Ninh Binh is located in the south of the Northern Delta, about 100km from Hanoi capital & 230km from Halong Bay, Vietnam.

Since ancient times, this place has been famous as a land of wonders and cultural heritages, blessed by nature with many beautiful landscapes, poetic landscapes and famous landmarks such as: Trang An scenic complex, Hoa Lu ancient capital with a long history, the immense beauty of Mua Cave, Tam Coc - Bich Dong complex, Van Long lagoon, etc.... Besides, Ninh Binh is also a place that contains a treasure trove of traditional cultural and spiritual values ​​and preserves many historical imprints through the Dinh, Ly, Tien, Le dynasties, etc.. Thus, Ninh Binh is on of the most interesting tourist locations in Vietnam.

Visiting Ninh Binh, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the majestic beauty of nature, immerse themselves in the unique cultural space. In particular, a trip to Ninh Binh will take you to explore the diverse ecosystem hidden among the wild beauty and enjoy unique and unforgettable specialties.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT NINH BINH?

January - March of the lunar calendar (beginning of spring) is the ideal time to visit Ninh Binh. Because the weather at this time is very cool, chilly, not as cold as winter and there is little rain, the scenery is fresh and full of life. Above all, because it is the time before Tet, there are many festivals taking place here such as Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival, La Temple Festival, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Traditional Festival, …

April - June every year (early summer) is also the time chosen by many tourists to come to Ninh Binh. The weather at this time is quite cool, pleasant, not too hot, the air is fresh, peaceful, … will be a good opportunity for you to admire the beauty of the endless golden rice fields in Tam Coc, watch thousands of white butterflies fluttering or flocking to land on the road to Cuc Phuong National Park.

HOW TO GET NINH BINH?

Ninh Binh is located not far from Hanoi (about 100km to the South), an important traffic junction with 9 convenient national highways and expressways. Therefore, you have many options to get here. Below are instructions on how to get to Ninh Binh and suggestions on how to choose the most suitable means of transport for your trip, saving you the most time and money.

Private car/taxi

From Hanoi to Ninh Binh or any other provinces in the North, this is the safest & most comfortable means of transport, the key to the traffic problems of tourists, which is suitable for all subjects, for middle-aged tourists.

However, there are a lot of taxi & transport companies provide this service. Guests should choose the reliable one for the safest & nice trip. Ninh Binh Transportation is the option that you should consider.

Motorbike

If you are an explorer and passionate about backpacking, then a motorbike is definitely the perfect choice. Traveling by motorbike will help you be proactive about time (departure, eating, resting, …), saving costs and being free to enjoy the beautiful scenery on your self-guided Ninh Binh tour.

After leaving the center of Hanoi, you can go in the direction of Van Dien, Thuong Tin, continue along the old National Highway 1A towards Phu Ly city. It takes about 2 - 3 hours for you to visit famous places in Ninh Binh.

Coach/bus

Coach is also a means of transportation to Ninh Binh chosen by many tourists near Hanoi. There are many coach companies from Hanoi to Ninh Binh every day with different time slots on national highways and expressways. Tourists can refer to and choose a reputable coach company, seat class, ticket price, time slot, … suitable for their needs. If departing from Hanoi, you can go from My Dinh, Giap Bat, Nuoc Ngam coach stations, … to Ninh Binh bus station, about more than 1 hour to get there.

Airplane

For tourists from far away such as Ho Chi Minh City, the Southern and Central provinces, if you want to get to Ninh Binh quickly and conveniently, you can book a flight to Noi Bai airport (Hanoi). Then choose a means of transport such as a bus, motorbike, or car to get to Ninh Binh.

Currently, there are many domestic flights to Hanoi, such as Vietnamairlines, Vietjetair, Bamboo Airways, etc...

Train

The third option you can consider when traveling to Ninh Binh on your own is to travel by train. Because the train runs on the North - South railway line, it is quite convenient, but it will be inconvenient in terms of departure time and travel, having to go through many stations to get to Ninh Binh. However, if you want to save money and experience a new feeling, you can choose this means of transportation.

