Known as the “Ha Long Bay on land,” Ninh Binh is a picturesque province located about 2 hours from the capital city, Hanoi. Ninh Binh is the perfect escape to the countryside from the hustle and bustle of the large and chaotic city. Ninh Binh offers visitors an adventurous experience full of stunning landscapes, challenging hikes, peaceful bike rides, and historical attractions. If you are looking for a fun day trip from Hanoi, Ninh Binh is the perfect destination. Ninh Binh one day tours are offered from Hanoi, so whether you are a nature lover or a history buff, this tour is perfect!
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Like the Ha Long Bay Day Trip from Hanoi we booked the Full-Day Ninh Binh Highlights Tour from Hanoi through Viator.
Scattered throughout Hanoi, there are travel companies offering Ninh Binh one day tours but we figured it was easy and cheap just to book online through Viator.
The Viator website is easy to book through, has a lot of great tours that vary in activities, and gives an in depth description on what is included in the tour to include times.
Also note, many hotels in Hanoi have contacts with travel companies. In case, you cannot book a tour online, ask the hotel if they can book your Ninh Binh day trip or know of a reliable tour company in Hanoi.
Here are some recommended Ninh Binh Day Trips.
About Ninh Binh Province
Ninh Binh is a province in Vietnam. It is located in northern Vietnam in the Red River Delta, about a 2-3 hour car ride from Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi.
Ninh Binh is appropriately nicknamed “Ha Long Bay on Land” because of the same limestone karst formations that rise from the ground.
Ninh Binh is blanketed with the famous limestone karst formations, rivers, and rice fields.
Not only in Ninh Binh full of natural beauty there are also many cultural and historical attractions.
The Trang An Landscape Complex which is located in Ninh Binh is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Attractions and Sites Included on a Ninh Binh Day Trip
There are many different tours around Hanoi that specialize in day trips to Ninh Binh. We booked this Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi and it was one of our most memorable highlights on our vacation in Vietnam.
The tour was very adventurous and professional. I learned a lot about Vietnam and the Ninh Binh Province while on this Ninh Binh Day Trip. The best thing was the group size of the tour. There were three of us in total.
Our Full-Day Ninh Binh Highlights Tour from Hanoi included a brief stop at the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. After a brief stop at Ha Lu Ancient Capital, we climbed 500 steps to Lying Dragon Mountain for spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. After an exhausting climb, we enjoyed an 8-course lunch. After lunch we rented bicycles and cycled through small villages and rice fields to Bich Dong Pagoda. From here we took a sampan boat trip in Tam Coc along the picturesque river.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
The first site on our Ninh Binh one day tour was a brief stop at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.
Hoa Lu is considered Vietnam’s first capital from the years 968 until 1009.
Although much of this ancient capital no longer exists, there are still a few temples and sites on the grounds that are accessible to visitors.
The main attractions at the ancient capital include Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and Le Hoan Temple.
There is not a whole lot more to see here other then the temples and beautiful countryside. In total, we spent about 30-45 minutes at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.
Hike Dragon Mountain for the Best Views in Ninh Binh
For the best views in Ninh Binh, our tour guide led us up 500 stairs to reach the summit of Dragon Mountain.
This is that iconic photo you see of Ninh Binh with the limestone peaks off in the distance and beautiful river in the foreground. Don’t worry, this tour includes a boat ride down the river below.
The hike up can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Our guide told us a marathon runner made it to the top of Dragon Mountain in a record time of 4 minutes.
Lunch at Tam Coc River View
After enjoying views of Ninh Binh from Dragon Mountain, we drove a few minutes to Tam Coc River View, where we had a huge yet satisfying lunch.
Tam Coc River View is a hotel and restaurant right along the waters edge where the sampan boats begin there journey down the Ngo Dong River.
Our guide gave us like 45 minutes to an hour to rest and enjoy lunch.
