Dau Pagoda
Chùa Dâu
Considered the oldest pagoda in Vietnam, founded around the 2nd century when Buddhism arrived from India. Its brick tower and quiet courtyards feel far from the city.
Bac Ninh
Bắc Ninh
Craft villages, ancient pagodas and UNESCO-listed Quan Ho folk song.
- Region
- North · Red River Delta
- Province
- Bac Ninh
- Best weather
- February–April, November–December
- In this guide
- 6 places · 6 dishes
Overview
Just across the Duong River from Hanoi, Bac Ninh is the heartland of Kinh Bac, one of the oldest cultural regions of Vietnam. It is the birthplace of the Ly dynasty, the place where Buddhism first arrived in the country, and home of Quan Ho — call-and-response love songs inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The province is best explored as a day trip by car or motorbike: pagodas and temples in the morning, then craft villages making woodblock prints, pottery and wooden furniture in the afternoon.
Spring, during the festival season from February to March, is the liveliest time to visit. Autumn is also pleasant.
Where to go
Dinh Bang Communal House
Đình Đình Bảng
An 18th-century communal house of ironwood, with a sweeping tiled roof and some of the finest wood carving in northern Vietnam.
Do Temple
Đền Đô
A temple dedicated to the eight Ly kings who founded Thang Long (Hanoi) in 1010. Quan Ho singers often perform here during festivals.
Dong Ho Painting Village
Làng tranh Đông Hồ
Home of Dong Ho folk woodblock prints, made on paper coated with crushed seashell and coloured with natural pigments. Watch the printing and buy a print to take home.
Phu Lang Pottery Village
Làng gốm Phù Lãng
A riverside village known for its rustic brown-glazed pottery. Kilns, drying pots and narrow lanes make it a favourite with photographers.
Diem Village
Làng Diềm
Viem Xa, known as Diem Village, is regarded as the birthplace of Quan Ho singing, with an old well and communal house at its centre.
Experiences
Quan Ho folk singing
Dân ca Quan họ
Pairs of male and female singers trade improvised love songs, often from boats or temple courtyards. The best chance to hear it is during the spring festivals.
What to eat
Local specialties worth seeking out in Bac Ninh.
Ho chicken
Gà Hồ
A large, heritage chicken breed from Ho village, prized for its firm meat. Traditionally offered at Tet and on the ancestral altar.
Fiancee cake
Bánh phu thê Đình Bảng
Square, translucent cakes of rice flour with sweet mung bean, wrapped in coconut leaf. Traditionally given at weddings as a symbol of fidelity.
Ash cake
Bánh tro Đình Tổ
Sticky rice soaked in water filtered through plant ash, giving it an amber colour and jelly-like texture. Eaten with molasses during the Double Fifth festival.
Diem village cake
Bánh làng Diềm
A traditional rice cake from the home village of Quan Ho singing, often served to guests with green tea.
Nem Bui
Nem Bùi Ninh Xá
A fermented pork and toasted-rice-powder mix from Ninh Xa village, wrapped in fig leaves with herbs.
Van village rice wine
Rượu làng Vân
A strong, clear rice spirit distilled in Van village on the Cau River for centuries.
When to go
The most comfortable months for sightseeing in Bac Ninh are usually February–April, November–December.
Hover a month for details. Compare with other places on the season calendar.
Vietnam season calendar arrow_forwardDaily temperature range (°C)
10°15°20°25°30°35°
Rainfall per month (mm)
0200400600
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Score
- Great
- Good
- Fair
- Wet / extreme
chevron_right Show as table
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | Wet days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.0 | 13.9 | 60 | 10 | Good |
| February | 22.1 | 15.0 | 50 | 11 | Great |
| March | 25.5 | 18.5 | 67 | 12 | Great |
| April | 29.0 | 21.5 | 95 | 13 | Great |
| May | 31.3 | 24.4 | 245 | 20 | Fair |
| June | 33.2 | 26.4 | 290 | 20 | Fair |
| July | 32.9 | 26.2 | 320 | 23 | Fair |
| August | 31.8 | 25.6 | 434 | 26 | Wet / extreme |
| September | 30.9 | 24.6 | 334 | 21 | Fair |
| October | 28.4 | 21.7 | 186 | 13 | Good |
| November | 26.0 | 18.6 | 53 | 8 | Great |
| December | 21.8 | 14.5 | 34 | 7 | Great |
Averages for 2016-2025 from Open-Meteo (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0). Model data can overstate light drizzle; treat wet-day counts as a guide. How the score works.
Getting there
Bac Ninh city is roughly 30–40 km northeast of central Hanoi — under an hour by car. Combine several sites in a private day tour.
Getting around Vietnam arrow_forwardPlan your stay in Bac Ninh
Compare places to stay and things to book.
Itineraries that stop here
Stories from Bac Ninh
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