Top 10 Things to do in Ninh Binh, Vietnam

Ninh Binh is a beautiful area in the North of Vietnam. Despite being just a few hours from Hanoi, Ninh Binh could hardly be more different. Swap the city for a rural landscape as skyscrapers become luscious green hills with row boat-filled rivers drifting in between. Here are 10 suggestions of things to do in Ninh Binh. Plus some recommendations on where to stay in Ninh Binh and how long to stay for.

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1. Mua Cave Viewpoint

The Mua Cave complex has a lot to offer including an entire Eco-lodge. There is a lotus lake with a boardwalk snaking through it so you can take scenic pictures by the flowers with mountains in the background. Unfortunately they weren’t in bloom during our visit in January so it wasn’t quite as spectacular. There are of course caves as well but the real attraction here in the viewpoint.

A walk up 500 steps to the top of the mount takes you to Hang Mua Viewpoint. There are two points, each with a pagoda and fantastic views over Ninh Binh, even on a cloudy day. There is also a snaking dragon statue a little further up. A few people clambered up the rocks to reach this, making it seem like the trail progressed that way. Like sheep, we all followed and quickly realised the trail did not extend that far and it wasn’t worth it. If it is busy you will likely be stuck balancing on rocks, clinging to a stone dragon waiting for someone else to make a move so you can take your next step to get back down. The view isn’t any better so I’d recommend only going as far as each of the pagodas!

Entrance fee: 100,000 VND

2. Tam Coc Boat Ride

A boat ride in Ninh Binh is a must! The rivers and lakes snake around and under the mountains and hills giving you an entirely different view than you would see from the roads alone. There are two main boating routes in Ninh Binh, both involve you being rowed by a guide on a set route, rather than going it alone. 

We did our boat trip through Tam Coc which is a lake a little south of Mua Caves (you can see the boats from the caves view point). The journey goes under the caves and along the river, away from the towns and roads to see the luscious green mounds. You can’t row your own boat, they are rowed for you by local rowers (who sometimes hold the paddles with their feet!). They follow a set route so you will see many other boats on your journey too.

We had a slightly negative experience with our rower but our friend who visited the same day didn’t have the same trouble at all so don’t let this put you off! Our rower started off chatty and friendly then half way through the ride a boat that was selling snacks sailed over to us and tried to sell us food. When we politely said no, the woman on the boat handed us food anyway and said it’s for the rower. We passed it back to us and then she asked us to pay for it. We said no and tried telling her we didn’t have any money. Eventually the rower gave the food back and we sailed on in awkward silence.

On the way back he stopped the boat to go up the bank for a wee. As we neared the dock, he began asking for a tip. Reluctantly we gave him some notes but he became aggressive and started asking for more. To be honest we didn’t think he necessarily deserved a big tip and tipping isn’t a part of Vietnamese culture the same way it is in the USA. However, we feared he might strand us in the lake so we paid up. As I said our friend experienced nothing like this on the same trip so this could be a one off but be weary you may have to tip.

3. Trang An Boat Ride

Trang An offers similar scenery to Tam Coc, a serene boat ride through green mountains. The Trang An complex is much larger and appears more professional and established than Tam Coc. There are options for different routes to take and you can have up to 4 people in a boat, whereas Tam Coc limits boats to 2 tourists.

4. Thai Vi Temple

The Thai Vi temple is as an extraordinary 700 year old Buddhist temple. The complex is nearby the Tam Coc and Hang Thien Huong temple so you could easily walk or cycle between the three. The stone gateway and main temple building were built with the green mountains on Ninh Binh overlooking them, just behind.

Entrance is free

5. Hang Thien Huong Temple

Hang Thien Huong is a hidden gem of a temple, quite literally hidden within a cave. Walking up a short flight of steps will lead you into the mouth of a cave where you’ll find an ornate golden shrine. From the cave you will also see a view over the green streams near by. The temple was completely empty and silent when we visited, despite the nearby Tam Coc being full of tour groups. Its definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area!

Entrance is free

6. Tuyet Tinh Coc

Hidden in a valley covered in trees and accessible through a long tunnel, you will find the lake, temples and caves of Tuyet Tinh Coc. The beauty of the luscious valley is a stark contrast and surprise to the concrete entrance way – definitely a pleasant surprise. The complex is fairly big so if you have arrived on a bicycle, bring your bike in with you. You can also hire bikes just outside.

