The Non Nước mountain, also called Dục Thúy mountain is located 1km North-East of Ninh Bình 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 Đáy river, like an arch shading the river.
The Non Nước mountain is also called as a historical book recording our national struggles against foreign aggressors for thousands of years. In 1929, a young patriot, Lương Văn Tụy, 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 Lê Thánh Tông, Trương Hán Siêu, Phạm Sư Mạnh, Ngô Thì Sỹ and etc.
In the Lý Dynasty, under the reign of king Lý Nhân Tông, from the mountain foot to the east, a Buddhist pagoda called Non Nước pagoda was built. The pagoda was built of stone, with an ached roof with flying dragons. From the top of Non Nước mountain, tourists can see an overview of Ngọc Mỹ Nhân mountain, the Kite mountain (Cánh Diều) 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.