Trang An Boat Tour is the most popular boat tour in Ninh Binh. It was recognised as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2014 for its breathtaking natural landscape and rich cultural attractions. Taking the Trang An Boat Ride is one of the top must do activities when visiting Ninh Binh.
While taking a boat ride in Trang An, you can enjoy the stunning views of the striking limestone mountains rising above the calm turquoise water, visiting beautiful caves and ancient temples from the Dinh and Tran dynasties (around 10th-15th century).
In this article, I will share with you everything about Trang An Boat Ride including how to choose the best route, how to get to the pier, price, ticket, duration of the boat,…
Is it worth it taking the Trang An Boat Tour in Ninh Binh?
It’s definitely worth it taking the Trang An Boat Tour in Ninh Binh. It’s the most famous boat ride in Ninh Binh where you can experience the relaxing boat ride along the calm river, enjoying the breathtaking view of limestone mountains, caves, and visiting some spiritual attractions.
Trang An Boat Ride is much better than Tam Coc Boat Ride in terms of professional boat services and well-regulated system, so you will enjoy the scenery without any disappointments.
There are almost no pushing tips or selling souvenirs from boat rowers, so you can do sightseeing without any disruptions and scams.
I highly recommend taking Trang An Boat ride if you want a classic boat ride experience with good boat services. It has a wider range of caves and temples to explore, as well as 3 different routes to choose from.
Being said that, if you want a shorter boat ride and more stunning viewpoint, Tam Coc is a better choice. If you stay overnight in Ninh Binh, it’s a good idea to take both Tam Coc and Trang An Boat ride.
You can read more about the comparison between Trang An and Tam Coc in this article Should You Take Trang An or Tam Coc Boat Ride?.
What is the Best route at the Trang An Boat Ride?
There are three routes in Trang An to choose from. Route 1 takes you to the most caves (9 caves and 3 temples), route 3 takes you to the longest cave in the area. Both route 2 and 3 takes you to the iconic Water Temple, which is a popular check-in spot in the complex.
All routes 1, 2, and 3 share the similar scenery of breathtaking limestone karst rising above the emerald water. The main differences between these routes lie in the number of caves and temples visited on each route.
In general, routes 2 and 3 are the most popular routes because they take you to the famous Water Temple. Additionally, these routes usually have shorter duration and more relaxing experience than Route 1.
If you want to experience the boat ride through the longest cave, choose route 3. If you want to choose the shortest boat ride, skipping the longest cave and replacing it with another smaller cave, opt to route 2.
If you want to experience the longest route in Trang An with lots of caves and involve a bit of physical activities such as climbing up to the Tran temple, I recommend choosing Route 1. It usually takes longer than other routes due to its wide range of caves and its location further north from the pier. Route 1 is the least popular route of the three, so it’s a great option for those who want a quieter atmosphere and less crowds.
See more:
Should you choose Route 2 or Route 3 on a Trang An Boat Tour?
Most people choose route 2 and route 3 because it has a good combination of caves and temples. Both of them have stopped at the popular Water temple, which is often featured on travel brochures. People who come to Trang An also often post the picture of this temple on social media, making it a hotspot to check in when visiting Trang An.
Route 2 and 3 share some stops along their routes such as the Water temple, Suoi Tien Temple, and the Grand Cave.
Route 3 will take you to 3 caves and 3 temples with the highlight being the complex’s longest cave and the Water temple. Route 2 will take you to 4 caves and 3 temples with the highlight being the Water Temple and a bit shorter boat ride duration.
I recommend choosing route 3 if you want to experience the longest cave in the area. I personally chose this one because I wanted to try the boat ride through the 1km long cave and visiting the Water Temple at Vu Lam Royal steps.
You can choose route 2 if you want a shorter boat ride and don’t want to spend a long time in one cave. The cave’s ceiling is usually low, and you have to lower your head all the time to avoid bumping your head on the cave ceiling. The estimated boat ride in route 2 is 2-3 hours while in route 3 is 3 hours, so it’s a bit shorter time on route 2.
