NINH BINH IN 3 DAYS
tam coc AND trang an
Ninh Binh is a Unesco Heritage Site, officially called Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex,
blessed by natural beauty, history and culture.
It is known as “Ha Long Bay on Land”.
Magnific puffy limestone mountains interrupt the rice fields and the canals of Red River, the second largest river in Vietnam.
It is easy and affordable to discover this area on a motorbike or a bicycle.
You can climb on the limestone cliffs to get breathtaking views, enter the numerous caves and discover the hidden ancient temples, explore Vietnam's ancient capital and take an unforgettable boat ride.
blessed by natural beauty, history and culture.
It is known as “Ha Long Bay on Land”.
Magnific puffy limestone mountains interrupt the rice fields and the canals of Red River, the second largest river in Vietnam.
It is easy and affordable to discover this area on a motorbike or a bicycle.
You can climb on the limestone cliffs to get breathtaking views, enter the numerous caves and discover the hidden ancient temples, explore Vietnam's ancient capital and take an unforgettable boat ride.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- WHEN TO GO TO NINH BINH?
- HOW LONG TO SPEND IN NINH BINH?
- 3 DAY ITINERARY IN NINH BINH AREA
- HOW TO GET TO NINH BINH FROM HANOI
- WHERE TO STAY IN NINH BINH AREA
- NINH BINH
- TAM COC
- TRANG AN
- WHERE TO STAY IN NINH BINH AREA
WHEN TO GO TO NINH BINH?
It is possibile to visit this region all year long.
The driest season between January and March.
The best time to find the Tam Coc view in its iconic colours is when the rice fields are yellow, from May to early June.
The driest season between January and March.
The best time to find the Tam Coc view in its iconic colours is when the rice fields are yellow, from May to early June.
HOW LONG TO SPEND IN NINH BINH?
A stay of at least 2 full days in Ninh Binh Area to explore the highlights destinations in Ninh Binh. If you want to see all the attractions then must count on 3 full days.
3 DAY ITINERARY
IN NINH BINH AREA
DAY 1
MORNING
|
NOON
|
AFTERNOON
|
DAY 2
MORNING
|
NOON
|
AFTERNOON
|
DAY 3
morning
|
noon
|
afternoon
|
How to Get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi
|
It is very easy to organize your transportation from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Any hotel or local tourism agency can help you find solutions. If you don't mind paying 2-3 USD for a ticket per person the fastest option is to take Tourist Limousines for.
10 USD per person.Actually, if you take public buses you will spend 2-3 USD more to reach/to the bus station. Even though "Limousine" sounds terribly touristic and expensive, they are actually comfortable minibuses that take up to 8 people. Not only tourists but also locals use these limos as they frequently operate between Hanoi and Ninh Binh. The limo operators are very well organized, they pick you up from where you stay and drop you off at your destination without an extra charge. (except for the remote areas in Ninh Binh, where they can ask for a little extra.) The distance is about 80 km. and takes around 1,5 hours. If they pick you up at 7:30 am you reach Ninh Binh at around 10:00 am. |
TRAIN:
The train is the safest option to go to Ninh Binh from Hanoi as in Vietnam they drive like crazy.
Honoi - Ninh Binh by train takes 2 hours.
Interestingly, if you purchase in person from a train station, a round-trip train ticket between Hanoi-Ninh Binh may cost you the same as a one-way limo ticket.
Vietnam Railway official online prices vary though more expensive (15 or 18 USD one way)
As the drivers in Vietnam are quite crazy on the road, the train can offer you a more tranquil solution.
The train is the safest option to go to Ninh Binh from Hanoi as in Vietnam they drive like crazy.
Honoi - Ninh Binh by train takes 2 hours.
Interestingly, if you purchase in person from a train station, a round-trip train ticket between Hanoi-Ninh Binh may cost you the same as a one-way limo ticket.
Vietnam Railway official online prices vary though more expensive (15 or 18 USD one way)
As the drivers in Vietnam are quite crazy on the road, the train can offer you a more tranquil solution.
