9+ AMAZING things to do in Ninh Binh! (+ 2 day itinerary)

Last updated on March 15th, 2024

Ready to experience the serene beauty of Ninh Binh, Vietnam? In this guide we’re sharing over 9 AMAZING things to do in Ninh Binh, plus where to stay, our favorite places to eat, and more!

After spending the first couple weeks of our Vietnam trip in the South and Central regions, we headed to the country’s famed Northern region. We had heard from many people that Northern Vietnam was the most beautiful part of the country. And they weren’t lying! 

Our first stop was the stunning province of Ninh Binh (pronounced Ning-Bing). Ninh Binh is known for its towering limestone karst peaks and beautiful valleys, giving it the nickname “Ha Long Bay on land.” Combine that with its rich history and picturesque countryside and Ninh Binh makes for a unique and tranquil escape in Vietnam. 

Watch our experience in Ninh Binh, where we took a Trang An boat tour, visited the Mua Caves, Bich Dong Pagoda, and more! 

Here you can ride bikes through rice fields, visit different temples, climb up to viewpoints, ride a boat through striking rock formations, and so much more. We spent a few days in Ninh Binh, both exploring the area and relaxing at our beautiful bungalow. And it was truly paradise!

Want to visit Ninh Binh for yourself? In this guide we’re sharing the best things to do in Ninh Binh, including some of our favorite local eats, fun activities, and historic sights. Plus, trip planning logistics, such as how to get to Ninh Binh, a 2 day itinerary, where to stay, and more! 

The Best Things to do in Ninh Binh

1. Go on a Trang An boat tour

One of the most popular things to do in Ninh Binh is to go on a boat ride amidst towering limestone peaks, rain forest jungle, and low ceiling caves. There are two areas where you can do this, Trang An and Tam Coc. 

After reading about both, we settled on Trang An (pronounced Chahng-Ahn), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Location: The Trang An boat wharf is where you’ll park, purchase your tickets, and get on the boat. 
Hours: Open everyday from 7 AM to 4 PM. Make sure to arrive early to beat the crowds!
Parking: Parking costs 15,000 VND for a motorbike and 10,000 VND for a bicycle. Make sure to have cash! 
Cost: 250,000 VND (~$10.25 USD) per person. You can pay 1,000,000 VND (~$40 USD) to have the entire boat to yourself, which is what we did. They do accept credit cards! 
Tipping: While your boat driver may not ask for a tip, we highly suggest tipping them. They work hard! We suggest a tip of around 50,000 VND (or more!) per person.

Trang An route options

There are three different routes you can choose from, which are all around 2.5-3 hours long and feature a mix of temples and caves. We chose to do route #3, which had the least number of caves, but the longest of them all, at 1 km long. The scenery along the entire ride was jaw dropping!

Our guide was also great! Although she didn’t speak any English, she was very friendly and an expert driver! She would offer to take photos of us and point out major landmarks, like spots from the movie King Kong.

To learn even more about the Trang An boat tour, including how to get there, the different route options, what to expect, and our personal experience, check out our Trang An boat tour guide!

What about the Tam Coc boat tour?

As we mentioned, the boat tour from the Tam Coc Van Lam Pier is another option in Ninh Binh. This one is shorter and cheaper than the Trang An boat tour, but it comes with some drawbacks. 

On this boat tour you’re likely to encounter lots of hassling from vendors, both before and on the boat ride. We’ve read some pretty bad stories about boat drivers demanding tips at the end and other boats pulling up to your boat and basically cornering you until you buy something from them. This would definitely take away from the experience!

Of course there are a good amount of positive reviews as well, so your experience may vary depending on your driver. But overall, the Trang An boat tour is said to be a better experience by many travelers.

2. Hang Mua (Mua Cave)

Another one of the MUST do activities in Ninh Binh is hike up to the Mua Caves viewpoint (also known as Hang Mua). 

Hang Mua was used as a natural vantage point for surveying the area and for tracking enemies since the 1200s. And today it is still an amazing vantage point of the area! It consists of a huge rock formation with two main pinnacles that offer stunning views over the Tam Coc Valley and the surrounding area. 

Hours: Open everyday from 6 AM to 7 PM. Arrive early! We got there a little bit before 7 AM.
Cost: The entrance to the Mua Caves is 100,000 VND per person.
Parking: Parking costs 10,000 VND for motorbikes and 5,000 VND for bicycles. Make sure to ONLY park after entering the gate, right behind the payment booth. People will try to scam you and tell you that you need to park before this, but it is NOT true. They can be aggressive, so just keep pedaling. 

