Ninh Binh holds a special place in our hearts as one of our favorite destinations in Vietnam, together with the enchanting town of Hoi An. With its lush green rice fields, tranquil rivers, serene lakes, majestic limestone formations, and mysterious caves, this province is a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Life here is refreshingly uncomplicated, exactly what you’d expect from a beautiful place like Vietnam. Check out this one-day Ninh Binh itinerary, designed to lead you through all our favorite spots. We’re sure you’ll fall in love with Ninh Binh just as hard as we did!
Good to know
Taxis are rare in Ninh Binh, so make sure to rent a bicycle or scooter for exploring!
Start your day with the best egg coffee in Vietnam
In our Hanoi guide, we already admitted to not being coffee drinkers, but our time in Vietnam changed that completely! From delightful coconut coffee to unique egg coffee, Vietnamese coffee is something special. We sampled egg coffee at various spots, but the one at Cafe The Began in Ninh Binh stood out as the best in Vietnam! It’s a tad less sweet than the usual egg coffee, but the secret touch of whiskey and rum gives it an irresistible flavor. Trust us, you’ll crave more! We quickly finished our first egg coffee and wasted no time in ordering another. 😉 It is that good!
Take an Trang An boat tour
Just a 5-minute drive from Cafe The Began lies the Trang An Landscape Complex, a stunning area filled with limestone karsts and caves, making it one of Vietnam’s most beautiful places.
There are three different routes to choose from. Our hotel owner recommended route 3, known for its beauty and for passing the longest and most impressive cave in Trang An. We followed his advice, because who are we to doubt him? Along the way of route 3, you’ll also visit two other caves and three temples. As a bonus, the tour ends with passing by the movie set of “Kong: Skull Island”. This was such a nice surprise since we’re both big movie lovers! It was also a great excuse to watch this movie again.
Route 3 is the most popular, but don’t worry about crowds. It can get crowded at the start, but all boats split up after a few minutes so after this, you’re on your own. The boat tour lasts about 3 hours, and there are numerous times when you’ll have the place all to yourself!
Tickets cost 250,000 VND per person (just over € 9). If you arrive with a scooter, there’s an additional parking fee of 15,000 VND (around € 0,50). We found this so worth it!
Good to know
Each boat can take 4 people. If you’re a duo (like us), you have 2 choices. The first is to purchase 2 extra tickets for a private boat, which is the more expensive option but ensures you get the boat all to yourselves. Alternatively, you can wait until another pair also opts for the same route, and then share a boat. We waited around 10 minutes until another duo joined us for route 3. One final tip: try to sit at the front of the boat! This way you have a great view of the surroundings which makes it much easier to take photos. 😉
Lunch time at Tom Bop Bar
The boat tour lasts about 3 hours, so it’ll be around noon when it ends. For lunch, we suggest heading to Tom Bop Bar, just a 10-minute drive from Trang An Landscape Complex. The food at this place is tasty yet straightforward, and the staff are incredibly friendly! They’ll do anything to make you feel at home and to accommodate all your needs. Whether you opt for a simple fried rice dish or one of their mouthwatering burgers, you’ll definitely enjoy your meal. We absolutely loved their homemade fries, something us Belgians definitely have a taste for. 😉 Plus, the prices are very reasonable. And if you’re in for something sweet, then definitely order the homemade apple crumble. Yum!
Enjoy the views at Mua Cave
After lunch, take a quick 5-minute drive to Mua Cave. This viewpoint offers incredible scenery, one of the craziest views we’ve seen so far during our world trip. But… be prepared for a long climb up lots of stairs. Trust us, you’ll be pretty tired and sweaty when you reach the top. 😳 That being said, the views make it all worthwhile! Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains, rice fields, and the lovely river flowing through Ninh Binh.
Do know that it can get quite crowded at Mua Cave, especially around sunset. But, as die-hard “crowd-haters”, we must admit that it actually didn’t take anything away from the whole experience. You can do the hike at your own pace, rest as often as needed, and just enjoy the views at the top! The crowds didn’t bother us at all, which is nice for a change.
The entrance fee is 100,000 VND (around € 3,70), and there’s an extra parking fee of 10,000 VND to park your scooter.
Good to know
There are two viewpoints. The one on the right leads to a pagoda, and the one on the left leads to a huge dragon sculpture over the rocks. We liked the left viewpoint better than the right one because the views are more beautiful, and since you’re higher up, you get a better panoramic view! If you only want to do 1 hike, make sure you’re heading left. Thank us later. 😉
Stroll through Hoa Lu Ancient Capital at night
Your final stop of the day is just a 15-minute drive from Mua Cave. This stop was our absolute favorite in the whole area, so be sure not to miss it! Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, also known as Pho Co Hoa Lu, was Vietnam’s first capital. The best way to experience Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is by taking a leisurely stroll at night. The temples are beautifully illuminated, and the bridges and streets are adorned with lanterns. It has a similar ambiance to Hoi An, but with fewer crowds! We found our evening stroll here to be truly magical. It was undoubtedly the most romantic night of our trip in Vietnam! 🥹 And If you’re hungry, you’ll find yourself truly spoiled for choice with all the food stalls in the area.Such a cozy and romantic vibe, we love it!
Where to stay in Ninh Binh
We spent one night at Ninh Binh The View Point Home & Spa, which is less than a 10-minute drive from Mua Cave. It cost us €16 for the night, including breakfast! Our room was spacious and had everything we needed, including air conditioning and a (non-complementary) minibar. The hotel also provided free bikes for us to use, a really nice touch. Additionally, there was a pool and a coffee bar on-site, which is actually Cafe The Began that we mentioned earlier! Just a heads up: if you rent a scooter, you’ll be charged for each day you have it, not by the hour. So for example, if you rent a scooter at 5 PM and return it the next day at 10 AM, you will pay for 2 days (we learned this the hard way).
Looking for more Vietnam inspiration?
12 unique things to do in Hanoi
One day in Ho Chi Minh City itinerary
9 great things to do in Hoi An
The best banh mi spots in Vietnam
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