WHERE TO STAY
IN NINH BINH AREA
Ninh Binh refers to both this gorgeous area and the biggest city in this zone where all the tourist buses will leave you from Hanoi or where you are coming from.
Then there are villages like Tom Choc and Trang An which are popular among tourists for accommodation options and attractions around.
You will mostly spend time within this triangle; Ninh Binh, Trang An and Tam Coc.
Then there are villages like Tom Choc and Trang An which are popular among tourists for accommodation options and attractions around.
You will mostly spend time within this triangle; Ninh Binh, Trang An and Tam Coc.
ninh binh vs. tam coc vs. trang an
NINH BINHPRO's:
|
TAM COCPRO'S
|
TRANG ANPRO'S
|
Is it better to stay in Tam Coc or Trang An?
It is better to stay in Tam Coc if you want to be in nature but still want to go out at night.
Staying in Trang An means immerging completely in nature, in the country side. It is for whom prefer a quiet vacation.
It is better to stay in Tam Coc if you want to be in nature but still want to go out at night.
Staying in Trang An means immerging completely in nature, in the country side. It is for whom prefer a quiet vacation.
NIN BINH CITY
Every single blog post on the internet I read was blaming Ninh Binh for being an awful place to stay and having nothing to do during the evenings. But we proved it to be wrong, at least during the weekend evenings.
Ninh Binh is the biggest city in the region and it is not a beautiful city at all. But it may be practical to stay here and organize your transfers and trips. It is also close to all the main attractions.Being bigger, it offers you a better variety of hotels and authentic restaurants. As well as good weekend entertaintment.
On weekend evenings there is a festival atmosphere near the Silver Pagodas that is not to be missed. Good street food, shops, and a theatre stage where they perform traditional dance and music shows.
Ninh Binh is the biggest city in the region and it is not a beautiful city at all. But it may be practical to stay here and organize your transfers and trips. It is also close to all the main attractions.Being bigger, it offers you a better variety of hotels and authentic restaurants. As well as good weekend entertaintment.
On weekend evenings there is a festival atmosphere near the Silver Pagodas that is not to be missed. Good street food, shops, and a theatre stage where they perform traditional dance and music shows.
|
|
|
|
Traditional boats with lanterns like in Hoi An, where you can take your food or traditional tea o while sailing on the river.
|
|
SILVER PAGODA: After sunset in the Trang An River, you will see two floating pagodas on the Trang An River, Silver Pagoda and Ky Lan (Unicorn) Temple and lotuses illuminated beautifully in Ninh Binh City. These pagodas are called Silver Pagodas and can be visited through a flat bridge built on the river. All connected to Ky Lan Hill which is a little island hill. Ky Lan means unicorn in Vietnamese, the name given due to its shape. The Silver Pagoda was inaugurated in 2018 by Buddhist Monks with a spiritual ceremony. It is recent though beautiful, and you will not be able to find much material on the internet other than the Vietnamese language.
GOLDEN PAGODA: On your way to Trang An from Ninh Binh, in about 1 km. away from the city centre, you will see a gorgeous temple in the Ca Voi Lake. This is an ancient temple built 1000 years ago, according to the octagonal architecture with 8 sides facing each other in 8 directions, symbolizing the worship of the 8 Kings of the 12 ancient armies. It used to be the most important worshipping place before the construction of the gigantic temple of Bai Dinh. After sunset, it is beautifully illuminated.
Ninh Binh City from Trang An or Tam Choc takes around 15 min. by motorbike.
|
|
TAM COC
Tom Coc is the favourite place for most tourists as it offers a country-style feeling but still has a town centre, hotels, guesthouses, cafes, and restaurants.
The Tam Coc boat ride, once the only one in the region, now overthrown by the Trang An Boat Tour, has an unfavourable fame due to insistent floating vendors. Tam Coc is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and can be discovered by bicycle.
Follow the street on the left side of the Tam Coc Pier to enter the Tam Coc Landscape. Explore the caves and temples on your way. If you feel tired, get a drink or lunch in the beautiful garden of the Thung Sen Restaurant. After lunch, go back and follow the street on the right side of the Pier, passing through the main street of Tam Coc go outside of the town to observe the limestone mountains interrupting the rice fields. The last destination is the Bich Dong Pagoda.
