What You Can’t Miss In Ninh Binh With 2 Day Example Itinerary

The Ninh Binh province is without a doubt one of the most memorable stops on the Southeast Asia travelers route. And while it was once considered a hidden gem, pandora’s box has opened and the secret is officially out. There are so many things to experience in this gorgeous region and it was one of the major highlights throughout our entire trip.

In this guide we show you the best things to do in Ninh Binh including how to make the most of your time with an epic 2 day itinerary. Our goal is to help you enjoy every second in this authentic slice of Vietnam.

Our Experience

We spent 2 days and 3 nights in the beautiful Ninh Binh province of Vietnam during our 18 month honeymoon in 2018. And after spending almost a month in Vietnam, Ninh Binh was one of our favorite destinations. It’s a rural area that is much calmer compared to the likes of Hanoi, Sapa, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh so it was a welcomed break from the chaos.

Often referred to as the Halong Bay on land, Ninh Binh is home to towering limestone karsts enveloped in emerald green vegetation erupting out of waterlogged rice paddies. We thought this region was absolutely stunning and we’ll tell you why we think it’s worth adding to your Vietnam itinerary.

During our trip, we used Ninh Binh/Tam Coc as the place where Kristen learned how to drive a moped. It was important she learned so we could drive the Hai Van Pass on our own bikes. So if you’re new to driving a moped, this is a great spot because the roads are calm and you don’t have to worry about much traffic. Read more about us.

What You Need To Know Before Visiting

Ninh Binh is a small town located in northern Vietnam’s Red River Delta region. It’s about 93km (58 miles) directly south of Hanoi to give you a little reference. Many visitors base themselves in Ninh Binh or nearby Tam Coc to explore the surrounding rural regions which are still relatively unspoiled.

But the nomenclature around this area can be a little confusing because the town of Ninh Binh also acts as the capital city of the entire Ninh Binh province. There’s not much to do in the immediate town of Ninh Binh, but it’s often used as a springboard to visit popular areas of Tam Coc, Hoa Lu and Van Long.

So when people are talking about Ninh Binh, they’re usually referring to the entire Ninh Binh district. It’s filled with incredible scenery. You can visit 300 year old pagodas built into caves, summit a viewpoint with breathtaking 360° panoramic views and glide by boat among the hundreds of limestone mountains. This is the place to slow down, travel by bike, enjoy the fresh air and fall in love with nature.

We’ll briefly touch on the best things to do in Ninh Binh before showing you how to make the most of your time in a structured 2 day itinerary. There’s a lot to see, but many activities are located near one another so you can easily visit several in one day. Personally, we think the first three activities on our list are the best sites to see so we’ve included links to our popular guides if you want more information.

Now, let’s explore Ninh Binh:

1. Trang An Boat Tour

• Address: 7W39+7G5, Ninh Xuân, Hoa Lư, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
• Location: Google Maps
• Opening hours: 7:00am-5:00pm daily
• Price: 250,000 VND/person (about $10)

One of the most popular activities in Ninh Binh, the Trang An boat tour is our top recommendation. During the boat ride, you’ll float through a series of dark caves with low hanging ceilings and intriguing geological features. At the end of each cave, you’ll slowly glide out into a new scene filled with impressive limestone rocks dominating the terrain.

In 2014, UNESCO declared the Trang An Landscape Complex a World Heritage Site. Then in 2017, Hollywood filmed Kong: Skull Island among the limestone karsts and waterways of the complex. So the Trang An Complex has some serious accolades just by merit alone.

Tickets cost 250,000 VND/person (about $10) and each boat holds 4 people. If you have less than 4 in your group, you’ll have to share a boat with other visitors. We shared with a wonderful woman from the Netherlands. If you want to buy the entire boat for a private ride, it’ll cost you 1000,000 VND (about $40).

Your helmsman will steer the boat expertly around beautiful landscapes and you’ll be amazed at the unrivaled serenity. There are a number of stop off points where you can get out of the boat to explore small islands with Buddhist temples and shrines. We like Trang An because due to it’s UNESCO status, there are no scams like you’ll find at other boat rides in the region.