How to get to the top of Mua Caves

To get to the top, you will have to work for it! There are over 500 large stone steps to climb. Which had us dripping in sweat, even in the morning, from the humidity! But trust us…it is SO worth it! The view from the top was one of the best views we had in all of Vietnam!

At the top you not only have 360 degree views, but there are also a couple other fun features. Like a dragon statue that stretches across the spine of the mountain! You can climb around on the dragon, but be super careful. The rocks surrounding it are very worn down from lots of visitors and are very slick! 

From the top you can also see lotus fields next to the Ecolodge. There will usually be a design carved into the field. If you’re in Ninh Binh at the right time of year (August-October) the rice fields will be lush, green and golden.

To read about everything you need to know when visiting the Mua Cave including how to get there, when to go, and most importantly how not to get scammed, read our guide to climbing Hang Mua!

3. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Just a few minutes northwest of Ninh Binh is Hoa Lu, which is recognized as Vietnam’s first capital. This capital complex was built around 968 AD by King Dinh Bo, the ancient Vietnamese Kingdom of Dai Co Viet. The capital was protected from the Chinese by a surrounding citadel and the nearby limestone hills. 

Today it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Trang An Complex. Not much of the ancient kingdom is left standing, but some of the notable things to see at Hoa Lu are the Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Hoan Temples, Bao Thien Tue Palace, and the One Pillar Pagoda (Nhat Tru Pagoda).

Hours: Open everyday from 7 AM to 5 PM.
Cost: 20,000 VND per person (less than $1 USD).
Parking: Parking is free inside the entrance, as of writing this post.

5. Tuyet Tinh Coc

Tuyet Tinh Coc is a beautiful complex with a lake and temple, tucked into a canyon. Located right by the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, it makes for a great stop before or after!

To get here, you’ll have to go through a tunnel, which is an experience in itself. Once at the lake, you can walk or cycle around it, but unfortunately they do not let you use your own bike. Instead, you have to rent one of theirs. It’s not too long of a walk, so we’d suggest just walking around the lake. You can also visit the multiple temples and caves here, which have a beautiful view overlooking the lake.

Hours: Open everyday from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Cost: 50,000 VND per person (~$2 USD).
Parking: It costs 10,000 VND to park. Since it’s right by Hoa Lu, you can park at one and walk to the other to save money.

5. Bich Dong Pagoda

The Bich Dong Pagoda is a temple complex located just west of Tam Coc. It consists of three pagodas and was originally built back in the 1400s. But in 1705, two Buddhist monks repaired and expanded it to what it is today. The pagodas are built with traditional stone and wood architectural styles and a couple of them are partially or fully in a cave!

There are three temples to visit here. Make sure you have your shoulders and knees covered! You’ll climb up through the cave (which can be slippery…as Adam knows from falling!) to reach each of the temples. Once you reach the top, there will be an exit out the back with an amazing view of a hidden valley. It’s really neat to see these beautiful temples built inside the caves. 

Hours: Open everyday from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Cost: FREE
Parking: We hear you can park for free in the cul-de-sac, where the road ends. Or you can park at one of the restaurants nearby for free and get a drink or snack afterwards. This is another spot where people will try to scam you to pay them for parking. To avoid this hassle, we took a Grab ride from town, which was quick and cheap.

6. Try the local foods

Like most destinations in Vietnam, Ninh Binh offers a handful of local specialties to try!

Goat meat

As you adventure about Ninh Binh you may notice goats climbing way up high on the rocks. They are free range goats and we even had one run through where we are staying! These goats are a big part of the culture and diet here and you can try goat meat at many restaurants. 

We tried goat kabobs at Thao Béo Restaurant and it was delicious! They were perfectly seasoned and grilled. We also tried com chay, which is a fried rice crust that is eaten as a delicious snack or dipped into a warm stew, which sometimes has goat meat.

Another popular way to eat goat is in a dish called de tai chanh. This is goat meat lightly cured in lemon juice and tossed with chilies, lime leaves, and sesame seeds. 

Besides Thao Béo, some other restaurants you can try goat meat are:

• Ngoc Linh Restaurant
• Khao Dung
• Ninh Loan Rose Restaurant

Banh Cuon

Banh cuon is a typical local breakfast that consists of fresh rice paper rolls filled with diced pork and mushrooms and served with mint and a mild fish sauce.