The Tam Coc boat ride, once the only one in the region, now overthrown by the Trang An Boat Tour, has an unfavourable fame due to insistent floating vendors. Tam Coc is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and can be discovered by bicycle.
Follow the street on the left side of the Tam Coc Pier to enter the Tam Coc Landscape. Explore the caves and temples on your way. If you feel tired, get a drink or lunch in the beautiful garden of the Thung Sen Restaurant. After lunch, go back and follow the street on the right side of the Pier, passing through the main street of Tam Coc go outside of the town to observe the limestone mountains interrupting the rice fields. The last destination is the Bich Dong Pagoda.
TAM COC AREA LANDSCAPE
Co Vien Lau, an ancient village miniature around Tam Coc
|
Thai Vi Temple, a historical temple near Tam Coc town
|
Tam Coc View
Tam Coc River side by bicycle
|
Thung Sen Restaurant
|
TAM COC RICE FIELD
Tam Coc River View after a little climbing from Thung Sen Restaurant
Bich Dong Pagoda, Tam Coc
Trang An
On the road from Tam Coc to Trang An
Trang An is located more in the countryside, in the middle of scenic landscape. There are not yet hotels here but just homestays, most have beautiful views of the rice fields and mountains.
The distance between Trang An and Tam Choc is just 15 min scenic ride by motorbike.
If you stay in Trang An, be sure that your homestay has a motorbike or bikes you need to rent.
The two most important activities Mua Cave and Trang An Boat Ride, are placed near Trang An.
Trang An does not have a proper town centr. If you like to experience nature and stay isolated, this is the right choice.
The restaurants, homestays and cafes are sparsely located on two long parallel streets.
Trang An Boat tour is much more beautiful and interesting than Tom Coc Tour.
It is better to stay in Tam Coc if you want to be in nature but still want to go out at night. Staying in Trang An means immersing completely in nature, in the countryside. It is for whom prefer a quiet vacation.
The distance between Trang An and Tam Choc is just 15 min scenic ride by motorbike.
If you stay in Trang An, be sure that your homestay has a motorbike or bikes you need to rent.
The two most important activities Mua Cave and Trang An Boat Ride, are placed near Trang An.
Trang An does not have a proper town centr. If you like to experience nature and stay isolated, this is the right choice.
The restaurants, homestays and cafes are sparsely located on two long parallel streets.
Trang An Boat tour is much more beautiful and interesting than Tom Coc Tour.
It is better to stay in Tam Coc if you want to be in nature but still want to go out at night. Staying in Trang An means immersing completely in nature, in the countryside. It is for whom prefer a quiet vacation.
Rice Fields in Trang An Area
Dinner with a view in an homestay in Trang An
TRANG AN COMPLEX TICKETING AREA
How to get around in Ninh Binh Area
Motorbike:This is the best and most efficient way to explore Ninh Binh is to get on a motorbike or scooter. As most tourists choose to ride on a motorbike it is very easy to find one to rent.
You can ask the place you stay, they will certainly help you to find it or they will rent you directly.
The cost varies between 100.000 to 150.000 VND/day.
For fuel, prefer bigger stations on the highways instead of small shops where they will charge you double. You may spend 4-5 USD on fuel for a couple of days.
The parking fee cost 5.000 to 10.000 VND.
If you cannot drive a motorbike, you can still enjoy motorbike freedom by renting a motorbike with a driver. It costs 500.000 VND (20 EUR-21 USD) per day for 9 hours.
BY Bicycle:Ninh Binh Area is considered one of the best cycling areas in Vietnam as it is not hilly and most of the attractions are within cycling distance.
The cost of a Bicycle is as cheap as 50.000 VND per day.
Many hotels offer free use of bicycles for their guests.
Whereas this experience may not have a happy ending every time.
You need to pay attention to the following points:
1-day cycling itinerary in Ninh Binh:
Explore Bich Don Pagoda and Tai Temple both at the 2 different edges of the town of Tam Coc.
