The Non Nuoc mountain, also called Duc Thuy mountain is located 1km North-East of Ninh Binh city. The mountain is over 100m high with a relatively flat top that varies in heights between the back and the front.
The north-eastern side of the mountain foot has been eroded by ocean waves this has created a steep cliff; the mountain rise to fully reflect the Day river, like an arch shading the river.
The Non Nuoc mountain is also called as a historical book recording our national struggles against foreign aggressors for thousands of years. In 1929, a young patriot, Luong Van Tuy, overcame the barrier of the French Colonists to put the revoltionary flag on the mountain’s peak. After the August revolution in 1945, the foot of this mountain was the gathering place of Southward march battalion. In the resistance war against French Colonist, a blockhouse was built here by the French troops and the Non Nước mountain was considered as a very important place in defending the Red-river Delta region.
Furthermore, this mountain is also known as a Poetry Mountain since it is the place where many historically famous poets came for contemplating the romantic scenery and composing poems. There are hundreds of poems carved on cliffs by ancient celebrities like Le Thanh Tong, Truong Han Sieu, Pham Su Manh, Ngo Thi Sy and etc.
In the Ly Dynasty, under the reign of king Ly Nhan Tong, from the mountain foot to the east, a Buddhist pagoda called Non Nuoc pagoda was built. The pagoda was built of stone, with an ached roof with flying dragons. From the top of Non Nuoc mountain, tourists can see an overview of Ngoc My Nhan mountain, the Kite mountain (Canh Dieu) or they can enjoy a panoramic view of the Ninh Binh city and the surroundings. Particularly, a picturesque pagoda nestles at the base of Non Nuoc mountain Mountain.
