About 100km from Hanoi, Ninh Binh is a suitable choice for travelers who don’t have much time but want to explore magnificent nature.
When is the best time to visit Ninh Binh?
Ninh Binh is a destination you can visit at various times throughout the year. However, it’s recommended to come here in spring (January – March) when the weather is cool and pleasant, and there are many festivals, or in summer (May – August) to admire the ripe golden rice fields or fragrant lotus ponds.
Transportation
From Hanoi, you can take a passenger bus from Giap Bat bus station or book a Limousine car to Ninh Binh. Ticket prices range from 100,000 to 150,000 VND, and the travel time is about 2 hours.
If you’re coming from Ho Chi Minh City, you can fly to Hanoi and then take a bus to Ninh Binh with similar options. Vietnamese airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar operate flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Currently, ticket prices range from 900,000 to 1.3 million VND per way.
Additionally, travelers from other provinces can reach Ninh Binh by train. The website of Vietnam Railways allows pre-booking tickets or passengers can buy them at the station. Ninh Binh railway station is located right in the city center.
If traveling by private vehicle from Hanoi, take the Giap Phong route, pass through Giap Bat bus station, turn onto the Phap Van – Cau Gie expressway, then head towards Phu Ly to reach Ninh Binh.
For getting around the city, it’s recommended to rent a motorbike with prices ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 VND per day for more flexibility as the attractions in Ninh Binh are quite far apart. If traveling in a large group, consider taking a taxi to save costs.
Accommodation
Travelers to Ninh Binh, whether in pairs, with friends, or alone, can choose to stay at homestays near the attractions with cool, peaceful spaces and friendly services. Some popular and convenient addresses include: Ninh Binh Friendly Homestay, Hang Mua Ecolodge, Diep’s House, Ninh Binh Palm Homestay, ChezBeo Homestay, Trang An Lotus Homestay… With prices ranging from about 200,000 VND per person per night.
To enjoy luxurious services and more amenities such as swimming pools, spas, gyms, bars, travelers can choose 4 – 5-star quality resorts such as Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh, Tam Coc Garden Resort, Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel And Resort, An’s Eco Garden Resort, Aravinda Resort Ninh Binh… Room rates range from 1.7 to 6 million VND per night.
Dining
When in Ninh Binh, you can’t miss the specialties like burnt rice, lime-dipped goat meat, stir-fried goat meat, grilled goat, fried horseshoe crab with wild betel leaf, raw fish salad…
Goat meat is a favorite dish for many travelers here. The goats in Ninh Binh are raised freely on rocky mountains, so the meat is firm and chewy. To find reputable eateries with authentic mountain goats, diners should head to mountainous areas such as Hoa Lu, around the eco-tourism area of Trang An, Tam Coc… Each portion of goat meat costs from 100,000 to 250,000 VND depending on the preparation method.
Attractions
Trang An
This place attracts tourists with its majestic mountains, winding rivers, primitive valleys… The ticket price for visiting Trang An is 250,000 VND for adults, and for children under 1.4 meters tall, it’s 100,000 VND. A tour guide accompanying the group will cost an additional 300,000 VND per tour.
Here, visitors can choose one of three boat tour routes to explore the caves. Route one takes visitors through nine caves, Trinh Temple – Tran Temple – Kong Phung Temple. Route two passes through four caves and the holy Cao Son Temple – Vũ Lâm palace – Tran Temple. Route three includes three caves, Trinh Temple – Tran Temple – Vũ Lâm palace. Each tour lasts from 2 to 3 hours.
Tam Coc – Bich Dong
Here, visitors usually first visit Bich Dong Pagoda – “The second greatest cave in the south” to enjoy the panoramic view from above. Then, visitors can take a boat down the Ngô Đồng river to explore Tam Coc. Tam Coc means three caves: Ca Cave, Hai Cave, and Ba Cave. Tam Coc captivates visitors with its breathtaking scenery of limestone mountains, fascinating cave formations, and ripe golden rice fields on both sides. The entrance fee is 120,000 VND per person, and the boat tour fee for Tam Coc route is 150,000 VND per trip.
