This Quiet Corner of Vietnam Is Home to Some of the Most Magical Landscapes in Southeast Asia
Tucked away in the countryside of northern Vietnam is this relaxed and peaceful village with beautiful landscapes…
If you’re heading to Vietnam, Ninh Binh is a gem that absolutely needs to be on your bucket list. This small town is surrounded by some of the most stunning natural scenery in the country — think dramatic limestone karsts, winding rivers, and peaceful rice paddies stretching out in every direction.
Ninh Binh ended up being one of our favorite places in all of Vietnam. It felt quieter and more laid back than some of the other popular spots, and we loved the chance to slow down a bit — biking through the countryside, drifting along the waterways, and taking in the views of the towering cliffs rising up from the landscape.
It’s often called “Halong Bay on land,” and once you see those limestone formations popping out between rivers and rice fields, it’s easy to see why. The scenery here is breathtaking, but it’s not just about the views — there are caves, pagodas, temples, and small villages to explore, too.
These are 5 of the spots you absolutely cannot miss in Ninh Binh.
5 of Ninh Binh’s Most Amazing Attractions
1. Trang An/Tam Coc Boat Tour
The boat tours in Ninh Binh are the #1 best thing to do in the region. If you do one thing here, let it be the boat tours!
On your boat tour from either Trang An or Tam Coc, you’ll board small, traditional boats that are paddled by locals wearing traditional cone leaf hats through waterways lined by tall, steep, sometimes almost vertical limestone mountains.
These boat tours take you through the vast network of waterways on the Ngo Dong River in Ninh Binh, where you’ll weave your way through the tall, sheer limestone karsts that dot the landscape. It really feels like something out of a fantasy novel!
During your tour, you’ll have the opportunity to briefly stop at several small islands to explore some temples. You’ll also paddle through several of the many caves in the region. At some points, the cave is so short that you’ll have to duck down in the boat.
There are two different locations where boat tours are offered: Tam Coc and Trang An. Rides from each place last about 2.5-3 hours. Here’s a brief breakdown of the differences between the two boat tours:
Trang An Boat Tour
Trang An is a very well-oiled machine, and they move people through the system very efficiently. You are required to wear a life jacket the entire time. There are 3 boat routes you can choose from in Trang An.
Each route will take you to amazing sights, but they vary by the number of caves and temples that they pass by. For example, only route three will take you through a 1 km long cave, the longest in the area.
- Cost: 250,000 dong (about $10)
- Hours: 7am-5pm
Tam Coc Boat Tour
In Tam Coc, your boat tour will take you through 3 caves. There will be salespeople not affiliated with the Tam Coc boat tour soliciting you to buy food/souvenirs at the end (you can just ignore them!)
At Tam Coc, instead of using their hands to row, the rowers actually use their feet to row! Life jackets are optional. Here you will wend through some agricultural areas, so you will get to see some rice fields, too.
- Cost: 195,000 dong ($8.30)
- Hours: 8am-6pm
Our recommendation is to do the Trang An tour. We absolutely loved the experience!
2. Hang Mua Caves
The Hang Mua Caves do indeed have some small caves you can step into, but the real draw here are the viewpoints from the tops of the mountains. After climbing almost 500 steps (don’t worry, it’s worth it), you’ll reach two different peaks with slightly different viewpoints.
Each peak has incredible overlooks of the tall limestone mountains and waterways of the Ngo Dong River. In the distance, you’ll see ridge after ridge after ridge of rocky limestone cliffs.
The views are absolutely stunning – and it makes for an excellent photo spot.
At the top of the staircase, where the stairs split, the right side will take you to an overlook with a pagoda. This side offers great views, but we felt like the staircase on the left definitely had a superior vantage point. The left side also has a dragon at the very top – you can climb up to the dragon, but the rocks are really pointy here, so be careful!
When you’re done on the mountain, don’t forget to walk the boardwalk through the lotus flower fields. These flowers are in bloom in June and absolutely breathtaking, but the fields still have a few flowers throughout the year and are pretty anytime.
- Hours: 6am-7pm
- Cost: 100,000 dong (approximately $4)
3. Hoa Lu Imperial Citadel
The Hoa Lu Imperial Citadel is a very important site in Ninh Binh, as it was actually the capital of Vietnam in the 11th and 12th centuries. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a major tourist attraction in Ninh Binh.
Although the citadel itself is gone, many landmarks, monuments, temples, pagodas, and gates remain and are definitely worth seeing.
The most important spots in Hoa Lu are the two temples paying homage to the emperors who ruled from Hoa Lu. The first and biggest temple is the King Dinh Temple. This temple is nestled over 200 steps up in the mountains behind the citadel complex and offers great views over the citadel and valley. There are also three rooms of shrines inside the temple.
Then, stop by the smaller but also beautiful King Le Temple complex near the King Ding temple in Hoa Lu. Like King Dinh, this temple is divided into 3 shrines, to show reverence for these ancient kings.
In addition, there are also several pagodas, such as the Nhat Tru pagoda, and beautiful scenery, lakes, and mountains in the complex. It’s a significant and beautiful historical site in Ninh Binh.
- Hours: 7am-5pm
- Entrance Fees: 20,000 dong (about $1)
4. Bich Dong Pagoda
This gorgeous site, whose name translates to Emerald Green Grotto, is actually a complex with a set of three pagodas, built right into the side of the cliff wall. It is surrounded by mountains and a little lake, making it incredibly picturesque.
You’ll begin your journey by walking across this peaceful path through the gate to the temple courtyard. This lagoon is especially beautiful in June when it is packed with lotus flowers.
Once you’re looking at the temple inside the courtyard, there are two paths to follow. The right one goes up, through a gap in the mountains, and over to the valley behind.
To the left, you will find the pagodas. The first is near the courtyard, at the base of the mountain. This is also the largest. From there, a staircase takes you to the second pagoda, which is built into the mountain itself. It offers a nice view back over the lake.
At this viewpoint, turn around and face the mountain. There’s a very small little space on the left side, where you can actually go behind the building.
This space turns into a path that takes you up some stairs and through a tall cave, and out and up another set of stairs to the final, small stone pagoda and another beautiful viewpoint.
- Cost: Free (but you will need to pay ~5000 dong (20 cents USD) for parking.
- Hours: Open all the time
5. Biking Around Ninh Binh
Biking is a very popular way to get around Ninh Binh, and it’s incredibly scenic and idyllic, as you bike on little country roads past waterways and tall mountain karsts.
If the physical activity aspect of biking doesn’t sound appealing, you can also rent a scooter to get around Ninh Binh, which is also really, really fun. Traffic tends to be very light and it’s easy to get around.
We actually did both – we rode a bike to two attractions that were closer to our hotel (Hang Mua and the boat rides), and then took the scooter to the farther away spots (Bich Dong and Hoa Lu are farther out).
I’d look at renting a scooter from either Ninh Binh Motorbikes or Tra My Motorcycle Rental Shop. Both of these rental companies are located close to the Ninh Binh train station and offer good rates.
Map of Ninh Binh Attractions to See on a Day Trip
The Wrap Up
1000% I think Ninh Binh is worth visiting when you visit Vietnam – we adored the charming country vibes, the interesting attractions, and the absolutely gorgeous mountain and water views.