In terms of temples, both route 2 and 3 will take you to Suoi Tien Temple, Vu Lam Royal Steps, and Water Temple. Another temple on route 3 is Trinh temple dating back to the 10th century from the Dinh Dynasty. Another temple on route 2 isThanh Cao Son temple, which is one of the three guardian deities of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.
In terms of caves, route 2 and 3 both stop at Grand Cave, which is the last cave in each route, located between Suoi Tien temple and Water Temple. Other caves in route 2 are to Lam Cave, Vang Cave, and Thanh Truot Cave. Other caves on Route 3 are Dot Cave (longest cave) and Cloud Cave.
Should you choose Trang An Route 1 over Route 2 &3?
In terms of location, most attractions on Route 1 are in the northern part of Trang An complex, and most attractions on Route 2 & 3 are in the area’s southern part. The northern part is further from the Pier compared to the southern part, so taking route 1 is a bit longer compared to route 2 and route 3.
I recommend choosing Route 1 if you want to experience the longest and most comprehensive boat tour in Trang An with an in-depth exploration of caves.
The caves and spiritual attractions on Route 1 are almost different from Route 2 and 3. Route 1 only shares the Den Trinh temple stop with Route 3, and has no common stop with Route 2.
Route 1 will take you to 9 caves and 3 temples on the northern part of Trang An complex. The highlight of route 1 is the caves and the Tran temple, which is the sacred temple in the heart of Trang An – the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site.
Unlike other temples on route 2 and 3, located on the flat area near the river, Tran Temple in route 1 is located on the high mountain, so you need to climb up some 200 steps of narrow and steep path to the temple. So in addition to the caves, if you like a bit of trekking, route 1 is a good choice.
Below are the detailed attractions on each route on Trang An. I’ll start from the most popular one, which is route 3, then to route 2, and finally route 1.
Trang An Boat Tour Route 3 Map and Detail
I took route 3 and had a good time exploring the caves, temples, and scenery of this route. Route 3 will take you to 3 caves and 3 temples. The highlight of route 3 is the longest cave and the Water temple.
The order of attractions in Route 3 are the Pier, Trinh Temple, Dot Cave, Cloud Cave, Suoi Tien temple & Thung Voi, Kim Quy Mountain, Dia Linh Mountain, Grand Cave, Vu Lam Royal Steps & Water Temple.
First Stop: Trinh Temple (Đền Trình)
Trinh Temple is the first temple stop on route 3 and route 1 of Trang An. The small temple is located next to Dot Cave, and is a good break after spending 20 minutes on the boat ride from the pier. You can spend around 10 minutes exploring the temple ground.
The temple is the worship place of 4 important Generals from the Dinh Dynasty: Đinh Điền, Nguyễn Bặc, Trịnh Tú, Lưu Cơ. These people helped King Dinh Bo Linh unify the country and established the state of Dai Co Viet.
In front of the temple are the two large stone carp statues, which symbolize good luck and prosperity. There are also many fishes near the shore of the river near the temple. On the right side of the temple is the entrance to Dot Cave.
Second Stop: Dot Cave (Hang Đột)
Dot Cave is the longest cave of Trang An Boat Tour, located right next to Trinh Temple. It’s the first cave stop on Route 3. It’ll take a 20 minutes boat ride from Trang An Pier and it’ll take a 20-30 minutes boat ride inside the cave.
There are electric lights inside the cave, so you can easily see the stalactite formations. Some parts of the cave are low, so always watch your head to avoid hitting on the cave ceiling.
Third Stop: Cloud Cave (Hang Vân)
May Cave is the 2nd cave stop on route 3, located after Dot Cave, around 5-10 minute boat ride apart. It’s 400m long and has a higher ceiling and is cooler compared to the Dot Cave.
