Ninh Binh, south of Hanoi, is the "Ha Long Bay on land," where strange limestone peaks rise from rice paddies and rivers. The stars are the river cruises of Tam Coc and Trang An, ducking through caves in hand-rowed boats, and it can be visited even as a day trip from Hanoi. The ancient capital Hoa Lu and the giant Bai Dinh Temple are also nearby. This page pulls together everything from the area's overall picture, how to get around, standard spots, model courses, food, souvenirs, and the latest topics, and guides you to individual articles on cafés, news, and souvenirs.
Location
North, 100 km south of Hanoi
World Heritage
Trang An Landscape Complex
Best season
March–May, September–November
Suggested days
1–2 days
Language
Vietnamese (English also understood in tourist areas)
Currency
Vietnamese dong (VND)
Time difference from Japan
-2 hours
TOC
What kind of place is Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh province, in northern Vietnam, about 100 km from Hanoi, is a treasure trove of nature and history. It's home to Hoa Lu, capital of the Dai Co Viet kingdom (the first independent dynasty) founded in the 10th century, and the center of the World Mixed Heritage "Trang An Landscape Complex." The scenery of limestone karst spreading across farmland is called the "Ha Long Bay on land," and it also drew attention as a filming location for the movie "Kong: Skull Island." Ninh Binh province is close enough to Hanoi at two hours by car, and since day-trip sightseeing is possible, English-language tours departing Hanoi are plentiful. Trang An is an area certified as a World Mixed Heritage (natural and cultural) site, and a 3-hour boat tour tours strange limestone rocks, caves, and old temples. Tam Coc means "three caves," and the contrast of farmland and limestone is a superb view. It gained attention as a filming location for "Kong: Skull Island," and Kong Village, where the dedicated film set remains, is also a tourist attraction. Bai Dinh Temple is one of Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist temples, and the approach lined with 500 arhat statues is overwhelming.
We've summed up the representative spots in a quick-reference table. Use it as a guide when planning your route.
Spot
Notes
Trang An
Boats of the World Mixed Heritage
Tam Coc
Three caves and a farmland cruise
Hoa Lu ancient capital
Site of Vietnam's first 10th-century capital
Bai Dinh Temple
One of Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist temples
Mua Cave and viewpoint
A full view of Tam Coc after about 500 steps
Trang An
A World Mixed Heritage site registered in 2014 under both cultural and natural criteria, its specialty is hand-rowed small boats ducking through numerous water caves weaving between limestone crags. Each boat's rower handles the oars, and the composition where you emerge from a dim cave to find a quiet water surface and a temple is a highlight. It's also known as a filming location for the movie "Kong: Skull Island," and depending on the course, it takes from around two hours to nearly half a day. About an hour and a half by car from Hanoi, the earlier morning hours have emptier boats and calmer water. Confirming the route number you'll tour before departure keeps you from misjudging the time required.
Tam Coc
Meaning "three caves," the core is a cruise ducking through three natural caves while going down the Ngo Dong River in a hand-rowed boat. The contrast of the rice paddies spreading on both banks and the sheer limestone is beautiful, and the early-summer harvest season, when the rice is dyed golden, is especially worth seeing. The distinctive rowing method, where rowers handle the oars with their feet, is one of the highlights too. The round-trip cruise is about an hour and a half to two hours as a guide, and if you want to avoid the strong sunlight, the later afternoon hours are calm.
Hoa Lu ancient capital
The birthplace of Vietnam's unifying dynasties, where the 10th-century Dinh and Early Le dynasties placed their capital. The palaces of the time don't remain, but two shrine halls enshrining Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang and Emperor Le Dai Hanh survive, and stone carvings and old gates convey traces of the past. Near Trang An and Tam Coc, its location allowing a short drop-in combined with boat sightseeing is convenient. Visiting after grasping the historical background lets you feel the meaning of the simple shrine halls more deeply.
