Your trip to Ninh Binh
Getting into Ninh Binh
Most visitors come from Hanoi
- Limousine vanOur pick 2h140,000₫ – 260,000₫ ≈ $5–10 Specific pickup point in Hanoi or Noi Bai Airport; exact drop-off point (Ninh Binh City, Trang An, or Tam Coc).
Ninh Binh
Ninh Bình · Limestone karsts, rice paddies and quiet rivers you glide through by sampan.Places to visit
A rowing boat through caves cut under the limestone, stopping at island temples. Two to three hours; you pick your…
Map ↗ Find out more →Vietnam's capital in the tenth century. Little remains of the citadel, but two temples to the founding emperors still…
Map ↗ Find out more →A shorter boat trip through three caves, between rice fields that turn gold in late May and June. The rowers here…
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A shorter boat trip through three caves, between rice fields that turn gold in late May and June. The rowers here famously row with their feet.
Around 500 stone steps climb to a dragon statue above Tam Coc, with the best view in the province. Go early; there is…
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Around 500 stone steps climb to a dragon statue above Tam Coc, with the best view in the province. Go early; there is no shade.
Vietnam's oldest national park: primary forest, a thousand-year-old tree and a primate rescue centre worth the trip on…
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Vietnam's oldest national park: primary forest, a thousand-year-old tree and a primate rescue centre worth the trip on its own.
Duration 15 -20 min on boat, Night vibe, lanterns & Photography
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An enormous modern pagoda complex with a corridor of 500 arhat statues. The grounds are vast; an electric shuttle saves…
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An enormous modern pagoda complex with a corridor of 500 arhat statues. The grounds are vast; an electric shuttle saves a long walk.
A flat-bottomed boat across still water under the cliffs, where Delacour's langurs are sometimes visible. Far quieter…
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A flat-bottomed boat across still water under the cliffs, where Delacour's langurs are sometimes visible. Far quieter than Trang An.
Where to eat
The place is well known for goat dishes, which are one of the most famous foods in the area,
Map ↗Thang Long Restaurant is a convenient dining spot to include in an itinerary covering Bai Dinh, Trang An, Truong Yen…
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Thang Long Restaurant is a convenient dining spot to include in an itinerary covering Bai Dinh, Trang An, Truong Yen, Hoa Lu, and Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
The restaurant has three locations and specializes in mountain goat, crispy rice, and free-range hill chicken.
Map ↗Good to know before you go
If visiting Ninh Binh for the first time, should I go to Trang An or Tam Coc?
A trip to Trang An typically takes three hours, whereas Tam Coc takes an hour and a half; the latter is a more leisurely experience if you have children with you, so Tam Coc is the better choice for families with young kids.
Water lily season in Tam Coc runs from September through the end of the year.
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?
It depends on your passport. Some nationalities can enter visa-free for a set number of days; everyone else can apply online for an e-visa, valid for up to 90 days. The list of visa-free countries changes, so check the official e-visa portal before you book. Apply only on the official government site: look-alike agency sites charge extra fees.
Official e-visa portal: https://evisa.gov.vn
What documents do I need at the airport when I arrive?
Your passport (valid for at least 6 months from entry, with blank pages), your printed or on-phone e-visa if you need one, and your onward or return ticket in case the officer asks. Keep your hotel address handy too.
Official e-visa portal: https://evisa.gov.vn
Should I bring cash or use cards in Vietnam?
Both. Hotels, malls, chain cafés and many restaurants take cards, but street food, markets, small shops and local buses are cash only. ATMs are everywhere in cities; each withdrawal usually carries a fee from the local bank, so take out larger amounts less often.
Make it a longer trip
Travellers often combine these with Ninh Binh.