Transportation in Ninh Binh

When coming to Ninh Binh, depending on your schedule and experience needs, you can choose a suitable means of transportation such as: car, taxi, motorbike, motorbike taxi, technology car, …

Rent a motorbike:

If you travel to Ninh Binh alone or with friends, couples, … you can rent a motorbike by the day to freely travel and explore the beauty of nature, culture, cuisine and people here. You can easily rent a motorbike at hotels, homestays, motorbike rental shops or through reputable online motorbike rental services. Motorbike rental prices range from 100,000 - 150,000 VND/day depending on the type of scooter or motorbike.

Bus

To save money, tourists can travel to Ninh Binh by bus. Currently, Ninh Binh has many public bus routes serving the travel within the city and neighboring areas. However, if you are traveling to Ninh Binh for the first time, it will be difficult for you to know exactly the stops and travel times of the bus routes. Therefore, you should download the Bus map application to use and easily reach the desired tourist destinations.

Taxi

Taxi or private city tour is a popular means of transportation in Ninh Binh. If you are traveling with your family or in a large group, especially families with children and the elderly, you should rent a car or taxi to ensure safety when traveling, save money and easily visit tourist destinations in Ninh Binh. Taxi services in Ninh Binh have different prices depending on the regulations of each company, vehicle type, number of seats, and number of kilometers. Please no forget Ninh Binh Transportation provides this service with very competitive price & good quality.

WHAT TO VISIT IN NINH BINH?

Below is a summary of famous Ninh Binh tourist destinations that you should not miss:

Trang An

• Address: Trang An Street, Dong Thanh, Ninh Binh (About 7km from Ninh Binh bus station, about 8km from Ninh Binh station).
• Ticket price: 250,000 VND/person.

Located in the south of the Red River Delta, with an area of ​​6,226 hectares. Trang An is known as "Ha Long Bay on land" thanks to its poetic and charming scenery. Coming here, you will be overwhelmed by the majestic natural masterpieces with a complex of natural caves, water crossings connecting flooded valleys, an unique undulating limestone mountain system, surrounded by a beautiful, cool, winding blue stream. The feeling of sitting on a boat, drifting on the clear blue water, through beautiful caves and mysterious spiritual spots, … will definitely bring you unforgettable experiences.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

• Address: Truong Yen, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh (located in the north of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex).
• Ticket price: Adults 20,000 VND; children 6-15 years old: 10,000 VND and seniors (60 years old and above), disabled people: 10,000 VND/person.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital was the first capital of the centralized feudal state of Vietnam, a place that marked the ups and downs of the three dynasties of Dinh, Tien Le and the early Ly. Previously, Hoa Lu was a strip of land up to 300 hectares wide, covered by overlapping mountain ranges and crisscrossed by rivers. After more than 1000 years of history, Hoa Lu still retains a complex of relics with architectural works built in the 17th century, namely Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple, recognized by UNESCO as one of the four core areas of the Trang An World Heritage Complex.

Coming to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital - Ninh Binh, visitors not only get to admire the unique complex of relics and architecture, but above all, this tour is also a journey back to the roots and learn about the glorious history of the Vietnamese people.

Tam Coc - Bich Dong

• Address: Ninh Hai, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
• Ticket price:
• Tam Coc ticket: Adults: 120,000 VND/person/trip. Children under 1m4: 60,000 VND/person/trip (children under 3 years old are free).
• Boat ticket: 150,000 VND/boat/trip (children under 3 years old are free).
• Bich Dong entrance ticket: 20,000 VND/ticket/trip.

Tam Coc - Bich Dong is considered as "Ha Long Bay on land" or "Nam Thien De Nhi Dong" with a system of 3 caves including Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba, created by a river flowing through the mountain. Sitting on a boat along the Ngo Dong River, you will feel the cool, fresh air, admire the beautiful natural scenery, unique limestone stalactites with many shapes, ancient pagodas, hidden behind the green trees, surrounded by majestic mountains, …

Mua Cave

• Address: At the foot of Mua Mountain, Ninh Xuan Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh.
• Ticket price: 100,000 VND/person.

