Ninh Binh has something for everyone - lovers of sights, peaceful country life and incredible natural scenery.
Sightseeing boat cruises
Without a doubt, the most popular activity to visit Ninh Binh for is boating on the local canals. The boats or rafts are usually driven by local women and take you to incredible places you would never get to on foot.
On the boats, you'll cruise among karst lobsters, green rice paddies and under the ceilings of unique caves.
Which sightseeing cruise in Ninh Binh to choose?
There are several popular boat cruises operating in the Ninh Binh area, and each one has something to offer. Choose exactly the right one for you:
- Tam Coc - The most famous cruise that starts right in the tourist town of Tam Coc. Probably the most touristy option with amazing views and one cave.
- Trang An - A beautiful karst area with many caves, offering three cruise routes with different combinations of visiting caves and temples along the canals.
- Van Long - A considerably less touristy option, the furthest from Ninh Binh. Cruise through interesting wetlands amongst karst lobsters and lotus flowers with the chance to see the highly endangered langur species.
- Linh Coc - Cruise a short distance from Tam Coc, which is not well known at all and is virtually free of tourists. The canal leads to a cave through limestone landscape and between rice paddies. The downside is that prices are not so fixed and a fairly high tip is required for the boatman.
Is a sightseeing cruise in Ninh Binh worth it?
At least one sightseeing cruise should definitely be part of every visit to Ninh Binh. It's true that the Tam Coc and Trang An cruises are very touristy, but in case the crowds don't tempt you, you can opt for the less touristy Van Long and Linh Coc cruises.
All cruises are also quite affordable. The average price for a cruise is around 200 000 vnd per person and lasts for 2 - 3 hours, which is definitely a fair price.
Explore the local sights
Ninh Binh is an area extremely rich in sights and interesting historical places. There are hundreds of pagodas, temples and historical sites scattered amongst the karst caves and limestone cliffs.
A large number of the local shrines aren't even in the tourist guides, and are best found if you drive around the surrounding countryside, always stopping when you come across something interesting.
Bike rides
The karst area around the town of Tam Coc is quite small and very scenic, so a popular option is to rent a bike and travel around the Vietnamese countryside just by bike. Although the area is very mountainous, virtually all the roads are flat, so you won't get too tired.
For more information on the practicalities of hiring a bike, see the Transport chapter.
Day trip by bike in Ninh Binh
The main attractions of the area can easily be explored during a day bike ride. There are countless different routes to choose from, we recommend this one, for example, which is described below. All the roads on the route are rather regional, so you don't have to worry too much about heavy traffic on them.
Start your journey in the tourist town of Tam Coc, where you can easily find a bike to rent.
Head first to Bich Dong Pagoda to the west of town, return via Tam Coc and continue north towards Trang An Reserve, where you can take a scenic boat ride through the caves.
A short distance south of Trang An you'll find Hang Mua lookout with the best bird's eye view of the surrounding landscape.
Finish the ride on a small peninsula right in Tam Coc, where you'll enjoy views of karst lobsters and rice paddies.
Views of the karst landscape
Ninh Binh is nicknamed the Ha Long of the land precisely because of the unique karst formations all around. You can view them from below on scenic drives and scenic cruises, or head to one of the viewpoints and enjoy the spectacular views from above.
Wildlife
Ninh Binh also offers countless wildlife adventures. It's not for nothing that we find Vietnam's oldest national park ever in this area. Many endangered species of birds and primates can also be spotted in the area.
Cuc Phuong National Park offers a very interesting experience of the local nature, where you will find a large number of hiking trails through the lowland jungle. Moreover, there are hardly any tourists in the park, so you will definitely have a unique experience from here. The park regularly hosts wildlife watching expeditions by night and day. For the less adventurous, there is at least an Endangered Primate Rescue Station and a botanical garden.
You shouldn't miss the Van Long Reserve, home to the critically endangered Delacour's langur. On a boat you can discover the unique ecosystem here, which combines karst, wetlands and lowland tropical forest.
Day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi
Ninh Binh is only less than a hundred kilometres from the centre of Hanoi, so of course there is the option of a day trip to the area.
Ninh Binh offers a huge number of attractions and it would be a shame to visit it in a hurry in just one day. However, if you are short on time, you can choose this option.
Day trips to Ninh Binh from Hanoi usually include the most famous places like Trang An, the historic town of Hoa Lu and Tam Coc. Because of the long journey to the place, you will also arrive together with the biggest crowds of tourists, so don't be disappointed.
How much does a day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi cost?
When you book online, you can get day trips to Ninh Binh from Hanoi from 800 000 vnd per person. If you just make an appointment at a travel agency in downtown Hanoi, you can get the trips cheaper, on the other hand, you have no assurance about the quality of the trip.
Day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi on your own
You can certainly take a day trip to Ninh Binh on your own, just be aware that the transfers and organisation will take away some of the time you could otherwise spend in beautiful places.
Connections between Hanoi and the town of Tam Coc in Ninh Binh are very frequent, with the first minibuses leaving Hanoi as early as 5:00am and the last ones in the other direction leaving Tam Coc at 4:00pm, so you'll have plenty of time in the area.
Immediately upon arrival in Tam Coc, rent a scooter or bike from one of the ubiquitous travel agencies and set off to see the sights around the area.
