Ninh Binh Tours

Why visit Ninh Binh

The Trang An Landscape Complex, inscribed by UNESCO in 2014 for both its natural and cultural value, covers most of the area's karst scenery along with the old capital of Hoa Lu. You see much of it from a small rowing boat at water level, with rice paddies, temples and village life close by. Distances between sites are short, so a day trip covers a lot, and an overnight stay lets you reach the rivers early, before the day-trip crowds arrive.

Top things to do in Ninh Binh

• Trang An boat trip: a two- to three-hour row along the river and through a series of low caves, with stops at temples on small islands.
• Tam Coc by rowing boat: local rowers, some using their feet, take you along the Ngo Dong River through three caves, with rice fields on both banks.
• Climb to the Mua Cave viewpoint: around 500 stone steps lead to a summit view over Tam Coc and the winding river below.
• Hoa Lu ancient capital: temples dedicated to Kings Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh mark the site of Vietnam's capital in the late 10th century.
• Cycle the back lanes around Tam Coc and Bich Dong Pagoda, past duck farms, paddies and village homes.

Best time to visit

The most pleasant months are September to November and March to May, when days are warm and fairly dry. The rice around Tam Coc turns gold from late May to early June, a popular time for photographers. June to August is hot and humid with heavy showers, and December to February is cool and often grey, though still fine for boat trips with a light jacket. Weekends and Vietnamese public holidays are much busier at Trang An and Bai Dinh.

Getting there

Ninh Binh is about 95 km south of Hanoi, around two hours by car via the expressway. Trains take a similar time, but a car is easier for reaching the boat piers. Many travellers continue from Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay, about three hours away by road.