Ninh Binh is renowned as Halong Bay on land and is one of the most breathtaking destinations in Northern Vietnam. Visiting Ninh Binh, you can have the opportunity to admire a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its towering limestone karsts, emerald rice paddies, and ancient temples. Departing from Hanoi, you transfer easily with several vehicles. So, how to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?. In this guide, we will introduce all 6 ways to travel to Ninh Binh from Hanoi by limousine van, train, day tour, private car, public bus, and motorbike.

All Ways to Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

How to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh? There are 6 transportation options that you choose the right way to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Depending on your budget, you should consider the vehicle suited for traveling. 

Transferring from Hanoi to Ninh Binh offers both train and road options. With a budget traveler, you should choose the train for its scenic countryside views. If you travel with family or friends of 3+, a private car is the  most popular option. 

Option 1 — By Limousine Van

Do you wonder how to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh quickly without sacrificing comfort? This is a limousine vans. The limousine is the most comfortable way to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Tourists can enjoy modern 9 seat luxury vans with reclining leather seats, free WiFi, water, USB charging, and powerful air conditioning. 

You can book a limousine through limousine companies such as Limousine Hanoi– Ninh Binh Express, Queen Cafe Limousine Specializes, Trang An Limousine...

The driver transported passengers to Ninh Binh in a 9-seater limousine.

However, all of the top 4 limousine companies don't take you to a hotel in Ninh Binh, and you must share space with other passengers. So, you can book a private limousine with a driver from us when you want to experience a private space and comfortable with family and friend

Option 2: By Train (Most Scenic Experience)

• Hanoi Railway Station (Ga Hà Nội): Located in 120 Le Duan Street, just south of the Old Quarter
• Ninh Binh station: Located in the city center. 

Taking a train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is an interesting experience. You can admire a glimpse of the Vietnamese countryside, endless rice paddies, traditional villages, water buffaloes and distant mountains.

The train's schedule is fixed, unaffected by Hanoi's notorious traffic jams. If you are a solo traveler, a photographer, and an authentic-experience seeker, you should choose this transportation. 

Train compartment from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh station is about 10km from Tam Coc an Trang An. So, if you transfer to Ninh Bình from Hanoi, you can take a train. Then, when you come to Ninh Binh station, you should get to the hotel by car ( about 100.000 VND), Taxi ( 120.000 VND),  motorbike taxi ( 50.000 VND). 

Best trains for day trippers (Hanoi → Ninh Binh):

Return trains (Ninh Binh → Hanoi)

Train Ticket Prices & Classes

Option 3: By Day Tour Bus

Tourists can book a Ninh Binh day tour from Hanoi if it is the first time that you come to Vietnam without a stress-free, all-inclusive experience. You don't worry about entrance tickets, boat fees, and lunch separately; the price includes all of fee above. 

Day Tour Itinerary

• 7:30 AM — Hotel pickup in Old Quarter
• 10:00 AM — Hoa Lu Ancient Capital tour
• 12:00 PM — Buffet lunch at local restaurant
• 1:30 PM — Trang An or Tam Coc boat ride (~2 hours)
• 3:30 PM — Mua Cave climb for panoramic views
• 7:00 PM — Return to Hanoi hotel

It is highly recommended that you choose the Trang An tour over Tam Coc Tour if you have only 1 day in Ninh Binh. You can avoid crowds and longer lines by going through caves featured in Kong: Skull Island.

Option 4: By Private Car 

Tourists love comfort, flexibility and door to door service. Renting a private car from Hanoi to Ninh Binh with a driver is the most convenient way to travel. If you travel with a group, you should rent a minivan. The cost splits among 3-7 people, making it cheaper. 

A white 7-seater SUV on its way to Ninh Binh.

You can pre-book private transfers via tourism companies such as Vietnam Trust Car Rental Company. Our drivers are professional, friendly, and basic English-speaking. 

