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When you hear people say that Vietnam is naturally beautiful, Ninh Binh is a perfect example of this. Ninh Binh (pronounced Neeng Beeng) is the name of the capital city and also the name of the Province. I’m sure after reading this Ninh Binh guide you’ll want to add this incredible area to your Vietnam itinerary.
This was by far one of my favourite parts of Northern Vietnam, and being relatively unknown to tourists, it’s easy to visit the best sites without the crowds.
Ninh Binh is also known as the “inland Halong Bay”, and it’s easily accessible from Hanoi. There are day trips available from Hanoi to Ninh Binh but I think this area deserves a lot more time than just one day. So in this Ninh Binh guide, I’ve put together the perfect 2-day itinerary, plus loads of other helpful information.
How Many Days is Enough For Ninh Binh?
The question of how many days is enough for a trip to Ninh Binh is often asked and I would recommend at the very least having 2 full days in Ninh Binh. This will give you enough time to tick off all the main highlights.
But, I could have easily spent another couple of days there, exploring the area at a slower pace and just soaking in all the natural beauty.
The Perfect 2-Day Ninh Binh Itinerary
Day 1
Highlights; Am Tien Cave, Bich Dong Pagoda, and Bamboo Boat Ride in Van Long Nature Reserve.
Morning
Am Tien Cave
Entry Fee: 20,000 VND
Parking: 10,000 VND
Start your day early by visiting the beautiful Am Tien Cave. The area opens at 7 am and it’s particularly good to get here early in the warmer months as a lot of the complex isn’t in the shade and the sun can be brutal.
Am Tien Cave consists of a massive lake surrounded by high limestone karst mountains. At one end of the lake follow the stairs up to find a temple & cave. This area didn’t feel touristy and the cave & temple were real places of worship and not just for show. Also, make sure you don’t miss the Am Tien Pagoda, with is located at the opposite end of the lake.
Visitors are free to explore the area at their leisure and 1 hour is enough time.
Bich Dong Pagoda
Entry Fee: 5,000 VND (although with no official ticket booth I believe this price is up to the local’s discretion).
Parking Fee: This also depends on who you ask! Locals will approach you as soon as you arrive, we were first quoted 50,000 VND but settled on 10,000 VND.
If you were staying in Tam Coc you could actually walk, it’s only a few minutes from the centre of town.
The main gate to Bich Dong Pagoda is across a small bridge and it’s definitely the star of the show. This ancient pagoda is tucked into the side of the mountains surrounding Tam Coc and ponds on either side are filled with pink lotus flowers.
Once you’ve entered follow the path to the temple and up the dark staircase into the cave. There were actually hundreds of bats inside, so be aware! They gross me out so I was only in there for a couple of minutes.
1 hour is plenty of time to visit Bich Dong Pagoda and there are also plenty of local restaurants out the front.
Afternoon
Van Long Nature Reserve Boat Ride
1 Hour Bamboo Boat Ride cost 70,000 VND.
This is an absolutely stunning area & also where you could potentially see endangered Langur monkeys. I’d recommend lining your boat ride up with sunset to make your trip even more breathtaking.
These small boats comfortably fit 2 people plus the local rower. It was the most relaxing hour I had during my month in Vietnam. Apart from hearing the Langur Monkeys in the distance, it was completely silent & the scenery really is stunning. And, the Van Long Nature Reserve is very clean and green, I didn’t see one piece of rubbish in the water.
Depending on the time of year, there’s also a cave that you will be rowed into, which was a really cool experience. The roof of the cave gets so low you need to duck right down.
There are two other places in Ninh Binh where you can do these boat tours, Tam Coc & Trang An. We chose Van Long as it was much cheaper and not ‘touristy’.
All the bamboo boat tours in Ninh Binh have a two-hour tour option as well, but I’m personally glad we only did 1 hour. As beautiful as the scenery is, the boats aren’t overly comfortable so my ass was rather sore after an hour.
Also, don’t forget to leave a tip, rowing tourists around all day, especially in the heat, wouldn’t be the easiest job.
Evening
For a slice of local life, enjoy a drink & street food on the side of Trang An road (driving away from the city towards Trang An). The best spot is opposite Ky Lan Mountain, which is an island on the city’s waterways. Here you will see a number of food carts & pop-up bars, with awesome views of the temples all lighten up.
Day 2
Highlights; Mua Caves & Cuc Phuong National Park
Morning
Mua Caves
Entry Fee: 100,000 VND
Parking: 10,000 VND
Mua Caves is open Monday to Friday from 6 am to 7 pm and I would recommend getting there nice and early as this is one of the most popular attractions in Ninh Binh and also one of the spots day trippers come to.
The actual ‘cave’ is nothing special, it’s more of a walkway and the other side is very underwhelming. But that’s fine because the main attractions are found at the top of 500 uneven steps. Hang Mua viewpoint and the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue on dragon mountain.
