Ninh Binh - Latest Travel Guide

Among the things Ninh Binh has to offer are a paddleboat excursion amidst limestone karst mountains, a hike up Mua Cave, and the world's biggest population of Delacour's langurs.

What season is beautiful in Ninh Binh?

The months of May through July, which correspond with the rice and lotus seasons, are the ideal times to explore the northern Ninh Binh Province.

Transportation

The two-hour bus ride to Ninh Binh from Giap Bat station in Hanoi costs between VND 100,000 and VND 150,000.

One way to appreciate the breathtaking scenery on the trip is to take the train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. The earliest train departs at 6 a.m., and the trip takes around 2.5 hours. Tickets start at VND70,000.

Another option is to take a motorbike ride. In that instance, to go to Ninh Binh, take Giai Phong Street from downtown Hanoi, turn onto the Phap Van-Cau Gie National Highway, and then travel along the Cau Gie-Phu Ly route.

Where to stay?

After being ignored by international visitors for years, Ninh Binh gained notoriety on the world tourism map in 2016 after the film "Kong: Skull Island" was filmed there. Locals have subsequently created homestays in reaction to the surge in travel.

The following are some affordable travel destinations: Ninh Binh Greenland Homestay, Ninh Binh Family Homestay, Ninh Binh Mountain View Homestay, Tam Coc Homestay, Ninh Binh Panorama Homestay, Chezbeo Homestay, and Ninh Binh Greenland Homestay.

Ninh Binh Valley Homestay. Photo courtesy of the homestay

The majority of them are situated among lotus ponds and verdant paddy fields.

Toki Cottage, An's Eco Garden, Bai Dinh Garden Resort, Tam Coc Garden Boutique Resort, and Emeralda Ninh Binh Resort are more upscale options with nightly rates beginning at VND1 million.

Read more : Discover Ninh Binh - 48 hours in Ninh Binh

What to do in Ninh Binh?

Locals in Tam Coc-Bich Dong make a living by rowing their boats through rice fields on the Ngo Dong River, a tourist destination that is made up of a complex of limestone karst mountains rising out of water, caves, and Buddhist pagodas.

Tourists take a boat tour along Ngo Dong River in Tam Coc, June 2022. Photo by Hoang Duong

Tam Coc's rice harvest season runs from May to July. Ripe rice paddies, which are suitable for a two-hour boat cruise, stretch along both sides of the river and are tinted a golden yellow.

A ticket for Tam Coc's sightseeing costs VND120,000 ($5) per person, while a boat ride costs VND150,000 and needs at least four people to operate.

Every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the tours are offered.

Tourists sit on small boats amid yellow rice paddy fields. Photos by Hoang Duong

It is recommended that visitors bring drinks, hats, and umbrellas to shield themselves from the intense sun.

Michael, an American traveler who visited Tam Coc last month, said that guests are transported on little bamboo boats by native ladies donning conical caps.

They even made an effort to offer us embroidered items along the route. They are skilled at rowing with their feet as using their hands for extended periods of time can cause excruciating back agony, the source said VnExpress International.

Complex of Bich Dong Pagoda

A boat is the only way to get to the Bich Dong pagoda complex, which is one of the cruise's attractions.

Situated atop the limestone mountains of Truong Yen, it was constructed in 1428 during the reign of King Ly Thai To.

The pagoda features roofs tiled with brick and is constructed of stone and wood.

The entrance gate of Bich Dong Pagoda hidden amid a large mountain. Photo by Shutterstock/Jimmy Tran

Tourists disembark from the boat and cross a stone bridge across a big lotus pond, which in the summer bursts with vibrant pink petals.

Past a gate lie three more old temples tucked away at the base of a sizable mountain, as well as a peaceful courtyard.

Bich Dong Pagoda features a clothing rule that demands visitors to cover their knees and shoulders, just as many other Buddhist shrines.

Hang Mua

Considered Vietnam's version of the Great Wall of China, Tam Coc's Hang Mua (Dancing Cave) is a must-see location.

The view from top of Hang Mua (Dancing Cave). Jimmy Tran/Shutterstock photo

The Thai Vi Temple got its name from a legend that King Tran Thai Tong, who ruled from 1225 to 1258, ordered its construction and frequently went there to enjoy singing and dancing.

To reach the summit of the mountain, hikers can ascend 500 white stone stairs. The railings on either side of the stairs are ornately adorned with the Tran Dynasty's dragon or phoenix insignia.

