Best of Ninh Binh

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Ninh Binh
The bustling city of Ninh Binh is the gateway to tropical rainforests, craggy mountains and meandering rivers. Owing to the region’s limestone peaks, the province is sometimes called “Halong Bay on land.” Several important nature reserves lie outside the city, including the wildlife-rich Cuc Phuong National Park and the wetlands of Van Long. There are also a few human-made attractions of note. Bai Dinh Pagoda is Vietnam’s largest temple complex, while Hoa Lu contains temples and ruins dating back to its heyday as the 10th-century capital of Vietnam.      

Boat excursions take you across an aquatic landscape where limestone pinnacles soar high above the rice paddies. In some places, slow-moving rowboats are the ideal way to experience the scenery and give access to caves hidden along the Sao Khe River. You can also hit the back roads of Ninh Binh Province on cycling tours, traversing rural villages and historic sites - like the ruins of a 10th-century citadel. Wildlife lovers shouldn’t miss a chance to go on a guided trip inside Cuc Phuong National Park, which has primary tropical rainforest with over 2,000 plant species and an impressive variety of animal life. At the park’s Primate Rescue Center, you can have memorable encounters with gibbons, langurs and lorises.
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Rice fields and river in Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Map of Highlights of Northern Vietnam: Hanoi, Ninh Binh & Ha Long Bay - 8 Days
Highlights of Northern Vietnam: Hanoi, Ninh Binh & Ha Long Bay - 8 Days

See some spectacular scenery and learn about daily life in northern Vietnam on this immersive, eight-day tour. Explore the lush countryside of Ninh Binh by bike and sampan boat, savor Hanoi's best street food on a guided tour, enjoy an overnight cruise around Ha Long Bay, and discover the villages and countryside of Ba Vi National Park on an unforgettable eco-tour.

Scenic landscape of Trang An, Vietnam
Map of Discover Northern Vietnam & Cambodia - 15 Days
Discover Northern Vietnam & Cambodia - 15 Days

In just over two weeks, you'll visit the most scenic parts of northern Vietnam, plus hop the border for the highlights of Cambodia. The adventure starts with cycling in the country outside Hanoi, a trip to unspoiled nature reserves, and a ride down the Red River Delta. After cruising the jade waters of Ha Long Bay, you'll fly to Cambodia to explore the ruins of Angkor and dive into the nation's culture on a tour of Phnom Penh.

Red Bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam
Map of Northern Vietnam Culture & Adventure Tour - 5 Days
Northern Vietnam Culture & Adventure Tour - 5 Days

This five-day tour gives you the best of northern Vietnam, from Hanoi to the fertile river lands of Ninh Bình and finally to Hạ Long Bay. In Hanoi, you'll immerse yourself in the culture, enjoy delicious street food, and visit famous landmarks like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. You'll then travel to Ninh Bình for a boat journey on the river, followed by a trip to Hạ Long Bay, known for its emerald waters and over 1,000 uninhabited islands.

Vietnam tour
Map of Impressions of Vietnam - 14 Days
Impressions of Vietnam - 14 Days

This tour takes you around the major highlights of Vietnam, but along the lesser-traveled paths. Visit the coastal regions of Northern Vietnam that still remain unknown to many visitors. Get immersed in Vietnamese history in Hue, and experience a different side of popular Hoi An by being a local for one day. And of course, visit bustling Hanoi—the capital of Vietnam—which seamlessly blends the old and new.

Spend time exploring Vietnam's Ha Long Bay on board a junk
Map of Vietnam North to South  - 15 Days
Vietnam North to South - 15 Days

Embark on a memorable journey to see the best of Vietnam, from colonial Hanoi to the beaches of the south and beyond. It begins in the north, where you'll tour the capital, cruise Ha Long Bay, and ride a sampan through the Red River Valley. Then, in central Vietnam, you'll visit ancient cities, take cooking classes, and laze on white-sand beaches in Nha Trang before finishing the trip in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Red River Valley of Nin Binh, Tam Coc
Map of Ultimate Vietnam: Cities, Countryside & Waterways - 15 Days
Ultimate Vietnam: Cities, Countryside & Waterways - 15 Days

This grand tour of Vietnam covers the best in the country, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. After touring the historic sites in Vietnam's capital, spend time in the unspoiled nature reserve of Pu Luong and the stunning landscapes of the Red River Valley. Following this is a cruise around Ha Long Bay, a tour of organic farms at ancient Hoi An, and a visit to highlights around Ho Chi Minh City, like the Mekong River.

