Perfect 3 days Ninh Binh itinerary
Ninh Binh is a wonderful region in Northern Vietnam in the Red River Delta. It has a dramatic natural beauty, an incredible cultural heritage and it has a laid back atmosphere that contrasts with the bustle of the capital Hanoi. Additionally, it has only started to receive attention from tourists in the last years, so it is still not as crowded as other regions in Vietnam. That is why it is a bit difficult to plan a good Ninh Binh itinerary.
You can easily make it a day trip from Hanoi, but I strongly recommend to give it at least 2 days and, if possible, 3. This is why I am writing this 3 days itinerary for Ninh Binh. I will pack the first two days with the most important sights in case you can only use 2 days in your itinerary, and add some additional activities for the third day. Let’s go!
This post is part of my 3-week Vietnam itinerary. Check it out in the link below!
READ: Ultimate 3 weeks Vietnam Itinerary: North to South
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Post Contents
Perfect 3 days Ninh Binh itinerary
Day 1. Ancient capital and boat tour
For the first day of this Ninh Binh itinerary I suggest that you either rent a motorbike or hire a driver because you will visit the furthest attractions from Tam Coc.
1. Hoa Lu ancient capital
I suggest that you start by visiting Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties of Vietnam dating back to the 11th century. Hoa Lu is located 20 km away from Tam Coc, so by starting here you get ahead of the crowds and will later on avoid the crowds in Trang An, where most people go in the morning.
Today, most of the remains of the once glorious city are gone, and only a few temples are still standing. It is not the most stunning temple you will see in the country, but walking around the gardens of the royal temples of Dinh Tien Huang puts in perspective the long history of the country. Just realise that it is 1,000 years old! Also, the scenery around it is stunning, so I think it is worth the visit. Plus, it is only 20,000 VDN (less than 1€!) to visit.
2. Bai Dinh Pagoda
Start making your way back to Tam Coc and stop at the Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. It is located 26 km from Tam Coc, so it is the furthest away from the village. The religious complex englobes dozens of temples in the most traditional Vietnamese style. The area is huge and most people explore it by electric car, but we really thought it was an expensive scam (for some reason the visitor entrance is kilometers away from the actual temple gate). They asked for 800,000 VDN (31€) for 5 people to take us to the gate by electric car, when the entrance to the temple is free. That’s why we decided to walk our way to the closest (and most spectacular) attraction in the complex: the Bao Thap stupa.
Climbing to the top of the giant stupa costs 50,000 VDN (less than 2€) and there’s an elevator! The views from the 100m-tall Bao Thap stupa are absolutely stunning, since you can see the whole complex and a big part of the Ninh Bin province (it is the highest structure in the region).
This is a perfect moment to grab something to eat. Try to avoid the stalls next to attractions, as they are usually overpriced and not very authentic. Instead, find a nice spot on the road!
3. Trang An boat tour
Let’s move on to the most beautiful attraction of them all in Ninh Binh, the Trang An ecotourism complex. This UNESCO World Heritage Site located 12 km away from Tam Coc is a beautiful labyrinth of river sections and ponds meandering along limestone mountains and through narrow grottoes, with temples sprinkled around in nature. The only way to really enjoy this area is by paddle boat led by locals (motor boats are not allowed in the area).
Travel tip: you can also choose the Tam Coc boat tour. I explain why I chose Trang An over Tam Coc on this post about Ninh Binh.
The ticket is 200,000 VDN (less than 8€) per person in boats of up to 4 people and they offer 3 different routes.
- Route 1: is the route that goes through more caves (9!) but fewer spiritual sites. Upside: many caves and Tran Temple (the heart of Trang An). Downstide: very few temples and less stunning nature.
- Route 2: It goes through 4 caves (one is 150m long!) and 3 beautiful spiritual sites. Upside: most balanced between stunning nature and beautiful isolated temples, it goes through the filming location of Kong: Skull Island. Downside: it does not go through the largest cave (1 km).
- Route 3: It goes through 3 of the longest caves and 3 spiritual sites. Upside: longest caves, it goes through the filming location of Kong: Skull Island. Downside: less outdoors nature (more cave).
We chose Route 2 because it was the most balanced and we were really not disappointed. The nature was breathtaking, with Dia Linh and Kim Quy Mountains around. Also, the isolated temples from the Tran Dynasty (Thanh Cao Son, Suoi Tien and Hanh Cung Vu Lam Temples) bring you back in time and leave you with awe of the old times in Vietnam.
