Hoa Lu & Tam Coc day trip from Hanoi: Bamboo boat & cycling

Bamboo boat through three caves in the karst landscape locals call Ha Long Bay on land

A full-day tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh with limousine transfer, visiting Hoa Lu (Vietnam's ancient capital from 968–1010) and Tam Coc's karst scenery. You cruise a traditional bamboo sampan through paddy fields and caves, cycle through the village, eat a buffet lunch of local specialties, and return to Hanoi by evening. All entrance fees, bike rental, boat ride and lunch are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ninh Binh and Tam Coc

• Hotel pickup in Hanoi
• Travel to Ninh Binh with rest stop
• Visit ancient capital Hoa Lu
• Arrive at Tam Coc
• Enjoy buffet lunch
• Take bamboo boat ride through Tam Coc
• Cycle around Tam Coc village
• Return to Hanoi

Stops and time spent at each 4 stops

1. Old Quarter Entry included 2h
2. Hoa Lu Entry included 1h
3. Tam Coc Entry included 5h
4. Old Quarter Entry included 2h

What’s included

• Full limousine transfer from your Hanoi hotel and back.
• entrance fees to Hoa Lu and Tam Coc.
• the 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride through three caves.
• bike rental for the countryside cycling tour.
• a buffet lunch with local meat and vegetarian dishes.
• a bottle of mineral water.
• an English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Times

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• Every day 07:30

Information

Full-day Ninh Binh tour from Hanoi with limousine pickup, visiting Hoa Lu ancient capital and Tam Coc karst landscape.

Group Up to 17

Live guide English and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickup You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 682 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 30 minutes before departure. See the exact addressSee the pickup points

Book up to 12h before

Ages Adult (9 to 79 years) · 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 Not recommended with back problems

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.00 ★★★★★ Very good 4 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

Hotel pickup starts at 7:30 AM from Hanoi's Old Quarter, with a 15–20 minute rest stop around 9:15 AM before you reach Hoa Lu at 10:30 AM. There you walk through the ancient capital that ruled Vietnam during the Dinh, Le, and Ly Dynasties from 968 to 1010, learning the history from your English-speaking guide. By 11:45 AM you're at Tam Coc eating a buffet lunch with goat, fish, chicken and vegetarian dishes, then boarding a traditional bamboo boat at 1:00 PM for a 1.5-hour ride through the landscape.

The boat passes through paddy fields and under limestone cliffs, stopping inside three caves: Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba. The route winds through the same kind of karst terrain that makes Ha Long Bay famous, but on the river. After the boat ride ends around 3:00 PM, you cycle through the countryside village to see how local people live and work. At 4:30 PM the group boards the bus back to Hanoi, arriving at your hotel in the Old Quarter between 6:45 and 7:00 PM.

A bottle of mineral water is provided during the day. The tour runs as a small group, and the limousine transfer means you travel in a single vehicle rather than a minibus, with room for luggage and space to rest between stops.

Top questions

Can I be picked up at my hotel?

You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 682 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 30 minutes before departure.

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 exactly happens during the bamboo boat ride at Tam Coc?

The 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride takes you through Tam Coc's river landscape of paddy fields, limestone cliffs and sky. Within the first two hours on the water, your boat riders stop at three caves in order: Hang Ca (the first grotto), Hang Hai (the second grotto) and Hang Ba (the third grotto), so you see the full karst scenery the area is known for.

What was Hoa Lu and why does the tour include it?

Hoa Lu was Vietnam's ancient capital from 968 to 1010, ruling during the Dinh, Le, and Ly Dynasties. The tour visits it at 10:30 AM so you learn about Vietnamese history and see the site where these dynasties ruled before the capital moved.

Does the tour include lunch, and what kind of food is served?

Yes, lunch is included as a buffet at Tam Coc around 11:45 AM. The meal features local specialties like goat meat, fish and chicken, with vegetarian options always available.

What time does the tour pick me up and when do I return to Hanoi?

Hotel pickup from Hanoi's Old Quarter starts at 7:30 AM. The group departs Tam Coc at 4:30 PM and arrives back at your hotel in the Old Quarter between 6:45 and 7:00 PM, making the full day roughly 10 to 11 hours.

Operated by Chat Tourist. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago