Ninh Binh was the first ancient capital city of Vietnam. Nowdays, it attracts a huge number of domestic and foreign tourists. It is very famous for not only the festival of Bai Dinh Pagoda but also other popular beauty spots. If you do not know What to see and Do in Ninh Binh – A wonderful land in Viet Nam, we would like to suggest some following ideal places included for your amazing trip.
Here are TOP 25 Best Things to do in Ninh Binh included Top tourist attractions to visit and MUST-HAVE experience, activities on your trip in Ninh Binh!
Top tourist attractions to visit in Ninh Binh
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Trang An landscape complex
- Location: Trang An, Truong Yen, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
- Opening hours: Sun – Sat 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Entrance Fee Tickets of Boat Trip – 2.5 Hours:
- Adults: 250,000 VND/person
- Children from 1 to 1.3 meters tall: 120,000 VND/person
- Children under 1 meter tall: Free of charge
Trang An Landcsape Complex, a tourist attraction, is located in Ninh Binh province. It is recognized by UNESCO as the world’s natural and cultural heritage. When you visit Trang An, you will have the chance to see imposing mountains of the ancient capital, visit Tam Coc – Bich Dong and go to Bai Dinh Pagoda, the land of sacredness.
Trang An Grottoes has become the most fairyland land in the world in association with forests, streams, rivers, and marsh. It is harmonious beauty of this land that arises tourists’ interest to come here.
Bai Dinh Pagoda
- Address: Gia Sinh Commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province
- Opening hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM every day
Entrance Fee Tickets:
- Bai Dinh Pagoda entrance fee: free
- Electric car: 60,000 VND/person/trip, operating until 8:00 PM
- Visit Bao Thap Tower: 50,000 VND/person
- Parking: 40,000 VND/car and 15,000 VND/motorbike
Bai Dinh Pagoda Ninh Binh belongs to Trang An Ecotourism Complex. It represents spirituality of inhabitants here. With sophisticated, monumental and splendid architecture and many records in Southeast Asia and Asia which have been set, Trang An is the border of paradise and living life. It is one of a kind in Vietnam and is established on Bai Dinh land where it is regarded as a very sacred and major pagoda of Vietnamese.
The Bai Dinh pagoda has become a sparkling pearl for thousands of years of Vietnam. Not only does it own unique and original architecture but also it has traces of the most respected Kings such as: Thanh Nguyen, Cao Son, etc.
>>> Discover Bai Dinh Pagoda and Beauty of Mua Cave: Deluxe Bai Dinh Trang An Mua Cave Small Group – Limousine Transfer
Tam Coc Ninh Binh
- Address: Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh Province
- Opening hour: 7 a.m to 5 p.m
- Boat Ticket price: 250.000 VND per person; 100.000 VND for children.
Tam Coc Ninh Binh is 150 square kilometers in area. Visiting this place, you are going to pass through 3 routes: Tam Coc – Den Thai Vi – Dong Thien Huong, Bich Dong – Xuyen Thuy Dong, Dong Tien – Linh Coc Pagoda. Currently, although all of these spots have been separated, tourists vist them at the same time.
Tam Coc has three caves consisting of Ca, Hai and Ba Caves with distinguished beauty but they are all formed by the Ngo Dong river flowing through Bich Dong, a cave has sapphire color.
The fact that Tam Coc – Bich Dong has many caves like Mua Cave, Bich Dong, But, Thien Ha caves, etc has created the most unsual and rare landscape which is called “Ha Long Bay on on land”.
>>> Explore Deluxe Hoa Lu Tam Coc Mua Cave Small Group – Limousine Transfer to try the most attractive activities in Ninh Binh
Mua Cave – Mua Cave Viewpoint Ninh Binh
- Address: Khe Dau Ha village, Ninh Xuan commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province.
- Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Entrance Fee Tickets:
- Ticket to visit: 100,000 VND
- Parking motorbike: 10,000 VND
- Parking bike: 5,000 VND
Coming to Mua Cave Ninh Binh, you are going to have an opportunity to test your resistance by climbing up a moutain through 486 stone stairs. From the top of the moutain, we can admire the panoramic beauty of Tam Coc area with dark green paddy fields.