Brick Coffee

If it’s coffee you’re looking for, you HAVE to pop into Brick Coffee Shop in Tam Coc. This coffee shop is one of our favorites we have EVER visited. They have a small menu of coffees (we recommend the coconut coffee!) and teas. But what really sets it apart is the beautiful, relaxing design of the decor, plus the cake! They have two different cakes, a carrot and banana, and both are wonderful! It’s a great place to relax or even get some work done if you need to. To top it all off, the owner is so kind and wonderful!

Aroma Indian Restaurant

If you’ve had a lot of Vietnamese food and are in the mood for something else, Aroma Indian Restaurant was super tasty! We had it multiple times during our visit.

Check out our guide to the top 10+ foods you MUST try in Vietnam!

7. Bai Dinh Pagoda Complex

If visiting the largest complex of Buddhist temples in Vietnam was on your Vietnam bucket list, then you’re in luck! The Bai Dinh Pagoda is a massive temple area that includes the newly renovated Bai Dinh temple and the original old temple. Plus a 100 meter tall stupa!

Visitors can explore both temples and walk the grounds. But it is a huge complex, so make sure you have good walking shoes and dress appropriately for the temples!

Hours: Open everyday from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Cost: Free…sort of. It is free to enter, but you can pay to be shuttled around the property, plus go up into the stupa.
Parking: You do have to pay 15,000 VND for parking here. The parking is a bit of a walk from the temples and they require you to take an electric shuttle to take you to them. This has a fee of 60,000 VND (~$2.45 USD) round trip. 

8. Cuc Phuong National Park

Located on the western side of Ninh Binh Province lies Cuc Phuong National Park which is Vietnam’s oldest National Park. The park sits in two limestone mountain ranges that are bursting with life. The dense forest is home to more than 2,200 plants, over 100 species of reptiles and amphibians, and some of Vietnam’s rarest plants and animals.

In the park you can trek through the forest to a 1,000 year old tree, stay at a home stay with the Muong ethnic minority, go wildlife night spotting, visit the Carnivore and Pangolin Education Center, the Endangered Primate Rescue Center, and more! For both of these wildlife centers you will be assigned a guide to guide you through the center.

To get to Cuc Phuong National Park, you can drive a motorbike (a little over an hour drive) or go on a tour. 

Hours: Open everyday from 6 AM to 10 PM. You can also camp overnight here.
Cost: 60,000 VND (~$2.45 USD) to enter

9. Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve 

The Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve is a protected inland wetland that was created by the construction of a dike and has immense biodiversity amongst its limestone peaks and wetlands. 

You can go on a boat ride here similar to what you can experience in Trang An and Tam Coc. However, since it’s further out of town, it is WAY less busy. You may even be one of just a few boats out on the water! Because of this, it can be a much more calm and relaxing environment than the other boat tour options. Just like much of the rest of Ninh Binh, you’ll be surrounded by mountains and caves! 

Similar to Cuc Phuong National Park, there are many rare plants and animals to be found here. Like MONKEYS! And if you’re a bird watcher this is an amazing spot to check out!

Hours: Open everyday from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Cost: To ride the boat, the cost is around 70,000 VND (~$2.85 USD) per person. The boat fits two people. Make sure you tip your driver!

10. Bike around

One of the best things to do in Ninh Binh is to simply ride a bike through the countryside and the little villages along the way. Although there are tons of mountains everywhere you look, between them the land is very flat. This makes for pleasant bike riding!

Biking has become one of our favorite past times and being able to roll through the little peripheral villages at different times of day to see what local life was like was really special. In the morning, you’ll see busy streets and market stalls set up. In the afternoon, you’ll see people working in the fields. And in the evening, everyone will be outside enjoying the end of the day. You never know what you’ll find along the way!

2 day Ninh Binh Itinerary

Now that you know some of the best things to do in Ninh Binh, it’s time to figure out how to spend your time in the area. Below is a sample two day Ninh Binh itinerary that hits up all of the highlights!

First day

• Get an early start to the day and head to the Trang An boat ride! We suggest eating breakfast at your lodging before this.
• Enjoy the Trang An boat ride. 
• Have a quick lunch and coffee at Cafe Thực Giang, just a little bit down the road from the Trang An boat. 
• Explore the Bai Dinh Pagoda.
• Visit the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.
• See the views at Tuyet Tinh Coc. 
• For dinner, either eat at your lodging (we did this a lot!) or choose one of the restaurants we listed above.

