Travel Guide: Ninh Binh Province

Far too few travellers make it to Ninh Bình, a mesmerizing area known locally as ‘Hạ Long Bay on Land’ thanks to its magical riverine landscape, with sheer limestone mountains rising up from the paddies. The best way to get a sense of this UNESCO-protected site is by taking a paddleboat tour along its shimmering rivers, and climbing to the top of its fabled peaks.

General information

If you come to this ancient land but you do not visit Trang An Ninh Binh tourist area. It will be indeed a huge omission. With its spectacular scenery, Trang An is a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage site so many foreign tourists often want to explore this place. If you are still not sure which Ninh Binh belongs to, the answer is that Ninh Binh is a piece of land located between the three regions of the Northwest, North Central and Red River Delta. Ninh Binh, located just 100 kilometers south of Hanoi, is a beautiful place to visit to experience some of Vietnam’s most incredible natural sights, and often hailed as Vietnam’s hidden gem.

An escape to Ninh Binh can be a wonderful day trip from Hanoi, or a two or three day retreat into the countryside, depending on the time you have available!

When to travel

The temperatures in Ninh Bình are ideal from March to May and September to November. For the finest views, go during harvest season in October. If you visit in the hotter months from July to August, be prepared for random downpours and stormy moments.

How to get there?

Regular buses depart to Ninh Bình from Hanoi every day. You can book a luxury van which includes transfer to Tam Cốc, where plenty of charming accommodation options await. Private cars make the journey even quicker. For those with more time, several trains leave for Ninh Bình from Hanoi daily. The best way to get around Ninh Binh is by motorcycle tour or taxi. Cycling is a great option for visitors staying in Tam Cốc.

Attractions

Here some interesting attractions that might convince you to visit this place on your vacation

Trang An 

If you come to this ancient land. But you do not visit Trang An Ninh Binh tourist area. It is indeed a huge omission. With its spectacular scenery, Trang An is a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage site so many tourists want to explore this place daily.

To enjoy the view to Trang An. You will be sitting on a boat to admire the scenery and sometimes go through caves to admire the stones with fancy shapes. However, according to Trang An Ninh Binh travel experience, in the peak season here often crowded with thousands of visitor. You will even have to wait quite high to have a boat to go there.

Mua Cave

Get a bird's-eye view of Ninh Bình at Hang Múa, where 500 steps have been dramatically carved into the steep face of a mountain. At the top, a lookout point offers a surreal vista of the river winding lazily among paddies and limestone outcrops.

Besides the familiar locations, the Mua Cave is one of the most recently mentioned places in Ninh Binh travel guide. Many people fondly call this place the name “The Great Wall of China”. Come here, you will have to climb quite high, but once conquered, you will be overwhelmed by the majestic natural scenery of this land.

In particular, do not forget to take virtual photos here, make sure you will have sparkling pictures to see. Complementing the Ninh Binh Cave Touring experience in your trip. This beauty sport is one of the most famous one for photographer to take the panorama of Tam Coc picture.

Tam Coc Bich Dong

Tam Coc Bich Dong is also compared to Ha Long on land. Because it is covered with majestic mountains, lush green rivers gently flowing and immense fields. If you want to see the whole view of Tam Coc Bich Dong, you should venture to climb a high mountain. Especially from Mua Cave peak, make sure you will not regret somewhere.

Just like Trang An, Tam Coc Ninh Binh travel experience you will have to go by rowing boat down the poetic river and in turn admire 3 caves with successive mountains creating a picture of nature.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Hoa Lu was originally an ancient capital of three Vietnamese dynasties. So it still retains architectural features from ancient times. Go to Hoa Lu ancient capital, you will visit the temple of King Dinh, King Le and other architectural works.

Van Long Nature Reserve Center.

According to Ninh Binh tourism experience of many people, there is also an extremely hot place that not everyone knows. That is Van Long. To enjoy the beautiful scenery here, you will also have to go on a boat and admire the limestone mountains with many different shapes such as Meo scratch mountain, Mam Xoi mountain, Mo Co mountain…

Bai Dinh Pagoda

The largest complex of Buddhist temples in the country, Bái Đính is a mix of old and new styles. Ancient temples are housed in caves you can only reach via a pretty climb of 300 steps, while the new temple area covers an area of 500 hectares.

With the scene like a fairy-tale place. Bai Dinh Pagoda makes anyone who comes here will feel the peace and tranquility in their souls.

Cuc Phuong National Park

It’s Vietnam’s largest National Park with many endangered species of plants and animals. Located deep in the Tam Diep mountain range. Cuc Phuong National Park is characterized by tropical, green rainforest year-round. In addition to the rich and diverse biological system, Cuc Phuong National Park also has a unique culture, characterized as this is the residence of the Muong community. The famous with the houses on stilts and terraced fields, upland rice mortars, brocade weaving looms, …

Am Tien Cave (Wonderful Love Coc)

Am Tien Cave, also known as the famous swordplay Tuyet Tinh Coc in Ninh Binh. It’s located in the ancient ruins of Hoa Lu. Most of the area of Am Tien Cave is flooded and surrounded by rocky cliffs.

Thung Nham Bird Garden

If you are a nature and animal lover. You will utter in awe at the beauty of Thung Nham bird garden. It is not an exaggeration to say that the place is an interesting natural picture. Few people doubt that this large ecological garden has up to 40 different species with about 50,000 birds. Visitors can slowly enjoy the feeling of sitting on a boat, slowly watching the flocks of white birds hovering in the sky screaming.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Today the capital of Vietnam is Hanoi, but in the 10th and 11th centuries that honour was held by Hoa Lư. Hoa Lu was originally an ancient capital of three Vietnamese dynasties. So it still retains architectural features from ancient times. Go to Hoa Lu ancient capital, you will visit the temple of King Dinh, King Le and other architectural works.This small ancient city was naturally protected from invasions by karsts and rivers. Nearly 100km from Hanoi, Hoa Lu Ninh Binh is not only known as an ancient capital with many valuable historical sites but also a destination with many attractive landscapes waiting for you to explore.

Travel Tips

Before heading out to Ninh Binh, check out a few more of our tips to ensure your journey is as smooth as possible!

• Ninh Binh is definitely more off the beaten track than Hanoi or Halong Bay. Make sure you bring your necessities such as toiletries and medication as you likely won’t find what you need there.
• Be careful with what you eat. Make sure food (especially meat or fish) is cooked properly and make a point to visit busy restaurants where food turnover is higher.
• It’s best to bring cash along before heading out to Ninh Binh (both USD in small denominations and Vietnamese dong work) as there aren’t as many ATMs outside of the town center and they may not work. Tam Coc has no ATMs at all.
• Take care when you take a motorbike taxi or if you rent a motorbike. Also make sure you have a valid license if you rent a motorbike yourself.
• We recommend checking in with your hotel before setting off to find a certain destination in the area surrounding Ninh Binh and Tam Coc because Google maps isn’t very reliable there and the area pinpointed on the map might not be right.