Goat is a delicacy in the area and can be very expensive. Of course, our meal did include a goat stir fry which I really enjoyed.
Lunch also included tofu, seasoned chicken, spring rolls, and of course fresh fruits and vegetables. Of course, I had to quench my thirst from our hike with a Bia Saigon, a popular lager beer brewed in Ho Chi Minh City.
Cycling Through Rice Fields to Bich Dong Pagoda
Other then the amazing views of Ninh Binh from Dragon Mountain, cycling to Bich Dong Pagoda was probably my favorite highlight from the Ninh Binh one day tour.
I felt like cycling through the Vietnamese country side through villages and rice fields really gave me a sense of the “Real Vietnam.”
We started the cycle portion of the tour in Tam Coc and rode for about 45 minutes one way to Bich Dong Pagoda. Everything about this pagoda and temple complex was spectacular. From the main gate entrance to the pagoda itself.
We begin with entering the main gate to Bich Dong Pagoda. The gate is stunning, with the ponds on either side and mountainous terrain in the background.
We then found ourselves in a temple complex. In Vietnam, temples are referred to as Pagodas. Bich Dong Pagoda had three different pagodas referred to as Ha Pagoda, Trung Pagoda, and Thuong Pagoda.
Trung Pagoda was unique as the face of the pagoda stuck out of a cliff face. Come to find out that the rest of the pagoda is tucked back into a large cave.
Visitors can walk to all three pagodas here. I’d say that Trung Pagoda was the most impressive.
After about 45 minutes at Bich Dong Pagoda, we leisurely cycle back to Tam Coc for our sampan boat ride down the Ngo Dong River.
Sampan Boat Tour Down the Ngo Dong River
After a day full of hiking and cycling, it was nice to end the day on a stress free boat ride.
In Tam Coc, we got on a Sampan which is a boat in Southeast Asian countries that are known to be built from local materials. The boat we were on consisted of metal and wood materials.
We had a 1 – 1.5 hour boat ride down the Ngo Dong River ahead of us. The river snakes around the limestone formations of Ninh Binh. Each bend of the river offering beautiful views of the landscape.
The boat ride passes through three caves and ended at a lake before turning around and taking the same path back to the Tam Coc River View hotel and restaurant.
One of the unique aspects about the Sampan boat tours was that the paddlers used their feet to direct the oars. Almost every paddler used their feet and made it look so easy!
Tips and Recommendations when Visiting Ninh Binh
- Hiking up 500 stairs up to Dragon Mountain was no easy task. Although it is a short hike, the heat and humidity was intense. The hike was harder then it seemed, so plan for that. Bring water and the appropriate clothing.
- The Sampan Boat Tour down the No Dong River was spectacular. I mean, the views were amazing and the landscape was so unique. But it is touristy and with that there are scams.
- Toward the beginning of the boat ride, there are other boats that followed us with cameras and took pictures of us on the boat. Obviously, they wanted to sell their photos. We ignored them.
- At the turn around point of the Sampan boat ride, there were sellers in boats trying to sell drinks and food. They were pushy and said we should buy a drink for the individual captaining our boat. Our tour guide did bring this up before getting on the boat, so we were aware of the scams.
- On the way back to our destination, the individual paddling our boat kept complaining he was tired and demanded a tip. For a second, he stopped the boat and said we needed to tip him. We kept telling him we will at the end of the boat ride. This kind of put a damper on the relaxing boat ride. The paddler started to get very pushy. So just note this and tell them you will tip at the end.
Conclusion
A Ninh Binh one day tour from Hanoi is an unforgettable experience for those looking to escape the chaotic city and experience life at a slower pace. Between the natural beauty and rich culture and history, Ninh Binh offers something for every type of traveler. It is recommended to book a day trip through an online reputable company like Viator or Get Your Guide. This way there is no stress and everything from food to transportation is taken care of. If you are visiting Hanoi and are looking to see more of Vietnam, don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit Ninh Binh Province.
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Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁
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