Option 5: By Public Bus (Cheapest Way) 

If you are backpackers and budget-conscious travelers seeking how to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh at the lowest possible cost, the public bus is the most affordable option, costing as little as 120.000 VND. However, it is not comfortably suited for experienced Southeast Asia travelers. Because, you can not communicate without  non-English environments and minor inconveniences.

There are 3 main bus stations, includes, 

Giap Bat Bus Station (Bến xe Giáp Bát) 

• Address: Giai Phong street, Hoang Mai, Hanoi city
• Operating hours: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Price: 80,000 – 100,000 VND
• Travel time: 2 – 2.5 hours

My Dinh Bus Station (Bến xe Mỹ Đình)

• Address: 20 Pham Hung street, Tu Liem Ward, Hanoi city
• Price: 80,000 – 100,000 VND

Nuoc Ngam Bus Station (Bến xe Nước Ngầm)

• Address: N0. 1 Ngoc Hoi street,  Hanoi city
• Price: 80,000 – 100,000 VND

You should book in advance at least 3 days and arrive 30 minutes before departure. On the way, some buses pick up additional passengers, slowing your journey. Drop-off is at Ninh Binh Bus Station. When you get to the station ( about 10km from Tam Coc), you need to book a taxi/grab car to the hotel. 

Option 6: By Motorbike (For Adventurers) 

If you want to experience freedom and authenticity, taking a motorbike from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is the best choice. Travelers will pas through rural Vietnamese villages, rice paddies and see sightings on the road. However, it is a suit for experienced riders due to Vietnam's chaotic traffic. 

You can consider one of three main routes from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. 

• Route 1: Highway QL1A  ( Phap Van – Cau Gie expressway, then QL1A)
• Route 2:  Old Highway via Phu Ly, through Ha  Nam province countryside
• Route 3: Coastal Detour via Nam Dinh, via Nam Dinh's churches and rice paddies

Best Time to Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh 

After you know "How to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?", you should choose the right time to travel here. Tourists will have many different experiences from admiring the golden rice harvest to avoiding crowds of tourists. 

The best time to visit Ninh Binh is any time during the year. Each season is distinctive. 

• From May to June, you can see the valleys of Tam Coc with a sea of golden yellow rice paddies, attracting many photographers and Instagram travelers to visit. 
• From September to November, the weather is pleasant. It has low rainfall, clear skies. Tourists can pad boats, explore caves and climb Mua Cave. 
• From December to February, the average temperature is 10 - 18°C. So, you can see fog in the morning, creating mystical fog. 
• From March to April, the weather is warm and flowers are blooming. There are many people to Ninh Binh to visit  Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival (Lunar Jan–Mar)
• From July to August, it is hot, with occasional storms. You should avoid coming here at this time. 

The beautiful scenery of Ninh Binh changes with the seasons.

What to do in Ninh Binh?

Entering Ninh Binh, tourists will be amazed due to its a remarkable variety of attractions from UNESCO heritage sites, ancient temples, dramatic viewpoints, and peaceful landscapes. All of the destinations are within a 30 minutes drive of Tam Coc. 

• Trang An boat tour:  This is a  UNESCO World Heritage Site with the journey of a 3 hours rowboat through limestone caves and emerald rivers. 
• Mua Cave: To admire the iconic Dragon panoramic over Tam Coc valley, you must climb 500 stone steps. 
• Bai Dinh Pagoda: This is the largest Buddhist complex in Southeast Asia. 
• Hoa Lu Ancient Capital: Built in the 10th century, there are many imperial capitals with temples in the Dinh and Le dynasties. 
• Bich Dong Pagoda: There are three tier mountain pagodas with elegant frescoes. 
• Thung Nham Bird Park: Immerse yourself in the sunset bird-watching boat ride
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Famous tourist destinations in Ninh Binh include Trang An, Mua Cave, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Bich Dong Pagoda, and Thung Nham Nature Reserve.

Aboves are all 6 ways to travel to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. Tourists can choose the best way for your demand and budget, making its a comfortable and safe journey. 

See more: Top 15+ best things to do in Ninh Binh