Halong Bay on land is one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam in my opinion but I have never met a tourist who would tell me otherwise. Not to be confused with maritime Halong Bay.
It has become an essential destination thanks in particular to its limestone karsts, largely untouched atmosphere, picturesque rice fields and pagodas. It will definitely be on your list of destinations to see in Vietnam.
Ninh Binh is 92.4 kilometers south of Hanoi and can be reached by bus, taxi, motorbike or train and takes 2-3 hours in total. There are also direct bus routes from Halong Bay and Hue.
It’s easy to take a day trip to Ninh Binh, making it a popular day trip from Hanoi.
In Ninh Binh, most tourist sites are within 12 km of the center and the terrain is flat, so they can be easily reached by bicycle or motorbike.
The town itself is not particularly notable and while there are some good places to stay, a growing number of travelers are choosing to base themselves in Tam Coc to be even closer to some of the province’s top attractions. This is what I did for my part.
What to see in Ninh Binh
1) Trang An
The first thing most travelers do when they go to Ninh Binh is to take a boat ride, they can be found on every street corner, if I dare say so.
Although there are several boat tours in Ninh Binh, Trang An remains one of the best and is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This two-hour journey is surely the most impressive in Ninh Binh as you will be taken on a winding river journey beneath colossal ice caps and dark caves.
It is also here that the filming of the last King Kong took place.
Price: 250,000 vnd per person and 100,000 vnd per child
2) Tam Coc
It’s a must-see in Ninh Binh and one of my favorite places.
If you are there at the right time of year (May, the ideal month), when the rice fields are full of water and yellow color the reflections make the landscape almost as beautiful as Ha Long Bay.
The Tam Coc boat trip will take you to three caves along the Ngo Dong River.
One of the particularities of the place is that the rowers do not use the oars by hand but with their feet. Smaller than Trang An, the boat trip is still worth it and the landscapes are more varied.
Personally, I recommend this boat tour if you only do one in Ninh Binh. It is also one of the 4 best boat trips to do in Ninh Binh
Price: 120,000 vnd per person to enter Ninh Binh
Price: 150,000 vnd for renting a boat
3) Mua Cave
Only accessible after a hike of 500 steps, quite steep because they are irregular, to the top of the mountain and which gives one of the best views of Ninh Binh and in particular of Tam Coc.
It is ideal for waking up early to avoid the tourists and start your climb to watch the sunrise. Once you reach the top, you will get a bird’s eye view of the boats leisurely descending the Ngo Dong River and entering the cave.
A monumental view of limestone karsts. At the foot of the hill, there is a small cave but it is of little interest.
Price: 100,000 Vnd per person
4) Hoa Lu Temple
Hoa Lu is known because of its historical context as it served as the ancient capital for the Le and Dinh dynasties which ruled during the 10-11 centuries. A visit to the attractive complex is rich in history and ideal for history buffs.
If you visit, I highly recommend taking a guide to get the most out of your visit, as you won’t find any information on site. And without that, you will miss the monument.
Entrance is 20,000VND/person with parking at 15,000VND for a motorbike.
5) Bich Dong Pagoda
Bich Dong Pagoda, built in 1948, is carved into the mountain and woven into three caves. They are stacked on top of each other in ascending order with a pagoda on the ground floor, a middle level and a tilt at the third and final temple which opens up to a magnificent view of the surrounding Tam Coc countryside.
Some of these caves were used by the Viet Minh to hide from the French during the First Indochina War.
This is definitely a must do if you come to Ninh Binh.
6) Visit Ninh Binh by Bike
Like Hoi An, cycling around small villages is a treat if you travel to Ninh Binh.
Most monuments are accessible by bike such as Tam Coc, Bich Dong Pagoda or Hang Mua. Residents are extremely kind and welcoming.
It is a very satisfying experience and a look at a more traditional way of life than some areas in Vietnam like Sapa or Halong Bay Maritime.
The small villages and trails leading to the entrance of Hang Mua Temple are a great place to do this.
7) Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park is a tropical forest well preserved for its botanical gardens and its endangered primate rescue center. It was established in 1962 and is the oldest national park in Vietnam.
In addition to the natural environment, Cuc Phuong is home to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center.
Although it is about 45 kilometers outside of Ninh Binh, it remains the ideal place for any nature lover to explore wildlife such as butterflies, a wide range of birds, 150 species of rare primates and wild goats.
Entrance to the park costs 20,000 Vnd.
The endangered primate rescue center is 30,000 VND (be sure to buy your ticket at the reception).
8) Phat Diem Cathedral
Located about 29 km southeast of Ninh Binh, Phat Diem Cathedral is of historical significance.
It was built over a 24 year period from 1875-1898 and was made using only wood and stone. The main building is 74 meters long, 21 meters wide and 11 meters high. The six rows of huge wrought iron pillars and the carved stone entrance and altar are very impressive
Known for its architectural fusion, it gently combines Western cathedral architecture with Eastern religious features. Phat Diem Cathedral is also very close to the Gulf of Tonkin and is known as the place where Catholicism was first introduced to Vietnam.
9) Van Long
Van Long is ideal for those who like to travel off the beaten track. It contains some of the most pristine land in the region and the wetlands here have been the most biodiverse in the entire country.
It’s also the home of the silver langour, an endangered species can be spotted if you’re careful. If you are traveling to Ninh Binh, Vietnam, the Van Long Nature Reserve retains some of the most pristine landscapes in the province and is certainly worth a visit.
To see wild animals, you better get up early because when the temperature is high, you won’t see anything at all.
Although the reserve is natural, I still had a preference for Tam Coc and Trang An for boat visits.
10) Bai Dinh Pagoda
It is the largest pagoda in Vietnam and is the result of combining a 1,000-year-old pagoda with a new addition built in 2008.
Bai Dinh Pagoda attracts nearly 400,000 visitors each year and holds a significant number of records, including the largest corridor in Asia (3 km), the largest bronze Buddha statue in Southeast Asia, and is home to over 500 Arhat statues that showcase the evolution of Buddhism throughout the dynasty periods.
I liked this place but it won’t appeal to everyone.
Entry is free, but you’ll pay 30,000VND each way for transportation by electric car, in addition to parking.
