Ninh Binh: Rice Planting, Buffalo Ride & Fishing with Locals

Summary

Try rice planting and buffalo riding in Ninh Binh’s green fields

You’ll feel muddy boots and laughter as you ride a buffalo through Tam Coc’s fields, plant rice with local farmers, try traditional fishing methods, and share a meal cooked together. This day trip from Ninh Binh lets you slow down and really connect with rural Vietnam — it stays with you longer than you’d expect.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit I was a little nervous about the buffalo part. The air in Tam Coc was thick with that earthy smell you get after rain — not quite mud, not quite grass, just something alive. Our guide, Minh, grinned as he led us to the field. “Don’t worry,” he said, “the buffalo is friendlier than he looks.” I still laughed too loud when I first climbed up; the animal barely blinked. There was this quiet moment where all I could hear was the squelch of my own boots in the rice paddy and some distant laughter from a farmer nearby.

We tried our hand at rice planting next. It’s harder than it looks — my rows were definitely crooked compared to the locals’. Minh showed us how to press each seedling into the mud just so. My hands got caked in clay and honestly, I didn’t mind. There’s something grounding about it (no pun intended). Later we learned to fish using these woven traps — I only caught one tiny fish but Li, another traveler, managed three and joked she’d cook for everyone. The whole thing felt like being let in on a daily rhythm most visitors never see.

Lunch was a simple cooking class right there in a local kitchen — fresh herbs everywhere, steam rising off the rice. We ate together at a long wooden table while Minh told stories about growing up here. There’s this view of limestone cliffs outside the window that sticks with me. It’s not just scenery; it feels like part of the meal somehow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Buffalo Cave Visit in Tam Coc

• Visit Buffalo Cave in Tam Coc

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Ninh Binh eco tour?

No, hotel pickup is not specifically mentioned as included.

What activities are part of the Ninh Binh group tour?

The tour includes buffalo riding, rice planting, fishing with locals, and a cooking class.

Where does the buffalo riding take place?

The buffalo riding happens in Tam Coc, within Ninh Binh province.

Are experience tools provided for activities?

Yes, all necessary tools for buffalo riding and fishing are provided.

Is lunch included on this Ninh Binh day trip?

A cooking class is included where you prepare and eat lunch together.

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?

No, it is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to physical activity involved.

Can people with low fitness join this eco tour?

No, travelers should have a high level of physical fitness for this tour.

Are service animals allowed on this group tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this tour.

What’s included

Your day covers all experience tools for buffalo riding and fishing, bottled water throughout your activities in Ninh Binh’s countryside, plus a hands-on cooking class where you’ll prepare and share lunch with your group before heading back out into those green fields again.