Huang provided me with one of the best days of my vacation. He speaks very good English and is very friendly and proactive, always keeping tabs on the small group, telling us about the country's history and giving us tips. By booking this tour not only have I seen some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever had the chance of witnessing, but we also got to do it with no waiting in line because our group always arrived before the big tour buses. Tranh An is a serene and calming trip over the water through caves and to a temple with multiple shrines, and Mua Cave offers an absolutely breathtaking view of the limestones and other travelers taking the Tranh An boats. I cannot praise this tour and our guide enough, it was the perfect ending for my visit to Vietnam. Highly recommended.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Sightseeing Tickets
- Bottled water on the bus
- Lunch with Vietnamese cuisine
- Free pickup in Hanoi Old Quarter. If you're staying outside, Kindly meet us at 6 Cua Nam Street
- Experienced driver & English speaking tour guide
- Maximum 9 travelers
Excludes
- Drinks for lunch ( Beer, Coffee, Soft-drink...)
- Tips / Gratuities
- Children taller than 1.2m are considered adults. Please pay the same price as adults.
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- 07:10 – 07:30: We will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. If you are staying outside the Old Quarter, please come to 6 Cua Nam Street for pickup.
Itinerary
7:10 - 7:30 Start with a morning pickup service from your hotels in Hanoi Old Town. Head to Hoa Lu which was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries. Have a short break on the way to Ninh Binh. 10:00 Take a short walk to visit the King Dinh Temple where you can get to know about Vietnamese history under these dynasties. 11:45: Having lunch in the local restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine. Enjoy 1.5 hour a peaceful bamboo boat ride through Tam Coc or roughly 2 hours boat ride at Trang An. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural landscape. The Trang An recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Explore Mua Cave (Dancing Cave). Walk up almost 500 steps to reach the top of Lying Dragon Mountain for amazing panoramic views of Tam Coc. This is one of the best photo spots in Ninh Binh. *Return to your accommodation at around 6:30 - 6:45 P.M
Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam during the 10th and 11th centuries, serving as the political and cultural center of the country under the Dinh, Early Le, and Ly dynasties. Located in the northern province of Ninh Bình, about 90 kilometers south of Hanoi, Hoa Lu is an ancient historical site surrounded by dramatic limestone mountains and lush valleys. The capital city was strategically chosen due to its natural defenses and its proximity to both the Red River Delta and the sea. It flourished for more than 40 years before being moved to Thang Long (modern-day Hanoi) in 1010 during the reign of the Ly Dynasty. Today, Hoa Lu remains an important archaeological and historical site. Visitors can explore remnants of ancient temples dedicated to past emperors, such as the Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and the Le Dai Hanh Temple.
The Tam Coc bamboo boat ride offers a tranquil journey through one of Vietnam’s most breathtaking landscapes. As you sit in a traditional hand-rowed sampan, local boatwomen gently paddle you along the Ngo Dong River, weaving between towering limestone karsts, lush rice paddies, and mysterious caves. The name "Tam Coc" means "Three Caves," and during the ride, you’ll pass through Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba — natural water tunnels carved through the mountains.
Located in Ninh Binh Province, about 100 km south of Hanoi, Trang An is often called “Ha Long Bay on land” thanks to its dramatic limestone karst mountains rising from peaceful rivers and lush green valleys. The Trang An Landscape Complex is one of Vietnam’s most breathtaking natural and cultural destinations, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
Mua Cave (also known as Múa Cave) is a stunning natural attraction located in Ninh Bình Province, northern Vietnam. It is part of the Múa Cave complex and sits at the foot of Múa Mountain in the Hoa Lư District, which is famous for its dramatic karst landscapes and historical significance. Múa Cave is not just a cave but a cultural and natural landmark that draws visitors for its scenic beauty, historical sites, and the challenging hike that leads to panoramic views of the region. The main attraction of Múa Cave is the hike up Múa Mountain, which is often called the “stairway to heaven” due to its 500 stone steps that lead to the summit. The hike can be moderately challenging, but the reward is a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape, including the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex and the winding Ngo Dong River that flows through the lush valleys and rice paddies.
16:30: Get on the bus to return to Hanoi. 18:30 – 18:45: Drop you off at your hotel. The trip ends.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Everything went very well. We were picked up early and we avoided the crowds. I highly recommend this day out.
The trip has been perfect from start to finish. Our guide David has take care of everything and he made sure we had no doubts and felt always comfortable with all activities. Highly recommended!!
We had an amazing day exploring Ninh Binh with David! From start to finish, the trip was seamless, comfortable, and well-organized. The luxury limousine van made the two-hour drive from Hanoi super smooth, and having a small group made the entire experience feel personal rather than rushed. David was a fantastic guide - knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about sharing Vietnam’s rich history and culture. Exploring the ancient capital of Hoa Lu set a great historical foundation, the boat ride was absolutely stunning and peaceful, and climbing up Mua Cave offered breathtaking panoramic views of the vast mountains and countryside. A huge thank you to David for his warmth, great storytelling, and for taking such good care of us throughout the day. If you’re looking for a stress-free, informative, and beautiful day trip out of Hanoi, this tour with David is well worth it!
