What to expect when visiting Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is a natural paradise in northern Vietnam. The province is home to the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, which you can find in the tranquil town of Tam Coc.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trang An boasts amazing viewpoints, limestone peaks, temples and pagodas. A boat tour along Trang An River is the most popular activity because it gives one a glimpse of traditional village life. Backdropped by rice paddies and karst mountains, Ninh Binh is a sight to behold!
Visiting Ninh Binh Province
Ninh Binh is the perfect next destination after exploring the busy city life in Hanoi. This gorgeous province boasts a number of great viewpoints, mountains, temples and pagodas to explore.
Our favourite thing to do in Ninh Binh is a boat tour that follows the river through rice paddies surrounded by karst mountains. Such a sight to behold!
Inside tip: Forget about Ninh Binh City and stay in Tam Coc!
When you travel to Ninh Binh province, we recommend staying in Tam Coc.
Ninh Binh City is busy with lots of traffic. Tam Coc, on the other hand, is a beautiful village surrounded by lime karst mountains. Here, everywhere you look is just lush green nature.
Most guesthouses in Tam Coc are located around the lake in the middle of the village or next to Tam Coc River. Imagine amazing views right from your balcony’s guesthouse. See the section at the end of this post for my favourite guesthouses in Tam Coc.
4 ways to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
There are four ways to travel the distance of 95 km (59 miles) from Hanoi to Ninh Binh: by day trip (10 hours), limo van (2h-3h), taxi (1.5 hours) and train (15m-2h16m). The journey takes between 15 minutes - 10h and the quickest way is by train. The lowest priced tickets start from 25,000 VND ($1.00) for the train.Where to stay in Ninh Binh?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Ninh Binh at the bottom of this page.
Hanoi to Ninh Binh by Train
Vietnam Railways operates 5 trains from Hanoi to Ninh Binh daily. The first trip departs at 06:00 in the morning and the last train leaves Hanoi at 22:15.
Train fares from Hanoi to Ninh Binh start at 102,000 VND ($4.20) for a soft seat. There are also sleeping berths available, but they might not be that cost-efficient for this short journey.
Departure and arrival station
Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station, located 3 km west of the Old Quarter. A taxi ride costs around 70,000 VND ($2.80).
You are to get off at Ninh Binh Railway Station, situated some 6 km northeast of Tam Coc.
Train Schedule from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (Soft Seat)
Optional: Taxi from Ninh Binh to Tam Coc
You will find several accommodations within a walkable distance from Ninh Binh Railway Station, but we recommend continuing your journey to Tam Coc.
As there are no public buses from Ninh Binh to Tam Coc, you have two ways to complete this 15-minute journey.
If you’re not carrying a lot of luggage, you can take a motorbike taxi, which costs around 25,000 VND ($1.00) to 50,000 VND ($2.00). Otherwise, you can hail a regular taxi for about 120,000 VND ($4.90).
Hanoi to Ninh Binh by Limo Van
The limo van is a quick and common way to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. There are several operators for this route, among which are Truly Ha Giang, Trang An Limousine, Khanh An Limousine, and Duy Khang Limousine.
Rates for a limo van seat from Hanoi to Ninh Binh start from 195,000 VND ($8.00). Travel time is 1.5 to 2 hours.
We highly recommend that you pick a van that offers free hotel pick-up or drop-off. This not only saves you the hassle of finding your way to/from van stations, but it also allows you to save additional costs on transfers.
Departure and arrival station
Most limo van companies offer free hotel pick-up in Hanoi or free drop-off in Ninh Binh or Tam Coc. Others depart and arrive at their respective offices in the two cities.
It’s best that you pick a van with the most convenient departure and arrival stations for you.
Limo Van Schedule from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Alternative: Public bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
The public bus is the cheapest way to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, but it is not as accessible as the limo vans.
The bus departure and arrival stations are located far from the tourist areas in both Hanoi in Ninh Binh. This means that even though a bus ticket only costs 70,000 VND ($2.80), you will most likely spend additional costs for your transfers to and from the bus stations.
We recommend taking the bus only if your hotels are located near the bus terminals. Travel time with the bus is 2-3 hours.
Departure and arrival station
Buses depart from Giap Bat Bus Station, located 7 km southwest of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
They park at Ninh Binh Bus Station, located 7 km northeast of all the natural gems of Tam Coc.
Hanoi to Ninh Binh by Day Trip
If you want to visit Ninh Binh in only one day, you can also join a 10-hour day trip from Hanoi.
Klook offers day trips from Hanoi to Ninh Binh starting from 727,000 VND ($29.50). This already includes roundtrip transfers, admission to sights, a visit to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, a rowboat tour along Tam Coc River, and lunch.
It’s worth noting that Tam Coc is a great place to spend slow days with nature, and is definitely worth 2 or 3 days of your itinerary when visiting Ninh Binh province.
Do you still want to go on a day trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh? Just click the link below to book a day trip via Klook.
Hanoi to Ninh Binh by Taxi
Are you travelling in a group? You can also consider taking a taxi from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Rates start from 974,000 VND ($40.00) for a 3-seater sedan.
The advantage of taking a taxi is that you can be flexible with your schedule. You’ll also get a door-to-door pick-up, so no need to worry about finding your way to and from bus stations.
We recommend booking your ride via BookAway, which offers comfortable cars with professional drivers.
Our favourite places to stay in Ninh Binh
Tam Coc Family Hotel - Budget Friendly
Want to know what it feels like to stay with a Vietnamese family? Tam Coc Family Hotel really does make you feel at home with the family.
The friendly owners will tell you all of the best spots to visit in Ninh Binh, and start your day right with a delicious home-cooked breakfast. It’s a great example of why you don’t have to spend a lot for a great guesthouse.
Another plus: It’s a 1-minute walk from the Tam Coc river and drop-off point of the bus.
Tam Coc Bungalow - Mid Range
Do you prefer to stay at the riverside of Tam Coc? Tam Coc Bungalow has spacious bamboo bungalows right next to the Tam Coc river. Bungalows start from $32 and dorm rooms from $6.
What we really liked about this place is their open-air restuarant. 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 restaurant area.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
How long does it take to travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
Should I stay in Ninh Binh or Tam Coc?
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Routes from Ninh Binh
Most popular routes in Vietnam
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Hey Mart,
Can we just rent a bike from Hanoi and visit Tam Coc and all the surrounding areas, in a day; Come back in the eveninig and plan to fetch a train to SAPA, the same night ?
Hi Kunwarmeet! What a great plan you have there! Yes, you can definitely rent a motorbike from Hanoi to Tam Coc. You can join a group motorbike tour, but you can also do it on your own. The only thing about doing it on your own is that motorbikes are not allowed on some major roads, so you might have a bit of a hard time navigating on your own. I’ve read some really good comments on group tours though, so I suggest you consider joining one.
Be sure to be back in Hanoi before 20:00 so you can rest a bit and maybe have dinner before boarding the night train to Sapa. These depart at 21:35 and 22:00.
Another option is to book a day tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. They will drop you off at your hotel again at 6:30pm and organize everything for you so you don’t have to worry about where to go and which places to visit.
Enjoy your trip!
Very helpful! I used your website to plan many routes in VIetnam, it makes it very easy to find all options!
Thanks Sarah! Hope you will have a wonderful trip!
Great article, just what I needed!
Thanks Chris! Hope you’ll have an amazing trip!
Maarten, Just wanted to say thanks for your website. It has helped me as I navigate Vietnam in many ways especially with the routes. Keep it going!
Thanks for your comment Joe! Awesome to hear the content was so valuable to you!