Ninh Binh very much holds a special place in our hearts. It may even take the cake as our favourite location in Southeast Asia so far. So, what makes it so special?
Ninh Binh is the Vietnam you picture when you close your eyes — endless rice paddies, towering limestone cliffs, and lush greenery as far as the eye can see 🍚. It’s peaceful, slow, and untouched in the best way. Far from the buzz of the cities, this is off-grid Vietnam at its most raw and real.
It’s difficult to put Ninh Binh into words — it captures the essence of rural Vietnam in a way that must be felt, not just seen.
Ninh Binh isn’t exactly off the radar anymore, but it’s one of the few places that actually lives up to the hype. As always, we’re sharing what’s truly worth your time.
Why Trang An should be your go-to
We believe that the best place to stay in Ninh Binh is dependant on your length of stay. If you are only able to stay for 1-2 nights, we suggest staying in Tam Coc. Although we highly recommend dedicating at least 4 days to Ninh Binh – you won’t regret it. You simply can’t explore it for all it’s beauty in only a day.
Tam Coc is known as the backpacker’s haven – it’s home to a multitude of hostels, bars, and tourist western restaurants. We know Tam Coc gets a lot of love — but to us, it just didn’t feel that special.
If you want to feel the true tranquillity of rural North Vietnam, staying in Trang An is the better option. Trang An is approximately a 20-minute drive away from Tam Coc, it’s nestled in the middle of nature and the limestone pinnacles. It’s a little out of the way of the hustle and bustle, but we believe that’s the only way to ground yourself into its rich culture. You’ll need some form of transportation to get around and visit all the sites if you choose to stay in Trang An.
A large part of why our stay in Ninh Binh was so magical, was staying at Trang An Mountain House. The owner lived there with his family, and to say he was the most hospitable host ever, is an understatement. If you do anything on your trip to Vietnam, it’s staying here. He took care of everything, and even went to the ends degree to guarantee us a space on a 16-hour VIP sleeper bus to Hoi An.
TIP💡We found securing a spot on a VIP sleeper bus via 12Go was not reliable at all. It’s sort of a ‘get what you’re given’ basis. To guarantee, the VIP sleeper bus, we would recommend booking through your accommodation as they almost always have local contacts.
Top must-see sights
Trang An Boat Tour
This is around a 5-minute drive from Trang An Mountain House. It’s a spectacular boat tour that takes you through caves and temples and takes around 3 hours to complete. There are different routes to choose from, however note Route 1 does not take you through the world-renowned King Kong location. It’s the heart of the UNESCO protected Trang An Landscape Complex. No need to book in advance!
Múa Cave Viewpoint
The Múa Cave is made up of the cave itself and the main viewpoint. We can’t lie; it’s definitely a mission getting to the top – especially in 30-degree heat. However, you won’t regret the breath-taking views you’ll find there. There’s multiple viewpoint opportunities on your way up, and at the top you’ll find a dragon sculpture that you can climb on.
Thung Nham Bird Garden
Although not sure what to expect, it’s located in the National Park and is located next to the Vai Gioi Cave. It’s a glorious drive. There’s lots of things to see inside the park – including boat rides, bamboo bridges, and caves. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Dine at Chef Dung
Located a few minutes’ walk from Trang An Mountain House, this little restaurant is family run and uses it’s own home grown fresh ingredients. With a limited set menu, you get a variety of dishes including meat, fish and vegetarian, as well as bananas for dessert on the house. The chef also offers you their own homemade banana wine – fyi it’s not for the weak!
Overhyped activities
Bái Đính Pagoda
I know, rogue, as this is considered Vietnams Largest Pagoda. However, we weren’t that impressed. The views from the top are spectacular, however everything else that comes with it is slightly odd. It’s very much creepy Duloc theme park vibes (if you know you know). If you have spare time, go for it, however it’s a newly built attraction, and so there is very little historical significance there. We personally wouldn’t make it a priority.
Hoa Lư Ancient Capital
Again, a little rogue. We rented bicycles and drove around the town as it’s quite a distance on foot. However, we don’t believe there’s too much to see, despite it being the ancient capital of Ninh Binh. There are some lovely pagodas to visit, but other than that you could spend a few hours here at best. It’s located a few minutes’ drive from Trang An Mountain House.
TIP💡 If you feel hungry on the way, there’s an AMAZING roadside spot that serves fresh Bánh Mì called Hải Đăng Fastfood. Check out our Ultimate Bánh Mì Tour of Vietnam post to find out more!
Tam Coc Boat Ride
Well known as a tourist trap, the Tam Coc Boat Tours are a little underwhelming. Not only does it take around an hour to complete, the boat drivers pressure you to pay extra at the end and will scam you in to buying products either on the boats or from nearby sellers. We were subject to this first hand! Avoid at all costs.
Leave a Reply