Ninh Binh Province welcomes 5.4 million visitors in the first two months of the year: the "Ha Long Bay on land" becomes a new staple for Japanese travelers
Ninh Binh Province in northern Vietnam, over the two months of January and February 2026,welcomed 5.4 million tourists, up 9.9% year on year,を記録した。観光収入は5.84兆VND（約343.5億円）で前年比15.9％増。世界遺産「チャンアン景観群」を中心に、タムコック・ムア洞・ホアルー古都という3大スポットが軸となり、2026年5月にはアコー系の高級ホテル「プルマン・ニンビン」が開業。同省は2026年通年で2,000万人来訪を目標に掲げ、ハノイから日帰り圏の最大目的地として地位を固めつつある。
The origin news that drew 5.4 million people
According to the official announcement of the Ninh Binh Province Tourism Department, over the 2026 Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday alone, visitors reached 2.38 million, up 81.4% year on year. This is the second-highest figure nationwide, a pace surpassing Hue and Da Nang. The Trang An eco-tourism area drew 108,500 people, Tam Coc-Bich Dong 42,347, and the Thung Nham eco-tourism area 49,954.The word of mouth that "Ha Long Bay gets crowded, but Ninh Binh is still quiet"has spread among Japanese travelers too, and the number of social media posts has swelled to four times the previous year.
Background: three reasons the "Ha Long Bay on land" is winning support
Ninh Binh Province is about a two-hour drive from Hanoi, the World Heritage area closest to the capital region. Its scenery of towering limestone karst rivals Ha Long Bay, and it is winning support among Japanese tourists on three points: "no seasickness," "fewer crowds," and "low prices." Tam Coc's rowboats seat four, and the distinctive scene of the rower paddling with their feet is called "the world's most photogenic river ride."
The Mua Cave viewpoint is a scenic spot that caught fire on social media; climb the 486 steps and the full panorama of Tam Coc spreads out below. The Trang An Landscape Complex is registered as a mixed World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, with three routes laid out that spend 2 to 3 hours by boat touring caves and temples.
Comparison table of the three major spots
| Spot name | Time required | Price (VND / yen conversion) | Experience | Crowd level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trang An Landscape Complex | 2 to 3 hours | 250,000VND（約1,500円）／ボート1人 | Three cave-and-temple boat cruise routes | ★★★ (moderate) |
| Tam Coc-Bich Dong | 1.5-2 hours | 200,000VND（約1,200円）＋ボート150,000VND | Rural scenery by foot-rowed boat | ★★ (somewhat uncrowded) |
| Mua Cave, Lion Viewpoint | 1.5 hours | 100,000VND（約600円） | A scenic panorama up 486 steps | ★★★★ (concentrated at morning and evening) |
| Hoa Lu ancient capital | 1 hour | 20,000VND（約120円） | Site of Vietnam's 10th-to-11th-century capital | ★★ (calm atmosphere) |
| Thung Nham bird garden | 2 hours | 200,000VND（約1,200円） | Evening flocks of herons, and a boat tour | ★★ (hidden gem) |
| Bai Dinh Pagoda | 2 to 3 hours | Free (electric cart 60,000 VND) | One of Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist temples | ★★★ (crowded around Tet) |
Voices from locals and the industry
- Nguyen Cao Tan, Deputy Director of the Ninh Binh Province Tourism Department: "For 2026 we've set a target of 20 million. Reaching 5.4 million over the two months of Tet is a pace 15% ahead of plan. With the Pullman Ninh Binh opening, we expect an increase in stay-type tourists."
- General Manager of Pullman Ninh Binh (Accor): "With 283 rooms and views of the limestone mountains, plus Mad Cow Wine & Grill and Food Connection using local ingredients, we'll offer Vietnam's first international hotel experience."
- Pham Thi Lan, a woman who rows a boat in Tam Coc: "Japanese guests love photos, and many ask us to go slowly. During the two weeks of Tet, I did 10 round trips a day."
