Here’s a complete 2 days Ninh Binh itinerary for you. However, you may ask if spending 2 days in Ninh Binh is too much.
This is a common question among travellers as many day tour packages are available based on a quick Google Search.
DISCLOSURE
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Having visited Ninh Binh, Ninh Binh will be fully enjoyed through a 2-day itinerary. There is so much to do in this town located 100km (62 miles) south of Hanoi. With the town’s majestic beauty, many also refer to Ninh Binh as the “Ha Long Bay on Land”.
While many crowd the other areas in North Vietnam, head over to Ninh Binh to enjoy the magnificent landscape of limestone mountains and rice fields. I assure you that you will enjoy your time as you enjoy this complete 2 day Ninh Binh itinerary.
A quiet lake with the ducks quacking away, with the limestone mountains in the background
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The Complete 2 days Ninh Binh Itinerary
The 2 best recommendations I have for you to fully enjoy the 2 days Ninh Binh Itinerary:
- Rent a bicycle
I found the best scenic views while exploring the pathways off the main road. With a bicycle, you can enjoy the views at a slower pace, compared to when riding a scooter.
A tip for you: when navigating via Google Maps, opt for the walking route instead of the driving route. You will be riding on roads with less traffic and prettier landscapes!
Riding into the sunset
- Wear a comfortable top
The weather may be hot but there will be wind as you walk and cycle through the streets of Ninh Binh. I recommend wearing a comfortable top to reduce discomfort throughout the day.
Day 1
Given the proximity of the various locations on the itinerary, I’d recommend a bicycle rental. Many accommodations, may / may not have included a free bike rental for your stay.
The first stop on our itinerary is Bich Dong Pagoda.
- Bich Dong Pagoda
Bich Dong Pagoda is one of the major landmarks in Ninh Binh. The pagoda is a 2km bike ride from Tam Coc, making it an easy morning ride. It is a nice beautiful ride along the road towards the pagoda.
Riding our bicycles towards Bich Dinh Pagoda after our breakfast
As it is one of the major landmarks in the area, do expect a larger crowd towards midday. Head over to Bich Dong Pagoda after breakfast to experience the calm atmosphere fully. Several local vendors are also selling handmade handicrafts. These are great souvenirs to purchase for friends and family.
Local Vietnamese selling their unique handicrafts
There is one pagoda at the base of the mountain. After which, you will encounter a short flight of stairs. While the short flight of stairs may deter you, I highly recommend climbing those stairs!
After the short flight of stairs, there is a beautiful, calm lake with a lovely backdrop view of the limestone mountains. The area is a nice, serene place to hear yourself thinking. There are many trees, which provide just enough shade from the heat.
The lake after the short flight of stairs! A very calm environment!
Towards the end of the walking path, there is a cave temple and a nice viewpoint. The cave was dimly lit and had several statues and altars. Local Vietnamese and tourists visit to pray.
A tip for you: just at the entrance, there will be “bicycle parking attendants” who will walk towards you to charge you a small fee of 10k VND (USD 0.40). Don’t pay! Head over to the nearby cafeteria Nhà Hàng Minh Vinh and park your bicycles there for free.
Photo credits: ChatGPT
- Lunch at cafeteria Nhà Hàng Minh Vinh
By now, you may be hungry. Cafeteria Nhà Hàng Minh Vinh serves up great local food. It has a very cozy, shaded outdoor seating arrangement that allows you to also people-watch the crowd heading into the pagoda.
With full bellies, enjoy your bike ride through the rice paddy field towards Mua Cave.
Lunch before we continued riding our bicycles
- Bike ride through the rice paddy field
The ride through the paddy field is a unique experience. While it may be slightly more challenging for some, it is worthwhile. The birds’ chirp and the warm wind through your hair will leave you in awe.
To have the best view, a tip I have for you is to follow the navigation via Google Map’s walking path. This will avoid the roads with high road traffic, making the ride view beautiful and safer.
Cycling through the rice paddies towards Hang Mua Viewpoint
- Hang Mua Viewpoint
Before the day ends, head over to one of the most Instagrammable spots in Ninh Binh. Hang Mua Viewpoint is located about 5 km (3.1 miles) from Tam Coc village so do plan accordingly. I took approximately 30 minutes via cycling to Hang Mua Viewpoint as I was stopping at various points along the way to admire the surroundings.
The view from the top is spectacular, especially during sunset. To get to the top, walk up 500 steep, uneven steps. It will take 30 minutes – 1 hour, depending on the crowd size and stamina.
A tip for you: start making your way to the top 1.5 – 2 hours before the sunset to get the best seat!
Hang Mua Viewpoint at the top! Photo credits: Quý Nguyễn
Day 2
After yesterday’s cycling adventure, I recommend to rent a scooter or hire a driver. These attractions are located slightly farther apart and it is a bit more challenging to ride a bicycle.
Before the sun shines brightly above our heads, I recommend going for a boat ride.
- Boat ride at Tam Coc or Trang An
Go for a boat ride to enjoy the views from the water. Two boat ride locations are commonly visited. They are at Tam Coc and Trang An. Both boat ride locations are equally unique and amazing.
