Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi: Highlights for your short vacation
Ninh Binh, also known as “Ha Long Bay on land”, has become a destination not to be missed when you have the opportunity to visit northern Vietnam. A day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi will allow you to discover the cultural and natural beauties of this Vietnam’s gem.
You may take advantage of a convenient one-day trip departing from Hanoi or neighboring provinces to discover the alluring beauty of Ninh Binh. This trip will take you through the region’s fascinating history and stunning scenery.
Let’s check out this post, everything you need to know about the Ninh Binh one-day itinerary can be found here.
Departure point for a day trip to Ninh Binh
You can depart a day tour to Ninh Binh from Hanoi or Halong Bay.
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Ninh Binh day trip from Hanoi
The drive from Ninh Binh to Hanoi is only approximately two hours, covering a distance of approximately 95 kilometers. To make a day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi, you can choose one of the following means of transportation: by car, bus, motorbike or train
Ninh Binh day trip from Halong Bay
You can also choose a one-day Ninh Binh tour from Ha Long Bay. The distance from Ha Long to Ninh Binh is about 180 kilometers, with about 3.5 hours by road. To move from Halong Bay to Ninh Binh, you can travel by bus, car, or motorcycle. However, it is necessary for you to depart from Ha Long extremely early if you like to take part in this day tour of Ninh Binh; roughly 06:30 a.m is the recommended departure time.
You can also arrange for a limousine transfer back to Ha Long once the day excursion is over. The car will depart at 05:30 p.m and can pick you up at tourist attractions such as Trang An, Tam Coc…
Read more:
- How to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh? Easiest and Best Way To Travel to Ninh Binh
- How to get from Noi Bai airport to Ninh Binh? Hanoi airport to Ninh Binh route
Which are the must-see attractions in Ninh Binh for a day trip?
Whether you take your Ninh Binh tour from Hanoi or somewhere else, there are many outstanding tourist destinations which you can choose for your own itinerary:
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Tam Coc – Bich Dong
Tam Coc – Bich Dong is a unique natural and spiritual tourist destination in Ninh Binh. With its network of caves, mountains, and historic relics, Tam Coc is often referred to as Ha Long Bay on land. Here, you can take a boat to visit Tam Coc where you can take in the serene rural scenery with rice fields on either side, pass by imposing limestone cliffs and enter three caves made of impressive stalactites.
After that, you can visit the second-most well-known and stunning cave complex in Vietnam, Bich Dong Pagoda, which has a holy area encircled by towering mountains. High on the mountaintop, there are pagodas and caves with naturally occurring stalactites for visitors to explore. Bich Dong Pagoda is an ideal vantage point from which to admire the surroundings – a picturesque landscape of harmonious mountains.
Mua Cave
Taking a day trip to Ninh Binh and exploring Hang Mua can give you the opportunity to get a bird’s-eye view of Tam Coc’s poetic beauty. This cave features a distinctive geological structure and a history spanning millions of years. From the top of the mountain, you can see the entire serene splendor of Tam Coc with endless rice fields, majestic mountains and boats gliding down the Ngo Dong River…
>>> Read more: Mua Cave is worth being visited in Ninh Binh?
Trang An scenic landscape complex
Trang An Landscape Complex is recognized by UNESCO as an eco-tourism destination combining spirituality and culture. This 2,000-hectare area features an amazing landscape made up of limestone mountains entwined with valleys, flooded forests, temples, and archeological relics.
Visitors can choose to explore the area by kayaking or taking a traditional sampan rowed by local boatmen. You will be captivated by the natural beauty here, which combines golden rice fields, brilliant blue sky, emerald water, and verdant mountains in a harmonic way.
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Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
This special location has a wealth of cultural and historical value, making your one-day trip to Ninh Binh extremely interesting. The ancient capital, which dates back thousands of years, is encircled by striking mountains and streams that are braided together. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital features two temples dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh, which are embellished with patterns typical of traditional Vietnamese architecture such as dragon, cloud, and floral.