Mua Cave is about 10km from Ninh Binh city center, located right at the foot of Mua Mountain, considered the "Great Wall" of Vietnam. Mua Cave is a natural complex of more than 4 hectares including many caves, majestic rocky mountains and stunning landscapes. After conquering 500 stone steps, you will reach the top of Mua Mountain and admire the entire beauty of Tam Coc area with majestic mountains, winding rivers, vast ripe rice fields, … The poetic natural picture spread out before your eyes makes visitors from near and far when coming here all captivated and amazed.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

• Address: Gia Sinh Commune, Gia Vien, Ninh Binh
• Entrance fee:
• Entrance fee to the stupa is 50,000 VND/person
• Electric car ticket is 30,000 VND/person/trip.

Bai Dinh Pagoda was built with a unique, massive architecture with a majestic main hall consisting of 3 floors with 12 curved roofs in the shape of a knife head, a tiled roof designed in the shape of a traditional comedy nose and steps carved with stone dragons from the Ly Dynasty. This place is famous for being the pagoda that holds the most records in Vietnam and Asia such as the largest gilded bronze Buddha statue in Asia, the tallest stupa in Southeast Asia, the pagoda with the longest La Han corridor in Asia with more than 1,000 La Han statues, the pagoda with the largest water well in Vietnam, …

If you are a Buddhist or someone, who is deeply passionate about history, culture and ancient architecture, you must definitely visit Bai Dinh Pagoda - a sacred place of practice in the middle of the mountains.

For more attraction destinations to visit in Ninh Binh, please find here.

WHAT TO EAT IN NINH BINH?

Ninh Binh is not only famous for its beautiful landscapes but also known for its attractive and rich cuisine. If you are wondering what to eat and where to stay when traveling to Ninh Binh, then definitely do not miss the specialties below!

Ant’s egg sticky rice

Ant egg sticky rice is a famous specialty of Nho Quan, Ninh Binh, associated with the unique culture of the people here. The dish is made from very simple ingredients available in the mountains and forests. The secret to delicious ant egg sticky rice is that the sticky rice is cooked with ants from the limestone mountains - brown ants. Ant eggs are washed with warm water, marinated with spices and fried with dried onions and chicken fat until fragrant, then steamed with sticky rice wrapped in royal banana leaves. Enjoying ant egg sticky rice while it is still hot will clearly feel the softness, special aroma of fragrant sticky rice, the sweet, fatty taste and the interesting popping sound of ant eggs. Sticky rice with ant eggs will be a delicious dish that is both familiar and strange, making you remember it forever after eating it once.

Mountain goat

Ninh Binh goats are raised naturally on the mountain slopes, so the meat is very firm, moderately soft, not too tough, and the characteristic aroma is not strong. What creates the special flavor of Ninh Binh mountain goat dishes is that after the goat has been deodorized, it will be skillfully processed with traditional spices of the local people. Coming to Ninh Binh, you can freely enjoy many attractive dishes made from mountain goat such as: raw goat with lemon, stir-fried goat, grilled goat, grilled goat, burnt rice with goat sauce, goat cooked with plum wine, steamed goat, stewed goat, goat hotpot, … You can eat it with raw vegetables, forest leaves or ginger soy sauce to enhance the flavor and sweetness of goat meat.

Crispy rice

When mentioning Ninh Binh specialties, people often think of the famous crispy rice dish. Different from the usual crispy rice snack in many other regions, Ninh Binh crispy rice is elaborately prepared by mixing 2 types of dry rice and sticky rice, then frying until the grains are evenly expanded, crispy, golden and spongy, adding a little salty floss and spices. Especially when dipping crispy rice with thick sauce, it will bring a delicious, crispy, fatty but not greasy flavor. If you have the opportunity to travel to Ninh Binh, you should enjoy the crispy rice specialty or buy it as a gift for relatives and family.

Eel salad

It would be a pity to come to Ninh Binh without enjoying eel salad. Eel salad specialty - Ninh Binh is considered one of the most delicious local specialties. This type of freshwater fish is processed very elaborately, after being carefully selected from fresh batches of fish, the fish is marinated with spices such as ginger, lemongrass, dried onions, …, served with raw vegetables such as sour star fruit, figs, chili, herbs and sweet and sour dipping sauce. The delicious, crispy and sweet taste of the fish mixed with the sour taste of vinegar, the warm spicy taste of ginger, the rich taste of roasted sticky rice combined with the slightly astringent taste of wild vegetables makes diners remember it forever after eating it once.

