Ninh Binh Full Day Tour from Hanoi: Hoa Lu, Trang An & Mua Cave

110 kilometers south to three centuries of history, limestone grottoes and a 500-step climb with views across the valley.

A full-day guided tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh combines a bicycle tour of Hoa Lu's ancient temples, a traditional sampan boat ride through Trang An's limestone caves and grottoes, and a hike to Mua Cave's panoramic overlook. The tour includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, Vietnamese lunch, entrance fees to all three sites, and an air-conditioned vehicle for the 110-kilometer round trip. You choose your transfer option (shuttle or limousine) at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hoa Lu1h · entry included
2. Tam Coc1h
3. Trang An Landscape Complex2h · entry included

Explore Ninh Binh's nature and history

• Meet guide at hotel in Hanoi
• Travel 110km to Ninh Binh by bus
• Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital by bicycle
• Enjoy Vietnamese lunch at local restaurant
• Boat ride through Trang An grottoes
• Hike 500 steps to Mua Cave viewpoint
• Return to Hanoi by bus

The experience

The day starts at your hotel around 8am with a two-hour drive south through the countryside to Ninh Binh. Once there, you trade the bus for a bicycle to explore Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010. The guide walks you through the feudal history under the Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties as you move between the old temples and learn how the city shaped Vietnamese governance for centuries. After cycling back, you sit down to a Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant surrounded by the landscape.

The afternoon centers on Trang An, where a traditional sampan, a shallow wooden boat, rows you through a chain of limestone caves and grottoes carved into a 20-square-kilometer massif that rises out of rice paddies. The route passes through Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave and Thanh Truot Cave, along with several temples tucked into the valleys. The water is still and the caves open onto jungle and freshwater ponds, so the boat moves slowly enough to take in the scale of the rock formations around you.

The final stop is Mua Cave, where 500 steps climb the mountainside to a viewpoint overlooking the whole Ninh Binh valley. The hike is steep but short, and the view from the top frames the patchwork of rice fields, limestone peaks and villages below. After you come back down, the bus returns you to Hanoi's Old Quarter, a journey of roughly two hours.

What’s included

• The tour includes entrance fees to Hoa Lu, Trang An and Mua Cave.
• a full Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.
• a traditional sampan boat ride through Trang An's caves and grottoes.
• a bicycle tour of Hoa Lu's ancient temples.
• an air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• hotel pickup and return to Hanoi's Old Quarter.
• and a professional English-speaking guide throughout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shuttle transferGuide in English · 07:15Round-trip transfer on a shuttle bus; pickup is included

Limosine transferGuide in English · 07:15Round-trip transfer on a shared Model Limousine Bus, with pickup included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:15

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Halong Dolphin Travel

Is this one for you?Book the shuttle transfer if you're flexible on timing and traveling solo or with one other person. Choose the limousine if you're arriving with a group or prefer a dedicated vehicle for the day. Either way, the guide and all logistics are arranged, so you move through three sites and 110 kilometers without building the day yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?

The drive covers 110 kilometers and takes around two hours each way, with a short break on the outbound journey.

What exactly is Trang An and what do you do there?

Trang An is a landscape complex of limestone grottoes and caves rising from rice paddies. You board a traditional sampan and are rowed through a chain of caves (Lam, Vang, Dai and Thanh Truot among them), and past several temples, moving slowly through valleys and past freshwater ponds and jungle.

Is the Mua Cave hike difficult?

The hike to Mua Cave involves 500 steps up the mountainside and is suitable for all fitness levels. The climb is steep but the distance is short, and you reach a panoramic viewpoint over the Ninh Binh valley.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes entrance fees to Hoa Lu, Trang An and Mua Cave; a Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant; the boat ride at Trang An; the bicycle tour of Hoa Lu; an air-conditioned vehicle for transport; and a professional English-speaking guide for the full day.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the tour?

No. Hotel pickup is included, and you choose between a shuttle transfer or a limousine transfer when you book. Both options bring you back to Hanoi's Old Quarter at the end of the day.

Can I bring an infant on this tour?

Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one.