The water is very clean and clear. You have both a beautiful ride inside and when escaping the cave, it has wonderful views of the scenery. The boat ride inside Cloud Cave is around 5 minutes.
Fourth Stop: Suoi Tien Temple & Thung Voi
Suoi Tien temple is around 10 minutes boat ride from The Cloud Cave. It’s located upstream of the Ngo Dong River, is the worship place of the god Quy Minh. The temple is a 2nd temple stop on both Route 3 and Route 2 Trang An Boat Tour.
The temple is located in the flat area, so you can easily walk around to explore. The name “Suối Tiên” means Fairy Stream. According to local folklore, there was a crystal-clear stream in this area where fairies, when descending to earth, often chose it as a resting place, to bathe and play, hence the name Fairy Stream, and the temple built beside the stream also bears that name.
While in the Suoi Tien Temple area, I recommend finding a way to visit the Thung Voi temple, which is a tranquil place to check out.
Not many people know about Thung Voi temple, so it was a very serene atmosphere with lush greenery, calm river, and butterflies. The walk though the cave from Suoi Tien temple to Thung Voi temple is around 5 minutes.
I visited during lunch time, so there was a group of boat rovers lining the path inside the cave having lunch. They made the way for me to walk through and offered me some snacks.
I spent around 10 minutes at Thung Voi temple. I wish I could spend more but I have to get back to the boat for the next destination.
Other people on my boat didn’t know about Thung Voi, so they skipped it. Most boat rowers won’t tell you because they don’t want you to stop too long at each place. I only found it on the map that was given when purchasing the ticket. I can say walking through the cave from Suoi Tien to Thung Voi is the highlight of the Suoi Tien temple stop, so make sure to check it out!
Another photogenic place to take photos at Den Suoi Tien temple is the Stone Bridge. You can have nice photos with the reflections on the water and the boat rowers on the river.
You can spend somewhere between 15-30 minutes at the Suoi Tien temple area. I visited Thung Voi temple, so I spent 30 minutes there.
Kim Quy Mountain & Dia Linh Mountain
On the boat ride from Suoi Tien Temple to the Grand Cave, you will see the beautiful views of Kim Quy Mountain & Dia Linh Mountain.
Địa Linh Mountain is likened to a lotus flower in Buddhist tradition. Kim Quy Mountain, also known as “Turtle Mountain,” symbolizes the wish for longevity, permanence, and eternity.
Fifth Stop: Grand Cave (Hang Đại)
Grand Cave is the last cave stop in Route 2 and Route 3 Trang An Boat Tour. It’s 10m long and is one of the widest caves in the cave system of Trang An.
Sixth Stop: Vu Lam Royal Steps & Water Temple
The Vu Lam Royal Steps, or Hành Cung Vũ Lâm in Vietnamese, is the last temple stop in Route 2 and Route 3.
“Hành Cung” means Royal residences, which were the palaces or rest stops where the king would stop to rest when traveling outside the capital city.
Hanh Cung Vu Lam was built by King Tran Thai Tong in 1258 after leading the leading victory against the Yuan – Mongolian invader.
It has a strategic location, surrounded by limestone mountains, thick forests, and rivers, so it was used as the military base by Tran Dynasty’s Kings in an attempt to consolidate their forces and counter-attack the Yuan – Mongolian invader in both the second and third times.
The Vu Lam Royal Palace was also the first place where King Tran Nhan Tong renounced worldly life to practice Buddhism in July 1294, setting up a Truc Lam school of meditation.
In front of the Hanh Cung Vu Lam is the Water Pavilion with a large bell inside the temple, which was ring during the festival. This is a great place to take photographs both from the boat and on the bank.
Trang An Boat Tour Route 2 Map and Detail
Route 2 is the shortest path on Trang An Boat Route. It’s the closest route to the pier, and will take you to 4 caves and 3 temples.