Visit Bich Dong Pagoda in Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Map of Discover Vietnam From North to South – 15 Days
Discover Vietnam From North to South – 15 Days

Travel Vietnam from north to south on this 15-day highlights tour. Start at the top of the country to cruise UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, whizz through the streets of Hanoi on a Vespa, and cycle through the northern countryside. Continue down the coast to Hue's ancient citadels and royal tombs, followed by the bright lights of Ho Chi Minh City. Your adventure ends in the lush Mekong Delta, where you'll sail to an iconic floating market.

Vietnam's Ha Long Bay
Map of Escape to Vietnam: Cities, Countryside & Islands - 9 Days
Escape to Vietnam: Cities, Countryside & Islands - 9 Days

This nine-day escape will take you to some of the most exotic parts of Vietnam, from mystical Ha Long Bay to the beaches of tropical Phu Quoc. It begins in Hanoi with city tours of this ancient capital and continues with a boat tour of Ha Long. Then jet off to the south and the island of Phu Quoc, where you can relax on white-sand beaches, go snorkeling, and sunbathe until your heart's content.

Cruise through Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay
Map of Authentic Vietnam - 8 Days
Authentic Vietnam - 8 Days

Experience Vietnam like a local with insider tours of its vibrant cities and natural wonders. Explore the backstreets of Hanoi and cycle along the fertile rice paddies of Ninh Binh before cruising the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay. Then discover Ho Chi Minh City on a Vespa and finish with a speedboat ride along the famous Mekong River.

Float down the Tam Coc River in Ninh Binh province
Map of Explore Northern Vietnam - 9 Days
Explore Northern Vietnam - 9 Days

This nine-day adventure celebrates the history and culture of Vietnam's north while taking you to the most beautiful areas in the region. First, tour the highlights of ancient Hanoi and ride bicycles through the countryside. The excitement kicks into high gear with trekking through the highlands, riding sampans down rivers in Ninh Binh, and cruising the jade waters of Ha Long Bay.

Kayak among karst islands in Ha Long Bay
Map of Active Vietnam Adventure - 12 Days
Active Vietnam Adventure - 12 Days

Over 12 days you'll travel from the mountains of northern Vietnam down to the southern Mekong Delta and enjoy outdoor adventures every step of the way. It begins with two days of cycling through nature reserves followed by a cruise along the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay. Then visit historical sites in the ancient cities of Hue and Hoi An before ending the trip on the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City and rafting down the Mekong River.

Paddle the Trang An Grottoes in Ninh Binh
Map of Active Vietnam Adventure – 13 Days
Active Vietnam Adventure – 13 Days

Get your adrenaline pumping on this active, 13-day Vietnam tour. Start with an epic mountain bike ride through northern Vietnam's rice-paddy-studded countryside and then cruise the emerald waters of UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay. The adventure continues in Hue, where you'll explore royal cities and emperors' tombs by boat and bike. Fish with the locals in Hoi An and encounter war history at the Cu Chi Tunnels en route to the lush Mekong Delta, where vast floating markets await.

Stay one night on a cruise on Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam
Map of Best of Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City & More - 15 Days
Best of Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City & More - 15 Days

Experience all of Vietnam's highlights in one trip with this exciting 15-day itinerary. The adventure begins in the capital of Hanoi where you'll get a walking tour of the Old Quarter. Then work your way south through small fishing villages and rice paddies, ancient temples and trading ports, and hidden charms of the Mekong Delta. Of course, there will be time to hit the beaches on Phu Quoc Island where you'll have two blissful free days at the end of the trip.

Halong Bay
Map of Vietnam Nature and Culture Tour: Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, & More - 17 Days
Vietnam Nature and Culture Tour: Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, & More - 17 Days

Explore the cultural and natural highlights of Vietnam on this 17-day trip. Arrive in Hanoi and indulge in a street food walking tour, followed by a day at Pu Luong National Park and dinner with a local host family. Next, explore the beauty of Trang An's caves, followed by an overnight cruise along Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Then, trek through Phong Nha National Park and camp overnight before discovering the stunning Tu Lan Cave System. Next is Hue, and another dinner with a local family, as well as a tour of the ancient city. Head to Hoi An for some sightseeing, a free day, and a fishing village tour. The trip concludes in Ho Chi Minh City with a Vespa tour and a day trip to the Mekong Delta.

Other popular travel destinations in Vietnam
Hanoi · Ha Long Bay · Ho Chi Minh City · Hoi An · Hue · Sapa · Can Tho · Pu Luong Nature Reserve · Phu Quoc