Ninh Binh is one of the most popular for day trips or overnight trips from Hanoi. I visited Ninh Binh many times, so in this guide, I will share with you my list of the top things to do and must-see attractions in Ninh Binh for tourists.
Ninh Binh is located only 2 hours drive from Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. It is known for its stunning natural landscape with striking limestone karsts, delicious food, and lots of cultural attractions.
While it is recommended to spend at least one to two nights in Ninh BInh, you can do it by one full day trip from Hanoi. Some highlights to do include taking a boat trip on Trang An, climbing Mua Cave, visiting Hoa Lu ancient capital, exploring Bai Dinh temple, or cycling around the countryside.
If you spend a night in Tam Coc, you can enjoy the lively nightlife in this area with many bars, restaurants, and massage shops open until late night. Other places to visit such as Tam Coc boat tour, Bich Dong pagoda, Cuc Phuong National park, Van Long Reserve, or Thung Nham Bird Park.
You can easily get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi (either from Old Quarter or Noi Bai international airport) by taxi, private car, limousines, guided tours, or buses. You can ask your hotel to organize transport for you. A private transfer (4-5 seats) usually costs around 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 VND one way.
1. Boat tour on Trang An or Tam Coc
Taking boat tours along Trang An Complex is one of the top things to do in Ninh Binh, especially for first-time visitors. Trang An is an UNESCO Heritage site where you can visit different grottoes, enjoy the stunning views of the towering limestone karsts, and explore many ancient temples and pagodas.
In Trang An, you can buy a ticket at the entrance and choose different routes that last from 1 hour to 4 hours. Depending on your available time and interests, you can choose one that suits you.
Many visitors choose route 3 which passes the longest cave in the system. Whatever route you choose, you’ll have a chance to experience the peaceful boat ride, passing numerous temples and caves.
You can choose to take a boat ride in the Tam Coc area, which is the newer version of Trang An. It is best to visit this during the yellow rice season (April to June) when your boat will be surrounded by beautiful rice fields. The Tam Coc usually stops at 3 caves and can take 2 hours.
I recommend taking the Trang An boat tour if you are first-timers because it is more dramatic than Tam Coc. They both have beautiful limestone cliffs and impressive caves. Trang An has more caves, temples, pagodas, and has a few different routes to choose from. Tam Coc is more about the caves, and the golden rice fields.
Most visitors stay in a homestay, hotels, and guest houses in the Tam Coc area. From Tam Coc, you can walk to Tam Coc Van Lam Pier for Tam Coc boat ride. To get to Trang An Pier, you can use Grab taxi, rent a motorbike, or ask for your hotel to organize a private car for you.
My hotel’s owner offered me a private car with a driver for a day. He only charges the price as in shown in Grab App, and the driver will wait for me while exploring each attraction. It is actually a good deal when someone offers you this.
Be sure to use sun cream and wear a hat to avoid the sun, as well as a life jacket to ensure your safety.
2. Hang Múa (Mua Caves)
Hang Mua is a popular and beautiful place to explore in Ninh Binh. It is located only 10 minutes drive to the Tam Coc area where most tourists stay. You can get here by cycling, taking a motorbike ride, or taxi.
You can buy the ticket at the entrance, and it’ll take around 30 minutes to get to the top. It is a bit difficult to climb up stairs but well worth it for stunning views of the river and rice fields, especially at sunrise or sunset.
The main attractions and things to do here are the lotus pond and the hike to the viewpoints like the dragon and the temple. There is nothing much in the caves.
When climbing up the mountain of steps, I recommend to go left, not right. The Right has the same view as the left but without the Lying Dragon. I also suggest going early to avoid crowds and the heat. Be sure to use a sun cream, hat, and bottle of water.
3. Bai Dinh pagoda
Bai Dinh pagoda is one of the must-see attractions in Ninh Binh. It is located 30 minutes drive from Tam Coc, and easily reachable by private driver, taxi, and Grab. It is one of Vietnam’s biggest Buddhist temples, covering a new temple area of 500 hectares and the ancient temples in caves.
This complex is massive, you can spend a few hours here to explore the most important sights. From the parking area, you ‘ll need to walk 10 minutes to the entrance to the temple. Walking and climbing is the most popular way to explore the complex.