You may then ask which should you go for. Here are how each of these boat ride locations is unique:
Tam Coc boat tour takes you along the Ngô Đồng River. During the rice paddy growing seasons, you will be gifted with vast green or gold rice paddy fields on both sides of the river. The river tour is 1.5 to 2 hours long. Boat operators often paddle with their feet, which gives you a traditional touch to the boat experience. The ticket price per person is 120k VND (USD 5).
Trang An boat tour takes you through various rivers, caves and hidden temples within the landscape. This provides a great blend of nature and culture exploration throughout the 2 to 3 hours long tour. Despite the large crowd at the tour operator’s starting point, the crowd will slowly disperse as there are multiple routes in the area. Ticket price per person is 250k VND (USD 10).
Boats at Tam Coc
- Snack at the local coffee shops
After the boat tour, check out the local coffee shops selling local Vietnamese cuisine. There is no one shop that I can recommend as all serve delicious-looking banh mi and Vietnamese spring rolls.
I enjoyed an egg banh mi with Vietnamese coffee before I explored the Ancient Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.
A banh mi and Vietnamese coffee – just the usual order when in Vietnam
- Explore Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is full of history and culture. It played a crucial role in unifying the country in the 10th and 11th centuries. Located among limestone mountains, Hoa Lu was selected for its defensive advantages.
Today, tourists can visit the ancient temples and admire the remnants of the ancient city. The scenery is stunning. There is a small entrance fee charge of 20kVND (USD 0.80).
Photo credit: Alberto Capparelli
Where to stay during the 2 days Ninh Binh Itinerary
The best area to stay depends on your accommodation preference and budget. There are various guesthouses, ecolodge and hotels in each area. Below are my top 2 areas I thoroughly enjoy during my visit and recommend.
- Tam Coc
Tam Coc is one of the areas where most tourists stay, due to the accessibility to Ninh Binh city and restaurants. Given the geographic location of Tam Coc, most of the accommodations offer a direct view of the vast landscape. This provides a nature-filled environment that feels as though you are far away from the city.
The area retains its rural charm of the local villages and restaurants, enabling you to enjoy a slower pace of life.
Tam Coc is located near most of the places on my complete 2 days Ninh Binh itinerary, saving you travel time. I would recommend staying in Tam Coc if you want to be immersed in nature while still conveniently near to the city for essentials.
During my 2 days in Ninh Binh, I stayed at a guest house in Tam Coc, which provided a great peaceful environment for me to relax after trekking Mount Fansipan.
The streets of Tam Coc, which is not very, making is bicycle-friendly
- Trang An
Trang is a beautiful area with a more extensive and vast landscape than Tam Coc. Compared to Tam Coc, Trang An is less crowded despite the area’s charm and numerous local restaurants.
While in Trang An, most visitors spend their time on the boat tour, which brings you through a series of caves and scenic spots.
I would recommend staying in Trang An if you prefer a less crowded area with a more varied landscape view and extensive boat tour options.
How to get to Ninh Binh
Here are a few ways to start your Ninh Binh itinerary in Ninh Binh, depending on where your last city is. Most travellers travel from Hanoi. However, there are also travellers travelling from other cities like Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba, Sapa, and Ha Giang in the North and Hue in the South.
- Bus
A bus is the most popular and convenient way to arrive in Ninh Binh. There are many buses daily from Hanoi, which gives you some flexibility on your travel plan. Bus tickets can be bought through your accommodation or any travel company in Hanoi.
A bus ticket costs 100k VND (US4) to 200k VND (USD 8), depending on the type of bus and the service you choose. Travel time is slightly dependent on traffic, approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
A pro tip for you: book through your accommodation and most likely, the bus will pick you up from your accommodation!
Found this hidden path way as I cycled through the area. Enjoyed a Vietnamese coffee while watching the sunset.
- Train
Ninh Binh is a short train ride away. This travel option is more convenient when coming from Hanoi and staying in Ninh Binh.
Train rides from Hanoi to Ninh Binh give you great scenic views en route. Train tickets can be purchased directly at the Hanoi train station at 100k VND (USD 4) to 250k VND (USD 10), depending on the selected seat type. Generally, hard seats are slightly cheaper compared to soft seats and sleeper trains.
If you opt to stay in Tam Coc, once arriving at Ninh Binh train station, you may get a Grab to travel to Tam Coc. Tam Coc is located 7 to 8 km (4 to 5 miles) from Ninh Binh.
- Private hire (car / van)
While this will give you the most comfort throughout your 1.5 to 2 hours journey from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, this is the most costly. It costs approximately 1,600k VND (USD 65).
If you decide to get off at Ninh Binh city centre, head over to Restaurant Trung Tuyết to try out Ninh Binh’s local dish. This local dish is called com chay, which is vegetarian-friendly.
How long to stay in Ninh Binh?
2 days in Ninh Binh is just enough to explore the unique sites Ninh Binh, the Ha Long Bay on land has to offer. However, if you are looking for someone to stay for a while to recover from the constant travelling, Ninh Binh is a great place!
The town is busy enough for you to grab your daily essentials. There are minimal distractions. So, this is a great place to get some work done!
People watching at Bich Dinh Pagoda
Can I visit Ninh Binh on a day trip from Hanoi?
Going for a day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi is doable. However, I do not recommend it as some attractions are best visited at sunset and sunrise!
So, here’s the best insider’s complete 2 days Ninh Binh Itinerary, which you can easily follow through when you are in North Vietnam.
Just a unique sight as I saw the buffaloes heading home at sunset!