Ninh Binh Trip: Exploring Scenic Spots in Vietnam’s Hidden Gem
Ninh Binh is the place to come if you want to travel off the beaten track and search for something laid-back. Amazing scenic spots in your Ninh Binh trip ensure truly authentic Vietnam experiences that you may struggle to find.
The grandeur of Ninh Binh has been greatly expressed in Hollywood movies including the Kong: Skull Island. Ninh Binh has flashed on a tourist map, but the quaint city still remains less touristy and untouched as one of the hidden gems in Vietnam. Whether you are into the splendid beauty of limestone stalactites, you want to get closer to wildlife or you are in search of tranquility, Ninh Binh has everything for your needs.
Best time to visit Ninh Binh
You can travel to Ninh Binh all year round. Ninh Binh offers no shortage of breathtaking landscapes, unique historical spots and pleasant weather. Each season paints Ninh Binh different colors of natural scenery and festivities. Here are some highlights of the best time to visit Ninh Binh and its scenic spots.
Visit Ninh Binh in spring
Spring in Ninh Binh coincides with the period between the first and the third lunar month. The nice weather features cool breezes. This is the best time for bustling festivals to take place across Ninh Binh and northern Vietnam provinces.
If your trip is near the lunar New Year (usually starting from the end of January), you can take part in many spring festivals such as Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival or Thai Vi Temple Festival.
Visit Ninh Binh in summer
The period from April to June is ideal for a summer escape in Ninh Binh. In April, the weather is not too hot, and you can even feel a little cold in the early morning. Plus, Ninh Binh is not so crowded at this time, so there is no long queue in popular tourist spots.
At the end of May and the beginning of June comes the harvest season in Tam Coc. You can enjoy the vast area covered in yellow tone and the aroma of ripening paddy fields. This is an iconic image of the countryside in Ninh Binh and in Northern Vietnam.
Visit Ninh Binh in fall
Without extreme heat or pouring rain, fall in Ninh Binh lures travelers into the world of golden rays and clear blue sky. This is the best time to view the water lilies in bloom. Cruising on the river, you can’t help but be enthralled by the picturesque scenery dotted with beautiful pink water lilies.
If you have a plan to visit Ninh Binh in July, bring along an umbrella just in case of unexpected rain. August in Ninh Binh is not packed with many tourists, and the weather will perfectly pamper your vacation.
Visit Ninh Binh in winter
You can start a winter trip in Ninh Binh in style at any time. Ninh Binh is decorated with not only water lilies and lotuses but also elephant grass. The white fields will bring you a stunning backdrop for the best Instagram pictures.
For those who wish to experience the cold winter in the North of Vietnam, a trip in December will be a good bet. The winter in Ninh Binh is not extremely cold but due to the impact of mountainous terrain, the temperature is lower than in cities.
How to get to Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is just 100km south of the capital city of Hanoi. You can take a train, a bus or hire a private driver. If you are more into adventurous experiences, you can always rent a motorbike and discover the city at your own pace.
♣ Bus option: You can depart from Hanoi’s bus terminals such as Giap Bat, Nuoc Ngam or Yen Nghia. Buses to Ninh Binh usually depart every 15 minutes. The traveling time is about two hours. There will be a stop for you to grab a snack and use the toilet.
♣ Train option: Trains to Ninh Binh depart from 6.00 AM to 8.00 PM. It takes about two and a half hours to travel by train. There are five trains including SE3, SE5, SE7, SE9 and SE19 on this route. You can choose from the hard seat, the soft seat, hard bed and soft bed. See more information here.
♣ Motorbike/Car option: Driving by yourself is not a bad idea. However, make sure that you comply with the traffic laws and you are not afraid of ‘weird’ traffic in Vietnam. It takes about two hours from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by motorbike and only one hour by car. Visit this site for renting self-drive vehicles in Vietnam.
♣ Easy option: Book a private tour from Hanoi City Center. See Full Day Ninh Binh Experience Tour if you want to be collected at any hotel in Hanoi City Center. Customize your pick-up and drop-off points with us here.
Top attractions in Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh manifests its charm through natural wonders, historical sites and religious buildings. Here is a list of must-see attractions in Ninh Binh on your visit.
Trang An Grottoes
As one of the most popular destinations in Ninh Binh, the Trang An Grottoes is considered as an ‘outdoor geological museum’. The magnificent landscape is created by winding rivers, mysterious caves, mighty mountains and historic relics. Trang An – Tam Coc – Bich Dong Scenic Landscape, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and Hoa Lu Special – Use Forest together make up one of the best UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
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A short stop at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital will take you back to the 10th century with timeless stories about the kings and feudalism in Vietnam. Ranked as a cultural and historic relic at a national level, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital will offer you a rare chance to view majestic palaces, tombs and pavilions that went through many centuries. In addition to the ancient atmosphere, the spectacular natural scenery makes Hoa Lu Ancient Capital a must-see spot in Ninh Binh.
