Often referred to as “Halong Bay on Land” due to the lush green rice paddies and towering limestone cliffs, Tam Coc and Ninh Binh are areas of Vietnam that are all too often overlooked by visitors. Just two hours south of the bustling city of Hanoi, we’ve visited Tam Coc many times and believe it is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam.
Tam Coc and Ninh Binh are the perfect places to relax and unwind while soaking up the landscape and the culture of Vietnam. It’s the perfect retreat from hectic Hanoi and touristy Halong Bay. In fact, we highly recommend you add at least a couple of days in this beautiful region to your Vietnam itinerary.
Read on for the best things to do in Tam Coc and Ninh Binh plus where to stay, where to eat, and more tips for visiting this stunning part of Vietnam!
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Tam Coc and Ninh Binh Travel Tips
Getting to Tam Coc and Ninh Binh
The town of Ninh Binh is located about 60 miles south of Hanoi. There are three options to get to Ninh Binh – take a train, a bus, or hire a private driver. Or, of course, you can rent a motorbike and drive it yourself. Although, driving in Vietnam is not for the faint of heart.
Tourist Bus:
Tourist buses depart from Hanoi around 8 am and will pick you up from your hotel if you stay in the Old Quarter. Tickets are typically around 160,000 – 250,000 VND ($7-11) per person depending on how luxurious a bus you want. The bus usually takes around three hours and makes one 20-minute stop to grab a snack and use the toilet.
We recommend booking bus tickets through Bookaway – there you can see all the bus and train options along with ratings and reviews.
Local Bus:
If you’re feeling adventurous, local buses also depart regularly from Hanoi’s southern bus terminal, Giap Bat, but note that you may end up with less space and more stops than you planned for. If you take a local bus and want to visit Tam Coc, you’ll have to take a taxi from the station in Ninh Binh. (The aforementioned tourist buses stop in Tam Coc so you’ll avoid the extra taxi fare.)
Train:
There are three trains departing daily from Hanoi Station and include the SE5, SE7, and SE19. The trip takes about 2.5 hours, but keep in mind that trains in Vietnam are often late so don’t be surprised if you have to wait a bit once you arrive at the station.
You can purchase the train tickets online through the Vietnam Railway site directly or through Bookaway (for some reason it is actually cheaper to buy the ticket through Bookaway).
It’s also worth noting that if you are short on time, you can travel by bus directly between Ninh Binh and Halong Bay (or Lan Ha Bay). This saves you from having to return to Hanoi between these two popular tourist destinations.
How Long to Stay in Tam Coc and Ninh Binh
Many people choose to visit the Ninh Binh region as a day trip. While it is possible to see some of the highlights in a short time, we would highly recommend spending a few days here.
You’ll have the opportunity to sleep in darling bungalows with sweeping views of rice paddies and towering limestone cliffs. Plus, you’ll be able to take your time in exploring the area and won’t be rushed by a tour guide trying to fit it all into a few hours.
If you give yourself some time to relax and unwind in Ninh Binh, it may just turn out to be the highlight of your Vietnam itinerary.
Weather in Tam Coc and Ninh Binh
The temperature in Northern Vietnam is hot and humid from May to October and the chance of rainfall is high. This rainfall can spoil your ability to explore the region but it also makes for vivid green rice paddies. November to April tends to be a bit cooler and drier.
You can visit Ninh Binh or Tam Coc at any time of year but best to check the weather prior to departing since pretty much all of the attractions are outdoors.
Currency in Vietnam
The currency of Vietnam is the Dong (VND) and at the time of writing, the exchange rate was approximately 24,000 VND to $1 USD. So if we say that something costs 50,000 VND, that’s just about $2.
There are several ATMs around but they are outside of the main area of Tam Coc. Several markets in Tam Coc advertise ATMs, but they will simply charge your card, add a 3% fee, and then give you cash. The closest ATM to Tam Coc is on the left-hand side of the road when you head east on DT491C.
Should you Stay in Ninh Binh or Tam Coc?
There are several small towns in the Ninh Binh region of Vietnam so don’t feel like you need to stay in Ninh Binh town proper. Tam Coc is the most popular town as there are plenty of comfy homestays and many delicious restaurants. Trang An is another area that has a few homestays but fewer dining options. If you stay in the heart of Ninh Binh town, you’ll probably find it to be a bit underwhelming.
We would recommend staying in Tam Coc where you’ll be surrounded by the beautiful countryside but still have plenty of eating and drinking venues right nearby.