READ: What you need to know about the Trang An Boat Tour

2. Mua Cave Viewpoint

• Address: 6WJQ+C43, Ninh Xuân, Hoa Lư, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
• Location: Google Maps
• Opening hours: 6:00am-7:00pm daily
• Price: 100,000 VND/person (about $4)

While the Trang An boat tour is the best way to enjoy the incredible views from the water, we think Mua Cave offers the best viewpoint from above. After climbing 500 steps, you’ll have incredible 360° views of the surrounding valley. For us, the Mua Cave Viewpoint was the peak of our Ninh Binh adventure.

Look west and you’ll see the Ngo Dong River flowing through a range of limestone mountains wrapped in deep green vegetation. The river will be dotted with wooden boats and farmers tending to their rice crops on the river banks. To the east, you’ll see views over a lower viewpoint at Mua Cave, plus industrial Ninh Binh city in the distance.

If this seems like a place you want to visit, we highly recommend you read our guide on how to visit the Mua Cave Viewpoint. We’ll tell you everything you need to know including how to avoid the parking scam.

3. Bich Dong Pagoda

• Address: 6W99+C23, Ninh Hải, Hoa Lư, Ninh Bình 430000, Vietnam
• Location: Google Maps
• Opening hours: 24 hours a day
• Price: Free but 10,000 VND for parking

Another extremely popular location in the Ninh Binh region, the Bich Dong Pagoda is a three-tiered temple half built inside a cave. When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed by a lake filled with lotus flowers. Splitting the lake into two is a gorgeous bridge with a narrow stone path, leading to a beautiful triple arched stone entrance gate.

After you pass through the entrance gate, you’ll notice the first pagoda is constructed into a very large limestone rock and there are multiple levels to explore. It’s a unique spot combining antique pagodas, natural caves and stunning mountains so it’s one you don’t want to miss.

We rented bicycles from our accommodation because Bich Dong isn’t too far from Tam Coc where we stayed. On site, entry is free and you’ll have to pay about 10,000 VND to park your bicycle or motorbike. You may come across someone who is trying to sell you an entrance ticket, but it’s a scam. Read our guide below for our best tips when visiting Bich Dong.

READ: What to expect at the Bich Dong Pagoda

4. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

• Address: Trường Yên, Hoa Lư District, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
• Location: Google Maps
• Opening hours: 7:00am-5:00pm
• Price: 20,000 VND/person (about $1)

One of the major tourism draws to the Ninh Binh province is Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu. It’s located about 3.0 miles north of Trang An. Hoa Lu was the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries before the capitol was moved to Hanoi. This is a great place for history buffs because you’ll see remnants dating back over 1,000 years ago.

However, we found the ancient capital a bit disappointing because not much remains from the Dinh and Tien Le Dynasties other than a few buildings. Unfortunately, we thought there wasn’t much to see, it was filled with people trying to scam us and it was littered with trash. To make the most of your time, it might be worth visiting with a tour guide so they can show you the highlights. We’ll go over the best tour options at this end of this guide.

READ: Best things to do in Hanoi

5. Tam Coc Boat Tour

• Address: Ninh Hải, Hoa Lư District, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
• Location: Google Maps
• Opening hours: 8:30am-6:30pm
• Price: 250,000 VND/person (about $10)

In addition to the Trang An boat tour, you also have the option to take a Tam Coc boat tour. The major benefit to this boat tour is that it begins and ends right in the middle of Tam Coc. It’s incredibly convenient, especially if you’re short on time. However, this boat ride does not have a UNESCO designation which means guides do not have to abide by any regulations.

After reading many negative reviews about the Tam Coc boat tour, we decided to opt for the Trang An option. One of the biggest complaints about the Tam Coc boat ride was guides stopping in the middle of the river and demanding a large tip before rowing any further. Another tactic includes aggressive behavior to force visitors to buy various products throughout the boat ride.