The order of the attractions in Route 2 are The pier, Lam Cove, Thanh Cao Son Temple, Vang Cave, Thanh Truot Cove, Suoi Tien Temple, Grand Cave, and Vu Lam Royal Steps and the Water Temple.
1st stop: Lam Cave (Hang Lâm)
Lam Cave, or Hang Lấm, is the first cave stop on Route 2 on Trang An Boat Tour. It is a small water cave, around 60m long in the Sao Khe River. Lam Cave is the shortest cave in Trang An complex.
Legend has it that in the past, local people often transported agricultural produce through this cave. Because the bottom was covered with a thick layer of mud, making the passage slippery, it came to be known as “Lấm,” a name derived from the Vietnamese word for mud and dirt.
After winding your way through the cave, you will be surprised with the stunning scenery of Thung Nội Lấm, which is a 9,000 square meters water-filled valley with a tranquil atmosphere, and lush greenery.
2nd stop: Thanh Cao Son Temple (Đền Thánh Cao Sơn)
Cao Son Temple is the first temple stop in Route 2 Trang An, located between Lam Cave and Vang Cave. It has unique three-tiered and twelve-roofed architecture and you can spend a few minutes exploring it after getting off the boat.
The temple is delicate to Cao Son, who is the Guardian God on the western side of Hoa Lu ancient town. He also one of the 100 children of Lac Long Quan and Au Co, the founding legend of the Vietnamese people.
3rd stop: Vang Cave (Hang Vạng)
Vang Cave is a 250m long cave located on Route 2 Trang An, right after Cao Son Temple and before Thanh Truot Cove. This is one of the longest caves in Route 2. The scenery is stunning after leaving the cave.
4th stop: Thanh Truot Cave (Hang Thánh Trượt)
Thanh Truot Cave is 320 m long cave located close to Grand Cave, connecting the river between Suoi Tien Temple and The Vu Lam Royal Steps.
Thánh Trượt means God’s Slip. There are several stories about the name of the Cave. One of the stories is that in the 12th century during the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong, Zen Master Nguyễn Minh Không traveled far and wide in search of rare medicinal herbs to cure the king’s illness. While traveling by boat through this area, he was so captivated by the enchanting landscape and fell. To remember this event, local people named the cave Thanh Truot.
5th stop: Suoi Tien Temple (Đền Suối Tiên)
Suoi Tien Temple is the 2nd temple stop in Route 2 and 3 Trang An. Suối Tiên means Fairy Streams. According to local folklore, fairies used to bathe in the crystal clear stream in the area, so they named the area Suoi Tien.
The temple is delicate to Quy Minh Dai Vuong, the guardian god who protects the southern gate of Hoa Lu ancient town.You can enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the temple and find few beautiful spots to check out such as Stone Bridge, lotus ponds, and Thung Voi temple.
At the beginning of the road to the temple has thatched huts with earthen walls, traditional fishing baskets, and rice mills recreating the daily life of ancient Vietnamese people.
There is a hidden temple located in the back of Suoi Tien temple. Look for the Thung Voi sign or ask boat rowers around to find the cave with a walking path inside, to get to the Thung Voi temple. It was a serene place because most visitors skipped or didn’t know about its existence on the map.
The ground of the temple is surrounded by lush greenery, creating a peaceful and refreshing atmosphere.
6th stop: Grand Cave (Hang Đại)
Grand Cave is the last cave stop on route 2 and route 3. It’s connected to the two famous temples in Trang An, which are Suoi Tien temple and Vu Lam Royal Steps. Grand Cave is 150m long, and is one of the widest caves in Trang An.
7th stop: Vu Lam Royal Steps/ Hành Cung Vũ Lâm & the Water Temple.
Hanh Cung Vu Lam and the Water Temple are the last stops on route 2 & 3. Hanh Cung Vu Lam was a royal residence built by Tran Thai Tong during the Tran Dynasty.
