Ninh Binh Day Tour from Hanoi: Hoa Lu Trang An and Mua Caves
Description
Escape the bustling streets of Hanoi for a scenic day trip to Ninh Binh, often called “Halong Bay on land.” Nestled in the northern region of Vietnam, Ninh Binh is a stunning landscape of limestone mountains, tranquil rivers, and rich historical sites.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our bus will pick you up from Hanoi Opera House if you choose this as your pick up address
The first stop of the day is Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam during the Dinh and Le dynasties (10th century). This historical site is set amidst a backdrop of dramatic limestone mountains, with well-preserved temples that honor the kings of Vietnam's early dynasties. As you explore these historical landmarks, a local guide will share fascinating stories about the early foundations of Vietnam’s monarchy, adding depth and context to your experience.
The boat trip lasts around 1.5 hours, and as you glide through tranquil waters, you’ll marvel at the towering limestone peaks that rise from the jungle, creating a surreal atmosphere. Along the way, your boatman will guide you through caves and pass ancient pagodas nestled in remote corners of the landscape. The stunning scenery of Trang An has made it a popular filming location, including the famous Kong: Skull Island, and you’ll soon see why.
Mua Cave is located on the foot of Mua Mountain, and the highlight of this visit is the climb to the top of the mountain, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The ascent involves climbing a series of stone steps (around 500 steps), but the effort is more than worth it when you reach the summit. From here, you’ll have a breathtaking view of the lush green valley below, dotted with rice paddies, winding rivers, and the towering limestone peaks that Ninh Binh is famous for. The view from Mua Cave is often considered one of the best in the region, making it a perfect spot for photos and a peaceful moment of reflection.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We can pick up from hotels in Hanoi's Old Quarter or Hanoi Opera House (01 Trang Tien street, Hoan Kiem district) from 7:00 - 8:00AM depending on the locations . Please contact us in advance by Phone/ Whatsapp/ Zalo or Email to confirm pick up information!
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(394)
The experience is not to be missed, that's for sure. The places are magnificent; I highly recommend it, especially if it's with Mike, who is really kind and pleasant!
We had a fantastic time with our guide Ryan, he was very knowledgeable and entertaining as he took us on our tour around ancient temples, beautiful rivers, a bike ride through the countryside and up an impressive hill (500 steps to reach the stone dragon and an unbeatable view). I'd honestly recommend this tour to anyone, we really enjoyed ourselves and have some great photos of the sights. (And don't forget to bring sunscreen!)
It was amazing! Our guide Hung was an incredible person. It has an quick bicicyle trip arround the place that is so besutyfull. Recommend 100%
The tour is recommended 100 percent because the places you visit are wonderful. The bike ride is a lot of fun and Mia, the guide, makes everything very easy, her organization is exemplary as well as her kindness and sympathy.
This insightful and interesting day trip to Ninh Binh was a real highlight. Our friendly and helpful tour guide Mia, who was also incredibly funny, managed all 20 of us perfectly. Honestly, it was worth every penny!
The experience was both fun and instructive. We did 3 activities : hiking (quite easy, but bring comfortable shoes) with a nice view, fast bike ride to the rice fields, rowing boat ride in 4 people and we even helped row our rowing machine ; the thing I liked most was the boat ride as we crossed 3 caves (twice round trip) the longest 320 m!!! Very suggestive and very nice also to see where they shot the movie King kong
Mia was a wonderful guide tourist and, as she said, She was like out mum during that day. Ninh Binh and Trang An are two places we strongly recommend to visit in Vietnam. During the trip, she also explained and helped us understand the history and customs of the Vietnamese people
It was a nice trip. Viet is a good guide. Enjoyed his company. I’d love to go another trip with his guidance. Hiking is my fav part.
Amazing experience. Our guide was fantastic, we all had such a wonderful time. Mike was incredible. He was so happy to show us around and tell us all about Vietnam.
Our tour guide Mike was very informative and helpful throughout the day! Was such a wonderful experience in a very beautiful part of the world!