It’s also difficult to find an exact ticket price because visitors are often asked to pay very different prices. For the 2024/2025 season, you should expect to pay:

• Adults: 250,000 VND
• Children between 1-1.3 meters tall: 125,000 VND
• Children under 1 meter: Free
• Solo travelers: 500,000 VND for the entire boat

That all being said, we did run into travelers who experienced a wonderful boat ride. There’s one particular section that looks stunning and it’s the same segment you can see from the summit of Mua Cave Viewpoint where the boats pass through the limestone valley. If you go into the experience knowing you really have to stand your ground, the Tam Coc boat ride might be a good option for you and then you won’t have to deal with driving out to Trang An.

6. Try The Local Food

One of our favorite parts about traveling through Vietnam is the food. And in addition to the stunning landscapes, Ninh Binh is known for a few specialty food dishes you might want to try. Here’s what foodies should look for when in town:

• Scorched rice (Cơm Cháy) – Grown from the Red River flood plains, the rice is boiled, sun-dried and then deep friend until golden brown
• Mountain goat – Raised by farmers in the limestone mountains, goat is a soft, chewy, lean meat and it’s often prepared in various ways
• Braised fish with Gao fruit – A simple dish made by cooking fish in brine with gao fruit which is a plant found along the riverbanks and streams in the region
• Ninh Binh Mountain Snail – This snail is native to the limestone mountains and only comes out for food during the rainy season from April to August. It’s tough, crunchy and often served boiled
• Kim Son Sticky Rice Wine – Handmade by skilled local wine makers and best served cold

We were pleasantly surprised by the food options in Tac Coc and we recommend you read reviews before choosing a restaurant for a meal. If you want to try a speciality dish, many restaurants display their menu outside so you can have a look before sitting down.

7. Chookie’s Beer Garden

• Address: Tam Coc Rd, Ninh Hải, Tam Coc, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
• Location: Google Maps
• Opening hours: 9:00am-10:00pm
• Price: Varies

After a few weeks of trying new foods in Vietnam, we’ll admit we started to crave a pizza and that’s exactly what we got at Chookie’s. But it was more than just the pizza that impressed us, it was the cool vibe and wonderful service at this beer garden.

Chookie’s serves American, Australian, European and vegetarian options so there’s something for everyone on the menu. But since they serve western dishes, the prices will be higher compared to the Vietnamese options in town. We appreciated the fact they offered wifi and we met several travelers here because it’s such a popular hang out. You can take a dip in the pool and check out the specials here.

8. Try A Homestay

One of the best reasons to visit Ninh Binh in our opinion is to get away from the hustle and bustle of the other busy Vietnamese cities. So if you’re looking for the ultimate relaxation, we’d recommend booking a homestay in Tam Coc. This gorgeous rural town is perfectly located near the best things to do in Ninh Binh Province and it has an abundance of properties with exceptional ratings.

Here are some of the highly rated options:

• Ninh Binh Greenland Homestay – Infinity pool, onsite restaurant, free bike rentals, bar, public bath and breakfast options
• Tam Coc Friendly Homestay – On site restaurant, 24-hour front desk, bar, garden, year-round outdoor pool and children’s playground
• Lys Homestay – 24-hour front desk, bar, garden, on site restaurant, year-round outdoor pool, terrace and mountain views
• Tam Coc Melody Homestay – Shared lounge area, river views, year-round outdoor pool plus continental buffet breakfast options
• Trang An Luxury Homestay – Sun terrace, infinity pool, spa services, outdoor fireplace, breakfast buffet and bike rentals

Most of these options are located right in town, but if you want something more rural, search here. You can click on the map to find properties located several miles outside of town for the ultimate escape.

We stayed at a small budget place called Tam Coc Dream Homestay. It’s centrally located in Tam Coc just a few minutes walk from the strip of restaurants and the main boat dock. The owners were lovely and the hotel price included a buffet breakfast each morning. We were able to hire bicycles and a motorbike directly at the hotel for a better price than town. It cost us $10/night which was perfect for our budget at the time and the views from the upper balcony were fantastic.

The Tam Coc Wonderland Bungalow is a mid-range 3 star hotel option. Or the Tam Coc Garden Resort is a 4 star hotel luxurious option for those looking to splurge.

What Else Can You Do?

