Trips in the Ninh Binh Area in Northern Vietnam
General
The Ninh Binh area is located in northern Vietnam, 95 km south of the capital, Hanoi. In my opinion, it is a must-visit site for anyone visiting northern Vietnam. This area surprises visitors thanks to the impressive natural phenomenon of steep, towering limestone mountains resembling giant camel humps, interspersed with rivers and streams that sometimes cross beneath these mountains through caves. The area has also earned the nickname "Ha Long Bay on Land" due to the similarity of these steep mountains in both places. In the past, locals knew how to use the hidden passages in the caves beneath the mountains to protect themselves in the area when hiding from foreign invaders.
Tam Coc near Ninh Binh:
It is not recommended to visit Ninh Binh on just a single-day trip from Hanoi including round-trip travel just to check off this place. It is worthwhile to spend two nights in the area to see the place at a leisurely pace and enjoy it.
In the city of Ninh Binh itself, there is nothing particularly attractive for tourists, so there is no need to visit or stay overnight there. It is better to stay nearby in Tam Coc. From Tam Coc, you can go on a boat cruise through the river and caves among the cliffs, and also take bicycle tours in the surroundings among villages, rice fields, and protruding mountains. The paths and fields are flat, making bicycle riding easy.
Recommended Accommodation
Since this country is inexpensive, I recommend staying here in quality hotels that are relatively cheap compared to the West.
♦ Hotel in Tam Coc Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort
This is a pampering 5-star hotel. The place features a swimming pool, restaurant, fitness room, and bicycle rental options. Free Wi-Fi. Several restaurants, bars, and shops are located within walking distance of the hotel.
♦ Hotel Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh
A luxurious 5-star resort. 3 pools, one indoor and two outdoor. Rooms for 2 to 5 guests. Spa, 2 restaurants. Free internet. Located 18 km northwest of Ninh Binh.
And for those interested in a cheaper alternative of a quality homestay:
♦ Quality homestay in Tam Coc Tam Coc Boutique Garden
Trips in the Ninh Binh Area
The boat cruise on the river and through the caves beneath the protruding mountains can be done in two places using small rowing boats: Tam Coc and Trang An. Both places are located a few kilometers west of Ninh Binh.
♦ Recommended tours in Ninh Binh departing from Ninh Binh (to book via Viator):
♦ Recommended tour in Ninh Binh departing from Hanoi (to book via Viator):
Full-Day Ninh Binh Highlights Tour from Hanoi
Cruise in Tam Coc
These mountains, rivers, and caves can be seen, as mentioned, in an experiential cruise on small rowing boats departing from a place called Tam Coc, located about 7 km southwest of Ninh Binh.
Boat departure dock in Tam Coc:
The trip is a calm and scenic 1.5-hour cruise in water channels surrounded by rice fields and passing through three caves beneath steep mountains.
Cruising inside a cave beneath the mountain in Tam Coc:
The cruise is conducted with a small rowing boat where a local operator rows the boat designed for up to 4 passengers. What is surprising is that the rower operates the oars with her feet (!) for an hour and a half almost continuously.
The boat operator rowing with her feet
The boat sails in a water channel bordered by rice fields and impressive towering cliffs.
During the cruise, you will also encounter vendor boats offering tourists fruit, drinks, and souvenirs, and the rower herself also offers tourists various souvenirs.
Vendor boat in Tam Coc:
Cruise in Trang An
Trang An is also located near Tam Coc, 8 km west of Ninh Binh. Here too, you cruise among cliffs and caves similar to the Tam Coc cruise, but on a slightly longer route with various attractions along the way. There are no rice fields here. This cruise is more famous than the previous one, and the site has about 2,000 rowing boats, each holding 4-5 tourists.
Boat departure dock in Trang An:
During the cruise, you pass by an island where an orchestra and a singer entertain the cruisers with Vietnamese singing. During the cruise, there are also stops and visits to temples housing statues of heroes from Vietnamese history. There are no vendors here like on the previous cruise.
Cruising inside a cave in Trang An:
The cruise is very well organized; every passenger wears a life jacket, and the rower is also equipped with a life ring. The cruise takes place even in the rain, so equip yourselves with a raincoat and/or umbrella.
Hang Mua Viewpoint
The Hang Mua viewpoint is located about a 10-minute drive west of Ninh Binh.
To reach the viewpoint from the parking lot, you have to climb about 500 steps, but the effort is worth it!