It is named as “the muse of Tam Coc” or “ Great Wall of Vietnam” with spectacular views of mountain tops, ripening rice fields or sparkling towers on the top of mountains.
>>> Read more: Mua Cave is worth being visited in Ninh Binh?
Hoa Lu ancient capital
- Address: Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam
- Entrance Fee Ticket: 20,000 VND/Person
- Opening hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital was the first capital of Vietnam and Dinh Tien Hoang Kinh ruled in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province where it included all talents for contributing to Vietnam. In 1010, Ly King left the capital to Imperial Citadel Thang Long but Hoa Lu has been considered as a historic site of Vietnam.
With the square of 14 square kilometers, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital possesses sophisticated architecture and skillful carvings. When you come here, you will be told historical stories, and there are many magnificent places and vestiges that have been existing for thousands of years for you to see.
>>> If you’d like a FREE itinerary tailored to your needs by a knowledgeable travel advisor, don’t hesitate to contact us for help. – Hotline/What’s app number: + 84 974 805 797 or + 84 914 815 535
Cuc Phuong National Park
- Address in Ninh Binh: Nho Quan district
- Opening Hours: From 06.00am – 05.30pm
Entrance Fee Tickets:
- The entrance fee to the park is 50.000 VND/Person
- Visit The Endangered Primate Rescue Centre: 60.000 VND/Person
Cuc Phuong National Park, located in Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh province, is a famous ecotourism destination. Being the center of renowned rare animals like: bears, wild boars, leopards,etc..and plants like parashrea stellata, green trees, pedocarpus fleurgi, all of this creats a diversed ecosystem,
Cuc Phuong National Park is also the homeland of hundreds of kinds of birds and butterflies. Early days of the summer is a great time for the youth to take stunning photographs. The best time for tourists to vist Cuc Phuong National Part is on from December to Aprial annually. Besides visiting vegetation, you will also take part resort, campfire, biking and trekking activities, etc.
>>> Explore: Cuc Phuong National Park Full Day Tour
Endangered primate rescue center
Located within Cuc Phuong National Park, the Endangered Primate Rescue Center is cared for by the Frankfurt Zoological Society and staff members of Cuc Phuong National Park.
The animals here are rescued from the hands of illegal dealers, and the facility’s main goal is to educate visitors how to safeguard wildlife in Vietnam. Currently, over 180 primates from 15 different species call it home. A visit to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center will surely bring you a great opportunity to observe rare animals.
Turtle conservation center
Located inside Cuc Phuong National Park, the Turtle Conservation Center is home to over 1000 species of tortoise, semi-aquatic and aquatic turtles representing 20 of Vietnam’s 25 native species.Although it’s not one of the most well-known sights in Ninh Binh, you should definitely go here if you’ve been to Cuc Phuong National Park.
Van Long Nature Reserve
- Address: Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province
- Opening time: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entrance Fee Tickets:
- Admission fee: 20,000 VND/person
- Boat ride fee: 150,000 VND/boat/2 people
Van Long Nature Reserve belongs to Gia Van commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh province. This place was formed from damming a dyke for preventing flood and is known as a waterlogged nature reserve of the north of Vietnam.
When taking a boat on the surface of the lake, you can also see breathtaking views around the lake; this is the reason why it is also called “The Bay without waves”. Except from this, it has two other gardens of storks 2 kilometers far from that.
Thousands of rare creatures and around 30 beautiful caves ( Bong, Rua, Chanh Caves, etc..) are a meeting place of Ninh Binh tourism for tourists. Van Long Nature Reserve also has a system of limestone mountains with diversified shapes such as : raspberry, scratching cat, etc…
Bich Dong Pagoda
- Address: Ngu Nhac Son mountain range, in Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province.
- Opening Hours: 07.00am – 06.00pm
- Entrance Fee Ticket: Free
Bich Dong Pagoda is located in the complex of Trang An Heritage, dubbed as “Nam Thien second cave – located on Ngu Nhac Son mountain range, in Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. The pagoda was built in the style of “three” in Han scripts, consisting of three unconnected buildings, based on the mountain position from low to high forming three separate temples, hidden under the green canopy of ancient trees surrounded by stone.
