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Best Ways to Travel From Hanoi to Ninh Binh in 2025

Wondering how to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by bus, train or car? We cover all the options for you here to visit Ninh Binh from Hanoi.

Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is a renowned tourist destination in Vietnam owing to its breathtaking natural beauty and beautiful scenery, which includes ancient temples, underground tunnels, and lush rice fields. There’s a reason it’s known as “Halong Bay on land,” too. A boat trip down one of Ninh Binh’s rivers, a bike ride through the countryside, and a visit to some of the city’s numerous old pagodas and temples are all enjoyable ways to spend a day. Ninh Binh is both beautiful and diverse, and it is also very tourist-friendly. There are so many great things to do in Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)

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Where is Ninh Binh?

Route Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Route Hanoi to Ninh Binh

 

How to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi

Getting to Ninh Binh is a breeze if you’re coming from Hanoi.

How to travel by Train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

Map of Hanoi Railway Station
Hanoi Railway Station

Getting from Hanoi to Ninh Binh takes around 2 hours and 16 minutes. The train departs from Hanoi Railway Station, 3 km west of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

There are 16 train departures daily to Ninh Binh, two of which are overnight journeys.

Address of Hanoi Railway Station: 120 Đ. Lê Duẩn, Văn Miếu, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Click below to find out train times and prices:

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How to travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by bus

Travelling by bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh will take three to four hours. Currently, there are around 50 departures a day from 6.15 am.

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How to travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by luxury private car with sightseeing 

A luxury private car transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh with an experienced driver will take 2-8 hours to travel the distance of 80 kilometres (depending on the route and stopovers).

Enjoy some sightseeing along the way:

  • See Bai Dinh Pagoda
  • Visit Ancient Capital Hoa Lu
  • Explore Tam Coc

How to travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by private car

The distance from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is about 95 kilometres to 100 km. Travelling the 80 km between Hanoi and Ninh Binh in a private car with a seasoned driver will take anywhere from 2-9 hours (depending on the route and stopovers).

 

Hanoi to Ninh Binh taxi fare

Taxis are a fast and convenient way to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Grab, Uber, and other ridesharing services have made cabs an unneeded luxury. On the other hand, only some countries have ridesharing apps like Uber and Grab, and even if they do, they are usually only available in big urban areas.

The cab fare from Hanoi to Ninh Binh varies substantially based on the route. Taxi drivers are often natives of the area, so they have insider knowledge of all the best shortcuts and hidden gems that will leave Google Maps in the dust. Skilled taxi drivers may take a longer route but will avoid traffic, road construction, and other potential delays. Taking a cab from Hanoi Noi Bai Airport would take around 2 hours and 30 minutes and cost roughly $90 using VTS.

Hanoi to Ninh Binh by bike

You can travel by motorbike from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. The journey is approximately 95 km and you can stop along the way.

Travel tip: We recommend that you purchase travel insurance and wear protective motorbike wear, ie helmets, boots and jackets.  The roads are not in perfect condition.  If you have not ridden a motorcycle before, we advise you against this journey.

 

 

Day Tour to Ninh Binh from Hanoi

Visit the province of Ninh Binh, home to a wealth of historical sites and beautiful landscapes, for a day from Hanoi. Visit the impressive Bai Dinh Temple Complex, relax on a raft in Trang An’s peaceful waterways, and enjoy breathtaking vistas of the surrounding rocky hills from atop Mua Caves.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

Gather at your Hanoi hotel to be driven to Ninh Binh. Visit the impressive Pagoda at Bai Dinh, Vietnam’s largest Buddhist temple complex. Here, you may see a 36-ton bronze bell, a 100-ton Buddha statue that towers over 10 meters, and 500 blue-stone Arhat statues.