Where to Stay in Tam Coc
Tam Coc Sunshine Homestay
Tam Coc Sunshine Homestay is truly a home away from home. The darling little bungalows are situated right at the base of a massive limestone cliff and lush, green rice paddies are outside of your front door. Rooms have air conditioning, hot water, extremely comfortable beds, and are stocked with coffee and an electric pot. The complimentary breakfast is superb. You’ll love the views from your private front stoop!
Tam Coc Horizon Bungalow
Tam Coc Horizon Bungalow is another amazing choice in a picturesque setting! The owners offer sweet touches like fresh fruit upon arrival and relaxing foot baths at the end of the day, and they send you off with treats for your upcoming bus ride! Plus, the property is partially inside of a cave so the outside showers are truly unique.
Trang An Valley Bungalow
If you’d prefer to stay in Trang An over Tam Coc, then book a room at Trang An Valley Bungalow. Not only do they have a stunning location that is extremely peaceful and relaxing, but also have a beautiful pool! It’s the perfect place to unwind after a day spent exploring the region.
Getting Around Tam Coc and Ninh Binh
Most of the homestays in Tam Coc have bicycles and motorbikes available to rent. While it’s nice to cruise around on a bicycle, a few of the highlights are outside of town so you’ll have a long ride ahead of you. A motorbike will run you about 120,000 – 150,000 VND/day but you’ll have to fill up the gas tank (~80,000 VND for a full tank).
For many visitors to Ninh Binh and Tam Coc, a favorite activity is simply roaming around the back roads on a bicycle or motorbike soaking in the beautiful landscape and views of daily life in rural Vietnam.
If you are staying in Tam Coc and are only interested in visiting Bich Dong Pagoda and taking a Tam Coc boat ride, you will be fine with just a bicycle. However, if you want to visit any of the other sites (such as Hang Mu, Trang An, or Hoa Lu), you’ll be much happier on a motorbike as these sites are several miles away from each other.
It’s also rather easy to get lost on the winding back roads of Tam Coc. We always recommend buying a Vietnamese SIM card as soon as you land in the country. Having internet on your cell phone allows you to utilize Google Maps to help with navigation. If you don’t have a local SIM card, you can download an offline map of Ninh Binh and Tam Coc on Google Maps.
Contact your homestay prior to your arrival to see if they can pick you up from the bus or train terminal. It’s amazing that they can balance your gigantic luggage and you on the back of their little motorbike on the bumpy, unpaved streets of Tam Coc!
Where to Eat in Tam Coc
- Hoa Luan Restaurant has a large menu filled with Vietnamese classics and a few dishes that you probably haven’t seen before. The fresh spring rolls are delicious and unique – the vegetables inside are cooked and seasoned to perfection!
- If you’re tired of eating so much Vietnamese food, how about a little Indian cuisine? Aroma Ninh Binh has a large menu of delectable Indian favorites at reasonable prices. Be sure to try the Aroma Special Naan!
- Bamboo Bar and Restaurant and Hai Linh Restaurant are two good choices in Tam Coc proper that offer delicious and affordable Vietnamese fare. Both have outstanding papaya salads and savory meat options, including the region’s specialty – goat.
The Best Things to do in Tam Coc and Ninh Binh
1. Take a Boat Tour
Boat tours are the most popular tourist activity in the Ninh Binh region. You’ll cruise along the scenic countryside and through several caves (depending on the time of year and water levels). And if you’re lucky, you’ll end up with a local who’s skilled enough to row with their feet!
You can take a boat trip from three departure areas in the Ninh Binh region – Tam Coc, Trang An, or Linh Coc. Tam Coc is the most popular with tourists and every tour group coming for the day from Hanoi boards a boat here. So expect crowds unless you go early in the morning or late in the day.
Tam Coc Boat Trip
When you arrive at the Tam Coc pier, you’ll park your motorbike near the WC for a 10,000 VND fee. You’ll pay the fee of 120,000 VND per person and 150,000 per boat. Only two foreigners are allowed on each boat. Then you’ll pick up a lifejacket and be assigned a boat driver.
The Tam Coc Boat Tour is an out-and-back, the scenery is nice, and you’ll go through a few caves (although none are so low that you need to sit at the bottom of the boat as you do with the Trang An boat tour). You won’t get out of your boat at all during the 1.5-2 hour ride so there are no bathroom stops along the way. They won’t make you keep your life jacket on unless you want to.
Most of the boat drivers paddle with their feet which must be quite challenging. Although they all appear to be so relaxed while doing it.
