Ninh Binh tour from Hanoi: Hoa Lu, boat trip & mountain trek

Three hours on the water, 500 steps up a mountain, one day that holds the whole valley

A full-day guided tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh combines visits to Hoa Lu ancient citadel or Bai Dinh pagoda with a two-hour boat trip through Trang An or Tam Coc's water caves and limestone peaks, plus a trek up Mua Cave mountain. Hotel pickup in Hanoi Old Quarter, an English-speaking guide, buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes, and all entrance tickets are included. The day runs roughly 11 to 12 hours door to door.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 49 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Hoa Lu, Trang An and Hang Mua 07:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Lasts 12 hours and covers a full day trip with pickup from Hanoi. The bus ride to Ninh Binh takes 2.5 hours, with a 10-minute break along the way. Buffet lunch with many choices is served at a restaurant offering Vietnamese cuisine (vegetarian food is available). The Hoa Lu, Trang An and Hang Mua itinerary includes: a visit to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (45 minutes), cycling (25 minutes), a Trang An boating trip (2 hours) and the Mua cave with its 500 steps (1 hour). Travel is by a standard air-conditioned bus with 33 seats. Pickup is included.

Bai Dinh and Trang An 07:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Lasts 12 hours and covers a full day trip with pickup from Hanoi. The bus ride to Ninh Binh takes 2.5 hours, with a 10-minute break along the way. Buffet lunch with many choices is served at a restaurant offering Vietnamese cuisine (vegetarian food is available). The Bai Dinh and Trang An itinerary includes: a visit to Bai Dinh Pagoda (1 hour) and a Trang An boating trip (2 hours). Travel is by a standard air-conditioned bus with 33 seats. Pickup is included.

Bai Dinh, Trang An and Mua Cave 07:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Lasts 12 hours and covers a full day trip with pickup from Hanoi. The bus ride to Ninh Binh takes 2.5 hours, with a 10-minute break along the way. Buffet lunch with many choices is served at a restaurant offering Vietnamese cuisine (vegetarian food is available). The Bai Dinh, Trang An and Hang Mua itinerary includes: a visit to Bai Dinh Pagoda (1 hour), a Trang An boating trip (2 hours) and the Mua cave with its 500 steps (1 hour). Travel is by a standard air-conditioned bus with 33 seats. Pickup is included.

None of these options right for you? See 12 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Ninh Binh tour with sightseeing and lunch

• Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels
• Travel to Ninh Binh with comfort breaks
• Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel or Bai Dinh Pagoda
• Boat trip at Trang An or Tam Coc
• Trek up Mua Cave and Ngoa Long mountain
• Return to Hanoi and drop off at hotel

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Hoa Lu 1h
2. Trang An Landscape Complex 2h

What’s included

• English-speaking guide with tour credentials.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Hanoi Old Quarter.
• round-trip transfer by air-conditioned coach with complimentary water.
• buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes and vegetarian options available.
• all entrance tickets to the attractions in your selected option.
• government tax.

Times

• Every day 07:00

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 30 1 private ›

Live guide English and Vietnamese Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 13h before

Ages Adult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Not recommended with heart problems Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Go Asia Travel

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

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The experience

The bus picks you up between 7:00 and 7:45 am at your Hanoi Old Quarter hotel and heads south on the highway for three hours, with a comfort break at a café and shopping mall along the way. Your English-speaking guide travels with you the whole day. The route depends on which option you choose at checkout: you'll visit either Hoa Lu, the 11th-century first capital of Vietnam with King Dinh Temple and citadel ruins, or Bai Dinh, Indochina's largest pagoda with massive stone statues.

The centerpiece is a two-hour boat trip through either Trang An or Tam Coc, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. A local rower poles a traditional wooden boat through water caves and along the river, passing limestone cliffs that rise straight from the water. The landscape is narrow and intimate: rice paddies, cave openings, historic sites on the riverbanks. After the boat, you trek up Mua Cave mountain, climbing 500 steps to the summit where the view opens onto the entire Tam Coc valley: rice fields, river, and the karst peaks layered into the distance.

Lunch is a buffet of Vietnamese dishes served partway through the day, with vegetarian options available if you request them when booking. The return journey to Hanoi takes another three hours by highway, with drop-off at your hotel between 7:00 and 7:30 pm. The bus is air-conditioned and provides complimentary water throughout.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What's the difference between the Hoa Lu and Bai Dinh options on this Ninh Binh tour?

Hoa Lu is the 11th-century ancient citadel and former capital, featuring King Dinh Temple and historical ruins. Bai Dinh is Indochina's largest pagoda with massive statues. Both options include the same boat trip and Mua Cave trek. You choose which historical site suits your interest.

How long is the boat trip on this tour?

The boat trip lasts two hours. A local rower poles you through water caves and along the river at Trang An or Tam Coc, passing limestone cliffs and historic sites.

Is the trek up Mua Cave mountain difficult?

The trek involves climbing 500 steps to reach the summit of Mua Cave mountain. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What time does the tour start and end?

Hotel pickup in Hanoi Old Quarter runs between 7:00 and 7:45 am. Drop-off at your hotel is between 7:00 and 7:30 pm, making the full day roughly 11 to 12 hours.

Is lunch included, and are there vegetarian options?

Yes, a buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes is included partway through the day. Vegetarian options are available. Let the operator know at the time of booking if you need one.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and entrance fees?

Hotel pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter (except certain restricted streets), round-trip transfer by air-conditioned bus, all entrance tickets to the sites in your chosen option, and an English-speaking guide are all included.