Second day

• Get another early start and head to Hang Mua! You will want to get here just after sunrise to beat the crowds.
• If you have bikes, ride into Tam Coc from Hang Mua. We loved this ride!
• Once near town, grab coffee and cake at Brick Coffee.
• Visit the Bich Dong Pagoda
• Have lunch at Thao Béo Restaurant! 
• If you’re staying at a hotel or homestay with a pool, we highly recommend spending the afternoon relaxing and cooling off. This was one of our favorite things to do in Ninh Binh!
• For dinner, either eat at your lodging (we did this a lot!) or choose one of the restaurants we listed above.

Planning your trip to Ninh Binh

When to visit Ninh Binh

Like much of Vietnam, Ninh Binh experiences two main seasons, rainy season and dry season. We would recommend visiting in the dry season during the months of November through April! The rainy season typically begins in May and ends in October. 

We visited in late March and the weather was just getting to be pretty warm, but not unbearable. Although we did have some cloudy days, we didn’t experience any rain. 

You can still have a wonderful time in Ninh Binh during the rainy season, just be sure to pack the right gear, including a rain jacket and umbrella. One perk of visiting during the rainy season (June especially) is that the surrounding rice fields will be lush and green! Also, the lotus and water lilies will be in full bloom! 

Getting to Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is located in Northern Vietnam, about 62 miles south of the capital Hanoi. Because Ninh Binh is a smaller town, Hanoi tends to be the launching point to visit. Below are all the ways you can get to Ninh Binh!

Flying

Ninh Binh does not have an airport, so if you want to fly from another destination, you will need to fly into Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). From the airport you can take a train, bus, or limousine (van) the rest of the way. To see your options, check out 12Go!

Train

Getting to Ninh Binh is super easy by train from Hanoi. There are multiple daily departures from Hanoi Railway Station to the Ninh Binh Railway Station. And the ride is a little over 2 hours! 

If you’re coming from outside of Hanoi, there are trains and buses that run from many major destinations in Vietnam, like Hue, Dong Hoi, Halong City and Da Nang, to Ninh Binh. The Reunification Express Route (the main north-south railway in Vietnam) makes a stop in Ninh Binh, so taking a train is super easy. To see your options, check out 12Go!

Bus or Limo

If you want to take a bus or a limo (small van) instead, there are quite a few options! We suggest checking 12Go for your specific dates and time frame to see your choices.

Driving

You can also drive yourself to Ninh Binh by car or motorbike. However, if you rent a motorbike, make sure to check motorbike laws for your country’s driver’s license. You will need an IDP, which is an International Driver’s Permit. However, only IDPs from countries under the 1968 Vienna Convention are legal. 

Unfortunately for US, Canadian, and Australian citizens, your IDP will not qualify. Without an IDP the only way to legally drive a motorbike without a license is to drive one 50ccs or less. This may work in cities, but it will not be powerful enough in mountainous areas.

Also, whether you drive or are a passenger, helmets are required by law in Vietnam for anyone on a motorbike. So make sure to wear one!

Tours

Want to only visit Ninh Binh for a day? You can book a tour from Hanoi, which will not only provide transportation to Ninh Binh, but around as well. There are many tour options to choose from, but here are a couple highly rated choices:

• Ninh Binh Day Trip: Hoa Lu-Trang An-Mua Cave, Buffet,Cycling,Boat (our top pick, as it includes the Trang An boat ride over Tam Coc)
• Full-Day Ninh Binh Highlights Tour from Hanoi 
• Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave Via Boat & Bike

Want to save some money on this tour or experience? Join Tripadvisor Rewards to earn 5% Trip Cash on any hotel or experience booking made in their app, which can be applied to future in-app bookings!

Getting around Ninh Binh

It is very easy to get around Ninh Binh. The three most common ways of getting around are by bike, motorbike, and Grab rides. During our time in Ninh Binh we mostly rode bikes around, but did take a Grab a couple times. Both were great options!

How many days do you need in Ninh Binh?

We recommend spending at least two full days in Ninh Binh to be able to experience all of its top sites. You can click here to see the two day itinerary we recommend! If you’re looking to venture out to Cuc Phuong National Park or want to see everything listed on this guide, then we would suggest more than two days. 

Where to Stay in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is made up of multiple towns, including the actual town of Ninh Binh, plus Tam Coc and Trang An. While you might think the best spot to stay is in the town of Ninh Binh, Tam Coc and Trang An are the two most popular areas to stay in, as they are closer to attractions and have much more natural beauty. We personally recommend Trang An, which we will share more about below!