Trang An Boat Trip
The boat ride in Trang An is quite a bit more organized than the one in Tam Coc. You’ll park your motorbike in the designated area, cross the bridge, and pay your 250,000 VND/person fee at the ticket booth. From there, you’ll head to the dock where you’ll be assigned a boat (they usually wait for a group of 3 or 4 prior to departing).
There are actually three different boat routes and you’ll need to choose which you want to take (you’re ticket only includes one boat ride, but I suppose you could buy three tickets and do all three routes).
You’ll get off of the boat to explore a few beautiful temples and go through a few narrow caves where you’ll have to duck your head and/or sit on the floor of the boat. It’s exciting and pretty amazing that the boat drivers are able to navigate so well!
There are toilets at each stop (for a 2,000 VND fee) as well as plenty of places where you can purchase drinks and snacks. And they are sticklers about you keeping your lifejacket on when you are on the boat. The entire trip will take 2.5 – 3 hours.
2. Visit the Temples and Pagodas
Bích Động Pagoda
Built into the side of a cliff, the Bích Động Pagoda is most certainly a must-see highlight of the area! Once you park in the designated area, you will cross a pond filled with lily pads and under a stunningly beautiful ancient gate. Come early if you want to capture some photos here as it is a popular spot for photographs.
As you continue up the stairs, you will come upon a temple. Continue around the back to go through a dark cave filled with bats and then up another set of stairs to a lovely viewpoint. It’s an interesting pagoda, but the highlight is the gate entrance at the very beginning. Be sure to dress respectfully here (although most tourists don’t seem to follow the rules).
Hang Múa Temple/Mua Caves
There are a few caves in this area so it is generally referred to as “Mua Caves” which is a bit confusing as the real draw is on the top of a mountain. You’ll climb a steep and challenging 500 stairs up the side of Hang Múa peak in order to reach the temple at the top. You’ll be huffing and puffing once you reach the top but trust us, it’s worth it.
Not only are the views of the valley below absolutely breathtaking, but there is an impressive dragon statue at the top that is the perfect spot for a few photos. But be careful, the rocks are jagged and slippery and the drop-offs are no joke. Tennis shoes would be a good choice for this hike as the stairs are a bit uneven as well. Be sure to climb the stairs to the other pagoda across the way as it attracts fewer crowds and offers equally stunning views.
Hang Mua has become quite “instafamous” and thus attracts a lot of visitors all trying to take a photo in the same spot. Go early to avoid the crowds and be able to take photos without having to jockey for position. Sunrise is a great time to be at Hang Mua to beat both the crowds and the heat.
Hoa Lư Temple
The Hoa Lư Ancient Capital is about 10 miles north of Tam Coc and easily accessible by motorbike. The setting is spectacular although there isn’t much remaining of the capital which dates back to the 11th century. There are two surviving temples that have been restored, one was dedicated to the Dinh dynasty and the other to monarch Le Dai Hanh. The temples are dark and boding inside, with dark red and black lacquered pillars and gated offering areas.
While the peaceful area is nice to wander around while admiring the ancient gates and temples, it’s not necessarily awe-inspiring. If you plan on doing the boat ride in Trang An, it’s worth a stop as it is nearby. And if you come for the day with a tour group from Hanoi it will most certainly be on the route.
Bái Đính Temple
The Bái Đính Temple is an enormous complex of Buddhist temples located about 14 miles outside of Tam Coc. The entire area is over 1,300 acres making it the largest pagoda in SE Asia. In fact, just getting from the parking lot to the front gate is no easy feat. Most people opt to take the electric shuttles to and from the entrance.
You’ll start at the bottom of the hillside and make your way up to the top. You’ll climb a seemingly endless stairwell lined with large stone Buddha statues, most of which have entertaining expressions. You can see the smooth, shiny areas on each where they’ve been rubbed for good luck. The complex houses some 5,000 Buddha statues in total!
Near the top, the temples begin to come into view. The newest of which was started in 2003 and completed in 2010. The temples boast giant shiny gold Buddha statues and intricate latticework hanging from the ceilings. This is a popular place for religious Vietnamese to visit and it hosts a large festival on the 6th day of the first lunar month.
3. Enjoy the Spectacular Landscape
Thung Nham Bird Garden
When you enter the Thung Nham Bird Garden you might be a bit confused as to why exactly you’re there. Sure it’s pretty peaceful and serene but where are all the birds? Keep going and follow the signs for the bird viewing area. It’s a long walk, probably a mile and a half to get there, but fairly flat until the end. Plus you’ll pass by a few interesting bamboo bridges along the way. You’ll climb up to a lookout at the end of the hike and be rewarded with a lovely view of the lake below and hundreds of birds perched in the trees surrounding it. It’s quite a remarkable sight.