About 2 km from Tam Coc wharf is the Bich Dong Pagoda destination hidden at the foot of limestone mountains. Bich Dong means “green cave” is considered to be the most attractive tourist attraction in Ninh Binh. This is also one of the beautiful spiritual caves.
The scenery surrounding Bich Dong pagoda is very charming. It can be said that the wonderful landscape is a harmonious combination between the strangely beautiful cave and the rugged rocky mountains, surrounded by swamps along with many typical tree and flower species, which has formed a unity and an impressive nostalgic beauty.
Thung Nham Bird Park
- Address: Hai Nham hamlet, Ninh Hai commune, Tam Coc area, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province.
- Opening Hours: From 06.30am – 06.00pm
Entrance Fee ticket:
- Adult: 150,000 VND;
- Children: 100,000 VND; Children under 1m: free.
It belongs to Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district and is surrounded by tropical forests over limestone mountain chains with a lot of valleys and caves. Thung Nham Bird Park has been extensively exploited for tourism purposes because of its diversified landscapes including accomodation , restaurants, recreation and teambuilding areas.
Entering the tourism area, you will see the boat ticket area. You can come to Nham Valley by two ways: going on a boat right from the beginning to Bird valley, rowers will take you through mountain cliffs and caves then But Cave. Experience of Thung Nham Bird Garden, Ninh Binh in 2019 is that if you do not prefer boat trip, you can travel to Thung Nham Bird Valley by road.
Kenh Ga floating village
- Address: Gia Thinh Commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province
- Opening hours: 24/24h daily
- Best time to visit: June – September
- Entrance fee: Free. The entrance fee for an experience in Kenh Ga Hot Spring is 90,000 VND.
Kenh Ga Floating Village is a great place to get a glimpse of a real Vietnamese fishing village.
Like Van Long Nature Reserve, Kenh Ga village experiences annual flooding. Here, farmers are only able to harvest one crop of rice a year; the rest of the time, they rely on fishing for their livelihood. When you visit Kenh Ga village, you will witness local people using their feet to paddle boats.
You can also choose to go on a motorboat tour down the river, where you can see the picturesque limestone mountains, nearby villages, churches, and fishing and farming activities.
Kenh Ga Village is also well-known for its hot springs that are very good for health. If you have time, let’s take a mineral bath in those hot springs.
Tuyet Tinh Coc – Am Tien Cave
- Address: Hoa Lu Citadel Complex, Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh
- Opening hours: 07.00 AM – 06.00 PM
- Entrance fee ticket: 20,000 VND/Person
Tuyet Tinh Coc Ninh Binh (also known as Am Tien Cave) has recently emerged as a new tourist attraction in Ninh Binh. The formal name of this tourist site is Am Tien Cave or Am Tien Pagoda. Because of its charming green landscape, many tourists compare its beauty to ‘’Tuyet Tinh Coc” and give it a new name. With the unspoiled beauty that is separated from the bustle and hustle life, tourists can enjoy the peacefulness and tranquility here.
Tuyet Tinh Coc is actually a unique “fairyland” that makes tourists feel like getting lost in the dreamy and mysterious scenes in historical movies. Let’s come along with us and explore this destination right now!
Dich Long pagoda & cave complex
- Address: Gia Thanh Commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh
- Entrance fee: Free
The Dich Long cave and pagoda complex, situated in Gia Thanh commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province, comprises pagodas perched on the magnificent Gia Vien mountains. According to legend, this relic, located in a wild, dense mountain forest, was found in 1739 by a woodcutter.
Dich Long Pagoda was named “Nam Thien De Tam Dong” by King Minh Mang, which means it is the third most beautiful cave in the country. It is ranked behind the most beautiful cave, Huong Tich Pagoda, which King Tu Duc named “Nam Thien De Nhat Dong,” and the second most beautiful pagoda, Bich Dong Pagoda, which Lord Trinh Sam named “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong.”