After a hard day as a tourist, make sure you go back to town and enjoy some delicious local food and beer! Here are some ideas:
READ: Best food in Tam Coc
Day 2. Biking, Bich Dong and Mua Caves
On the second day of the Ninh Binh itinerary I suggest that you rent bikes instead, since everything in the itinerary is very close to Tam Coc. Many accommodations, like our choice Tam Coc Village Bungalow, already include the bike rental.
In the morning, head towards the Bich Dong Pagoda, one of the major landmarks in the region. It is located only 2 km away from Tam Cac, so it’s a very easy bike ride. Make sure to keep your eyes open because it is a very beautiful ride.
1. Bich Dong pagoda
The Bich Dong Pagoda is a beautiful temple built into the limestone mountain. Probably you’ve seen the picture of its gate on instagram several times. What surprised me is that the inside is also very shocking!
Travel tip: the entrance to the pagoda is free, but a “guard” may rudely demand money to park the bike. Don’t pay! Instead, go to a nearby cafeteria called Minh Vinh Bich Dong where they will let you park for free. They are the nicest! So if you feel thirsty after your visit, maybe buy something from them in return. It is cheaper than the so called parking and it feels better.
This beautiful temple carved in the mountain has a main section consisting of traditional Vietnamese temples, but then it has a hidden passage that leads to another temple inside a cave and later on to a nice viewpoint. The cave temple was my favourite part and a fantastic surprise that I never saw on instagram or in blogs.
Travel tip: to get to the cave temple, climb the stairs to the first level and go behind the shrine. Enter through the left side. Continue behind the shrine and you’ll find some stairs in the rock that lead to the cave temple.
If you have plenty of time left in the morning or are packing lunch, you can continue to the Van Long Nature Reserve. However, to explore it properly, I would spend longer time there on the 3rd day.
Instead, go back to Tam Coc village and have lunch. Check out the best places to eat in Tam Coc here:
READ: Best food in Tam Coc
2. Tam Coc rice fields
Make your way towards Hang Mua through the rice fields around the Tam Coc village. It is definitely a more challenging road, but much more beautiful!
3. Mua Caves (Hang Mua)
Hang Mua or Mua Caves is probably the most instagrammable site in the whole Ninh Binh Province, and I am sure you have seen it in your insta feed before. Mua Cave is located around 5 km away from Tam Coc village and is an easy bike or scooter ride from town.
The actual cave is located at the foot of the mountain, but the real heartstopping attraction is at the top of the mountain. To reach it, you have to climb 500 – very steep and uneven – stone steps, but it is absolutely worth it in order to get one of the most stunning views you will ever see. The two viewpoints give you a priviledged panoramic view of Tam Coc, Trang An and Ninh Binh.
Travel tip: the entrance fee for the Hang Mua area is 100,000 VDN and 3,000 VDN for parking the bike.
There are plenty of tacky artificial instagrammable spots on the way. If that’s your thing you will have a great time. I am not really this kind of person, but I couldn’t resist to have the ultimate instagram tacky photo on the top of the mountains. Please, don’t judge me (at least I wasn’t wearing a souvenir Vietnamese hat).
Day 3. Nature and culture of the region
The third day is the perfect moment to sit back and relax of the laid back atmosphere of the region. You can stay in town, enjoy the swimming pool and views of your hotel, the delicious hearty food of the local restaurants or the authentic local market (where you can buy beautiful and cheap bamboo lamps or baskets!).
If you still need some action, you can visit the Van Long Nature Reserve or the Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary. These natural sites receive much less tourism than other attractions in the region and are a perfect way to unwind and enjoy nature.
Van Long Nature Reserve
Van Long Nature Reserve is quite far away from Tam Coc, so you will probably need to rent a motorbike or hire a car. In this case, it is easier to get there if you are staying in Ninh Binh City (still half an hour ride). The entrance fee is 20000 VDN (less than 1€) and the boat tour is an extra 60000 VDN (around 2.5€). The tour on the bamboo raft takes you through the wetland and it is the perfect place to see langurs!
Photo credit: the claus with CC BY-SA 2.0
Thung Nham Bird Garden
Thung Nham Bird Garden is quite close to Tam Coc village, you can easily get there on a bike (in the same road you took to go to Bich Dong Pagoda). The entrance fee is 100.000 VDN (around 4€) and you can add a boat tour in the park for 20000 VDN (less than 1€). In the park you will be able to see 40 species of birds. The best time to be there is at sunset, when the birds return to the nests. Don’t forget to visit the caves in the park!
