Ninh Binh Tour – Must-Visit places in Vietnam
Ninh Binh is an awesome place in northern Vietnam, having a very nice nickname “Halong Bay on Land,” which has very wonderful natural scenery, rich culture, and calm waterways. About 100 kilometers south of Hanoi, this place is a good getaway from those people who seek beauty with cool limestone mountains, twisting rivers, and green rice fields.
Did you know that the movie Kong – Skull Island was shot in Ninh Binh!
Why Visit Ninh Binh?
Breathtaking Views
The province of karst mountains, chill waterways is Ninh Binh and is most famously known for the Trang An and Tam Coc boat tours. It has a UNESCO World Heritage Site set amidst its dream-like setting.
Nice thing is still not many people know about Ninh Binh and they focus on well known places like Ha Long bay, Hanoi, Ho chi minh city etc. So you can avoid the tourist crowd!
Cultural Richness
Home to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh provides a glimpse into Vietnam’s 10th-century history with well-preserved temples and palaces.
Outdoor Fun
From hiking up Mua Cave for some great views to biking through the countryside, Ninh Binh is ideal for chill out. You would feel like a traveler rather than a tourist here if you know what we mean!
Local Food
Try the real Vietnamese flavors, mountain goat dishes, Ninh Binh scorched rice, and all the others like Nem Chua Yen Mac.
Top Attractions in Ninh Binh
Trang An Landscape Complex
Known for its maze of caves, temples, and waterways, Trang An provides standard boat tours, lasting about 2-3 hours with skilled local rowers. Expect stunning vistas of lush valleys with their limestone cliffs. They have 3 routes with multiple pagoda and caves. You get to choose the route at the time of buying tickets.
We wrote an extensive travel guide about which route to choose, tickets cost and other tips for the Trang An boat tour.
Tam Coc (Three Caves)
Take a sampan boat trip along the Ngo Dong River and enjoy the caves of Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba. The rice fields are best seen in May or June.
We suggest either doing Tam coc or trang an boat ride. It doesn’t make sense to do both of them as they have a lot of similarities too.
If you ask us, we would say go with Trang An boat tour since you would not be haggled here by vendors.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
Explore the ancient temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties amidst dramatic karst peaks and verdant foliage.
Mua Cave (Hang Mua)
Go up 500 stairs for an amazing panorama over Tam Coc and its surroundings; it will be worth the climb upwards, as the views are truly amazing.
Cuc Phuong National Park
This oldest national park of Vietnam offers wildlife spotting, hiking trails, and ancient caves.
Getting There: Ninh Binh
From Hanoi
It’s easily accessible via buses, minivans (called Limousines!), and trains, taking up to 2 hours. A very popular option, comfortable, is given by limousine vans.
Most hassle free option is to book via the Vexere app and pay cash to the bus/van driver when you board.
Getting Around Ninh Binh
Local attractions are easily seen by bicycle. Motorbikes and taxis are available when required. Avoid local taxis and try to book via Grab App. But do note if you are staying in small towns where most tourists stay like Trang An or Tam Coc, then it might take some time for Grab cars to arrive as it’s slightly away from the main city.
Personally, we preferred renting a motorbike from our homestays which they will offer from between $5 to $6 (USD).
If you rent a motorbike, always check the condition especially of the rear view mirror and helmets before booking. We had a lot of trouble finding a bike which had both rear view mirrors with good angles. And for a helmet, check if it has a visor since there are lots of insects which will hit your face/eyes when you drive in Ninh binh!
Where Do You Sleep in Ninh Binh?
Ninh Binh offers diverse accommodations, ranging from budget homestays to luxury resorts.
Tam Coc Sunshine Homestay: Affordable, yet offering views – and family-run. At the time of writing this, they had a 9.7 rating on booking.com with over a thousand reviews.
[Image 7]
Trang An Pristine View homestay: Perfectly suited for quiet countryside stays. We stayed here by ourselves and it is supercheap and breakfast was damn good!
Cost us around $14 per day.
They have bicycles for free and motorbikes for rent. And trust us, you would wanna ride a bicycle there as the views just in front of the homestay are epic!
Must-Try Local Dishes
Mountain Goat Dishes: Found in many variations, usually grilled or stewed. If you are not a vegan/vegetarian, then it’s a must try thing in Ninh Binh!
Ninh Binh Scorched Rice: This is a super crispy and delicious snack especially if you are a vegan/vegetarian.
Kim Son Noodle Soup: Braised vermicelli noodle soup served in a rich broth.