Tam Coc
Looking for an off the beaten track destination in Northern Vietnam? The tranquil atmosphere resonating with picturesque paddy fields will leave you unforgettable moments here in Ninh Binh. Tam Coc (translated as ‘Three Caves’) includes three caves created by the flow of Ngo Dong River through limestone mountains. To soak up the landscape, tourists will sit on a sampan rowed by locals with their feet rather than their hands. Quite an example of amazing skill to know! If you come right to the harvest season (between May and June), you can take the best photos of the golden rice fields on both sides of the river.
Bich Dong Pagoda
Bich Dong Pagoda is nestled into a mountainside in Tam Coc. The pagoda is just 3km from Tam Coc boat pier, thus, you can rent a bike to get there. The entrance of Bich Dong Pagoda is already a photogenic spot with an arched concrete walkway stretching over the water lilies. After passing through the gate of Bich Dong Pagoda, you will find yourself surrounded by peace and tranquility. It is worth your effort to take 100 steps from the foot of Bich Dong Pagoda to reach its top as the top view offers nothing short of breathtaking rice fields and mountains.
Mua Cave
At the foot of Mua Mount lies Mua Cave with a shape of a bell created by Mother Nature. Mua in Vietnamese means ‘dancing’ because it was said that Tran Kings used to visit this site to enjoy dancing performances. Mua Cave is exactly a place to get the most stunning view of Tam Coc. On the way to its top, there are staircases zigzagging through the karst. With approximately 500 steps, this structure is akin to a mini version of the Great Wall of China.
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Bai Dinh Pagoda
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Visiting Ninh Binh and visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda have become synonymous for many travelers. Not only is Bai Dinh Pagoda Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist complex, but it also holds many remarkable records such as the biggest gold-plated copper statue of Gautama Buddha in Asia and the longest lobby in Asia. During springtime, there are blessing ceremonies, ritual processions and traditional dance performances to enjoy. From Bai Dinh Pagoda, you can easily take a boat to the nearby Trang An Landscape.
Cuc Phuong National Park
As Vietnam’s first and largest national park, Cuc Phuong boasts a respectable diversity of flora and fauna. The best time to visit Cuc Phuong National Park is from late autumn to early winter, between September and April. But it does not matter if you come to this site at a different time because the forest always changes its beauty in every season. There are many activities to find fun including camping in the forest, hiking, exploring caves, boating, or kayaking. This is the best opportunity to observe plants and animals that appear frequently in documentaries or magazines.
Phat Diem Cathedral
An elaborate mix of Vietnamese religious architecture and European Gothic hints makes up one of the most beautiful churches in Vietnam. Phat Diem Stone Cathedral is an important building that took up to 24 years of construction, let alone the fact that the preparation phase took about 10 years to finish. The name Phat Diem literally translates to ‘manifesting beauty’, and the beauty comes from the materials and architectural style. Within this over-100-year-old cathedral are four smaller churches. There are some stone caves and artificial mountains around the cathedral.
Am Tien Cave
Nestled in Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Relic, Am Tien Cave used to be a place where King Dinh Tien Hoang raised tigers and panthers to torture those who committed crimes. Am Tien Cave now is a popular tourist attraction thanks to its poetic scenery straight out of historical movies. You have to conquer 205 stone shaded steps through the cliff to reach the cave. There also lies Am Tien Pagoda where you can drink in the fabulous view of an emerald lake and high mountains.
Thung Nham Bird Park
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There are a lot bigger name spots in Tam Coc, but Thung Nham Bird Park is definitely worth on your list. It is possible to bike there, but tourists often opt for a taxi or a scooter. Thung Nham is home to more than 40 species of birds with about 50,000 birds including rare flamingoes, and even phoenix. The ideal time to visit this park is around 4.00 PM when birds often travel back to their nests after searching for food. The scenery is nothing short of amazing and peaceful. You can also see numerous limestone mountains, valleys and caves here.
Non Nuoc Mountain
Non Nuoc Mountain is located on the confluence of Van River and Day River, between Non Nuoc Bridge and Ninh Binh Bridge. The poetic scenery inspired many poets to create a plethora of poems in different Vietnamese dynasties. There are more than 40 poems carved into cliffs that speak to the sense of a golden age of literature. The mountain is relatively flat, so you can reach its top without difficulty. At the foot of the mountain lies Non Nuoc Pagoda, a century-old pagoda where tourists visit and worship.
You can plan a day trip to Ninh Binh or stay here a few days to enjoy Ninh Binh must-see tourist attractions to the fullest. You can plan a trip independently, but it is way better to get a tour operator to organize everything for you. Contact us and get ready to embark into the tranquil wonderland of Ninh Binh.
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Trinh Tran written for Maika Tours
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