Thang Long Restaurant — Ninh Binh goat specialties
Tinh hoa ẩm thực Ninh Bình
The Essence of Ninh Binh Cuisine
Serving lunch & dinner
Welcome. We are a local restaurant on the Trang An – Bai Dinh road in Ninh Binh, 8.6 km (about 11 minutes by car) from the Trang An boat wharf — in the land of Hoa Lu, Vietnam's first capital in the tenth century. Our kitchen does what this region is known for: mountain goat dishes and com chay, crispy rice served hot with a rich goat sauce. There is an English menu, plenty of room for groups, and a large car park for cars and tour coaches.
Open 7:00 – 22:30, every day · Please call ahead on public holidays.
What to order — a two-minute guide
The signature meat of Ninh Binh is mountain goat. The goats graze on the limestone karst around Hoa Lu, so the meat is lean, firm and naturally sweet — nothing like the gamey goat you may have tried elsewhere. Here is what locals order:
- Goat with lime (dê tái chanh) — thin slices of lightly seared goat tossed with lime, lemongrass and toasted sesame, eaten wrapped in leaves with green banana and star fruit, dipped in fermented soybean sauce. The classic starter.
- Grilled goat (dê nướng tảng) — marinated and charcoal-grilled, smoky and tender, sliced at your table.
- Steamed goat (dê hấp) — with lemongrass or perilla leaves; the mildest way to try goat for the first time.
- Com chay (crispy rice) — golden fried rice cakes served hot with a ladle of goat gravy poured over them. The one Ninh Binh dish to try.
- Hill chicken (gà đồi) — free-range chicken, for anyone at the table who would rather not eat goat.
- Goat hotpot (lẩu dê) — a shared pot for four to ten people, good on a cool evening.
Prices (menu prices, last checked 31/08/2026): most goat dishes 180,000–300,000₫, hotpot from 450,000₫, group set menus from 150,000₫ per person. All 97 dishes with prices are on the menu page; call +84 975 155 458 to confirm current prices.
Getting here from the Trang An boat tour
The restaurant sits on the main road between Trang An and Bai Dinh Pagoda, in Chi Phong hamlet, Tay Hoa Lu ward (the Hoa Lu / Truong Yen area). From the Trang An boat wharf it is 8.6 km (about 11 minutes by car).
- By Grab or taxi: ride-hailing works well in Ninh Binh. Set your destination to "Nhà hàng Thăng Long" near Trang An, or show the driver our Google Maps pin.
- By motorbike or bicycle: follow the Trang An – Bai Dinh road towards the Hoa Lu ancient capital; the restaurant is on this road and there is space to park.
- With a tour or private driver: most drivers know the restaurant — it is a regular lunch stop on the Trang An – Bai Dinh route. Coaches park in our own lot.
A good day plan: morning boat ride at Trang An, lunch here, then Bai Dinh Pagoda on the same road, or the Mua Cave viewpoint. Our Ninh Binh travel guide has ticket prices, opening hours and measured distances for each of them.
A note on spelling: our name is Thăng Long ("Thang Long") — there is a separately owned restaurant nearby with a similar-sounding name ("Thanh Long"), so check the map pin.
Groups & tour operators welcome
The dining halls are large — up to 1,000 guests per sitting, with private rooms available. For tour operators we can fix a set menu at an agreed price per person in advance, from 150,000₫ to 500,000₫, including options for guests who do not eat goat. There is a large car park for 45-seat coaches, plus WiFi and air conditioning.
To arrange a group meal, call +84 975 155 458 or email thanglongnk@gmail.com with your group size, date and budget.
Questions travellers often ask
Do you have an English menu?
Yes — ask for the English menu when you sit down, and the staff can point you to the local favourites. You can also read the whole menu, with prices, on our menu page.
How much does a meal cost?
Most goat dishes are 180,000–300,000₫, hotpot starts at 450,000₫, and group set menus run from 150,000₫ per person. The full price list is on the menu page.
When is the restaurant busiest?
Lunchtime, roughly 11:30 to 13:00, when the boat groups arrive. If there are four or more of you, call ahead and we will keep a table.
What if someone in our group doesn't eat goat?
No problem — we also serve free-range chicken, pork, beef, fish, rice, vegetables and side dishes. Tell us when you order or when you book.
Can you take a coach group?
Yes. We seat up to 1,000 guests per sitting, have private rooms and a car park for 45-seat coaches, and offer set menus from 150,000₫ to 500,000₫ per person. See groups & events.
Reserve your table
Open 7:00 – 22:30, every day. Call or message us on Zalo — we will confirm right away.