Ninh Binh is a lovely town in the north of Vietnam, just to 2-hour drive from Hanoi. It is called the Inland Halong Bay featuring limestone mountains and caves, ancient temples, and endless green rice fields. No wonder why a lot of travelers choose to stay in Ninh Binh. It's a serene destination with many beautiful attractions.
On my second day in Hanoi, Vietnam, I booked a Ninh Binh Day Tour via Klook. I only got this tour for less than P2000 or 845.000 VND. If you want to do it DIY ( Do It Yourself) way, you can rent a motorbike or take a bus to reach the town. I still recommend booking the tour online since it's hassle-free. You can book a private/exclusive tour or joiners tour package. Yes, even if you are a solo traveler, you can travel to Ninh Binh and save more money by joining a joiner package tour.
The tour package includes shared-ride door-to-door transportation, entrance fee to all destinations, a Vietnamese tour guide and a buffet lunch. Book it via Klook .
Hang Mua viewpoint and cave
Our first stop was in Mua Cave. You can find here the impressive Lying Dragon Mountain with a breathtaking view of the massive rock formations, green rice fields and the famous Ngo Dong River. If you avail of a joiner package tour, it's recommended to immediately head straight up the mountain to the Hang Mua viewpoint since you have limited time per destination. But if you are on a private tour, take your time to go up to the peak. The view from the top is breathtaking. The hike only takes around 15-20 minutes depending on your endurance and stamina. There are around 500 stairs in total that ascend very steeply up the mountainside.
Apart from the Hang Mua viewpoint and cave, you can also enjoy some amenities and facilities of the place. I saw a lovely pool with a gorgeous view of the mountains. If you want to stay overnight, you can stay at Mua Caves Ecolodge (Hang Múa). It's an Insta-worthy accommodation that sits nearby the Lying Dragon Mountain area. Several restaurants are also available in the area offering meals, snacks and refreshing beverages.
Trang An Boat Tour
The Trang An boat tour is included in the tour. It is one of the most famous things to do in Ninh Binh. Declared a UNESCO site in 2014, you will be amazed by its beautiful river nestled between the stunning limestone mountains.
.jpg)
You can visit Trang An and get a ticket right at the pier if you want to don't want to avail of a package tour. The ticket is around P600 or 250.000 VND/ pax. For no hassle, it's recommended to join an organized tour which should handle all the logistics as well as take you to other interesting places in Ninh Binh.
The boat ride in Trang An comprises three different routes. You can choose depending on the length and the destinations you want to see. I enjoyed the Trang An boat tour. It's one of the best nature experiences in Vietnam. I discovered beautiful mountains, temples, caves and many more. Kudos to the Vietnamese old woman who's paddling the boat for two hours. I guess her age is around 55 to 60-year old and she's still strong.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
.jpg)
Our last destination was Hoa Lu, Vietnam's capital in the 10th and 11th centuries. It's a significant architectural and historical complex of Vietnam and was recognized as one of the 4 cores forming the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will find here beautiful temples like King Dinh temple (worship the King Dinh Tien Hoang) and King Le temple.
It's necessary for you to dress properly when you want to enter a temple. This is to respect the place o of worship. Some temples in tourist destinations may be more lenient, but your modesty will be appreciated. Some, but not all temples, may provide a sarong or other cover-up for a small fee if the gatekeeper thinks you're not covered up enough.
The Ninh Binh Tour is definitely a try to do while in Vietnam. The tour was fun, educational and entertaining. Our local guide was very patient in sharing information on every destination. Imagine, his guests were of different nationalities. He needs to speak Vietnamese at some points since there're also Vietnamese on the bus.
Where to book a cheap Ninh Binh tour? Check Klook Tour Rates Here.
Where to stay in Nihn Binh
1. Momali Hotel
3. Ninh Binh Brother's Homestay
Where to stay in Hanoi
4. Hanoi Central Backpackers Hostel
from what tour agency did you book your Ninh Binh daytour?
ReplyDeleteI booked it via Klook.
Delete