Follow the street on the left side of the Tam Coc Pier to enter the Tam Coc Landscape. Explore the caves and temples on your way. If you feel tired, get a drink or lunch in the beautiful garden of the Thung Sen Restaurant. After lunch, go back and follow the street on the right side of the Pier, passing through the main street of Tam Coc go outside of the town to observe the limestone mountains interrupting the rice fields. The last destination is the Bich Dong Pagoda.
If you are in a good shape and often cycle then you can add:
BY CAR:You cannot rent and drive a car in Vietnam as a tourist.
If the car is your only option to explore Ninh Binh, then it will cost you around 1.150.000 VND per day (around 45 EUR - 49 USD)a private car with a driver to explore wherever you want in the zone in privacy.
An organized tour can take the same but per person, as they include the guides, entrance fees and lunches.
Some days, you can take GRAB (the Asian version of Uber) or a taxi from a reliable company like Mai Linh or Hoa Luu.
It costs about 15000 VND/km.
Examples:
Mua caves-Tam Coc 50.000 VND
Ninh Binh train station - Mua caves cost 100,000 VND
You can ask the place you stay, they will certainly help you to find it or they will rent you directly.
The cost varies between 100.000 to 150.000 VND/day.
For fuel, prefer bigger stations on the highways instead of small shops where they will charge you double. You may spend 4-5 USD on fuel for a couple of days.
The parking fee cost 5.000 to 10.000 VND.
If you cannot drive a motorbike, you can still enjoy motorbike freedom by renting a motorbike with a driver. It costs 500.000 VND (20 EUR-21 USD) per day for 9 hours.
BY Bicycle:Ninh Binh Area is considered one of the best cycling areas in Vietnam as it is not hilly and most of the attractions are within cycling distance.
The cost of a Bicycle is as cheap as 50.000 VND per day.
Many hotels offer free use of bicycles for their guests.
Whereas this experience may not have a happy ending every time.
You need to pay attention to the following points:
- Assure you get a good bicycle to enjoy the day ride.
- If you stay in Ninh Binh City, cycling out of the centre can be dangerous due to the public roads with a lot of traffic.
- It is not recommendable to cycle to the Bai Dinh Pagoda for the dangerous traffic as well.
- Cycling is not always fun in Ninh Binh as some roads are stony.
- If you want to see many places in one day, you may not be able to catch up everywhere with a bicycle.
- It requires a lot of navigating through back roads in the countryside.
- If you cannot make it within the daylight, the night ride is pitch black in this zone.
1-day cycling itinerary in Ninh Binh:
Explore Bich Don Pagoda and Tai Temple both at the 2 different edges of the town of Tam Coc.
Follow the street on the left side of the Tam Coc Pier to enter the Tam Coc Landscape. Explore the caves and temples on your way. If you feel tired, get a drink or lunch in the beautiful garden of the Thung Sen Restaurant. After lunch, go back and follow the street on the right side of the Pier, passing through the main street of Tam Coc go outside of the town to observe the limestone mountains interrupting the rice fields. The last destination is the Bich Dong Pagoda.
If you are in a good shape and often cycle then you can add:
- Add Hua Lu to the above itinerary if you wake up early. Do not forget that after sunset, the roads become dark.
- From Tam Coc to Trang An: You can cycle to the Trang An Boat Pier (8 km.) On the way back if you decide to go to the Mua Cave, you need to be in good shape as it requires a lot of energy to climb and get down.
BY CAR:You cannot rent and drive a car in Vietnam as a tourist.
If the car is your only option to explore Ninh Binh, then it will cost you around 1.150.000 VND per day (around 45 EUR - 49 USD)a private car with a driver to explore wherever you want in the zone in privacy.
An organized tour can take the same but per person, as they include the guides, entrance fees and lunches.
Some days, you can take GRAB (the Asian version of Uber) or a taxi from a reliable company like Mai Linh or Hoa Luu.
It costs about 15000 VND/km.
Examples:
Mua caves-Tam Coc 50.000 VND
Ninh Binh train station - Mua caves cost 100,000 VND