Entrance to the site is paid. Near the start of the walking trail to the viewpoint, there is a nice, well-maintained hotel.
The arrow points to the viewpoint in Hang Mua:
From the peak, a breathtaking view is revealed of the Tam Coc channels with the rowing boats, the rice fields, and the surrounding mountains. The scenery changes its color according to the seasons due to the changing color of the rice fields. The most impressive colors are when the rice fields are green in early April and even more so when they are yellow around May.
At the top of the main viewpoint, there is a stone dragon on top of the mountain. The most beautiful view from the high viewpoint is towards the west, towards the river flowing down between the rice fields and the towering mountains around it. From there, you can also see the opening of one of the caves from which tourist boats enter beneath the mountain.
Tam Coc scenery from the Hang Mua viewpoint:
On the way up to the viewpoint, there is a fork to the right to a lower viewpoint than the main one, which overlooks the northeast.
The viewpoint in Hang Mua towards the northeast:
The duration of the ascent and descent from the viewpoint at a moderate pace takes about an hour.
Trip to the Ancient City of Hoa Lu
The ancient city of Hoa Lu is located about 13 km northwest of the city of Ninh Binh.
Hoa Lu was formerly in the 10th and 11th centuries a magnificent imperial capital situated in the heart of rice fields surrounded by hundreds of limestone hills.
The city's topographical isolation granted it many advantages in its defense. The city had only one entrance and exit via the river leading to the sea, which was its supply artery. However, this was also the reason that limited its economic and political growth and perhaps caused the capital to be moved later to Hanoi.
In the ancient city, it is recommended to visit the temples of the great kings Dinh Tien Hoang, who lived between 924-979 AD, and Le Dai Hanh, who lived between 941-1005 AD.
The kings' temples in the ancient city of Hoa Lu:
The temples feature beautiful gardens, ancient pagodas, and various relics from that period.
Bai Dinh Temple
Bai Dinh Temple is located 20 km west of Ninh Binh city. This place houses an ancient pagoda along with a new pagoda. The place is considered the largest Buddhist temple complex in Vietnam and is a popular attraction among Buddhist pilgrims.
From the site's parking lot, there is a few-minute shuttle ride in a special vehicle to the entrance of the pagoda complex.
From there, you proceed on foot and visit several temples connected to each other by large corridors along which are about five hundred (!) large and beautiful marble Buddha statues.
Believers tend to touch the feet and hands of the Buddha statues as they pass by them, and this is evident in the color of the statues in the places where they were touched.
The round-trip walking route is about 4 km and also includes climbing and descending hundreds of steps. At the upper part of the complex is located the tall pagoda which you can climb (for an additional fee) for a view from its highest floor. The ascent is by elevator, but before the elevator, you climb about 60 more steps. The climb to the viewpoint is recommended; the view from above is breathtaking, you can see the entire pagoda complex and the mountains and surroundings for miles.
The view seen from the top of the tall pagoda at Bai Dinh Temple:
Inside the temples at the site, there is a large and impressive variety of giant statues in colors of gold, black, and more.
Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong Park is located about 40 km west of Ninh Binh. The park has dense forests with a variety of animals, trees, and insects.
At the park entrance, it is worth visiting the wildlife rescue center. The place has cages with a variety of monkeys that the park is trying to save; some were captured and kept by locals for trade and food. After rehabilitation, they are released into the wild. The site also has a turtle conservation center raising various types.
From the park entrance, there is a narrow paved road of about 20 km into the heart of the park to the point where you head out for a walk in the forest. The walking trail is a 7 km circular route, with sections involving climbing and walking up quite a few stairs.
The main destination on the route is a large and ancient thousand-year-old tree. The thickness of the tree is impressive; its trunk splits into three, and its three upper branches did not survive the ravages of time and have broken.
The thousand-year-old tree in Cuc Phuong Park:
The surrounding vegetation is that of a dense and thick forest; the hiking trail is mostly paved, and the distance to the ancient tree is 2.5 km one way. No wildlife or birds were seen in the forest during the hike, only various insects.
It is advisable to come in long sleeves and apply mosquito repellent. At the starting point of the hiking trail, there is a restaurant where travelers usually have lunch.
Five short videos about trips to destinations in the Ninh Binh area mentioned in the article:
I recommend that you do your trip in Vietnam with a dedicated guide and a car that will accompany you throughout the trip. I do not recommend renting a car and traveling alone.