Ninh Binh is among the extra fashionable Hanoi day journeys you may take if you wish to discover outdoors of the town and luxuriate in a little bit of Vietnam‘s scenic mountain views. Whereas there are numerous group day excursions that may take you to Ninh Binh, I experimented visiting by myself this journey and put collectively this information to visiting Ninh Binh solo with no tour and what you may count on when planning your personal journey.
Why go to Ninh Binh?
Ninh Binh is a city about 95km south of Hanoi metropolis and most well-known for its lovely pure surroundings. Sometimes called ‘Ha Lengthy Bay on land’, it’s additionally residence to UNESCO heritage websites and was Vietnam’s very first capital relationship again to the tenth century, the proper place for a bit of little bit of historical past, tradition and surroundings multi function.
Whilst you can take a day journey to Ninh Binh from Hanoi like I did, I feel it might be good to spend an evening or two on this little city to essentially take issues sluggish and benefit from the small city vibe totally. You’ll additionally be capable to higher benefit from the sights after the day journey vacationers have gone for the day.
The way to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi
The foremost upside about taking an organised day journey from Hanoi to Ninh Binh isn’t having to fret in regards to the public transport choices. Whereas Vietnam’s public transport isn’t too costly, it’s additionally not the simplest to navigate for those who don’t communicate/learn Vietnamese. I counsel enlisting the assistance of your lodge/concierge if that you must, or fork out a bit of extra for English providers.
My guesthouse was very useful in organising all this for me – WeCozy Guesthouse [booking.com affiliate link] is situated proper subsequent to the Hanoi Railway line close to the Previous Quarter. It’s like a service condominium and also you get an awesome fowl’s eye view of the railway cafe space as you reside proper above it, however it may be a bit noisy if you’re delicate to that.
Their counter workers had been fairly younger folks and spoke good English and had been in a position to assist me prepare the limousine service to Ninh Binh in addition to the bike rent.
By non-public limousine
Ninh Binh is about 1.5 hours away from Hanoi by street, so driving from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is the quickest approach to get there. The factor about the principle bus/practice stations in each Hanoi and Ninh Binh is that they don’t seem to be situated the place the vacationer points of interest are, so you’ll nonetheless want to determine how one can get there even for those who hop on a public bus or practice.
What my hostel recommended is a personal limousine service – a limousine on this case refers back to the smaller vans with aircon and plush seats that seat about 10pax in whole, as an alternative of taking a typical vacationer coach. These smaller vans are sooner and extra snug general.
The limousine providers even present extra connection providers, the place they drop off all company on the foremost firm cease, after which cut up into separate limousine vans that drop you at a particular location. My guesthouse organized for me to be dropped off and picked up on the scooter rental firm.
The pickup level in Hanoi was situated at Thong Nhat Park [Google maps]. Once more I feel it was a very good factor to undergo my guesthouse as a result of they stored in contact with me by way of whatsapp and gave me English directions on what to do. There was some difficulty with my GrabBike bringing me to the improper park entrance, so the guesthouse organized for an additional GrabBike to take me to another decide up level as an alternative. Fairly positive I might have been fairly misplaced if I needed to take care of this by myself.
My guesthouse booked Khánh An Limousine on my behalf and it value me 530,000 VND which is about S$28 for a spherical journey from Hanoi Thong Nhat Park to Ninh Binh.
By non-public automobile switch
Alternatively if in case you have a small group, you could possibly ebook a non-public automobile switch from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by way of Klook [affiliate link] that may take you to the varied sights you wish to see as effectively. Right here’s one other firm that gives an analogous automobile switch from Hanoi to Ninh Binh on Klook [affiliate link] .
It is perhaps a bit expensive if you’re going solo as the most affordable charge was about $113 for a similar day return journey by automobile. With the max small group of three pax, that works out to about $38 per pax – is perhaps value paying only a bit extra for the personalised door-to-door service and getting round Ninh Binh for those who don’t wish to lease a motorbike!
By practice
One different possibility I used to be exploring can be to take the practice from Hanoi to Ninh Binh which might take about 2 hours. You will have to both lease a scooter from round Ninh Binh Prepare Station or discover your approach to the vacationer areas from there.
You might pop all the way down to Hanoi Ga practice station to ebook a ticket although you may need to deal with language obstacles, or use a third social gathering service like EasyBook to order a practice ticket – I’ve used them for reserving ferries/buses in Malaysia beforehand.
Using a scooter in Ninh Binh
Getting round Ninh Binh as a solo traveller was a key factor I wanted to kind out, and one factor I discovered from the varied Vietnamese tour guides I had in Hanoi was that it appeared fairly simple to lease and drive a scooter round Ninh Binh.