Many visitors only stay in Ninh Binh or Tam Coc for a few days. In hindsight, we would have booked a really nice homestay in the countryside and stayed for a few extra nights. So if you find that you have more time, here are a few more things you can do in town:

• Cuc Phuong National Park – The oldest and largest national park in Vietnam spanning through three provinces including Ninh Binh. It was officially established in 1962 by President Ho Chi Minh. This jungle area offers various wildlife viewing opportunities, hiking, biking trails and caves.
• Bai Dinh Pagoda – One of the largest temples in Southeast Asia, this is a very large complex of Buddhist temples located on Bai Dinh Mountain. The pagoda is still a major spot for Buddhist pilgrims.
• Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve – A scenic nature preserve with limestone karsts surrounded by a freshwater lake in one of the lowland wetlands along the Hong River Delta. It’s home to the endangered Delacour’s langur monkey and you can also take a boat tour.
• Phat Diem Cathedral – Built in stone and wood during the 19th century, this cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phát Diệm.
• Thai Vi Temple – A beautiful temple surrounded by mountains with a stunning courtyard dating back to the 13th century.

READ: Things to know about Vietnam before visiting

Two Day Ninh Binh Itinerary

We think an action packed 2 day itinerary is the perfect way to explore Ninh Binh. No doubt you have a lot more of Vietnam to see and an approaching expiration date on your visa. So having visited ourselves, this is how we would have done it differently had we known all of this information first.

For this itinerary, we use Tam Coc as a home base because we think it’s the most effective way to see all of the sights. We also biked or drove a moped to the locations listed, but you can just as easily book a tour if you want someone else to drive. We’ll list popular tour options after the itinerary.

Ninh Binh Itinerary – Day 1

• First, head for the Trang An boat tour. It opens a 7:00am so we recommend getting there bright and early. This way you’ll beat the heat and the crowds. Imagine floating around the giant limestone rocks as the sun begins to glow with orange hues in the early hours of dawn. Minimal boats will also enhance your experience.
• Next go north to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. You can pay to park just where the bridge begins. This is a good time to spend an hour walking around the temples and outer citadel area. Afterwards, head back to Tam Coc passing by the entrance to Mua Cave Viewpoint. You want to save this for the next morning, trust us.
• Then stop by Chookies for lunch. Enjoy a lovely meal and have a coffee to prepare for the afternoon.

You could continue on motorbike, but we’d suggest you ditch the engine and use your legs instead. We thought slowly biking around Tam Coc was such a beautiful experience, but it will be hot in the afternoon so make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen.

• Grab a bicycle from your hotel and cycle the 3km (2 miles) from Tam Coc to Bich Dong Pagoda. It’s a lovely scenic ride and you’re doing your tiny bit for the environment. When you arrive, hopefully the tour buses will have thinned out by afternoon. You’ll need about 2-3 hours to explore all 3 tiers and take in the amazing views.
• Then cycle back to town for the evening. You should pick a highly rated restaurant, order some local food and relax with a beer. Maybe take a dip in the pool or enjoy the outdoor fireplace if your homestay has one.

Ninh Binh Itinerary – Day 2

To get the most out of today, this will be another early start.

• Head to the Mua Cave trailhead. It opens at 6:00am and we recommend arriving as early as possible. This way you’ll beat most of the parking scammers and there will be less people on the mountain. The heat and humidity will also be much more bearable this time of day.
• Choose somewhere local to eat on your way back home or head back to Chookie’s for lunch. Then you have a decision to make…
• You could take an easy stroll over to the Tam Coc boat dock. A late afternoon of gliding through golden or green rice paddies will be the perfect way to end your second day. You’ve already done an early morning boat ride just after sunrise, so this time head out for a sunset.
• Or you could visit one of the other temples we mentioned above or Cuc Phuong National Park during this time in the afternoon.

Travel Tip: We visited Mua Caves around 2:30pm and stayed for sunset. But the climb was horrible because we did it at the worst part of the day. It was also extremely crowded for sunset because everyone had the same idea. That’s why we suggest giving it a miss the evening before and making the effort to come back up on the second morning of the 2 day itinerary for Ninh Binh.

Top Rated Tours In Ninh Binh

Most of the places listed on our Ninh Binh itinerary will require you to either bike or drive a moped. If you aren’t comfortable with this type of transport, you could book a tour to help you check off the top sights in Ninh Binh.