Eel vermicelli

Eel vermicelli has long been a famous specialty of the ancient capital of Ninh Binh, captivating any tourist who has ever tried it. The special thing about Ninh Binh eel vermicelli is that it is made from green vermicelli and fresh eel, the broth is carefully simmered from eel bones and marrow bones for many hours. Therefore, when eating, you will clearly feel the sweet, chewy, naturally fatty aroma, not fishy at all, and the attractive, thick, dark brown color. Eel vermicelli specialty served with herbs, chopped banana flowers, and a little lemon and chili seasoning is both delicious and unique, sure to conquer the taste buds of even the most demanding diners.

Tips travel to Ninh Binh

To have a complete, economical and wonderful self-guided Ninh Binh trip, you should note some useful Ninh Binh travel experiences below:

• You need to plan your Ninh Binh trip as soon as possible, prepare a specific schedule 1-2 months before departure, such as: time, means of transport, accommodation, places to visit, time to travel independently, … suitable for your financial ability, weather conditions and experience needs.
• Bring personal documents such as ID card/citizen identification card or passport, driver's license, copy of birth certificate (children under 14 years old), copy of marriage certificate (in case of marriage with a foreigner), … for convenience when doing procedures to check in for the plane, check in at the hotel, rent a tourist car, …
• Prepare clothes suitable for weather conditions, terrain and types of tourism. For example, when climbing mountains or traveling a lot, you should choose light clothes, thin, sweat-absorbent jackets, and sneakers. If the destination is a river area, you should choose light clothes to blend in with the blue water. When rowing through caves, remember to wear a life jacket and follow the instructions of the boatman. If you want to visit temples and spiritual sites, dress modestly and politely, avoiding revealing clothes that cause offense.
• Check the weather forecast before departure to bring appropriate luggage. Bring warm clothes if traveling to Ninh Binh in winter because the climate is cold and chilly at this time. If you come to Ninh Binh in spring or summer, you definitely need to bring sunscreen to protect your skin from the effects of UV rays. Pay attention to the weather to avoid going on rainy days in the forest because the air is humid, the roads are slippery, and there are many mosquitoes and leeches.
• Bring enough cash to pay for shopping, do not bring too much to avoid losing or losing money. Bring personal items (such as towels, razors, cosmetics, etc.), snacks, drinks, first aid kits and some medicines such as cold medicine, motion sickness medicine, headache medicine, stomachache medicine, fever reducer, insect repellent, etc.), electronic devices (such as phones, spare batteries, cameras, memory cards, chargers, etc.) to use when necessary.
• You should book a hotel, motel, homestay, etc. at least 2 weeks before the trip to have more options and avoid the situation of "no rooms available". You should consider choosing a hotel with a convenient location, close to the area you want to visit, with comfortable, clean and safe rooms for the most complete self-guided tour of Ninh Binh.
• Learn carefully in advance about the cultural characteristics and regions where you will go to easily adapt to local rules and customs, ensure respect and avoid cultural conflicts.
• When visiting sacred places, please follow the rules and pay attention to maintaining order to avoid losing the inherent solemnity and affecting other visitors.
• Learn in advance about emergency contact methods in each locality and should inform your relatives in advance about your Ninh Binh travel schedule for peace of mind.
• You should buy travel insurance before going to protect yourself from unforeseen situations and risks.
• You should prepare a map and a smartphone for convenient sightseeing when traveling to Ninh Binh on your own. In addition, you can hire a tour guide to be introduced in more detail about the history, culture, and interesting things about the places you visit.
• Consult reputable stores in advance and survey prices before buying Ninh Binh specialties as gifts, shopping for food, supplies, or using means of transportation to avoid being ripped off.x

Ninh Binh is a land of outstanding people possessing wild and majestic natural beauty, many famous landscapes, historical and cultural relics bearing the golden mark of a heroic period of the nation and rich culinary specialties. Hopefully, with the complete and detailed self-sufficient Ninh Binh travel experiences that Ninh Binh Transportation shares in the above article, it will help you have a complete and memorable journey to explore the ancient capital of Ninh Binh!