From both of these sites the views are insane, on one side you can see the river and cave entrances leading into the limestone mountains, and on the other side, views of the wide green landscape and lotus pond below.
Once you come back down to earth, take some time to wander the wooden paths over the lotus pond. There are heaps of lotus ponds around Ninh Binh and most have entrance fees, as it’s such a popular photo location. But the one in Mua Caves is just as beautiful so no need to pay an additional entrance fee somewhere else.
Afternoon
Cuc Phuong National Park
After an early lunch, why not visit Vietnam’s first National Park, Cuc Phuong National Park? Here you can hike in dense jungle, potentially seeing Great Hornbills, Pangolin or Clouded Leopard in the wild. Or, visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Center and the Bear Sanctuary.
Cuc Phuong Național Park is around 50 km from Tam Coc and the entry fee is 60,000 VND to enter the park. Then there are additional fees if visiting any of the conservation or rescue centres.
One of the recommended hikes in Cuc Phuong NP is Silver Cloud Peak. The peak of this hike is 648 meters high and offers incredible views of the national park. This hike is only suitable for people in good health as some parts are very steep. Also, if there’s been recent rainfall many areas of the park are very muddy, which also brings out the horrid leaches.
During my visit I found this park very quiet, we didn’t see any staff once we left the main gate and there was minimal information and signage throughout the park. Also, there aren’t any shops around so make sure you bring enough water & snacks for the hike.
Evening
To be honest there isn’t a whole lot to do a night in Ninh Binh. Some nights of the week Ninh Binh city has open markets but most of these close by 6 pm.
Ninh Binh offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Vietnam so it’s more of a “day destination”. At night we enjoyed a quiet dinner or had drinks at our hotel, then early to bed ready to make the most of the day.
Guide to Other Places to Visit in Ninh Binh
Visit the Temples at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
Only a 10-minute drive from Trang An is Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and Le Hoan Temple. Both of these temples are a part of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and this is the first known capital of Vietnam, dating back to the 10th century.
Hoa Lu is a massive area and these two temples are a great addition to your Ninh Binh itinerary if time permits. The beautiful area is surrounded by the Trang An limestone mountains.
Entry to these temples starts from 20,000 VND per person.
Bai Dinh Pagoda
Bai Dinh Pagoda is a 13-story Pagoda and is a part of a complex of Buddhist temples and monuments.
From the top of the pagoda, you’d get incredible views of the Ninh Binh Province. It’s located 20km from Ninh Binh city and well before you arrive you’ll be able to see the tall pagoda in front of the road.
Entrance to Bai Dinh Pagoda is free, however free doesn’t always mean free. Parking will cost 15,000 VND, if you want to avoid the long walk from the car park to the entrance gate, there are buggies available for 30,000 VND each way. And, if you wanted to visit the top of the Pagoda (and why wouldn’t you), you’ll have to pay 50,000 VND and then take the elevator to the top.
Tam Coc Bamboo Boat Ride
This particular boat ride is one of the most people in Ninh Binh and where many day trip groups will visit. With this popularity comes a much busier river (compared with Van Long Nature Reserve) and I had read many articles about locals trying to sell food, drinks & souvenirs to you during your time on the river.
The price for this trip (for foreigners) starts from 200,000 VND, a maximum of 2 people per boat and most tours go for 2 hours and visit up to 3 caves.
Trang An Bamboo Boat Ride
With the Trang An boat tours, there are three route options, I’m sure all three routes would have amazing scenery. At the ticket counter, there’s a map showing each route and pointing out notable sites along each one, such as caves and temples.
The cost for a Trang An boat ride is 250,000 VND per person. These boats seat 4 so if you were travelling as a couple and wanted the boat to yourselves, you’d need to purchase 4 tickets in total.
Out of the three bamboo boat rides I have mentioned in this Ninh Binh guide, I would definitely recommend Van Long Nature Reserve. I loved this experience, the scenery was stunning, it’s not at all touristy and it’s the cheapest out of the three. But either way, make sure you join at least one of these tours because it’s a must-do while visiting Ninh Binh. And, always take a bit of extra cash to tip these hard-working rowers.
Guide to Transport in Ninh Binh
The Ninh Binh Provence is a large area and all of the attractions mentioned in this Ninh Binh guide are well spread out. There are 3 good transport options for getting around Ninh Binh.
Hiring a Scooter;
For the best flexibility and price, hiring a scooter is your best option. 1-day scooter hire cost us 110,000 VND and this was easily done through our hotel. And, after two days and lots of riding all over Ninh Binh, we spent 220,000 VND on gas.
Grab;
Grab is an easy & safe transport option in Ninh Binh. Download the app before you arrive and it’s much easier than hailing a regular taxi.
We only booked a Grab once and this was from the train station to our hotel in Trang An. Grab taxis aren’t allowed to pick up from within the train station car park so we needed to walk out onto the street. And, this trip ended up costing 150,000 VND.