Thach Bich – Thung Nang
- Address: Dam Khe Village, Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh
Entrance Fee Tickets:
- Entrance fee: 20.000 VNĐ /Adult and 10.000 VNĐ / Children
- Boat Trip: 120.000 VND/Person
Thung Nang is a tourist destination in Ninh Binh that attracts tourists with ripe rice fields or emerald green rivers.
Thung Nang – Thach Bich is separated into two sections: the 3-hectare wide outer Thung Nang and the over-5-hectare wide inner Thung Nang. These areas are connected by a network of caves in the mountain that feature low ceilings and hanging stalactites in a variety of shapes.
Thach Bich – Thung Nang is located in Dam Khe village, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district. This location is true to its name, Sunshine Valley, since the sun shines everywhere, beaming from all the foliage, branches, and the rustic thatched roofs along the riverbank, down to the bottom of the water, creating a stunning and serene view.
Vietnamese ancient village – Co Vien Lau
- Entrance Fee Ticket: 50.000VND/Person
- Opening Hours: 06.30am – 06.30pm
Located right in the heart of Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourism area, Co Vien Lau immediately captivates you with its peaceful scenery with rows of green, straight areca trees on both sides of the road.
Co Vien Lau consists of 20 ancient houses built in 20 different architectural styles unique to each region, with many valuable antiques inside. In a quiet setting of the evening, you also can hear Ninh Binh’s artists singing folk songs, ancient “Cheo” melodies, “ca tru” songs dating back to 200 years ago.
Thien Ha Cave – Galaxy Grottoes
- Address: Quang Lac village, Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh province
- Opening hours: 7 a.m to 6 p.m
- Boat ticket price: 120,000 VND/adult; 60,000 VND/child.
Thien Ha Galaxy Cave is a beautiful cave located in Trang An eco-tourism area. Like its name, the cave features many stalactites during its process of formation with the sparkling and enchanting beauty likened to “galaxy within the mountain”.
The boat trip to Thien Ha Cave starts at Tho Ha, a peaceful small village. Sailing along the small canal of Ben Dang River for about 1 kilometer, you will see a 500-meter long stone path leading into the cave entrance.
The entire trip will be led by an experienced guide. Therefore, you can completely immerse yourself in a stunning, enchanted area filled with stalactites of all shapes. It will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience for you.
Hoa Lu Ancient Town
- Address: In the complex of Ky Lan Mountain – Silver Pagoda, No. 1 Tran Hung Dao, Tan Thanh Ward, Ninh Binh City.
- Opening hours: 7 a.m – 11 p.m
- Traditional stalls: 2 p.m – 11 p.m
- Folk games: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m
Entrance Tickets:
- Sightseeing boat ticket (Maximum 5 people): 100,000 VND/adult, 80,000 VND/child (1-meter – 1.3 meter tall).
- VIP boat ticket (with roof): 150,000 VND/adult (Maximum 9 people), 100,000 VND/child (1-meter – 1.3 meter tall).
Situated within the Ky Lan Mountain complex, Hoa Lu Ancient Town was constructed with the idea of Dai Viet traditional culture, which dates back to the tenth century. It can be said that the purpose of building Hoa Lu Ancient Town is to preserve and showcase the beauty of architecture and culture at that time. Coming here, you will enjoy yourself greatly playing, discovering, and touring traditional Vietnamese craft villages.
Phat Diem Stone Cathedral
- Address: Phat Diem Town, Kim Son District, Ninh Binh Province
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Dress Code: Polite apparel is required
Located in Phat Diem town, Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province, Phat Diem stone church is a long-standing building whose architecture is a perfect combination between Buddhism and Catholicism.
Phat Diem Stone Cathedral is roughly 28 kilometers from Ninh Binh City. It spans an area of 22 hectares, measuring 117 meters in width, 243 meters in length and consists of a large church with 5 small churches. There is a church known as a stone church that is made completely of natural stone. The three-storey Phuong Dinh (bell tower) is designed in a square shape, which is 21 meters wide and 25 meters high. Ponds and three artificial stone caves are also present.