Mua Cave
About a 15-minute drive from Trang An, Mua Cave tourist area is located right at the foot of the mountain. The entrance fee is 100,000 VND per adult. This place is where travelers often check-in when visiting Ninh Binh. To reach the top of Mua Cave, visitors have to climb about 500 stone steps, and since the weather can be quite hot, it’s advisable to bring water. From the top of Mua Cave, you can admire the stunning panoramic view of Ninh Binh with its winding rivers, rice fields, and majestic mountains. Visitors can spend about 2 – 3 hours exploring the tourist area and taking photos.
Ancient capital Hoa Lu
Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010, spanning three dynasties: Dinh, Early Le, and Ly. It is one of the four core zones of the Trang An World Heritage Complex recognized by UNESCO. Here, visitors can visit the temples of King Dinh (Dinh Tien Hoang), King Le (Le Dai Hanh), and the museum preserving artifacts. These two temples were built around the 17th century, surrounded by many green trees. Visitors should register for guided tours to better understand the historical value of this place. The entrance fee is 20,000 VND per person.
Bai Dinh Pagoda
Bai Dinh Pagoda complex was built in 2003, covering an area of over 500 hectares, surrounded by majestic limestone mountains. The pagoda is divided into two areas: New Temple and Ancient Temple. Here, visitors can walk or move by electric car (priced at 30,000 VND per person per way). Some places of interest that visitors often visit here include the Main Hall (consisting of 5 sections, with a 10m high statue of Buddha Thich Ca in the middle, weighing 100 tons), Tam The Hall… or you can climb the bell tower to admire the Dai Hong Chung bell weighing 36 tons.
Am Tien Cave
As a scenic spot in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Am Tien Cave is located in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, more than 10 km from the center of Ninh Binh city. The surrounding area is surrounded by tall limestone mountains like citadels, with a cool blue lake in the middle. This place is often described by tourists as having a poetic beauty mixed with a bit of melancholy and mystery. In the past, there was only one road here which was a mountain climb, so Am Tien was dubbed the Love Valley. Nowadays, visitors can go through a mountain tunnel, then climb the mountain to visit the temple to offer incense and admire the cave with its surreal stalactites. The entrance fee is 20,000 VND per person.
Van Long Lagoon
Known as the “waveless bay” because when boating on the lagoon, tourists will see a flat surface of water without a ripple. The water is not blue like the sea but clear, revealing each layer of moss underneath. This place also owns 2 records of the Vietnam Record Center in 2010: the place with the highest number of Delacour’s langur individuals and the place with the largest natural painting. The entrance fee is 20,000 VND per person and the boat ticket costs 60,000 VND for 2 people.
Thung Nham Bird Garden
Thung Nham Bird Garden eco-tourism area is about 12 km from Ninh Binh city, home to many bird species, about 40 species and over 50,000 individuals. The best time to watch the birds returning to the garden is around 5 pm. The entrance fee is 100,000 VND per person, and the boat ticket to visit the Bird Garden is 20,000 VND per person.
Phat Diem Stone Cathedral
Located 28 km from Ninh Binh city. Phat Diem Cathedral has a unique architecture, although it is a Catholic structure, it is modeled after traditional Vietnamese communal houses with a curved boat-shaped roof. The complex of Phat Diem Cathedral includes a large church and 5 small churches (including one church built entirely of natural stone, called the stone church); bell tower; pond and 3 artificial caves.
Cuc Phuong National Park
Located in Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh province, the park is located at the intersection of three provinces: Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa. This is Vietnam’s first national park, covering an area of about 22,000 hectares, attracting a large number of tourists with various types of tourism, from eco-tourism, research, to adventure… Visitors to Cuc Phuong can explore the primeval forest, caves with fascinating shapes, caves containing ancient cultural relics such as Trang Khuyet cave, Chua cave, Thuy Tien cave, Nguoi Xua cave… In Cuc Phuong National Park, there are also hot springs, a rich flora and fauna system, with ancient trees thousands of years old such as the thousand-year-old Ficus tree, conservation area of animals…
Tam Diep Pineapple Hill
Tam Diep is a newly popular check-in point, attracting tourists with its vast, green pineapple fields. It is about 20 km from Ninh Binh city. Visitors should note not to pick pineapples from locals, there is no entry fee for visiting, and it’s advisable to ask for permission before taking photos.
With the detailed experience provided by Daiichi Travel, it is hoped that you will have a complete and memorable trip to Ninh Binh. Don’t hesitate any longer, plan and start your journey to explore this ancient land right away!
