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How to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
| Transport mode | Duration | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Train | 2h 15min | 70.000 VND (€3) |
| Bus | 2 hours | 70.000 VND (€3) |
| Taxi | 2 hours | 1.600.000 VND (€60) |
Option 1
Bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (recommended)
2 hours, 75.000 VND (€3)
There are several options if you want to travel by bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. You can take the public bus for only 70.000 (€3), but this requires an extra taxi ride to Giap Bat station. More convenient is to book a bus or van on BookAway. Online tickets start from 185.000 VND (€7) and save you the extra costs of a taxi.
Option 2
Train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
2h 17min, 154.000 VND (€6)
The train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is a possible alternative to the bus when you don’t stay in the center of Tam Coc. However, Ninh Binh railway station is located in the center of Ninh Binh what is still a 15min taxi ride from Tam Coc. In Ninh Binh center is by far not as good to stay as Tam Coc so we wouldn’t recommend this.
Tip: Staying in Tam Coc will make your visit to Ninh Binh province even more memorable.
Option 3
Taxi from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
2 hours, 1.600.000 VND (€60)
An advantage of the taxi is that they can drop you directly at your guesthouse in Tam Coc or Ninh Binh. The drive takes about 2 hours and you can arrange a taxi for €60.
Day Trip to Ninh Binh
If you want to visit Ninh Binh in one day, you can also choose many of the day trips from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.
These trips include a boat trip in the Tam Coc or Trang An River, but you will miss several other amazing sights. That’s also why we recommend to stay for 2 or 3 days in Tam Coc and enjoy this great little town in Ninh Binh province.
If you prefer a day trip we suggest checking out Klook or Viator. Klook already offers day-trips from €25.
Option 1: Bus
Route: Hanoi Ninh Binh
Duration: 2-3 hours
Costs: 70.000 VND (€3)
We recommend to book an online bus on BookAway as this includes free pick-up in Hanoi and drop-off in the center of Tam Coc.
When you are staying close to Giap Bat bus station in Hanoi and don’t find any accommodation in Tam Coc, you could save money by taking the public bus. However, take in mind that you still need to pay for a taxi when you are staying in Tam Coc.
Book online on BookAway
The cheapest options are to book the Khanh Sinh Tour or the Long Travel bus. Most buses/vans leave either from the center in Hanoi and drop you off in Ninh Binh or Tam Coc center. The bus from Khanh Limovan costs 185.000 VND (€7) and includes a free pick-up at your hotel in Hanoi.
See the button below for all available options.
Maarten's tip: The free debit card of N26 Bank saved me lots of money. Learn here about the benefits of this card or check out the free offer on the N26 Bank website
Public bus
There are public buses leaving from Giap Bat bus station in Hanoi to Ninh Binh every hour. You can buy a bus ticket at Giap Bat bus station for 70.000 VND (€3). Make sure to buy the ticket at the ticket offices to avoid overpaying.
The disadvantage of taking the bus from Giap Bat station is that this station is a 30 min drive from the Old Quarter.
The bus from Giap bus station stops at Ninh Binh bus station which is close to the railway station.
Option 2: Train
Route: Hanoi Ninh Binh
Duration: 2h 17min
Costs: 154.000 VND (€6)
The railway station in Ninh Binh is in the center of the city and about a 15-minute ride from Tam Coc. Once you arrive at Ninh Binh railway station, we advise continuing your journey by taxi to Tam Coc.
If you prefer to stay in Ninh Binh you can also find several hotels around the railway station.
There are 6-7 trains leaving from Hanoi to Ninh Binh railway station every day. We recommend ttakinga morning or afternoon train so you won’t arrive in the late evening (after 22:00) at your accommodation.
SE5 is the most popular option since it offers very convenient travel times.
See the suggested options in the table below:
| Train | Departure/Arrival | Duration | Soft Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE5 | 09:00-11:17 | 2h 17m | 154.000 VND (€6) |
| SE35 (not available) | 13:10-15:35 | 2h 25m | 110.000 VND (€4) |
| SE9 | 14:30-17:13 | 2h 43m | 146.000 VND (€5,50) |
| SE3 | 19:30-21:44 | 2h 14m | 142.000 VND (€5,50) |
| SE19 | 20:10-22:26 | 2h 16m | 146.000 VND (€5,50) |
Soft seats sell between 70.000 VND (€3) and 110.000 VND (€4). You can also buy a sleeper berth starting from 110.000 VND (€4). A sleeper berth is a great option if you take the early morning train at 6:00 and want to get some more sleep.
Taxi: Ninh Binh Tam Coc (optional)
Duration: 15min
Costs: 25.000-50.000 VND (€0,90-€1,90)
You will find several accommodations in a walkable distance from Ninh Binh railway station. But, we recommend continuing your journey to Tam Coc. This little town is 6km south of Ninh Binh and takes about 15min by taxi.
See our Ninh Binh destination page why we prefer Tam Coc.
There are no public buses from Ninh Binh to Tam Coc, so you have to take a (motor)taxi which costs around 25.000-50.000 VND (€0,90-€1,90).
My favourite places to stay in Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)
Tam Coc Family Hotel
Want to stay in a real Vietnamese Guesthouse? Tam Coc Family Hotel is a perfect example why you don't have to spend more than €15 for a great guesthouse.
The super friendly owners will tell you the best spots to visit and will make sure you have a good start of your day with a delicious breakfast. It's a 1-minute walk from the Tam Coc river and drop-off point of the bus.
Tam Coc Bungalow
Do you refer to stay close to the river? Tam Coc Bungalow has spacious bamboo bungalows right next to the Tam Coc river. Bungalows start from €23 and dorm rooms from €5.
What we really liked about this place is their common area. From the terrace you can watch the locals paddling back to Tam Coc town during sunset and in the evening you can play a game of pool at the open restuarant area.
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