Alternatives
Another option is Cuc Phuong National Park, a huge protected jungle area with a primate rescue center. The access is quite difficult from Tam Coc, so perhaps an easier way to do it is on an organized trip.
If you feel like doing a more cultural activity instead (and get some nice souvenirs on the way), you can visit Van Lam village. This village is legendary for its traditional embroidery craft.
When to go to Ninh Binh
You can follow this Ninh Binh itinerary any time of the year. However, May to October the region is hot, humid and with high rainfall, while November to April are cooler and dryer months. That being said, the rainy season is also when the rice paddies will be more beautiful, with vivid green and yellow colors (mostly February to May).
Where to stay in Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is a big city, capital of the region with the same name, with plenty of accommodation options. That being said, Ninh Binh has absolutely no charm, so I suggest staying in Tam Coc. The town of Tam Coc is quite small and close to most of the attractions in the region. It has seen quite an increase in tourism, which can explain the high density of bars with a more western flare, but it still retains some of the charm of a Vietnamese town, especially outside of the town center. It is also full of nice restaurants and eateries with delicious food.
Budget
If you are in a tight budget, you can stay in Dragon Boat Rock for a quieter stay or Tuan Ngoc Hotel for a more upbeat backpacker feeling.
Mid-range
For a nicer stay, I can only recommend Tam Coc Village Bungalow, a beautiful hotel with individual bamboo bungalows, a nice swimming pool and stunning views to the rice fields and mountains. this is where we chose to stay and we loved it! Also, the family that runs it is absolutely delightful and helpful, they serve a homemade breakfast and bikes are included in the price! Plus, it’s locally owned. Rooms start at around 30€ per night. Another option is the famous Mua Caves Ecolodge, also in the same price range, although it is a bit far from the town.
Luxury
If you want to have full luxury, perhaps Tam Coc is not for you, but you can try Tam Coc Rice Fields Resort or Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort.
How to get to Tam Coc
From Hanoi you can reach Ninh Binh by train for only 200,000 VDN (7€) and it will take about 2 and a half hours. Another option is by bus, with prices starting at 70,000 VDN (3€). When you are in Ninh Binh, a short taxi ride will take you to Tam Coc. A more convenient option is to hire a van (starting at 300,000 VDN or 11€) that would leave you directly in town.
If you are going to Tam Coc from other places, like we did (we arrived from Halong Bay), it will be easier to rent a private driver to leave you at your hotel. Regardless of if you are going from Hanoi or other places, you will find your transportation below:
If you don’t want to plan
Have a look at these organized tours:
Closing statement
Ninh Binh was one of the biggest surprises of my trip to Vietnam. It is one of the most truly beautiful places I have ever been. The natural landscape is absolutely stunning, the cultural heritage is fantastic, the locals were ridiculously welcoming and the food was some of the best I’ve had in the country. I really encourage you to include this Ninh Binh itinerary in your Vietnam itinerary.
Read more about Ninh Binh in these posts:
If you want to know more about Vietnam, check some of my other posts about my trip or check out my Vietnam itinerary:
15 best things to do in Hanoi, Vietnam
Trekking in Sapa with Sapa Sisters
How to choose a cruise for Halong Bay
What to do in Hoi An: the ancient gem of Vietnam
What to do in Ho Chi Minh City: a quick guide to Saigon
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11 Comments
Terry · 27/05/2021 at 19:02
This was very informative, thanks!
For the Day 1 itinerary:
1. What were the approximate start and end times for the day?
3. How much time do you think needs to be spent at each site?
feastoftravel · 01/06/2021 at 07:13
Hi Terry,
Thanks for your comment, I am glad you found it useful!
1. In Vietnam in general I tend to recommend an early rise when visiting since the sunset is quite early all year long. In particular, day 1 of this itinerary is the most packed. If for some reason you need to start the first day later (i.e. it is your day of arrival and you need to check in, etc.) I suggest you switch days 1 and 2, since day 2 is less packed with visits and gives you the chance to wiggle a bit with the timings.
