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Ninh Binh is a popular day trip from Hanoi but I highly recommend spending at least 2 nights here. Visitors call this part of Northern Vietnam the “Ha Long Bay on Land” and there are so many things to love about this area like quality homestays, endless beauty, and rich history.
How much time do you need?
While you can do 2 popular activities here on a day trip, I suggest spending 2 nights to really have the full experience. If you MUST do a day trip though, I suggest this unique experience.
How to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi
It’s very easy to travel to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. I’d recommend booking a transfer with your hotel to avoid scammy websites online. The drive takes around 2 hours are these are the most popular options & how much they cost in 2024:
- Private taxi: $30-45
- Tourist limousine shuttle: $12-15
- By motorbike (Only consider this if you’re experienced)
When is the best time to visit Ninh Binh?
The dry months are from November to April and the temperatures are normally cooler. Other popular times to visit are when the lotus flowers are in full bloom in May-July. I visited in February and got very unlucky with the weather. It was cold and foggy while the next week was warm and sunny.
Where to stay in Ninh Binh
There are many options for lodging in Ninh Binh ranging from hostels, hotels, and homestays. If you want to be surrounded by nature and be in a bikeable area, I’d recommend staying in Trang An or Tam Coc. These are some of the places I stayed:
Lotus Field Homestay
I actually think this is my #1 favorite place I stayed in in my whole trip to Vietnam. The bungalows were very comfortable and all have a view. Free bikes & breakfast are included with your stay. Trang An, Mua Cave, and some restaurants are within a short biking distance from here.
The Goat Boutique Hotel
This cute & stylish hotel is in a beautiful area but does feel a bit isolated if you’re relying on biking & taxis. If you plan on renting a motorbike I do recommend staying here. It’s very comfortable and they have a pool which would be amazing in the summertime.
Find more unique hotels in Ninh Binh HERE.
Things To Do in Ninh Binh
Trang An Boat Tour
Do not miss this when you visit Ninh Binh. Trang An is the most popular boat tour and for good reason. Out of all 4 boat tours in the area, Trang An is the only one that’s protected. It was nice to see this attraction free of trash.
Each tour is 3 hours long and I opted for route 3. This route had the longest cave & passed through a scene from King Kong. All routes include temples and epic views.
Hang Mua Cave Viewpoint
I think the time you visit can really make or break this experience. If you can, head over here before 8 am to avoid large crowds. By late afternoon, this attraction fills up with giant buses with day tours from Hanoi. I’m not super turned off by a lot of people but because the viewpoints are so small, it can get very hard to walk around once it’s crowded. You will need to go up 500 steps to get to the top and make sure to save time to walk around the lotus boardwalk.
Tip: If you’re coming in here with a motorbike or bicycle, keep going until you reach the entrance. Several people will try and stop you to charge for parking before you reach the designated parking area. This is VERY common in popular attractions in Vietnam.
Ride a bike
Biking around the beautiful scenery of Trang An and Tam Coc were some of my favorite things to do in Ninh Binh. You don’t need a designated route, just find some back roads and explore. Am Tiên Lake is a good option that’s popular to cyclists though.
Visit Phố Cổ Hoa Lư at Night
To see the city come alive at night, I recommend taking a short trip to Phố Cổ Hoa Lư. There are several pagodas, lanterns, and boats lit up after sunset. They also have a lively night market here with several street food vendors.
Tam Côc Boat Tour
What makes the Tam Côc boat tour so unique is that the rowers actually paddle with their feet! The scenery is stunning and very similar to Trang An. There are also caves you’ll enter throughout the 2 hour trip. Unlike Trang An, the rowers do try to sell you things during your trip and if you don’t provide a tip they will be very upset 😅 I was planning to tip anyway but I did read that they may get sassy if you don’t.
Bich Dong Pagoda
Bich Dong Pagoda is a series of temples in caves near Tam Coc. It was truly impressive to see these ancient temples in such a beautiful landscape. This is a great place for photos so make sure to bring your camera.
Bonus: These are some of the things I didn’t get to but would love to try next time!
- Bird Valley
- Farmer experience in Tam Coc
- Thung Nam Boat Tour
- Bear Sanctuary
Exploring more of Southeast Asia? Check out my Siquijor, Philippines blog.