With the age of over 130 years old, Phat Diem Stone Cathedral is a well-known Catholic structure in Ninh Binh with distinctive architecture. Many decades after its construction, this place still retains its impressive beauty blending Asian and European design elements and attracts a large number of tourists to visit each year.
>>> Read more about: Phat Diem Stone Cathedral Ninh Binh – A famous church in Viet Nam
List of intriguing activities to do in Ninh Binh
Conquer the spectacular viewpoint at the top of Ngoa Long Mountain – Mua Cave
- Address: Khe Dau Ha village, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province
- Opening hour: 6 a.m to 9 p.m
- Ticket price: 100.000 VND per person (Free for children under 10 years old)
Coming here, tourists can enjoy the breathtaking natural scenery surroundings. One of the trip’s highlights is to conquer 486 steps to reach the top of Mua Cave,which rewards your efforts with a stunning vista.
Standing on the top of Mua Mountain, visitors will admire the most majestic scenery of the land Ninh Binh. Particularly, if you visit in May and June, you may take in the stunning rice field scene from above.
Take a boat tour in Tam Coc – Must-do activity in Ninh Binh
This 2-hour boat trip along the Ngo Dong River will take you past caves, rice fields, and unique limestone mountains. The most attractive thing about the boats in Tam Coc is that the indigenous people are able to use their feet skillfully to manage their oars. This is a special technique that takes months to become proficient in.
>>> Read mỏe detail: Tam Coc Boat Tour – Let’s Ride Your Trip to Ninh Binh Now
Take a boat trip in Trang An – Explore the World Cultural and Natural Heritage recognized by UNESCO
- Address: Trang An eco-tourism area, Ninh Binh province
- Opening hours: 6 a.m to 4:30 p.m
- Ticket price: 250,000 VND/adult; 120,000 VND/child under 1.3 meters tall and free for children under 1 meter tall.
Since 2014, Trang An is a unique scenic complex in Ninh Binh that has been recognized by UNESCO as a combined world heritage site, encompassing both cultural and natural heritage. When visiting Trang An, you can be immersed yourself in the majestic and peaceful natural scenery.
While sitting on the boat, you can view the lush green forests, rolling limestone mountains and clear water trickling through beautiful natural caves, all of which come together to create a serene natural scenery. Unquestionably, it’s among the best things to do in Ninh Binh.
>>> Read more about: Trang An Boat Ride – A Spectacular Boat Ride Must Do in Ninh Binh
Cycle around rural villages and rice fields – One of the top things to do in Ninh Binh
Cycling through peaceful villages and rice fields is another great thing to do in Ninh Binh, in addition to taking a boat ride. This is a crucial ecotourism activity that lets visitors immerse themselves in a serene, refreshing, and romantic natural setting.
The best place in Ninh Binh for bike tours is the Tam Coc – Bich Dong area. Visitors can experience a fresh open space free of traffic jams and throngs of people jostling each other like on the city streets, which brings a great chance to take in the picturesque countryside scenery with gorgeous rice fields interspersed between serene small villages and limestone mountains.
This engaging activity helps you gain new experiences and makes your trip more complete. The cost of renting a bicycle often ranges from 50,000 to 70,000 VND per day. You can easily find bike rentals at the hotels where you stay. Alternatively, there are some travel companies offering Ninh Binh tours that include cycling activities in their itineraries.
>>> Read More about: Ninh Binh Cycling Tour – Best Suggested Itinerary for Ninh Binh Bike Tour in a Day!
Relax at Kenh Ga hot springs
- Address: Gia Thinh village, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province
- Opening hours: 7 a.m to 7 p.m
- Entrance fee: 15,000 VND/person.
Ticket price for bathing in Kenh Ga hot springs: 75,000 VND/adult. Tickets are free for children under 1 meter in height.
The hot springs at Kenh Ga Floating Village is one of the top 5 most beautiful outdoor hot springs in Vietnam. In addition to being a very healthy source of water, this hot spring draws travelers with its picturesque surroundings. There is a wide range of hot spring bathing services available here, with varying costs according to the supplier.
Have some beer on the banks of Ninh Binh river
Along with its stunning surroundings, Ninh Binh is a fantastic area to enjoy a beer by the river.