2. This is something I can’t really tell you because it will vary greatly between travellers. That being said, we expected to use around 2 hours in each site on day 1 (excluding traveling times) and we ended up staying less in Hoa Lu since the complex is quite small and if you have been seeing a few temples already in Vietnam it is less unique, and more time in Bai Dinh since the complex is massive and much more impressive in my opinion. You can save time by using their electric car service, although it is a huge ripoff in my opinion. What is a definite must in this itinerary is the paddle boat tour in Trang An, which takes around 2 hours. Consider that the row boats start their last routes of the day as early as 4 pm, so plan your day accordingly.
I hope that was helpful. Enjoy Ninh Binh!
Lisa · 26/09/2022 at 14:40
Hi this is really useful, like you we are coming from ha long bay and have booked to stay 3 nights at the mua caves ecolodge. Is it easy to get a taxi at ha long bay. Or best to book the transfer in advance?
Tia
feastoftravel · 02/10/2022 at 00:45
Hi Tia,
Thanks for your comment! I am glad you’re finding my content useful. Regarding the transportation from Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh, I think it should be possible to get a taxi on the spot in Ha Long Bay but in my experience they wildly overprice and are quite relentless when negotiating down, and some of them won’t be willing to go as far as Ninh Binh. Instead, I would arrange it with your accommodation (if you have one in Ha Long Bay or, if not, perhaps even with the Mua Caves Ecolodge). If not, you can always use one of the direct buses, which can be quite comfortable. You can find a look here https://12go.asia/en/travel/halong-bay/tam-coc/?z=3287470.
I hope you have a great trip!
Guillem from Feast of Travel
zyuwenn · 04/12/2022 at 06:48
Hello this has been very useful. We plan to visit Ninh Binh end of this month and decided to follow through with your guide. For the day 2 Biking route, any specific apps that you used as a map guide? or google map will do?
feastoftravel · 04/12/2022 at 12:28
Hello, thanks for checking out my guide 🙂 Ninh Binh is really easy to navigate and google maps is definitely enough. Make sure to have the offline map of the area in case the signal is not great (I don’t actually remember that happening, but just in case). Another option is maps.me, which also includes the smaller paths. Otherwise just ask the locals, which are very friendly (except for the ones that will ask you for a parking fee! They are not very nice, we instead asked local shops or cafés if we could park outside)
Nick · 23/01/2024 at 09:28
Thanks for this information- it was really helpful for planning our trip. Like you, Tam Coc was one of the best surprises of our Vietnam trip. We had three days and stayed in the Tam Coc Wonderland Bungalow which was brilliant. So our three days were:
1. Cycled to the Mua Cave and viewpoint then back to the Bich Dong pagoda
2. Cycled to the Trang An boat trip
3. Cycled to the Thung Nhan bird sanctuary and explored the back lanes between there and Nam Coc
The places we visited were all great, but the highlight was the lovely quiet cycling on little lanes through rice fields and villages – just wonderful and a real highlight of our holiday – we could have carried on for more days.
A tip for eating- Hai Linh in Tam Coc village was one of the best meals we had in Vietnam – tofu with lemongrass and chilli – wow! We went back and had it again the next night.
Thoroughly recommend Tam Coc!
feastoftravel · 23/01/2024 at 09:33
Hi Nick, thank you for your comment. I’m glad you found this helpful. I agree with you that the best part of Tam Coc is just getting lost in the rural landscapes. I’ll write down Hai Linh restaurant for my next time in Tam Coc 🙂
Alice M. · 28/01/2024 at 19:21
Hello, thank you for this wonderful article; question: how do you travel from ninh binh to the first site, Hoa Lu, then to Bai Dinh, since i understand that once in Tam Coc, you can use a bike. We want to plan a 3 days itinerary from hanoi but a bit unsure how to get to the different sites; are there easy taxis there, willing to take you from one site to another? What did you guys do? Thanks a lot!
feastoftravel · 29/01/2024 at 10:11
Hello Alice,
Thanks for the comment, I’m glad you enjoyed the article! What we did to visit these sites that are a bit further away from town is to hire a driver for the day from our hotel. It is quite affordable if you combine your visits on the same day and especially if you are more people and fill the car. It is technically possible to bike there, but I think you’ll spend most of your day pedaling then! You can also use hailing apps like Grab, there’s usually cars around the main touristic sites, but I think it’ll be more comfortable with a driver that waits for you. Also, our driver recommended a fantastic place to have lunch in the middle of the road that we wouldn’t have found otherwise! 🙂
Optimal Time to Spend – How Many Days in Ninh Binh · 14/12/2023 at 04:06
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