Although this certainly wouldn’t be a cheap option, I’m sure the fares would add up over a couple of days. The estimated fare in the grab app isn’t very accurate because drivers in the Ninh Binh Provence still use the meter so if the fare is different once you arrive they’ll adjust the price in the app.
Hire a Private driver;
If you have the budget and aren’t comfortable hiring a scooter, this is another convenient transport option in Ninh Binh.
1 day hire for a private driver to take you site seeing in Ninh Binh would start from 50USD. I would suggest talking to your hotel to begin with to see if they recommend anyone. Also, being their guest, may get you a better rate.
Hanoi to Ninh Binh by Train
The train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh was very comfortable and clean. The train left on time and took exactly 2.5 hours.
In June 2022 I pre-booked the train tickets on 12Go & paid 127,000 VND per person. The train seats were very comfortable, plus each seat had charging ports and tray tables.
There’s also the option to get a bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh and this journey will take approximately 2 hours but of course, that will depend on traffic. Check out the 12Go website for scheduling and prices for a bus or minivan transfer.
Ninh Binh to Hue
Following a stay in Ninh Binh, Hue is most often the next stop on the tourist trail, and for good reason – it’s awesome.
And the cheapest way to get between the two places is, unfortunately, a sleeper bus. I say unfortunately because this wasn’t an enjoyable journey, it took 11.5 hours and the bus we got was horrible. It was old, dirty and the open bunks (with no curtains) made it very hard to get any sleep.
But getting a sleeper bus in Vietnam is a right of passage for any backpacker or budget traveller. Also, not every sleeper bus in Vietnam is the same, some are actually really nice.
This trip only cost 480,000 VND per person and at the time this was half the price of the train. The ticket also included pick up from our hotel to the bus station.
Where to Stay in Ninh Binh
Here’s a quick guide on where to stay in Ninh Binh! There are three main areas in Ninh Binh, the city, Tam Coc & Trang An.
Ninh Binh City;
To be honest this is just a city, nothing naturally beautiful about it. The only benefit is cheap hotels and plenty of places close by to eat and drink.
Trang An;
This is where I stayed and it was absolutely beautiful. When coming to Ninh Binh, I personally think you came here for the scenery and to get closer to nature. Trang An is the perfect place to relax and base yourself while being surrounded by all the limestone mountains.
I would also recommend the hotel we stayed at, Trang An Peaceful Homestay. This is a small family-run hotel and the service was perfect. The rooms are small wooden bungalows set at the base of the mountains, surrounded by gorgeous gardens and they also have a pool.
Tam Coc;
I would say this is the most popular area for tourists to stay in. There are heaps of restaurants and bars close by and would be a better place to meet other tourists compared with Trang An.
Plus, it’s conveniently located very close to Bich Dong Pagoda.
Find the best accommodation deals in Ninh Binh on Booking.com
In Conclusion
After spending a month travelling Vietnam, from North to south, I left confidently saying that the Ninh Binh Provence was the most beautiful area and in my top three favourite places in Vietnam.
It’s absolutely beautiful and it was great escaping the busy city streets and also exploring places that weren’t overrun with other tourists.
In this Ninh Binh guide, I’ve put together a complete 2-day Ninh Binh itinerary, including all the best places to see during your stay. Plus other sites you could add to your itinerary, tips on transport and where to stay in Ninh Binh.
Click here for heaps more Vietnam travel tips.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
(If you found this information helpful, please consider booking your trip via my affiliate links. This won’t be at any extra cost to you and will help fund this blog, thank you)
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
We’re about to move to Thailand when we retire, and we are looking for suggestions for traveling in the area during school holidays. I will definitely save your article for later. Ninh Binh looks like it still has that unspoiled “Indochina” charm. But no thanks for the 11-hour sleeper train. I would have done that in my backpacking days, but not with kids, obviously.
Yeah definitely no sleeper bus with kids Lol. But Ninh Binh would be a beautiful area to travel to as a family
This was my favourite part of Vietnam too. I stayed in Tam Coc and I so miss the Vietnamese food.
I have always wanted to go to Vietnam – I guess now is my chance?!
yes definitely 🙂
Wow! This looks incredible! This is a really thorough and well thought out itinerary – great for travel planning. Definitely saving it for later.
This looks INCREDIBLE – Cuc Phuong National Park seems like paradise. Flagging for future trips!
I didn’t know about this place, it’s so beautiful!
Every time I see a post about Vietnam it reminds me that we really do need to get this on our travel planning board. Good to know that we should plan for 2 days in Ninh Binh to see all the sights. But more if we want to enjoy some quiet time in one of Vietnam’s most beautiful areas.
Wow, so pretty! I don’t know much about VietNam, so it’s really fun to read about it and travel vicariously through your guide and itinerary. I also appreciate the detailed prices for planning purposes. Thanks for sharing.
I was in Ninh Binh in October and it was one of my favorite places in Vietnam. I was there for 4 days and it wasn’t enough. I loved riding a scooter around the karst mountains and visiting all the pagodas and caves. Your recommendations are spot on.