You will stop for lunch at a local eatery with a spread that includes goat, fish, chicken, fried rice, and vegetables and meat. Keep on to the Kong: Skull Island–inspired Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Take a wooden boat along its peaceful rivers, explore its hidden caverns, and gaze up at the towering limestone karsts covered in lush tropical vegetation. Before heading back to Hanoi, make the trek up the 500 stairs to Mua Caves’ overlook so you may take in the breathtaking vistas of Tam Coc.

The day trip includes:

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation during the activity
  • Wi-Fi on board
  • Tour guide
  • An electric car ride to the Bai Dinh entrance
  • Buffet lunch
  • Trang An boat tour
  • Drinking water

The day trip costs from USD $ 56.54 per person.

 

 

This tour is recommended if you only have 1 day in Ninh Binh.

2 Day Trip to Ninh Bin

Enjoy a boat ride to the Trang An cave complexes and the three caverns in Tam Coc throughout this 2-day excursion. Visit Ninh Binh’s friendly locals and charming villages on a bike, see the impressive Mua Cave and chow down on some of the city’s best cuisine.

Day 1: Get picked up from your hotel between 7:30 and 8:00 AM and go to Tam Coc. Three caverns along the Ngo Dong River may be reached by sampan. Get some exercise on a tour of the area’s bike trails before filling up on a delicious spread. Take a bus trip to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s historical capital. Learn about the epic tales of the Chinese Wars by visiting Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple. Go to Mua cave after that. Views of the landscape and the Ngo Dong river await you at the top of the 500 stone stairs. Get to Ninh Binh, where you can unwind at a hotel and in your own time. You will have dinner at your hotel and some free time to explore the area.

Trang An
Trang An

Day 2: After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, you may choose between lounging around and exploring Tam Coc. Take a bus to the Bai Dinh Pagoda. Visit Vietnam’s largest Pagoda, which has 500 La Han sculptures and a bronze Buddha figure 10 meters tall and weighing 100 tons. Eat at a local eatery and try some of the regional specialities. Continue to Trang An, where you may see the caves of Sang Cave, Toi Cave, and Ba Giot Cave by boat. Travel to the mountains and rivers of Nau Ruou, a land steeped in mystery.

The 2-day trip costs from $ 138 per person.

If you only have 2 days in Ninh Binh this tour covers most of the popular places to see.

 

Where To Stay in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh has a range of accommodations to suit all budgets.

Check out the latest deals on Ninh Binh accommodation here.

 

Do You Need an E-Sim?

Using an eSIM from e-Simatic when you travel offers convenience, flexibility, and cost savings. With no physical SIM card required, you can easily activate a local or international data plan before or during your trip. e-Simatic’s eSIMs provide reliable mobile coverage in multiple countries, eliminating the hassle of swapping SIM cards or dealing with expensive roaming charges. Stay connected for navigation, communication, and sharing your adventures without interruption, making your travel experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Purchase your e-sim here

How To Get A Visa To Visit Vietnam

We have written a guide on how to get a visa to visit Vietnam.

Flights to Vietnam

Air Asia, the budget carrier, has flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Nha Trang from major Asian cities.

Book all your flights easily with Skyscanner, a trusted travel search engine that helps you find the best deals. Compare flights from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies worldwide, ensuring you get the lowest prices. With flexible search options, fare alerts, and no hidden fees, Skyscanner makes booking flights simple, fast, and affordable. Start your journey with confidence and savings.

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How to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi

 

 

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Where To Travel To Next in Vietnam

Mai Chau Travel Guide

Hue Travel Guide

Halong Bay Cruise

Hoi An Hidden Walking Tour

Conclusion 

We hope you have enjoyed our article on how to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. We would love to hear about your favourite way to travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.

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Thanks for stopping by and welcome to To Travel Too – Australia’s top Baby Boomer lifestyle and travel blog, with an international worldwide audience in mind, run by the married couple, freelance writers and full-time travellers Jane and Duncan Dempster-Smith. Come with us as we explore the world. Our two mantras that we live by are 'chase time not money' and 'age is no barrier when it comes to travel'.

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