Ninh Binh 2-Day Tour: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, Bai Dinh, Trang An

Four ancient sites, two boat trips, one night in the countryside

A two-day guided tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh's main sights (Hoa Lu ancient capital, Tam Coc's emerald waterway, Bai Dinh pagoda and Trang An eco-tourism area) with one night in a homestay, all meals, boat trips and round-trip transport from Hanoi Old Quarter included. Your English-speaking guide explains the culture and history at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, Bich Dong Pagoda

• Pick up guests in Hanoi Old Quarter
• Arrive at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
• Visit King Dinh temple
• Discover Am Tien Cave and Tuyet Tinh Coc lake
• Have buffet lunch at local restaurant
• Enjoy Sampan boat trip through three caves
• Cycle to Bich Dong Pagoda
• Visit Bich Dong Pagoda
• Check-in tropical homestay
• Have dinner and free time

Day 2: Bai Dinh Pagoda and Trang An

• Have breakfast
• Leave homestay for Bai Dinh Pagoda
• Arrive at Bai Dinh Pagoda Buddha Sanctuary
• Have buffet lunch at local restaurant
• Leave for Trang An eco-tourism attraction
• Explore tunnel caves at Trang An
• Take shuttle bus back to Hanoi
• Drop off at hotel and end tour

The experience

You get picked up from your Hanoi hotel between 7:30 and 8:00 on day one, then ride south in an air-conditioned bus to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital. By 10:20 you're at the King Dinh temple, then moving through Am Tien Cave and out to Tuyet Tinh Coc, where the lake opens up around limestone cliffs. Lunch is a buffet of Vietnamese dishes at a local restaurant before the sampan boat trip. You drift through three emerald-water caves on the river while the countryside rolls past on both sides.

The afternoon shifts to cycling. You pedal quiet country roads for 40 minutes to Bich Dong Pagoda, an ancient temple built into the rock, then head to your homestay in Tam Coc to check in. Dinner is at the homestay and the evening is free. Day two starts with breakfast, then a drive to Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest in Southeast Asia, where you walk the Buddha Sanctuary. After lunch at a local restaurant, you take a boat through Trang An's tunnel caves, including a 1,000-meter passage that cuts through the limestone. The return shuttle leaves at 4:30 p.m. and drops you back at your Hanoi hotel by 6:30 p.m.

The guide speaks English throughout and carries travel insurance as part of the package. Water bottles are complimentary on the bus. If you need vegetarian meals, let the operator know when you book.

What’s included

• One night accommodation at a comfortable homestay in Tam Coc.
• English-speaking tour guide.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner on both days).
• sampan boat trips through Tam Coc and Trang An.
• air-conditioned bus transport and hotel pickup and drop-off from Hanoi Old Quarter.
• complimentary water bottles on the bus.
• travel insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (7 to 98 years) · Child (4 to 6 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Aloha Vietnam Travel & Guide

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're based in Hanoi and want two full days covering Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, Trang An, and Bich Dong: the overnight homestay in Tam Coc lets you see sites at a natural pace rather than rushing back to the city each night.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (under 4).

What is Bai Dinh Pagoda and why is it worth visiting?

Bai Dinh Pagoda is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia, located in Ninh Binh. The tour visits the Buddha Sanctuary on day two, where you walk the grounds and see the scale of the complex carved into the landscape.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Hanoi, or is pickup included?

Pickup is included from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. on day one. The air-conditioned bus also handles the return trip, dropping you back at your hotel by 6:30 p.m. on day two. Pickup outside the Old Quarter can be arranged. Ask when you book.

What happens on the boat trips through Tam Coc and Trang An?

On day one, you take a sampan boat through three emerald-water caves on the river near Tam Coc, seeing the countryside from the water. On day two at Trang An, you boat through multiple tunnel caves, including one that runs 1,000 meters through the limestone.

Are all meals included, and can I request vegetarian options?

All meals are included: breakfast and dinner at the homestay, and lunch at local restaurants on both days. Vegetarian options are available. Tell the operator when you book if you need them.

What is the homestay like, and where is it located?

The homestay is in Tam Coc and described as comfortable. You check in on day one after cycling to Bich Dong Pagoda, have dinner there, and spend the night before heading out for breakfast on day two.