What’s better than enjoying tasty beers in a cool area with a nice wind and picturesque surroundings?
Many visitors decide to unwind here with a beer after a long trip or stressful working days. Therefore, along the banks of the beautiful Ninh Binh River, there is a wide variety of excellent beer bars available on the banks of the stunning Ninh Binh River for you to choose from. Let’s try this activity once to make your trip to Ninh Binh more memorable.
Visit Rong market – Ninh Binh and try local snacks
If you’re looking for inexpensive local food, go to Rong market – the largest market located in the city center of Ninh Binh.
Numerous carts and small shops may be found here, offering Ninh Binh cassava foods such donuts, floating cakes, mixed vermicelli, Tilapia noodles soup, and so on. You can also find fresh fruits and vegetables as well as shop for clothes, and souvenirs here.
Explore traditional craft villages
There are numerous traditional craft villages in Ninh Binh that have managed to maintain their distinct cultures and lengthy histories. The most well-known are the sedge mat crafts of Kim Son, the carpentry villages of Phuc Loc (in Ninh Phong, Ninh Binh city); the Van Lam embroidery craft village; (in Ninh Hai, Hoa Lu) the Ninh Van stone carving craft village; the Bo Bat pottery craft village in Yen Thanh commune, Yen Mo district; and the Gia Thuy pottery craft village in Gia Thuy commune, Nho Quan district Villages. All of these age-old crafts have been around for 500 to 600 years.
Coming to craft villages, visitors have the opportunity to explore and learn about the history of craft villages as well as the processes of making traditional products. You might even attempt producing the goods yourself. Additionally, remember to pick up a few things as gifts for your loved ones when you come here.
Hike to the top of Silver Cloud
- Address: Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh Province
- Opening hour: 6 a.m to 6 p.m
- Ticket price: 60.000 VND per person; 20.000 VND for students and 10.000 VND for children
Located in Cuc Phuong National Park, Silver Cloud Peak is a wonderful place that you should miss when coming here. Not only is it the highest point of this national park, Silver Cloud Peak also offers a beautiful viewing spot to see clouds cover the primeval forests, creating an idyllic scene. To reach the top, you have to go through the forest, where you can take in the fresh air and majestic scenery. This is an extremely suitable activity for those who love outdoor sports, combining climbing and traveling.
Trekking in Cuc Phuong National Park
- Address: Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh Province
- Opening hour: 6 a.m to 6 p.m
- Ticket price: 60.000 VND per person; 20.000 VND for students and 10.000 VND for children.
Besides ascending to the top of Silver Cloud, trekking in Cuc Phuong National Park is another intriguing activity you should try during your trip to Ninh Binh.
Cuc Phuong is the first national park in Vietnam with a diverse biological system, both animals and plants. With a large area, many types of terrain, and beautiful landscapes, Cuc Phuong National Park is a great place to go trekking. This outdoor activity can bring more exciting experiences than you expect, not only for exploring new lands but also for exercise and team building.
Have some beers in Chookie’s Hideaway Beer Garden
- Address: No.147 Nguyen Hue street, Nam Binh ward, Ninh Binh city
- Opening hours: 9 a.m to 10 p.m
- Price: 10,000 VND to 210,000 VND
In addition to serving amazing fusion cuisine of European and Mexican flavors, Chookie’s Hideaway is a great spot to unwind with a drink. Despite being located in the city center, the beer garden has a special location with quiet space, perfect for relaxing or chatting with friends and family. Chookie’s Beer Garden is known as an ideal place to enjoy beer in the evening. To go with beers, they also serve some delicious Vietnamese and Western dishes at very affordable prices.
Savor local cuisine – Top must-try dishes in Ninh Binh
The delectable specialties of Ninh Binh are a blend of the essence of heaven and earth. Any visitor to Ninh Binh should try sampling some of the mouthwatering delights at least once to get a taste of this stunning region.