The temple is free to enter, but you’ll need a ticket for parking (if you come with a car/motorbike), a ticket for an electronic car (if you want to use it; it can be useful on hot days) and a ticket to Bao Thap Tower ( if you want to go inside the tower).
Popular places to check out in Bai Dinh in the new area include The Tam Quan Gate, The Bell Tower, The Corridor with Arhat Statues, Gieng Ngoc, Bao Thap Tower (The Stupa), Maitreya Statue. The ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda is located in small caves on the mountain behind the new pagoda.
4. Explore Tam Coc, enjoy local food, nightlife, massage
Tam Coc is the most popular neighborhood to stay in Ninh Binh. This area has a high concentration of facilities catering for tourists. You’ll find many accommodations, restaurants, bars, shops, travel agencies, and supermarkets along the main road and its small alleys.
There are many small family-run restaurants and cafes where you can try delicious local dishes and drinks. We loved to dine at the Rustic Garden Tam Coc Bar & Restaurant and Xanh Coffee. The owners are very friendly and welcoming.
Some local specialties in Ninh Binh to try such as Goat meal, Burned rice (Com chay), Ant egg sticky rice (Xoi trung kien), or Kim Son Sticky Rice Wine.
Tam Coc has a very lively nightlife. The main road is packed with bars and pubs that stay open until late night and early morning. As they are family-run businesses, most establishments stay open as long as there are customers.
If you are tired after a long day exploring, you can try a body or foot massage. Most massage shops have excellent reviews from google, so I think you cannot go wrong with any of those shops along the main road.
5. Hoa Lu ancient capital
Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam before King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Hanoi in the 11th century. It is a small compound located on a strategic area, protected from invasions by limestone mountains and rivers.
You can buy a ticket at the entrance, spending around 1 hour here exploring different royal temples, tombs, and pagodas. Highlights are Temple of King Le Dai Hanh, Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang, Nhat Tru Pagoda, and Am Tien Cave.
6. Bich Dong Pagoda
Bich Dong Pagoda is located only 5 minutes drive by car and 15 minute cycling from Tam Coc. The temple is open daily from 9am to 6pm. You can get here by taxi, bicycle, or motorbike.
This complex is located on a mountain and has three levels including Lower Pagoda (Ha Pagoda) at the base of the mountain, Middle Pagoda (Trung Pagoda), and Upper Pagoda (Thuong Pagoda) on the top.
7. Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park is a great place to visit for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. It is a huge national park, more than one hour from Tam Coc. You can see wildlife such as snakes, frogs, and lizards. You can enjoy outdoor activities such as trekking, camping, and biking.
8. Thung Nham Bird Valley
Thung Nham Bird Valley is a nice place to visit if you are a nature lover and bird lover. You will have a chance to spot many species of birds here, including storks, egrets, herons, and kingfishers. Other highlights include But Cavem Vai Gioi Cave, and The ancient banyan tree.
9. Van Long Wetlands
Van Long Wetlands is located in Gia Vien communute, 40 minutes drive from Tam Coc. It is an untouched wetlands area and an alternative boat ride to Trang An and Tam Coc. You will be surrounded by towering limestone cliffs that rise up from the water and spot many birds and butterflies.
10. Cycling around the countryside
Cycling is one of the best things to do in Ninh Binh. You can easily rent a bicycle from your accommodation or at many rental shops.
Many highlights such as Mua Cave, Tam Coc, Trang An and Hoa Lu, are quite close together, so you can easily explore these attractions by bike if you are an active traveler. You’ll pass through charming rice fields, rivers, karsts, goats, and buffaloes.
See more:
- 2 to 3 Days in Ninh Binh Itinerary
- Where to Stay in Ninh Binh
- Best Time to Visit Ninh Binh
- How to Spend a Day in Ninh Binh
These are my suggestions for top things to do and must-see attractions in Ninh Binh. My favorite things to do in Ninh Binh are taking a Trang An Boat tour, exploring the countryside with beautiful rice terraces and stunning natural landscape, visiting Bai Dinh temple, trying local food, and enjoying the nightlife at Tam Coc. I also love to relax at one of the many massage shops after a day tired of exploring.