Now a caveat: I might NEVER strive using a scooter in Hanoi or a serious metropolis as a result of it truly is the epitome of chaos, however Ninh Binh’s site visitors state of affairs jogs my memory of Yilan (in Taiwan) that are typically a lot quieter general. I solely ventured into the town space to return my bike and even that wasn’t too busy.
I rented my scooter from a small store that my guesthouse advisable for me, particulars under.
For many who don’t wish to experience, biking is one other very fashionable approach to get round Ninh Binh. Your finest guess is to take a taxi to one of many main vacationer areas and lease a bicycle from one of many retailers/guesthouses round there.
Cho thuê xe máy Ninh Bình Hương Dương [Google maps]. It value me 150,000 VND (S$8) for a day rental. I topped up a full tank of petrol simply in case (55,000 VND or S$3) however I actually didn’t use that a lot in any respect.
1-day itinerary in Ninh Binh
So right here’s what I ended up doing: I took an early morning non-public bus to Ninh Binh and picked up my bike at about 8am. I wanted to return to the bike store by about 430pm for my decide up and return journey to Hanoi. Right here’s what I did in that point.
Hold Múa / Mua Cave – climb up for spectacular views
I opted to go over to Mua Cave first to hopefully beat the vacationer crowds at this scenic hotspot. Regardless of the title Mua Cave, the spotlight right here is definitely the hillside climb up the mountain facet to take pleasure in a spectacular panoramic view of Ninh Binh under fairly than the precise cave which is fairly pedestrian.
You’ll stroll move just a few eating places and photograph spots as you enter in addition to the Hold Mua Ecolodge [booking.com affiliate links] is situated on the entrance – there are literally just a few lodging choices right here if you wish to benefit from the space after the crowds have left, like Scenic Mountain Ecolodge Ninh Binh.
You’ll wish to stroll in the direction of the again of the park the place the steep stone staircases lead as much as 2 viewing factors on the Núi Ngoạ Lengthy or Mendacity Dragon Mountain that overlook the realm. The steps are uneven and fairly steep at factors, and there aren’t any hand railings a lot of the approach, so watch out once you climb.
I climbed up the stair resulting in the massive pagoda the place there’s a massive stone dragon statue on high. You possibly can climb up on high of the dragon, however there aren’t any railings right here both and the rocks there are fairly sharp so undoubtedly be very cautious to not harm your self or fall off.
I made a decision to skip the small pagoda space because it concerned one other stair climb (fairly pooped by that time) and it regarded barely decrease, however I did pop by the precise Mua cave itself which is extra of an overhang and never significantly attention-grabbing.
It is perhaps value coming again right here in June throughout lotus blooming season as there’s a pretty massive lotus lake with a boardwalk right here.
Mua Cave / Hold Múa [Google map]. Open 7am – 7pm. Entrance price – 100,000 VND (S$5)
Tràng An – cruise by karst pillars
One of many must-dos in Ninh Binh is take a experience on a standard boat by its waterways dotted with limestone karsts. There are two locations you may sometimes do that in Ninh Binh: Tam Coc is one fashionable possibility the place additionally, you will be surrounded by paddy fields, however since I used to be there after the rice harvest season, I opted for the UNESCO world heritage web site Tràng An as an alternative, usually described as Ha Lengthy Bay on land.
Possibly as a result of Trang An may be very effectively visited and UNESCO rated, so its services had been all high notch for vacationers – even the extra distant islands that we stopped over at had first rate bathrooms. Some could argue this isn’t as ‘genuine’, however I used to be impressed that general it was fairly effectively taken care off and a clean journey.
After shopping for my boat ticket on the entrance, I adopted the pathway that went by a tunnel that led to the river facet. The river was lined many little picket boats manned by a neighborhood (I noticed extra girls than males) with picket paddles and may often take as much as 4 adults, although I did see some boats with 5-6 pax as some are youngsters. As a result of I used to be solo, I joined a ship with a gaggle of three Germans.
You possibly can select from 3 routes that may take you to completely different spots alongside the way in which. I wasn’t too fussed about which one I did so I ended up doing Route 3 – whereas it seems to be prefer it has the least stops, it turned out to have the longest cave route. You select the boat route firstly of the tour when you’re queuing for the boats and you may’t change your thoughts midway by.
Right here’s what I noticed on Trang An’s Route 3:
Đền Trình / Trinh Temple
This temple is seemingly over a thousand years previous and devoted to 4 generals within the Dinh Dynasty. Love the large carp sculptures within the entrance (there are a ton of fish within the water too) – it’s the primary cease for each Route 1 and Route 3.