It was used as the place where the King practiced his religious life and became the military base in 1285 against the foreign invasion due to its strategic location, protected by striking limestones and river way connected to Thang Long Capital City.
In front of the Hanh Cung Vu Lam is the Water Pavilion with its massive bell inside. It’s a popular spot to take photos and videos for Tiktok and Instagram.
Trang An Boat Tour Route 1 Map and Detail
Trang An Boat Route 1 takes you to visit the caves and temples in the northern part of Trang An. The estimated time for this route is around 3-4 hours (the longest route in Trang An). You will visit 9 caves and 3 temples.
The places to visit on Route 1 in order are the pier, Trinh Temple, Dark Cave, Bright Cave, Tran Temple, Wine Brewing Cave, Three Drops Cave, Seo Cave, Chamois Cove, Khong Cave, Khong temple, Tran Cave, and Return Cave.
1st Stop: Trinh Temple
Trinh Temple, or Đền Trình in Vietnamese, is the first stop in in Route 1 and Route 3 of Trang An. The temple is located at the foot of the mountain, with the back against the limestone mountains and faces a calm river.
The temple was originally built by the Dinh Dynasties in the 10th century. The temple underwent several renovations due to the deterioration from the wars and natural disasters. The current temple was renovated in 2003.
The temple worships four famous generals of the Đinh Dynasty: Nguyễn Bặc, Đinh Điền, Lưu Cơ, and Trịnh Tú. They played a significant role in helping the King Đinh Bộ Lĩnh in reunifying the country and establishing the state of Đại Cồ Việt.
The Trinh temple is a small place, so you can easily spend 5-10 minutes after getting the boat to explore the area.
2nd stop: Dark Cave (Hang Tối)
Dark Cave is the first cave stop in Route 1 Trang An. It’s one of the natural caves in the Trang An complex. With a length of 330m long, it’s the longest cave in Route 1.
As its name suggests the inside cave is dark due to its winding and narrow entrance, not allowing natural light to go inside. There will be a light system for you to see karst formations inside the cave.
Like other caves in the Trang An area, the cave ceiling is relatively low, so make sure to lower your head and watch the front when moving through to avoid collisions.
3rd stop: Bright Cave (Hang Sáng)
The Bright Cave is just a few minutes boat ride away from Dark Cave. It’s the 2nd cave stop on Route 1 after passing Dark Cave. Despite what the name suggests, there are still light systems inside the cave to help you to see the rock formations. It’s around 120m long and 12m wide.
4th stop: Wine Brewing Cave (Hang Nấu Rượu)
The Wine Brewing Cave is located near Tran Temple. It’s 250m long, has a wider entrance and higher ceiling than other caves in the area, creating a more spacious atmosphere.
The cave has an interesting story. According to the legend, local people used the pure underground water found more than 10 metres deep inside the cave to make wine for the king.
Researchers have found numerous ancient pottery fragments, jars, and brewing tools inside the cave, which confirm this story. The wine jars are arranged in the cave to recreate the cultural setting of the past.
5th stop: Tran Temple
Tran Temple, also known as Đền Trần or đền Nội Lâm in Vietnamese, is one of the highlights of route 1 Trang An Boat Tour. This temple was built from the Dinh Tien Hoang period in the 10th century as one of the four guardian temples of the ancient capital of Hoa Lư.
The temple is the worship place of Quy Minh Dai Vuong, who is the guarding god protecting the southern side of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital City. According to local folklore, Quy Minh Dai Vuong is one of the great generals from the reign of the 18th Hung King.
The temple was rebuilt during the Tran Dynasty later with renowned stone pillars that have remained intact to this day. The temple is called Tran temple because it was reconstructed under the Tran Dynasty.
To reach the temple, you need to climb around 200 stairs from the boat stop. The age-old stone pillars and moss-covered roof create an ancient atmosphere of the area.