The entrance fee is 20,000 VND

7. Bia Dinh Pagoda

Bia Dinh Pagoda sits within a sprawling park on the outskirts of Ninh Binh. The towering pagoda is the focal point but there are several other temples to see within the park. Whilst entrance is free, you have to buy a ticket for an electric car to take you to and from the temple.

8. Hoa Lu – Ancient Capital

Whilst the ancient capital of Vietnam sounds like a very exciting and important sight to visit, there really isn’t very much there at all. It sounds like it would be an picturesque old town but its actually collection of a few well preserved buildings and temple spaced very far apart. The site was only Vietnam’s capital for less than 50 years. But that was over 1,000 years ago! The buildings that remain are remarkably well preserved – just don’t expect an entire city!

It is worth going if you are nearby anyway and have the time but I personally think there are lots of other more unique attractions that Ninh Binh has to offer.

Entrance fee: 20,000 VND

9. See the Sunset

Ninh Binh has some of the most beautiful sunsets. There are lots of spots where you can watch the purple and orange sky fading over the round hills. One of the best sunsets we saw was just by chance as we cycled back to our homestay. We stopped at a bar called Trang An 89 to sit by the river and take it all in.

10. Go on a Bike Ride

If you have the opportunity to hire bicycles from your accommodation or nearby I would highly recommend this! A bike ride a great way to get out and see more of the unique scenery in Ninih Binh. It also allows you to go a little further a field and visit more attractions as they are all fairly spread out.

On the day we hired bikes from our Homestay, we cycled to a temple called Don Chua Ban Long, Trang An, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and Tuyet Tinh Coc. 

You could also easily cycle from Mua Caves to Tam Coc and on to Thai Vi temple and Han Thien Huong Temple.

Vietnam Travel Posters

How to get to Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is super easy to get to via train from Hanoi. It only takes a couple of hours and tickets cost around £4.50. You will need your passport or some form of ID with you to purchase the tickets in Hanoi and the station only accepts cash.

Where to stay in Ninh Binh

I would highly recommend Tuyet’s Homestay. We stayed there during our visit to Ninh Binh in January 2023 and the hosts were lovely and ever so helpful. The house has wooden cabin vibes and set back from the street, just by the river so it’s quiet and idyllic. A freshly cooked breakfast was included each morning and we were able to hire bikes directly from the hotel. The area is in the middle of Trang An and Tam Coc so we were easily able to get to both as well as the centre of town.

If you would prefer to stay somewhere a little busier, there are two other interesting places we came across. These are the Mua Cave Ecolodge and Chookie’s Hideaway. The Mua Cave lodge is more expensive, luxury option. It offers a range of cabins and huts across a beautiful lake area, next door to the Caves and viewpoint. 

Chookie’s Hideaway is a hostel in the town centre of Ninh Binh so easy to get to from the station. We spent a few hours there while waiting for our bus. It has a chill vibe with great food.

How long to stay in Ninh Binh

We stayed for 3 days and 2 nights but I would recommend 3-4 days at least for Ninh Binh. There was plenty more that we could have done and I’d love to go back and spend more time there. 

What to prioritise if short on time

If you only have a day or two in Ninh Binh, there are a couple of things that I would suggest you prioritise. Those are the Mua Cave Viewpoint and a boat ride, either at Trang An or Tam Coc. For trips to Tam Coc, you may be able to squeeze in the Thai Vi Temple and the Hang Thien Huong temple. Both are a short walk away from the lake. If you’re boating in Trang An instead and want to fit in a temple, the Dong Chua Ban Long temple is one of the closest to the boating centre.

Day Trips to Ninh Binh

If you are really short on time, you could do a day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. This is a great way to still get a flavour of the Vietnamese countryside. There are lots of options for day tours on Viator. Most include a boat ride and a trip to Mua Caves.

Best time to visit Ninh Binh

During the summer months (June – August), the north of Vietnam, including Ninh Binh is very warm but also tends to see a lot of rain. The winter is cooler and drier but not too cold. We visited in January and it was around 20 degrees C most days, although it was cloudy. The best time to visit Ninh Binh is around spring and autumn when the temperature is a little warmer but not quite in the rainy season.

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