From the summit, you may enjoy breathtaking views of Tam Coc's yellow paddy fields below.

Yellow rice paddies may be seen below from Hang Mua's top. From Quynh Trang's photo

A Hang Mua sightseeing tour ticket is VND 120,000.

Pagoda Bai Dinh

The 1,700-hectare Bai Dinh pagoda complex has an enormous bronze Buddha figure coated in gold and an Arhat tunnel.

One of Ninh Binh's oldest pagodas is Bai Dinh.Photo by Minh Phung

Vietnamese architectural elements at the pagoda were created by about 500 artisans and groups of workers from well-known traditional craft villages in northern Vietnam using traditional materials including green stone and ceramic tiles from Bat Trang hamlet.

It takes a long time to see the entire site, therefore it's a good idea to take an electric shuttle bus, which goes around the pagoda complex and costs VND80,000 for a two-way ticket.

The pagoda's interior has a tower that is lit up at night. Photos courtesy of Bai Dinh Pagoda

Cuc Phuong National Park

Popular camping location Cuc Phuong national park is within one hour from Ninh Binh city center.

Tropical woods, 1000-year-old trees, and an incredibly rich and diversified flora and fauna—especially the black-and-white douc langur, the national symbol of Cuc Phuong—can be found in the nation's first national park.

Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh Province. Photo by Kieu Duong

Visitors may enjoy kayaking on Yen Quang Lake and trekking, cycling, and camping in addition to taking a nighttime wildlife viewing trip to see animals that emerge to feed.

The Muong ethnic community, who are skilled brocade weavers and live in stilt homes, are concentrated in Cuc Phuong.

Bringing caps, hiking shoes, medications, food, and drink, as well as binoculars for viewing, is a good idea.

Van Long reserve.

A boat ride through the Van Long wetland natural reserve, which is well-known for having an appearance in the Hollywood film "Kong: Skull Island," is highly recommended, according to travel bloggers. Local guys serve as tour guides for the trip.

Van Long Nature Reserve in Ninh Binh. Photo by Shutterstock/Jimmy Tran

With a limit of two people per boat, the trip costs VND60,000 ($2.58) per person and runs around one hour. It passes past stunning caverns and karst limestone mountains.

From the boat, you may observe storks, herons, and kingfishers, among other species. If you're lucky, you can even spot the extremely uncommon Delacour's langur monkey.

Foreign tourists in Van Long Lagoon, Ninh Binh Province. Photo by VnExpress/Le Bich

THINGS TO EAT

In Ninh Binh, goat meat is a specialty. Goats are common across the nation, but since they graze on meadows above mountains, they are thought to be particularly remarkable in Ninh Binh, where they have the firmest flesh.

Goat meat is a signature dish in Ninh Binh. Photos courtesy of Hoang Giang Restaurant

Hoang Giang Restaurant, Hang Ca Mountain in the Truong Yen District, Hoang Long Restaurant on Trang An Street, and 446 Nguyen Hue Street are a few locations where you may sample the meat.

In Ninh Binh, eel vermicelli is another well-known delicacy. Once more, travel bloggers heartily endorse this dish since it includes broth prepared from simmered bones. After being combined with red chile, onion, pepper, and fish sauce and deep-fried in hot oil, the eels take on a fragrant, yellow color.

999 Tran Hung Dao Street is where you may sample this meal.

Rice crackers, or com chay, are a crispy delicacy formed by burning rice with dried pork, onion, and homemade sauce.

The most well-liked restaurants for this meal are Thang Long, Duc De, and De Quy.

Other mouthwatering delicacies that capture the distinct flavors of the northern delta include field crab cooked in betel leaf, sour soup with fish, and cellophane noodles served with eel.

We really hope that our travel guide on Ninh Binh tourism was informative and practical for your planning your 2023 vacation. You will certainly have a great time at Ninh Binh, which is a terrific site to learn about Vietnamese history and culture. If you're looking for a trustworthy and knowledgeable travel firm to help you organize your trip to Ninh Binh, give Threeland Travel a call. We can take care of all the details, including making travel and lodging arrangements as well as ticket purchases, and we can adjust your itinerary to suit your requirements and financial constraints. To find out more about our special offers and packages, please visit our website or get in touch with us immediately. Don't miss the opportunity to travel with Threeland Travel.