Hold Đột / Dot Cave
Hold Dot is a fairly lengthy cave system that your boat grasp will expertly paddle you thru. Preserve your head down and also you’ll have to duck down in locations! The caves are lit so it gained’t be pitch darkish. After Hold Dot, you’ll transition to a different cave which is so much shorter referred to as Hold Van (Cloud Cave) earlier than the 2nd cease of the boat tour.
Đền Suối Tiên / Suoi Tien Temple
Our subsequent cease was Suoi Tien Temple which is devoted to a saint credited with defending the traditional capital or what we all know as Hoa Lu right now. We alighted from the boat and walked a brief distance to take a look at the temple which is surrounded by tree-covered mountains throughout. There’s a cute little jetty that extends from the shore that’s an ideal photograph spot.
Hành Cung Vũ Lâm / Vu Lam Palace
This lovely palace deep inside the Trang An space was established by the Tran Dynasty that was additionally a navy base. We stopped over right here and popped into the temple, however the fashionable factor to do right here is to take a shot with the floating pavilion on the water.
Trang An boat ideas
Pay attention to the quantity in your boat in addition to your boat captain, or at the least make certain your fellow boat mates know which is their boat so that you don’t board the improper one. I counsel sporting a hat since you’ll be fairly uncovered on the boat, and skinny lengthy sleeves and lengthy pants ought to cease you from getting any sunburns or bizarre tan traces, and can help you be correctly dressed to enter the temples as effectively.
Tràng An [Google map]. Open 7am – 5pm. Boat price – 250,000 VND (S$13)
The place to eat at Trang An: Nhà hàng Xuân Thắng
I popped by Nhà hàng Xuân Thắng for lunch proper outdoors of the Trang An entrance. I used to be there round 2pm+ – bizarre timing for a meal so it was simply me on this restaurant, and it’s an honest fundamental little eatery very conveniently situated on the way in which in/out of Trang An.
Nhà hàng Xuân Thắng [Google map]. Open 6am – 10pm.
Hoa Lư – Vietnam’s historic capital
My final cease on this journey to Ninh Binh was to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s capital within the tenth and eleventh centuries earlier than it was shifted to Hanoi, so it has plenty of historic buildings and sights to see. I used to be a bit of drained by this time so I undoubtedly. acquired a bit lazy exploring this space in comparison with the opposite spots.
You possibly can lease a bicycle to cycle in or round this space. It doesn’t appear like you’re allowed to experience in on scooter although I noticed some locals doing so, however it’s simple sufficient to only park your scooter outdoors and stroll in. Don’t actually suppose there’s a have to cycle right here except you propose to discover additional afield.
Hoa Lư [ Google map]. Open 7am – 5pm. Admission price – 20,000 VND
Đền thờ Vua Đinh Tiên Hoàng / Temple of Dinh Tien Hoang
There are 2 temples inside strolling distance of the principle entrance to Hoa Lu. The primary is devoted to Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, the primary emperor of the Dinh dynasty and established Đại Cồ Việt, Vietnam’s first unbiased dynasty approach again within the yr 968. Apparently the inside is formed just like the Chinese language phrase for King 王 with 3 ‘layers’ of courtyards to enter, with the temple proper on the far finish.
Subsequent to Dinh Tien Hoang Temple is the Đền thờ Vua Lê Đại Hành or King Le Temple – King Le was Lê Hoàn, whose Le dynasty succeeded the Dinhs in 981. There was a museum of types situated across the again of this temple which confirmed some archaeological digs of the positioning that I believed had been a bit extra attention-grabbing than the precise temple – every part was beginning to look very comparable at this level.
After Hoa Lu, I made a decision to name it a day and experience again to drop off my scooter and anticipate my limousine decide up at about 430pm. The limo dropped me off again on the park at round 630pm and I referred to as for a Seize Bike so I might get some Hanoi road meals for dinner.
E book Ninh Binh day journey excursions from Hanoi
If all this simply convinces you that doing your personal day journey is an excessive amount of work (particularly for those who’re solo) otherwise you need somebody who can inform you extra details about the locations that you’re seeing, take into account reserving one in every of Klook’s many Ninh Binh day journeys and save your self the effort of determining your the logistics.
[Klook affiliate links below]
Be sure that to take a detailed take a look at the itinerary you ebook to make sure you get precisely what you need. There are numerous completely different tour cease choices – often it’s important to decide between Tam Coc and Trang An, and Hoa Lu and Bai Dinh. There are additionally completely different group sizes (some are massive teams, some small teams, some non-public) in addition to guides that talk completely different languages obtainable.
Visiting Hanoi quickly? Try my numerous Hanoi posts for some inspiration: