This post has all you need to know to plan your trip to one of the most fascinating places in Vietnam. Don’t miss it!!

It boasts of the most majestic and impressive natural landscapes in Southeast Asia, yet so many travelers overlook it.

Ninh Binh is a fascinating place where apart from an inspiring scenery, you have easy access to the most rural and authentic side Vietnam.

This travel guide of Ninh Binh is packed with the most up to date and reliable information to plan your trip and start making your itinerary. Let’s start!

How to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?

From Hanoi, you can reach Ninh Binh city by train, shuttle bus or book a Ninh Binh Day Tour. 

• There are at least 3 southbound trains available (SE5, SE7, SE19)
• There are regular buses from Hanoi bus station ( Giap Bat’) with price around 70,000 vnd.
• Time duration around 2 hours

Best time to visit Ninh Binh

Almost any time of the year is good to visit Ninh Binh.

Like in all the north Vietnam, May to October in Ninh Binh is hot, humid and with high rainfall. The region can be specially vulnerable to typhoons during September. November to April months tend to be cooler and dry.

However, the rainy season is also when the rice fields are at their best vivid green, so there’s really a reason to visit all year around.

Getting around Ninh Binh

• Trang An Grottos (TheWolrd Natural Heritage site). The route will take visitors on a tour passing through 4 splendid limestone caves and 3 spiritual spots including Dia Linh Mountain in the shape of a giant Pen Tower erected in the middle of the river. Then back to the past while exploring a small temple dedicated to Thanh Cao Son, a national hero who had merit teaching the local people irrigation management to boost agricultural development under the reign of the 18th Hung King. Visitors will also learn more about the glorious history of the Tran Dynasty while exploring Vu Lam Royal Steps.
• Hoa Lu Ancient Capital we will visit 2 temples built on the ground of the old royal palace, one is dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang, and the other is to King Le Dai Hanh. The visit offers a chance to know more about part of the feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.
• Mua cave is not terribly impressive, but there are panoramic views from the peak above. A stone staircase beside the cave entrance zigzags through the karst (beware the goat droppings) and it’s almost 500 steps to a simple altar to Quan Am (the Goddess of Mercy). Look west for the Ngo Dong River winding through Tam Coc.
• Cuc Phuong National Park from Hanoi with Origin Vietnam. You will have chance to visit Vietnam’s biggest national park and probably the most crucial biodiversity areas in the country. It’s homes to countless species of flora and fauna. Visiting the park is a great opportunity to get a close look at Vietnam’s character and fees generated from tourism help protect the parks wildlife and improve the local community. The perfect time to visit from Nov to Jan.
• Van Long Nature Reserves. Van Long is one of the last wild refuges of the endangered Delacour’s langur, partly because the wetlands keep predators and poachers at bay. Van Long is 2km east of Tran Me, 23km from Ninh Binh along the road to Cuc Phuong.

Ninh Binh: A detailed Travel Guide to Vietnam’s Hidden Gem
Nguyen Thanh Van

If you have 3 days in Hanoi, do not only discover around city center but to begin explore Northern Vietnam.

Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha By is landscape you should not miss,  glide through the karst landscapes of Tam Coc, cycle through rice fields to ancient pagodas, and perhaps even go on an overnight adventure or mingle with hill tribes in Sapa. Here’s how.

Day 1: Hanoi city Tours

Soak Up the City Spend your first day in Hanoi discovering the city’s signatures: delicious street food, ancient temples, Vietnam War sites, and water puppets. Soak up the atmosphere at the Temple of Literature, wander the streets of the Old Quarter (eating as you go), and visit the notorious Hoa Lo Prison, once known as the Hanoi Hilton. If Hanoi’s cuisine has you hooked—and it will—consider a cooking class so you can bring your favorite dishes home, perhaps with a market tour. In the evening, discover northern Vietnam’s own unique art form: water puppetry. The special effects, including fireworks, will amaze.

Hanoi Street Eats Food 3 Hours Walking Private Tour

Hanoi Spring City Tour 1 Day

Day 2: Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay on Cruise

Catch a Cruise With three days in Hanoi, you’d be remiss not to experience Halong Bay, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its spectacular seascapes of karst islands and caves. The longer you spend on the water, the more you beat the crowds, so it’s worth at least considering an overnight tour—approach by seaplane and travel on an authentic junk for a truly decadent experience. If you’re struggling to decide, focus on the extras as well as the route: many boats offer experiences from bamboo-boat rides to sea kayaking, from cooking classes to tai chi.

Escape with Amazing Halong Bay 1 Day Tour

Mimosa Cruise 01 Day

Day 3: Hoa Lu Ancient Temple – Trang An Grottoes – Tam Coc – Bich Dong Pagoda- Mua Cave

Farther Afield If you don’t spend the night on the water, three days in Hanoi give you ample time to explore the scenic countryside of north Vietnam. Some call the UNESCO-listed karst landscapes around Tam Coc “Halong Bay on land,” and a boat ride through the rocks and rice fields is just magical. The Perfume Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most sacred sites, offers dramatic temples amid lush green vistas. Or, if you’ve opted against Halong Bay altogether, it’s possible to venture out to Sapa, where the cool mountains are home to Hmong, Dao, and Tay people, among other ethnic groups.

Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave 1 Day

Hoa Lu – Trang An – Bich Dong Luxury Tour 1 Day

Read more about How to Spend 3 Days in Hanoi – 2020 Travel Recommendations | Tours, Trips & Tickets | Viator –

tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293924-d15809828-Reviews-Rubicon_Tours_Vietnam-Hanoi.html

How to spend 3 days in Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van