Have a look at:
- TOP 15 Must Try Food in Ninh Binh for Foodies
- Top Best Restaurants in Ninh Binh – Must try when visit to Ninh Binh
Com chay Ninh Binh – Crispy scorched rice
- Different from other types of scorched rice, scorched rice in Ninh Binh is made from a special combination of two varieties of dry rice and sticky rice. Through many steps of drying and frying, each processing creates batches of crispy and fragrant scorched rice. This meal tastes especially well when served with goat meat, heart, and kidney in a rich sauce. It is also commonly served with fried green onions or shrimp paste. There is no doubt that the flavor of crispy burned rice will leave you a lasting impression.
Ninh Binh goat meat
- Due to its firmness and delicious flavor, goat meat is definitely a must-try dish for any visitor to Ninh Binh. Here, goat meat is also processed into a variety of delectable dishes using various ways of cooking, such as grilled goat, steaming goat, spring rolls, and the most famous dish – goat with ginger sauce, a dish that is highly nutritious.
“Bun moc” in Kim Son – Pork ball noodles soup
- The combination of crunchy, chewy pork balls and white, flexible vermicelli noodles is what makes “Bun moc” in Kim Son so popular. Try a small taste of the broth and feel the delicious aroma spreading. Pork ball noodles soup goes well with raw veggies, bean sprouts, julienned banana leaves, basil, marjoram, and more.
“Nhech” fish salad in Kim Son – Ninh Binh
- “Nhech” fish salad is a famous Ninh Binh specialty that captures the curiosity of many tourists. Fresh pieces of fish will be deboned, sliced thinly and then mixed with “thinh” – a powder made from roasted sticky rice. Meanwhile, the fish skin will be deep-fried until it becomes crispy, adding a highlight to the salad. The most proper way to enjoy fish salad is to roll a little fish salad with herbs such as apricot leaves, basil,… and dip it in the secret dipping sauce that each restaurant makes itself.
Ninh Binh “Xoi trung kien” – Steamed sticky rice with ant egg
- Ninh Binh also has a specialty dish made from ant eggs called “Xoi trung kien”, originating from the Nho Quan limestone mountains. Young ant eggs are brought home, then washed, marinated with seasonings, and finally stir-fried. This dish is paired with sticky rice and fried crispy onions, creating a very distinctive and appealing flavor.
Mountain snails in Ninh Binh
- Snails in limestone mountains and caves are known as mountain snails, and their flavor is entirely different from that of snails found in rivers and seas. The sweet, crisp, and nutrient-dense meat of each snail, when dipped in chili-lime fish sauce, will leave you with a unique and unforgettable taste.
Yen Mac fermented pork rolls
- The origin of Yen Mac fermented pork rolls is based on the Hue royal fermented pork rolls of the Nguyen Dynasty. This delicious dish uses finely chopped pork butt meat, not pureed like other types of rolls. The meat is mixed with “thinh” – roasted glutinous rice powder and some other heirloom spices, then wrapped with guava leaves to create a special, rustic flavor.
“Banh troi” – Floating rice cake in Ninh Binh
- “Banh troi”, a snack popular in Ninh Binh, with a light aroma of grapefruit blossoms and chrysanthemum leaves that gives one a sensation of elegance when enjoyed. Sugar, molasses, and crushed peanuts make up the filling. Therefore, when you eat it, you will taste the nutty taste of peanuts and the sweetness of sugar , all wrapped in a layer of soft dough.
“Banh da ca ro” – Perch noodles soup
- If you get the chance to visit Ninh Binh, you should also try their renowned noodles soup made with perch, which is another traditional specialty dish of Ninh Binh. Perch meat is meticulously deboned, combined with seasonings like salt and pepper, and stir-fried with dried onions for a deep flavor. Fish cakes and veggies are also served with a bowl of Ninh Binh perch noodle soup. The extremely sweet and chewy perch meat combined with the freshness of vegetables creates a unique flavor only found in Ninh Binh.
Ninh Binh has been one of the most attractive destinations in Northern Vietnam for many years. Choosing Ninh Binh for your next trip will never disappoint you as it boasts countless charming natural landscapes, unique ancient architecture or wonderful local cuisine. Now that you know all the greatest things to do in Ninh Binh, are you ready to grab your belongings and discover this breathtaking scenery? Trust me, you won’t regret it. And if you need any help, please kindly contact us here!
