Van Long is the largest wetland nature reserve in the Northern Delta, located in Gia Van commune, Gia Vien district, about 80km from Hanoi. This place owns two records of the Vietnam Record Book Center in 2010 that is "The place with the most number of delacour's langur" and "The place with the largest natural picture", is the 9th Ramsar site of Vietnam and 2360th of the world.
Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve is the remaining intact inland wetland in the Red River Delta consisting of rivers, shallow lakes and rich wetland vegetation, bearing ecological characteristics that create an unique natural landscape. This place is surrounded by a very famous limestone system with a beautiful cave system and typical vegetation for the limestone mountain ecosystem. With an area of over 3,000 hectares, 3/4 of the area is limestone mountains, 1/4 is wetland. In addition to the two main ecosystems of wetlands and forests on limestone mountains, Van Long also has an ecosystem of fields, lawns, swidden fields and village ecosystems.
The flora and fauna of Van Long are very typical for the limestone and wetland ecosystems of the Red River Delta. Van Long has more than 100 species of birds and 457 species of higher plants, of which 8 species are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. There are 39 species of animals, including 12 species of rare animals. Especially where there are over 100 individuals of langurs, one of the primate species is threatened with extinction at the global level and only in Vietnam.
Not only a nature reserve, Van Long wetland is also a place with attractive landscapes with wonderful landscape paintings. Van Long has 32 beautiful caves, in which there are many large and valuable caves such as Ca Cave, Ball Cave, etc. There is also Kem Cham and Mau Temple, where the mother of four generals Hong Nuong is worshiped.
This place is known as "the bay without waves" because when traveling on a boat on the lagoon, visitors will see the water surface as flat as a giant mirror. The ink painting clearly reflects the strong carvings of the limestone massifs bearing the shape of their names such as Meo Cao mountain, Mam Xoi mountain, Hom Sach mountain, Da Ban mountain, Nghien mountain, Moi mountain, and Moi mountain. Sitting on an old bamboo boat with friends can leisurely go through the ravines, flanked by tall grasses, interspersed with water. The idyllic landscape makes everyone feel relaxed and peaceful.
With beautiful and unspoiled landscapes associated with historical and cultural relics, Van Long Wetland Reserve has not only become a favorite destination for tourists but also a research field. study for scientists and students who want to study the inland wetlands of Vietnam.