Skull Island Film Locations to visit in Ninh Binh
If you’re planning to tour Vietnam, be sure to include a Kong: Skull Island on your list of places to see. This day trip gives you the chance to explore the raw, untouched beauty of several incredible destinations featured in the hollywood movie.
In this guide, you’ll discover fascinating facts about iconic Kong Skull Island filming locations in Ninh Binh and Trang An (~90km from Hanoi). With these insights, you’ll be better prepared to experience the cinematic magic that brought Skull Island Ninh Binh and other stunning spots to life on the big screen.
Where was Kong Skull Island filmed in Vietnam?
In Tam Coc & Bich Dong: Long before Kong Skull Island filmed in this part of Vietnam, travelers were already visited areas around Ninh Binh including Tam Coc – Bich Dong and Trang An.
Tam Coc & Bich Dong
In early 2016, the Kong: Skull Island crew shot several key scenes in Tam Coc and Bich Dong, two famous tourist areas near city of Ninh Binh, served as the primary filming location, with breathtaking backdrops such as Trang An and Van Long Lagoon.
Just a short distance from Tam Coc, Bich Dong offers another scenic landscapes. This fascinating site features a complex of ancient temples and pagodas carved into the mountainside, all set against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty. As you explore, you can hike to the mountain’s summit for sweeping panoramic views or wander through the serene, centuries-old structures nestled within the rock.
4 Kong Skull Island locations to visit in Vietnam
When Kong: Skull Island hit cinemas, audiences instantly admired the film’s striking use of real-world locations. To capture the wild, mysterious essence of Kong’s legendary domain, the director, Jordan Vogt-Robert, has chosen Ninh Binh and other smaller areas such as Tam Coc, Trang An to film the scenes.
With its dramatic limestone cliffs and lush northern landscapes, Vietnam naturally sets the stage for a world teeming with ancient, mythical creatures. Here are 3 locations in Ninh Binh, where kong skull island movie were filmed:
1. Ninh Binh Skull Island
For fans of Kong Skull Island, this region offers more than just scenery—it delivers cinematic magic. During the film’s pivotal escape sequence, the characters stumble across one of Ninh Binh’s iconic limestone karsts, ominously marked with a blood-red paw print—an eerie hint at the dangers lurking nearby.
These dramatic backdrops, found throughout Ninh Binh Skull Island filming locations, brought the mythic wilderness of Skull Island to life and continue to draw travelers eager to follow in Kong’s footsteps.
What to see as a tourist?
Meanwhile, if you’re wondering what to do in Ninh Binh, start with a visit to Tam Coc—an otherworldly flooded cave system nestled within the larger Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. Glide down the Ngo Dong River aboard a traditional bamboo sampan, passing beneath stone arches and through quiet caverns, surrounded by ancient giants of rock. After the peaceful boat ride, make your way up the steps of Mua Cave to catch one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in Vietnam.
The jagged terrain of Ninh Binh feels like a character straight out of a fantasy epic. Often called “Halong Bay on Land,” this surreal landscape stuns with towering limestone formations that rise dramatically from the earth, resembling a divine stone fortress. As you explore, the rhythmic rise of hills and karsts flows effortlessly with the elegant curves of the Ngo Dong River, which shimmers with golden hues under the sunlight. Check out Things to do in Halong Bay, Vietnam
2. Halong Bay
For travelers looking to spot more of Skull Island movie beyond Ninh Binh, Halong Bay holds a special place in the Kong Skull Island cinematic scenes. You’ll easily recognize its iconic stone formations from the movie’s poster and aerial shots.
In one of the film’s most intense moments, the Monarch expedition team flies into Skull Island—and it’s the jagged silhouettes of Halong Bay that provide the awe-inspiring backdrop for King Kong’s dramatic entrance. Although Ninh Binh serves as the heart of Skull Island filming location, Halong Bay delivers a different opening scene that sets the tone for everything that follows.
What is there to do in Halong?
If you’re wondering what to do in Halong Bay, start by boarding a wooden junk boat. Cruise between colossal karsts, uncover hidden lagoons, and venture into mysterious grottoes. An overnight stay gives you time to soak in the mystical energy of the bay, especially when morning mist cloaks the jungle-covered peaks and transforms the scenery into something truly surreal.
Halong Bay, which means “where the dragon descends into the sea,” attracts travelers with its rich legends and otherworldly beauty. According to myth, the Jade Emperor summoned a family of dragons to protect Vietnam from invaders. As the dragons descended from the heavens, they released a barrage of jade stones into the sea, forming more than 1,900 towering limestone outcrops scattered across the serene Gulf of Tonkin.
3. Phong Nha National Park: A Hidden Gem of Skull Island
Filmmakers often rely on untouched, surreal landscapes to blur the line between fiction and reality. For Kong: Skull Island, they chose Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park—a rugged, jungle-covered expanse in Central Vietnam (~500km from Hanoi)—precisely for its raw, uncharted appeal. Nestled between Laos and the East Vietnam Sea, this UNESCO-listed park remained off the radar for decades until the unexpected discovery of Son Doong Cave in 1991.
Kong skull location in Phong Nha
While Skull Island Ninh Binh served as the film’s central backdrop, Phong Nha added depth and contrast with its cave systems and dramatic interiors. Exploring both regions reveals the full scope of Vietnam’s contribution to the Kong cinematic universe—and gives travelers the ultimate mix of film history, natural wonder, and off-the-beaten-path adventure. Check out Caves in Vietnam
In Kong: Skull Island, the action intensifies after the Monarch team faces Kong’s wrath. As the aircraft crashes into the dense jungle, characters played by Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson scramble through the chaos—racing across the wild terrain near Yen Phu Lake. Viewers also catch a glimpse of Mouse Cave, one of Phong Nha’s many hidden chambers, during these tense escape scenes.
4. Trang An Complex; Skull Island location
The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex offers a stunning blend of limestone karsts, winding rivers, mysterious caves, and ancient temples that makes it a great filming location for the Skull Island in Ninh Binh. This UNESCO World Heritage site delivers a cinematic experience in real life, thanks to its breathtaking scenery and cultural depth. Visitors often choose the popular boat tours to navigate the maze of waterways, taking in jaw-dropping views of towering cliffs and vibrant greenery.
Skull Island location in Trang An
Furthermore, the boat ride winds through several caves, including one of the most iconic Kong Skull Island film locations in Vietnam. As you drift along the water, you’ll recognize familiar sights from the movie’s epic battle scenes—making this a must-visit for fans of Skull Island Ninh Binh. This location for film shoots helped establish Kong Skull Island Trang An as a standout destination not just for nature lovers, but also for movie buffs looking to step into the cinematic universe.
Things to do
Beyond the water, you can explore a number of historic temples and pagodas scattered across the landscape. Among them, Bai Dinh Pagoda stands out as the largest Buddhist temple complex in Vietnam and serves as a major pilgrimage site. Whether you’re drawn by the spiritual ambiance or the Hollywood connection, Trang An offers a powerful blend of culture, nature, and cinematic history.
