Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi: How to Do It Right

Two hours that change the trip

Ninh Binh is 90km south of Hanoi and makes a genuinely excellent day trip — probably the best one available from the capital. Most people either don’t know about it or default to a Ha Long Bay day trip (which I don’t recommend — Ha Long Bay needs at least one night to be worthwhile). Ninh Binh as a day trip is perfect.

Getting there

From Hanoi’s My Dinh bus terminal, buses to Ninh Binh depart roughly every 30 minutes from 6am. Journey time 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic. Fare: 70,000–90,000 VND. Or the train from Ga Hanoi station (Ninh Binh is a stop on the main north-south line) — 2 hours, 70,000–120,000 VND for a seat. Trains are more comfortable and predictably timed.

Tour operators also run day trips from Hanoi for $20–40 including transport and a guide — convenient but you lose flexibility. I prefer going independently.

A workable day itinerary

Leave Hanoi by 7–8am. Arrive Ninh Binh by 10am. Take a Grab to Trang An (12km from town, 80,000 VND) for the rowing boat caves tour — about 3 hours, 200,000 VND. Lunch at one of the riverside restaurants near Trang An: 100,000–150,000 VND for a full meal with goat or rice field eel, the Ninh Binh specialties. Afternoon: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (30 min, 20,000 VND) and Bich Dong Pagoda (free, 45 min). Back to Ninh Binh town for the bus or train to Hanoi by 5–6pm, arriving back by 7–8pm.

The thing that makes it better

Hiring a bicycle in Ninh Binh town (30,000–50,000 VND/day) and cycling between the sites through rice paddies rather than taking taxis. The distances are manageable (5–15km between each site) and the cycling through the landscape is as much the point as the destinations themselves.