- A representative of the Hanoi travel agency "Vietnam Ryodo": "The mainstream has shifted from day trips to one-night, two-day trips. With the Pullman opening, inquiries for overnight stays in Trang An have tripled since April 2026."
A Japanese perspective: why "one night in Ninh Binh" beats "one night in Ha Long"
The standard route in northern Vietnam was long "Hanoi plus one night in Ha Long Bay, two days," but in 2026"Hanoi plus one night in Ninh Binh, two days" is becoming the new standard.There are three reasons. (1) Crowds: Ha Long Bay's main piers are packed at the daytime peak with Chinese tour groups, while Ninh Binh is relatively empty on weekdays. (2) Photogenic scenery: the sight of a woman rowing a boat and the limestone countryside make for a one-of-a-kind picture described on social media as "the world of Ghibli." (3) Value: a Ha Long Bay cruise runs 250 to 500 dollars per person, whereas a one-night, two-day Ninh Binh trip fits within 120 to 200 dollars per person.
A day trip from Hanoi is possible, but to enjoy the Mua Cave viewpoint in the evening and Tam Coc early in the morning, one night is essential.Da Nang's summer resortsCombine it with these and you complete a golden route of northern World Heritage plus a central-region beach.
Ripple effects on the industry: the Pullman opening and a shift to multi-night tourism
The opening of Pullman Ninh Binh in May 2026 will have a major impact on the province's hotel industry.For the first time, an international-chain five-star property appears in a lodging market that had centered on homestays and mid-class hotels.The tourism department estimates that as Hanoi-Ninh Binh day-trippers convert to multi-night guests staying at the Pullman, their spending during the stay will swell two- to threefold.
At the same time, the local homestay industry is rushing to differentiate. Around Thung Nham, offerings combined with farm-stay lodging, such as "buffalo and rice-planting experiences" and "nighttime heron-flock observation tours," newly debuted in 2026, drawing long-stay Western travelers.The Michelin Guide's expansion into VietnamRestaurant ratings have also become a tailwind, and reservations at local restaurants serving Ninh Binh's specialty goat dish "com chay" have doubled year on year.
A model plan from Hanoi (one night, two days)
| Time | Itinerary | Travel and cost guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1, 8:00 | Depart Hanoi's Old Quarter by limousine van | 1人400,000VND（約2,400円） |
| Day 1, 10:30 | Tour the Hoa Lu ancient capital | Admission 20,000 VND |
| Day 1, 12:00 | Goat cuisine lunch at a local restaurant | 1人250,000VND（約1,500円） |
| Day 1, 14:00 | Trang An World Heritage boat cruise | 250,000 VND (boat fare included) |
| Day 1, 17:30 | Sunset at the Mua Cave viewpoint | 100,000VND |
| Day 1, 19:00 | Check in at Pullman Ninh Binh | 1泊朝食付350万VND（約20,600円）〜 |
| Day 2, 7:00 | Early-morning Tam Coc boat (before the crowds) | 200,000VND＋150,000VND |
| Day 2, 11:00 | Bai Dinh Pagoda, travel by electric cart | 60,000VND |
| Day 2, 14:00 | Return to Hanoi, arriving in the evening | 400,000VND |
Summary: the new staple of northern Vietnam to visit in 2026
In 2026, Ninh Binh Province,with its "verified repeat rate from 5.4 million visitors," "shift to stay-type tourism thanks to the Pullman opening," and "half the cost of Ha Long Bay,"becomes the new staple for northern Vietnam travel. Its flexibility in accommodating both day-trippers and overnight visitors is another draw.
As a next step, before comparing local tours from Hanoi, first check the availability calendar for Pullman Ninh Binh. During Tet and Golden Week, booking up half a year ahead is the norm.A tour of Hanoi's heritage cafesCombine it with this and you complete the 2026 version of the northern golden route, savoring the capital's culture and a rural World Heritage site in a single trip.