If you plan to stay in Hanoi and want to see the highlights of Ninh Binh, but don’t want to have to deal with logistics of staying over, there are many day trip options too. Day tours will include transport to the Bich Dong Pagoda, Mua Cave viewpoint, Hoa Lu ancient capital, Bai Dinh Pagoda and Trang An Boat Tour. Read the fine print to see if entrance fees are included as well.

Here are popular tour options:

How To Get To Ninh Binh Province

Ninh Binh does not have its own regional airport, but Hanoi international airport is only 127km (79 miles) away. There are a few different ways to get to the region and most travelers will spend a few days in Hanoi before jumping on a train or bus to Ninh Binh.

We think the easiest and most popular way to get to Ninh Binh is by bus, but we’ll go over all of your options.

• Flights – Fly into Hanoi if you’re traveling to Vietnam internationally. Even if you are in southern Vietnam, there are no closer regional airports than Hanoi so this is still your best bet. You’ll have to book additional transportation from here or book a day trip. We always use Skyscanner to find great deals on flights.
• Trains – This can be an effective way to travel in Vietnam because you’ll avoid the carnage on the road. However, there aren’t always direct trains running to tourist hotspots such as adventure cave town Phong Nha and trekking haven Sapa. But Ninh Binh is incredibly easy to access by train no matter if you’re coming from the north or the south. You can book a train to Ninh Binh here.
• Bus – If you’re a new traveler in Vietnam, we highly recommend taking a sleeper bus at least once for the experience. You won’t need a sleeper bus to get to Ninh Binh, just a normal day time bus that will take a few hours. Our bus from Halong Bay to Ninh Binh was 2 hours late setting off and took around 4 hair raising hours to arrive in Tam Coc directly. You can book a bus to Ninh Binh here.
• Private Transfer – Book a round-trip Hanoi to Ninh Binh private vehicle here if you want to travel in comfort. Or this option is a private transfer from Ninh Binh to Halong or Halong to Ninh Binh. Private transfers will be the most expensive option.

Travel Tip: If you go for the bus, we’d strongly advise booking one online before you travel. They are much better than locally organized buses on the day, trust us.

READ: Is it worth traveling by sleeper bus in Vietnam?

Our Interactive Map

Use the interactive map above to help orientate yourself when you visit the Ninh Binh province. Click to activate the map. We’ve included the best things to see and do that we already mentioned in this guide. Or you can access our map via this link here.

Map Key:

• Red – Our top attractions
• Dark Blue – Homestays/hotels
• Black – transportation hubs

Follow the itinerary as outlined above and plot your route using our map.

The Morgan Conclusion

What we liked: Ninh Binh is a popular destination because it features rural Vietnam at its finest. And because it’s very rural, you’ll have to bike or ride a moped to the top activities which we really enjoyed. Many of the attractions are located very close to one another so you can easily visit several in one day if you plan well. Another highlight is the incredible amount of homestays available. We’d recommend you stay in Tam Coc if only have one or two nights because this is a more centralized location. If you plan to stay longer, you should stay in Trang An to enjoy the beautiful rural surroundings.

What we didn’t like: Since the area has grown in popularity over the past decade, it’s unfortunately attracted a lot of scammers. You have to be diligent when visiting attractions because people are always trying to take your money. After a few days here, we had enough of the drama every time we wanted to visit a new place.

Is Ninh Binh worth visiting? Yes, we think Ninh Binh is worth visiting and in hindsight, we would have planned a few more days in the region. It’s filled with stunning limestone karsts jutting out of the ground and the pictures don’t do it justice. Personally, we’d go as far as saying Ninh Binh is substantially more beautiful and far less like a tourist conveyor belt compared to Halong Bay. Ninh Binh is also home to Vietnam’s first capital and a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site so it should be on every travelers Vietnam itinerary.

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Want more Vietnam content? Head over to our Vietnam Travel Guides to see example itineraries, tips and popular city guides.

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We hope this guide featuring things to in Ninh Binh helps you plan the perfect rural Vietnam itinerary!

Please let us know if you have any questions about this itinerary or visiting Vietnam in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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