If a 3-mile round trip walk doesn’t sound appealing to you, you can also take a boat ride out to the bird area for an additional fee. You’ll be more likely to see a lot of birds if you visit in the early morning or late afternoon.
Other Things to do Around Tam Coc and Ninh Binh
- Cúc Phương National Park – Vietnam’s first national park and largest nature preserve.
- Van Long Wetland Reserve – Much quieter location for a boat ride with more wildlife but less stunning scenery than Tam Coc or Trang An.
- Phát Diệm Cathedral – This catholic church is a strange mixture of European Gothic and Vietnamese architecture including a pagoda-style roof. It’s an interesting place for a brief visit, but it is about 45 minutes from Tam Coc by motorbike.
- Thai VI Temple – A small Buddhist temple near the town of Tam Coc. The scenery on the walk/bike ride to the temple is much more impressive than the temple itself.
Want to book a Tam Coc Day Tour online?
We always prefer to find our own way in a new country and tend to shy away from group tours. But if you prefer to have a guide to show you around Ninh Binh, you can book an Hoa Lu and Tam Coc Day Tour online.
We hope you have a wonderful time exploring Tam Coc and Ninh Binh!
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Hey Hey Wheatleys!
New to your blog but I was referred to it by a friend who was in Vietnam last year. Thanks for sharing your experiences! We are going to Hanoi and surrounding areas next month!
Quick question… You reference a way to get directly from Halong to Ninh Binh without going through Hanoi. We are doing a 2d/1n cruise out of Tuan Chau terminal and then we are planning to head to Mua Mt. that evening. Do you happen to have more info on this? I have found it challenging to find transportation information… and what I have found is crazy expensive..
Are there buses hanging out waiting to take people places? or is it something we should arrange ahead of time? Is there an economical way to do this?
From Ninh Binh we head to BaVi and then to Sapa. Any transportation info that you can throw my way would be very appreciated!
Alternatively, do you also know if we can just hitch on to a tour for the transportation and then jump off and do our own thing?
Thanks in advance!
Hey Becca & James,
Woah, that so exciting that someone referred you to our blog! Thanks for taking the time to read our post!>
Yeah, you can directly from Halong Bay to Ninh Binh. The easiest way is to book a direct transfer though it will cost around $70-90 most likely for a private car. I assume that is what you are referring to as crazy expensive.
The other less expensive and more adventurous option is to take the local bus. First you’ll need to get from the Tuan Chau Terminal to Bai Chay Bus Station in Halong – this is about a 10km drive and is best handled by taxi or Grab (download the app and buy a SIM card when you get to Vietnam!). Once you’re at Bai Chai Bus Station you should be able to find a bus headed towards Ninh Binh.
If you have already booked your Halong Bay cruise then I would recommend getting in touch with your cruise boat operator and asking them what they recommend. They might even be able to drop you off in Hai Phong on their way back to Hanoi – that would put you about an hour closer to Ninh Binh and you could catch a bus from there.
In regards to BaVi – we have never been there so I can’t recommend any transportation tips. And finally for Hanoi to Sapa the best bus operator by a mile is Sapa Express (https://sapaexpress.com/en) their buses and service are way better than the competition. I wouldn’t travel to Sapa by any other means!
Email us (howdy@wanderingwheatleys.com) if you have any more questions!
Hi Wheatleys,
The pictures look so stunning. I visited Ninh Binh few months ago and still want to come back. It had to be the tranquil scenery and the people here. I’ll come back during May – June to see the golden rice fields in Tam Coc.
Thank you for your post 🙂
Hey, great blog, thanks for all the information, the level of detail is excellent. You could improve entries like this by not referencing (or doing) ‘customary’ tipping, a practice that simply does not exist in Vietnam or in Vietnamese culture, and is a gesture native to your own homeland, not the country you have been lucky enough to visit.
Hey John – we’re with you! We agree that it’s not a great practice to bring your own tipping customs to another country (including not tipping in the US because you don’t tip in your home country). But unfortunately, there are now some places in Vietnam where tipping absolutely IS expected so we mention that in our articles. These are usually higher-end restaurants, hotels, and bars that are frequented by expats.
Great post, can you share your opinion on the Linh Coc boat ride vs Trang An or Tam Coc??