Ninh Binh Vespa tour from Hanoi: Caves, rice paddies, boat

Ride backroads through rice paddies, climb to panoramic views, and drift through caves in a single day

A full-day Vespa and boat tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh includes a 2-hour transfer, a 20 km ride through villages and karsts, a 500-step hike to Mua Cave, lunch at a local restaurant, and a 1.5 to 2-hour sampan boat trip through three caves. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Hanoi are included, and the guide speaks English.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ninh Binh countryside exploration

• Pick up from Hanoi by limousine
• Transfer to Ninh Binh with break
• Meet Vespa riders at Ninh Hai Village
• Briefing on Vespa riding safety
• Vespa ride through villages and rice paddies
• Visit Thai Vi Temple and Bich Dong Pagoda
• Hike 500 steps to Mua Cave viewpoint
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Boat trip through caves in Tam Coc
• Return transfer to Hanoi by limousine
• Drop off at hotel in Hanoi

The experience

The day starts with a 7:20 am pickup from your Hanoi hotel by luxury limousine for the 2-hour drive to Ninh Binh. You'll have a short break halfway, arriving around 10 am at Ninh Hai Village in the Tam Coc area. There you meet your Vespa rider and get a brief safety orientation before climbing on. The ride covers about 20 km through backroads and off-road tracks, passing through rural villages, rice paddies, and limestone valleys. You'll see Thai Vi Temple and Bich Dong Pagoda, and stop at a viewpoint in Thung Nang to take in the landscape.

Around 11:30 am you reach Mua Cave and climb 500 steps to the summit, where the panoramic views of the surrounding karsts and valleys open up. After the climb, you head to a local restaurant for an authentic Vietnamese lunch at 12:30 pm. Then comes the boat portion: you board a sampan (two people per boat) and drift down the Tam Coc river for 1.5 to 2 hours, passing through three caves (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba) surrounded by limestone cliffs and rice fields. The return transfer to Hanoi leaves around 3:30 pm, dropping you at your hotel by 6 pm.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Hanoi by luxury limousine.
• Vespa and rider for the 20 km backroad portion.
• entrance fees to Mua Cave and the temples.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• sampan boat trip through the three caves.
• water during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 45 years) · Senior (46 to 89 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

GroupUp to 10

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 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Authentic Ninh Binh - Luxury Limousine Small Group Max 7 pax/ group

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you'll follow the commentary and cultural exchanges throughout the day. The fixed schedule packs the Vespa ride, cave climb, lunch, and boat trip into one departure, so the full experience fits inside a single day from Hanoi.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

19 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): free.

What's the Vespa ride actually like on this tour?

You ride as a passenger behind a trained Vespa rider on about 20 km of backroads and off-road tracks through villages, rice paddies, and limestone valleys. The route includes stops at Thai Vi Temple, Bich Dong Pagoda, and a viewpoint in Thung Nang, and you get a safety briefing before you start.

How difficult is the climb to Mua Cave?

The hike to the summit of Mua Cave is 500 steps and is described as easy. The climb takes place around 11:30 am, after the Vespa ride and before lunch.

What happens during the boat trip?

The sampan boat trip lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and drifts down the Tam Coc river through three limestone caves: Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba. Two people share each boat, and you pass through villages, mountains, and rice fields.

What time does pickup happen and when do I get back to my hotel?

Pickup is at 7:20 am from your Hanoi hotel. The return transfer leaves Ninh Binh around 3:30 pm, and you arrive back at your hotel between 6 and 6:30 pm.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is a set menu of authentic Vietnamese countryside food served at a local restaurant at 12:30 pm. The meal is included in the tour price.