The temple is located part of the Quy Minh Dai Vuong festival, held each year on the 18th or March lunar calendar year.
6th stop: Three Drops Cave (Hang Ba Giọt)
This is a nice natural water cave in Trang An complex. Hang Ba Gioi, together with Hang Sính and Hang Si Cave, is related to a tragic love story.
According to local folklore, a young man brought wedding presents to Sính Cave to propose to the princess, the woman he loved. But, she had been sent to a neighboring country. Heartbroken, he went to Ba Giọt Cave to cleanse himself before ending his life in Si Cave.
According to legend, if you manage to catch three drops of water from the stalactites you will be blessed with good luck and happiness.
7th stop: Seo Cave (Hang Seo)
Seo Cave is the next cave stop after Three Drops Cave in Route 1 Trang An Boat. Seo Cave is 100m long, narrow and winding cave with low ceiling, so you have to pay more attention while passing by the boat to avoid collision. Hang Seo is the most difficult cave in Trang An to pass through due to its winding and narrow path.
8th stop: Chamois Cove (Hang Sơn Dương)
Chamois Cove is a 250m long cave, next cave stop after Seo Cave in Route 1. The cave has its name because there are many mountain goats (Sơn Dương) who go to the entrance of the cave for drinking water.
9th stop: Khong Cave (Hang Khống) & Khong temple
The cave is next to Khong Temple. It’s 70 m long, and was used as a military base and weapon storage during the war.
The temple is the last temple stop on Route 1 Trang An Boat Tour. It is dedicated to 7 loyal mandarins of Dinh Bo Linh, first King of Vietnam. According to legend, after the King’s funeral, the mandarins buried 100 coffins then committed suicide to keep the true burial place secret.
The loyal military commander Dinh Cong Tiet Che is the first person to set up an altar for these officials. He planted the persimmon tree that grows next to the temple to mark the altar. The tree is now more than a thousand years old. After his death, locals built an altar to worship him at this temple.
10th stop: Tran Cave (Hang Trần)
Tran Cave is the second last cave stop on Route 1 Trang An. It is after Phu Khong Temple and cave and before Hang Quy Hậu Cave.
11th stop: Return Cave (Hang Quy Hậu)
Return Cave is the last cave stop on Route 1, only 100m long. From this cave, you will get back to the pier to finish your Trang An boat journey on route 1.
Where is Trang An Boat Pier?
Trang An Boat Pier is located on Trang An street, 7.5-10 km north of Tam Coc, which is the main tourist area of Ninh Binh. Trang An Boat Pier is very close to Hoa Lu Old Town and Ninh Binh City, which are only 6km away.
The exact location on Google Maps is 20.25333049103758, 105.91883953908656. It’s around 10 minutes drive from Hoa Lu Old Town and 15 minutes drive from Tam Coc.
How to get to Trang An Boat Pier?
The most popular way to get to Trang An Boat Pier is by renting a scooter, using riding share services such as Grab and Xanh SM, as well as cycling.
Renting a scooter
I rented a scooter for 150k VND per day from my hotel for my entire trip in Ninh Binh. If you can drive, you can rent a scooter from your hotel or at many rental services on the main road of Tam Coc.
There are two roads to get from Tam Coc to Trang An, including the highway and the local road. I recommend avoiding the highway DT491 because it has a lot of traffic and it’s very dusty.
You can avoid the highway by driving toward Hang Mua Cave on the Trang An di Hang Mua Road. This road runs parallel with the Sao Khe river, offering beautiful scenery, especially in the rice harvest season.
Cycling
You can rent a bicycle for 50k per day. If you stay in the Tam Coc area, you can cycle for around 7km from Tam Coc to Trang An via Hang Mua Road. Again, I recommend avoiding the highway. Ask locals for the best way to go to Trang An Boat Pier if you’re not sure.