Tam Coc 

Tam Coc is the more popular of the two areas. This area is geared more towards backpackers and is pretty touristy. It’s a typical southeast Asia tourist area. 

There’s nothing wrong with staying in Tam Coc. It has everything you’ll need including delicious restaurants, coffee shops, and beautiful, clean homestays. The main downside is that it won’t be as quiet and peaceful. But if you’re only spending one night in Ninh Binh, then we’d recommend staying in Tam Coc because you’ll have really easy access to the top things to do. 

Homestays
Holiday Hotel and Villa
Friendly Homestay
Center Boutique Hotel

Hostels
Ninh Binh has many hostel options, with both shared and private rooms. We suggest checking out Hostelworld to see your choices and read reviews!

Trang An

If you’re looking to be more immersed in the relaxing nature scenery and wake up to the towering mountains outside your window, then Trang An is where you want to stay!

This area is just a few minutes north of Tam Coc, but feels like a world away. It is so quiet and peaceful! The downside is that it is a bit far from the town and sites, so you will have to take a bike or motorbike to get around, which your lodging will likely rent. Getting a Grab or taxi is more difficult and expensive. But if you can handle that, then you will love it!

Trang An Lamia Bungalow
This is where we stayed and we absolutely LOVED it! We had a private bungalow with a comfortable bed (the comfiest in Vietnam!), a cool outdoor bathroom, and our own private dipping pool. The property feels like a giant garden! We ate most of our meals here and they were all very good!

A couple other options are:

HoangLong Riverside Homestay
An’s Eco Garden Resort

Final tips for visiting Ninh Binh

Before heading to Ninh Binh we have a few final tips to help your time in both the area and Vietnam go a bit smoother. To see more tips, check out our blog post, where we share 20+ things to know before you visit Vietnam!

Avoid the scams

As we mentioned in this guide, Ninh Binh is known for some scams, especially parking scams. Make sure to read recent reviews for attractions to better understand what to expect when it comes to any scams.

Make sure you have a visa (if required)

As American citizens, we were required to get a visa. But depending on your nationality and length of visit, you may not need one. 

While you can get a visa upon arrival, getting an e-visa in advance is much easier! To get an e-visa you will want to go to this website. Yes, it looks a tad outdated and sketchy, but this is the website run by the Vietnamese government. There are other websites that you can get your visa from, but they may charge more.

The e-visa costs $25 USD per person, which can be paid by credit card.

After filling out the information, you will likely hear your results within 3 business days. We suggest planning for longer, just in case. Once approved, make sure to print it to bring with you!

Check out our ultimate Vietnam packing list to make sure you take everything you’ll need!

Get an eSIM

Want to use your phone while in Vietnam? We highly recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo! This is a SIM that you can download to your phone. You can get an eSIM for a specific country or for an entire region, making it extra easy to use if you plan to hop between countries.

Note: this SIM only works for data, not calling. If you need to make a call, WhatsApp will be your best bet. More on that below!

Buy travel insurance

We never travel internationally without travel insurance. And SafetyWing is our go to!

SafetyWing is travel medical insurance that will cover you outside of your home country for however long you need it. We purchase their Nomad Insurance plan, which not only gives us travel medical insurance, but also provides coverage for lost baggage and travel delays!

Always have cash

While some places do take credit cards, we found that many restaurants, street food stalls, public restrooms, and even homestays will only take cash. 

You can find ATMs all over town and we suggest going to a bank ATM for the best rates. 

Carry toilet paper

Make sure to carry some toilet paper (or tissue) while out and about in Vietnam. Otherwise, you may run into a crappy situation…literally! We found bathroom conditions to vary a lot. And sometimes they either did not have toilet paper or you had to pay for it. While many toilets have bum guns (spray gun bidets), you will want something to dry off. Don’t ask how we know…

Use WhatsApp

WhatsApp is the go-to app for communicating while in Vietnam. Many lodging and tour companies use it to book things and communicate with you. Make sure to download it in advance and give any guides your number!

One perk of WhatsApp is that you can also make calls on the app. This is very helpful if you have a data-only eSIM!

Learn how to cross the street

Crosswalks really don’t mean much in Vietnam. Locals told us that the best way to cross the street is to just start walking. Look for a small window in traffic and walk at a consistent pace (don’t run or stop). The motorbikes will go around you. It feels unnatural, but it eventually gets easier. 

Ready to explore Ninh Binh?

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