Ninh Binh · Day tour
Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu + Trang An + Mua Cave Day Tour
Great for couplesGreat for familiesGreat for backpackersModerate fitness levelDaily departures
From
From $65 /person
Duration
Day trip (~12h)
Departure
Daily
Pickup
Hanoi Old Quarter (any hotel)
Group size
1+ guests
Fitness
Moderate
Type
Culture & heritage
Itinerary
07:00-07:50
Hotel pickup (Hanoi Old Quarter)
09:15
Rest stop (15-20 min)
10:30
Hoa Lu ancient capital
Capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010. Visit temples of Dinh + Le Kings. Vietnamese history under Dinh, Le, Ly Dynasties.
11:15-11:45
Optional cycling (30 min)
Discover local life by bike, OR relax at restaurant view lake & valley. Pool swim available summer.
12:00
Buffet lunch at Trang An Eco Holiday Retreat
Local specialties in private dining. Vegetarian option available.
13:15-13:30
Trang An boat ride (~1.5h)
UNESCO World Heritage Site (2014). Cave tunnel system featured in 2016 Kong: Skull Island.
15:30
Mua Cave climb
500 steps to peak of Ngoa Long Mountain. Panorama of Ninh Binh city + Tam Coc below.
16:30-17:00
Bus back to Hanoi
19:00-19:30
Hotel drop-off
Notes
- Itinerary subject to weather changes
- Walking street weekend closures may shift drop-off point
- Cycling not for non-bikers or kids under 2
✓ Included
- Pickup from hotel in Old Quarter
- Round-trip transfer (selected tier)
- English-speaking guide
- Buffet lunch with Vietnamese cuisine
- 1 bottle of water/person
- Entrance fees
- Cycling through countryside (Limousine bus tier only)
- Boat trip in Trang An
✕ Not included
- VAT 10%
- Beverages
- Tips for tour guide and personal expenses
🎒 What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes (mandatory for Mua Cave 500 steps)
- Hat + sunscreen
- Hydration
Travelling with children
- Free for children under 5
- Full price from age 9
Good questions about this tour
Are the 500 steps at Mua Cave too much for elderly guests or kids?
No problem - the Mua Cave climb is optional. You can skip it and wait at the base while others climb, and you'll still get the full Hoa Lu and Trang An experience. The group splits naturally and meets back together afterwards.
What if I can't ride a bicycle?
Cycling is completely optional. If you'd rather not, you can relax at the restaurant with a great view over the lake and valley while others ride. We don't recommend cycling for children under 2.
How is Trang An different from Tam Coc?
Trang An has been UNESCO-listed since 2014 and offers a grander cave system - it was also a Kong: Skull Island filming location. Tam Coc is often called 'Halong Bay on land' with its iconic rice paddies along the river. This particular tour focuses on Trang An.