Bai Dinh Temple
A giant Buddhist temple complex boasting one of Southeast Asia's largest scales, with new and old halls lined up on vast grounds. The approach where hundreds of arhat statues continue in a row along a long corridor is the symbolic highlight. Since the grounds are extremely large, moving from the entrance to the main halls by electric cart is common, and on foot alone it takes considerable time and stamina. Early morning and evening have relatively few worshippers, letting you walk the corridors slowly.
Mua Cave and viewpoint
Climbing to the top of the stone steps continuing to the summit of Ngoa Long Mountain, a grand panorama looking down on Tam Coc's rice paddies and limestone peaks spreads out. The stone steps to the top are said to number about 500, and allowing roughly 30 minutes at an unstrained pace from the climb-start to the viewpoint is reassuring. On the ridge are a dragon carving and a pagoda, and the composition commanding a view of the meandering river and farmland below is a popular photo spot. Since there's little shade and it's muggy during the day, prepare non-slip shoes and water and climb in the cool morning or evening hours as recommended.
We've put the local flavors you'll want to savor in Ninh Binh into a table.
Dish
Characteristics
Com chay (palm rice / fried rice crust)
A local dish made by frying rice crust, its charm is a toasty, crisp texture. Eating it with a thickened meat-and-vegetable sauce poured over is the standard, and it's an item often served together with goat-meat dishes.
Goat-meat dishes (thit de)
Ninh Binh's signature dish using goats raised in the limestone mountains, characterized by little gaminess and firm meat quality. The cooking methods are wide-ranging — steam-grilled, seared, or made into an herb-tossed salad — and the style of wrapping it in rice paper to eat is also often seen.
Thit chung
A homey stewed dish of slowly simmered pork and the like, characterized by a rich seasoning that goes well with rice. Rustic yet a taste beloved locally, it can be enjoyed alongside com chay and goat-meat dishes.
Ngo Dong River fish dishes
Dishes using river fish caught in the Ngo Dong River flowing around Tam Coc, served fried or simmered. The plain flesh is finished with herbs and local seasonings, letting you savor a table befitting the inland water country.
Paddy eel dishes
A local dish using paddy eels that live in the rice fields, served deep-fried, in glass-noodle soup, or combined with rice crust. You can enjoy a firm texture and toasty flavor, a dish unique to a rice-growing region.
How many days do I need for Ninh Binh sightseeing?
If you're touring the main sights, plan on at least 1–2 days. If you also want to combine food and day trips to nearby cities, a slightly more relaxed itinerary is recommended.
Does English work in Ninh Binh?
English gets through at major tourist spots, hotels, and the airport. At local stalls and individual taxis it may not, so downloading the offline Japanese pack of the Google Translate app gives peace of mind.
What's the convenient way to get around in Ninh Binh?
The ride-hailing app Grab (the Southeast Asian Uber) is most recommended for safety and clear pricing. For street taxis, using only reliable brand cars like "Mai Linh" and "Vinasun" is the safe bet. For short distances, motorbike taxis (Grab bike) are also useful.
Can I use credit cards in Ninh Binh?
Mid-range and higher hotels, tourist-oriented restaurants, and large supermarkets accept Visa/Master. However, stalls, local eateries, and markets are basically cash. Carrying around about 500,000–2,000,000 dong (about 3,000–13,000 yen) in cash a day gives peace of mind.
Popular hotels in Da Nang, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City are bookable at discounted prices. Many properties offer same-day booking and free cancellation, so you can adapt flexibly to last-minute changes of plan on the ground.
#Check the lowest price →
Advertisement (A8.net)
Overseas travel booking “NEWT”
Arrange flights and hotels together
Book your Vietnam-bound flights and accommodation all at once in the app. Earn up to 5% in points, with 24-hour Japanese-language support, so even first-time overseas travelers can prepare with peace of mind.
In my third year living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I launched this specialist Vietnam travel information site hoping to share local knowledge you simply can’t get by visiting as a tourist — the kind of thing you only understand by being here.