It’ll take around 30 minutes to cycle between Tam Coc and Trang An, but there are many nice stops along the way if you want to explore things between them.
Using Grab and GreenSM taxi/ Motorbike services
Grab and GreenSM are operated in Ninh Binh and they are popular riding share services in Vietnam. They are both safe and convenient to get around. You don’t have to bargain for the price like using the traditional taxi.
The price for a taxi ride of GreenSM and Grab ranges from 120k-150k between Tam Coc and Trang An. If you’re solo or you’re on a budget, you can use their bike services which cost only around 50k VND per ride.
Here are the cost, duration, and distance from Tam Coc, Hoa Lu Old Town, Hang Mua Cave, and Hoa Lu Ancient Capital to Trang An Boat Pier by Grab/GreenSM taxi and motorbike:
| Tam Coc to Trang An | Hang Mua to Trang An | Hoa Lu Ancient Capital to Trang An | Hoa Lu Old Town to Trang An | |
| Distance | 7 km -10 km | 5.4 km | 4.4 km | 6 km |
| Duration | 16-20 minutes | 12-15 minutes | 8-10 minutes | 10-15 minutes |
| Taxi Price | 130k-150k VND | 70k-90k VND | 60k-80k VND | 80k-100k VND |
| Motobike Price | 50k-70k VND | 30k-50k VND | 25k-40k VND | 30k-40k VND |
See more: How to get to & get around Tam Coc
Trang An Boat Ride price
Even though Trang An has three boat routes, the ticket is the same for all routes. It’s 300k VND for adults, 150k VND for children (1m-1.3m), and free for children under 1m tall. The ticket is valid within 1 day.
You can buy a ticket and decide which route you take later at the pier. Each boat is designed to accommodate 4 passengers. If your group is less than 4, you will be sharing the boat with other passengers on the same route. If you want to take a private boat, you can buy 4 tickets, which cost 1,200k VND per boat.
Opening and closing time at Trang An Boat tour
The Trang An Boat Tour is open from 7am to 5pm. I recommend taking the early morning boat to avoid crowds and the heat. Try to avoid taking the late boat close to closing time to avoid the hassle. The best time for the last boat in my opinion is around 3 pm, because you will need at least around 2.5 to 3 hours to comfortably explore each route on Trang An.
How to buy the ticket for the Trang An Boat tour?
I bought my ticket onsite at the ticket counter. There was no queue at the time of my visit on Sunday morning. There are also several automatic ticket machines where you can use them.
You can buy a ticket online but I don’t think it’s necessary. They have a designated ticket counter and a well organized system, so I don’t think you need to wait in the queue for the ticket.
After purchasing the ticket, you walk through the underpass to go to Trang An boat dock. From the boat dock, you go though the ticket check point, and the staff will ask you which route you want to take and pair you with other people to get 4 people on one boat.
Boat Services at Trang An Boat ride
I’ve taken the Trang An Boat Ride several times, and I recently had a good experience with the boat man. The boatman was friendly, point us good things to see along the ride. I didn’t have a good experience the previous time I did it. The boatman demanded the tip, complaining about her hard life, and asked my partner to help her row the boat the entire trip.
The process of buying the ticket, parking, getting on the boat was very smooth and quick at Trang An. There are also ATMs, shops, restaurants, souvenirs in the pier complex area.
There are toilets at each temple stop, so you don’t have to worry about finding one. These stops also have drinks, ice cream, and snacks for you to buy.
See more:
- One Day in Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) Itinerary
- How many days in Ninh Binh is enough?
- Should you visit Bai Dinh Pagoda?
There you have it, my travel guide on choosing the right route on Trang An Boat Tour. Overall, if you want the shortest route with a good mix of temples and caves, choose route 2. If you want to experience the longest cave in the complex while seeing similar other temples and caves in route 2, pick route 3. If you want to experience the longest route in Trang An, visit as many caves as possible, and do a bit of hiking on the route, go to route 1.