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

Bamboo boat through limestone grottoes, then 500 steps to a mountain peak

A full-day tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh combines cycling through the 10th-century temples of Hoa Lu, a boat ride through the Trang An Landscape Complex, and a hike up Mua Cave to a panoramic viewpoint. The itinerary includes hotel pickup in Hanoi, Vietnamese buffet lunch, entrance fees, and an English-speaking guide. The day runs roughly 11 to 12 hours door-to-door.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hoa Lu3h · entry included
2. Trang An Landscape Complex3h · entry included

Ninh Binh day trip highlights

• Pick up at designated meeting points
• Cycle to Hoa Lu ancient capital
• Visit Dinh King and Le King Temples
• Enjoy Vietnamese buffet lunch
• Boat tour at Trang An grottoes
• Hike 500 steps to Mua Cave viewpoint
• Return to Hanoi and drop off

The experience

The day starts with pickup between 7:00 and 7:40 AM from one of nine meeting points across Hanoi's Old Quarter, then a drive to Hoa Lu. Once there, you cycle through the ancient capital of Dai Co Viet to visit the Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple, both built in the 10th century. The temples sit within the remains of a royal city that ruled northern Vietnam a thousand years ago, and the bicycle route lets you move through the landscape at a pace that makes the history stick. The guide explains the architecture and the kings' stories as you go. By 11:45 AM you're back at a local restaurant for a Vietnamese buffet lunch.

The boat tour at Trang An starts at 1:30 PM and is the centerpiece of the day. You board a bamboo rowing boat and move through a series of limestone grottoes with stalactites hanging overhead, passing through narrow water passages carved by the river over centuries. The Trang An Landscape Complex is a UNESCO site, and the boat moves slowly enough that you can take in the rock formations and the quiet. This is not a speedboat run. The pace is deliberate, and the grottoes are the point.

At 4:00 PM you arrive at Mua Cave, also called Dancing Cave. The hike to the top of Ngoa Long mountain is roughly 500 steps, and the payoff is a panoramic view of Tam Coc and the Ninh Binh valley spread out below. The climb is steady but manageable, and the view from the top is the kind of thing people photograph and send home. By 5:30 PM the tour heads back to Hanoi, with drop-off at your hotel in the Old Quarter between 7:30 and 8:00 PM.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hanoi's Old Quarter.
• all entrance fees to Hoa Lu, Trang An or Tam Coc, and Mua Cave.
• bicycle use at Hoa Lu.
• bamboo boat tour through the limestone grottoes.
• Vietnamese buffet lunch at a local restaurant.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• one bottle of water per person on the bus.
• comfortable shuttle bus transport.

Options for this experience

2 options

Hoa Lu, Tam Coc and Mua Cave by busGuide in English · 07:00By bus to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc and Mua Cave: travel by shuttle bus to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, take a boat ride in Tam Coc and hike in Mua Cave. Shuttle bus (32-seater).

Hoa Lu, Trang An and Mua Cave by busGuide in English · 07:00By bus to Hoa Lu, Trang An and Mua Cave: travel by shuttle bus to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, take a boat ride in Trang An and hike in Mua Cave. Shuttle bus (32-seater). Pickup is 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 07:00

AgesAdult (9 to 70 years) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 32

Live guideEnglish

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

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 13.54

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cozy Vietnam Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the temples and landscape of Ninh Binh without arranging transport, guides or tickets yourself: the pickup from your Hanoi hotel, the fixed itinerary and the English-speaking guide mean the day holds together without you building it.

Traveler reviews

4.93★★★★★★★★★★

2,371 verified traveler reviews

5 ★2,244

4 ★99

3 ★14

2 ★6

1 ★8

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

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.

What's the difference between the Trang An and Tam Coc boat options on this tour?

The two purchase options differ in which waterway you explore by boat. The Hoa Lu–Trang An option takes you through the Trang An Landscape Complex with its grottoes and stalactites. The Hoa Lu–Tam Coc option routes the boat tour through Tam Coc instead. Both include the same cycling at Hoa Lu, the same lunch, and the same climb up Mua Cave: only the boat section changes.

How much walking and climbing is involved in this day trip?

The cycling portion at Hoa Lu is gentle and covers the temple grounds. No distance is specified but it is designed for all fitness levels. The main physical demand is the climb up Mua Cave, which is approximately 500 steps to the viewpoint at the top. The tour notes it is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What time does the tour pick me up and when do I get back to my hotel?

Pickup happens between 7:00 and 7:40 AM depending on which of nine meeting points in Hanoi's Old Quarter you choose. Drop-off at your hotel is between 7:30 and 8:00 PM, making the full day roughly 11 to 12 hours from start to finish.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, lunch is included at a local restaurant at 11:45 AM. It is a Vietnamese buffet with local cuisine, served after the cycling portion at Hoa Lu and before the boat tour.

What's included in the price of this tour?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Hanoi, all entrance fees to the temples and attractions, the boat tour, the guide speaking English throughout the day, lunch, and one bottle of water per person on the bus. Drinks beyond that one bottle are not included.