw of this is the dragon statue.

While you can get up close to the dragon for pictures, please note that the crossing and landing are narrow and jagged, with NO barriers. Everyone scrambling for their turn at the dragon makes for a very dangerous scenario.

You won’t be able to capture the entire dragon splayed out across the peak unless you’re looking from the Pagoda lookout (below).

Unless you come very early in the morning when there are fewer people, I wouldn’t recommend waiting in line or attempting to climb up the rocks for the sake of a selfie with the statue.

Instead, take your time to climb down and (briefly) back up another set of stairs to reach the Pagoda if you wish to see the dragon splayed across the Hang Mua Peak.

3. Hang Mua Pagoda Viewpoint

One of the attractions of Mua Cave is the mini pagoda, which is more than just a photo spot!

“The Tower is built in the Buddhist stupa style found throughout Asia, feauturing a square base symbolizing the land, a round gourd-like section representing water, a pointed cone pointing upward representing fire, and a canopy representing the wind. The uppermost section symbolizes ‘Khong Dai,’ an abstract conecpt of being both spirit and matter, or all and nothing.”

Discover Ninh Binh

The pagoda at Mua Cave is not as high as the other two pinnacles, but it’s worth climbing the extra set of stairs for the views of the Lying Dragon and the city of Ninh Binh.

And yes, there are crowds here, too, but not as much as at the dragon. You can see the Mua Cave Lying Dragon statue riding the ridge and a beautiful view overlooking Ninh Binh City and the Mua Cave Lotus Pond at the foot of the mountain.

The Lotus Pond at Mua Cave

While atop Ngoa Long Mountain, you will see the expansive Lotus Pond below. From this vantage point, I thought that the boardwalk looked like it was in the shape of a lotus and sun!

If you are on a guided tour, don’t forget to save at least twenty minutes for walking amidst the lotus flowers via the boardwalk. The summer season is the best for seeing the Lotus Pond in bloom, but it’s beautiful at all times of the year.

FAQs about Visiting Mua Caves

Is there a cave at Hang Mua? Yes! There is a cave inside Ngoa Long Mountain. The entrance is small, and you can dip inside on the right before starting your ascent up the 500 steps to the top.

How long does it take to climb the Mua Cave viewpoint? For fit and active folks, climbing to the top should only take 15-20 minutes. Feel free to take ample water breaks on the way up and down. Take your time and watch your footing—the stone stairs are slippery in places.

What time should you visit Mua Cave? Sunrise or sunset are ideal times for visiting the Hang Mua Viewpoint, but if you’re on a guided tour, your visit will fall around mid to late afternoon. There’s no shade on the path up or down the mountain, so wear a hat and drink plenty of water!

What to Pack & Wear to Mua Cave

Since you will climb 500 steps to reach the highest viewpoints atop Hang Mua Peak, you’ll want to wear something comfortable and breathable.

For shoes, I wore my strapped Teva sandals and did just fine.

However, the stairs are jagged and slippery, so I would say any type of footwear is okay except for flip flops (although people still do it in flip flops, it’s not very safe, especially when the steps have amounts of foot traffic!

Clothes-wise, we saw every type of outfit on our climb to the top—even silky, flowy dresses “for the photo.” I wouldn’t recommend doing that; instead, I suggest wearing light, breathable clothes like linen shorts. You will sweat A LOT.

On guided tours, your visit to Mua Cave will likely be combined with a visit to the ancient capital of Vietnam during the 10th century: Hoa Lu. In this case, you must cover up your knees to enter the temple complex. Unisex, ankle-length skirts are provided for free in case, but keep this in mind when you plan your day bag.

Is Mua Caves Worth Visiting?

The highlight of our time in Ninh Binh was the Trang An boat ride, but climbing the “Great Wall” of Vietnam at Mua Cave was a close second!

Whether you book a guided tour or visit alone, I think Mua Cave is unmissable while exploring northern Vietnam. This destination is a beautiful and rich natural landscape worth sweating for!