This site also boasts many unique artifacts such as the Long Sang (King’s bed), a national treasure carved from monolithic green stone with exquisite workmanship. Also, don’t forget to visit the museum displaying historical relics excavated from archaeological sites and gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese history.
Bai Dinh Pagoda
Bai Dinh Pagoda is a spiritual destination in Ninh Binh for those seeking Buddhist teachings or just a quiet spot to visit in a day trip to this beautiful province. There is a recently constructed magnificent pagoda area in addition to an older pagoda that radiates ancient beauty in this complex.
When you arrive, you will experience the extremely cool atmosphere with rows of Bodhi trees. Here you can find notable highlights that hold Vietnamese and Asian records such as the largest bronze bell in Vietnam, the corridor with the longest Arhat statue in Asia, the tallest and heaviest Shakyamuni Buddha statue in Asia, the largest bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha in Southeast Asia.
>>> Read more: Bai Dinh Pagoda and Significant Records in Ninh Binh
Suggested Ninh Binh one-day trip
Below are some suggested itineraries for you to enjoy a day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi or neighboring provinces:
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (8:30 a.m – 10:30 a.m) – Hang Mua (10:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m) – Trang An scenic landscape complex (1:30 p.m – 4:30 p.m): This day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi is an ideal place for nature enthusiasts and photography lovers.
Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An – Hang Mua Cave Tour
- Depart from Hanoi at 7:30 a.m, end at 7:30 p.m
- Attractions: Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Ngoa Long Peak – Hang Mua Cave
The 1-day trip of Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An, Hang Mua Cave will take you to visit Bai Dinh pagoda, a pagoda that has set many records in Southeast Asia. Then, you will sit on a bamboo boat to explore the beautiful scenery of Trang An, conquer Ngoa Long Mountain Peak and visit the Hang Mua Cave area.
- Duration: 1 Day
- HOT DEAL: $46
- Transportation: Limousine Bus
- Tour Type: Small Group: Max 17-20Pax
- Duration: 1 Day
- HOT DEAL: $49
- Transportation: Limousine Bus
- Tour Type: Small Group: Max 17-20Pax
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (8:30 a.m – 10:30 a.m) – Hang Mua (10:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m) – Tam Coc (1:30 p.m – 4:30 p.m): This day tour to Ninh Binh from Hanoi lasts about 8 hours, suitable for those who enjoy history, spirituality, as well as peaceful village scenery.
Bai Dinh Pagoda (8:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m) – Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (1:30 p.m – 4:30 p.m): This day tour covers two of the most popular destinations in Ninh Binh, bringing a perfect combination between spirituality and natural scenery.
- Depart from Hanoi at 7:30 a.m and return back to the capital at 7:30 p.m
- Activities: A 2-hour boat tour to Trang An, a visit to Bai Dinh Pagoda by electric car
What is included in a Ninh Binh one-day trip from Hanoi?
The best option for visiting Ninh Binh in just one day is to reserve a full-day tour that includes transportation from Hanoi. The tour is led by a local guide and includes a shuttle that will take you to many famous attractions with different experiences in Ninh Binh, helping you save time and comfortably enjoy the beauty of this destination.
- Shuttle bus/limousine picks up and drops off visitors at hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter area and some other locations in Hoan Kiem district
- Entrance tickets to tourist attractions
- Buffet lunch at a local restaurant with specialty dishes
- Friendly and professional local English-speaking tour guide
- Bamboo boat tickets to visit caves and enjoy river landscapes (at Trang An, Tam Coc…)
- Cycling in the countryside, going to local villages and meeting some local people
- Drinks, personal expenses, and things that are not mentioned above are not included.
Traveling with a Ninh Binh day trip from Hanoi allows you to experience Vietnam’s natural and cultural treasures. This trip captures the essence of this place in a single day, with stops at the ancient capital and peaceful scenery.
The Hanoi Explore Travel Team hopes that this article will provide you with sufficient information to select a tour that best suits your needs. If you need to schedule a one-day tour in Ninh Binh, please kindly contact us. We surely can help you choose the best itinerary for your trip and offer you many useful advice for your vacation in Vietnam.