Experience was good it was organised well Went as per the mentioned timings food was also good Tour instructor mr David was also very helpful
Good itinerary. Very good guide and driver in a small group and comfortable vehicle...massage seats👍
We had a brilliant full day out with our guide David. David was extremely knowledgeable and had a great personality that kept everyone smiling. The views were breathtaking, like something you'd see in a movie. We explored ninh binh by foot, bicycle and by row boat giving us 3 types of opportunities to see the beautiful area. 10/10 experience would recommend to everyone.
We had a great experience with our tour guide David and our driver cong they were so helpful throughout the day and we felt safe with the driver. David was very enthusiastic and informative which made our day so much better, he went beyond to make sure we were ok when my sister was feeling sick & made her feel better, we really appreciated it and will book again so David can be our tour guide again next time we visit hanoi! Thanks again 10/10 service
Transport in comfortable van. Well organized and guided tour to the sights in Ninh Binh. Would recommend
This was such an amazing day trip. Our guide David was the best at telling us the history of Vietnam and making the trip memorable. He was kind and had energetic spirit. I highly recommend this trip to anyone visiting the beautiful Vietnam.
Really enjoyable day out with our excellent guide David. Throughly enjoyed the hike up the 500 steps. Very hot but the view & surrounding areas are stunning
We spent a very nice and wonderfull day-trip with our guide (Thao). We were 5 persons, and all visits have been very well managed. We performed boat tour route 2, visited Bai Dinh, Hoa Lu, and Mua cave at the sunset. All sites are very bery nice to see. We also appreciated having interesting information about Vietnamese culture, as well as the friendliness of our guide. We really recommend to book a tour with this company.
Very well organized. Travelling with a smaller bus ( only eight of us) made it very comfortable and quick which meant that we were early to all the attractions and could avoid the queues and crowds that we saw coming later. David, our guide, was excellent and fun and the information he shared with us added an extra dimension to it all. Thanks a lot for a really enjoyable day.
It was a very cultural and fun tour! Our tour guide Alex was very helpful and easy to talk with. He knew a lot of the history of Ninh Binh, which was very informative!
Jack our guide was very knowledgeable and spoke English very well. He kept up informed and connected the whole time. He even went out of his way to take lots of photos for us all. Highly recommend
Excellent one day trip to the suburb of Hanoi!
We had an amazing trip to Ninh Binh, and our guide made the experience even more special! He was friendly, professional, knowledgeable, and very helpful throughout the day. He explained everything clearly, took great care of us, and made sure we enjoyed every moment of the trip. We truly appreciated his kindness and excellent service. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Ninh Binh! Thank you for making our trip so memorable.
What an experience! Just wonderful. Vietnam is a spectacular country and it was a privilege to see the sights we did today. We particularly loved the boat trip. Mr Alex is so kind and funny - a wonderful guide. Thank you!
Alex is an **Extremely knowledgeable guide** with a touch of comedy when you expect it the least. I highly appreciated him walking us through the history of the first King and Ruler of Vietnam when we visited the first capital of Vietnam country. I would recommend Alex to every couples, families, single travelers. He stands head and shoulders above most of the guides we have crossed throughout the journey. Thanks Alex! Keep up the great work! With your energy, professionalism and humour the sky is the limit! Cảm ơn!
We had a great trip to Nihn Binh . Our tour guide was extremely knowledgable, and friendly. Great day out, best way to do a day trip
Our guide Jack was very punctual and welcomed us on his luxury limousine for a two hour drive to Ninh Bingh. The limousine made the trip very comfortable. Jack was very willing to answer all our questions and was an excellent guide throughout the whole day. It was an unforgettable moment and now a precious memory. Thanks Jack !
Excellent guide on this trip :)
We had a wonderful experience with Mr. Jack and our small, lovely group. He explained all the activities clearly, took great care of everyone’s needs, and ensured everything ran smoothly and on time. We were very happy with his service and would definitely recommend him!
This was a fantastic, action packed tour where you get to see all the wonders of Ninh Binh in one day! Our tour guide Henry was wonderful, extremely knowledgeable, patient and hilarious! After the cycling portion you have lunch to reboot your energy and then can enjoy the boat ride through the caves, the final portion of the tour you can choose whether to chill or walk to the mountain summit. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone wanting to do Ninh Binh from Hanoi everything is perfectly organised and guaranteed you will get a good night's sleep after this tour!
Excellent. Our guide Jack was amazing, 100% recommended, ask for him!
We booked the tour through our hotel, and everything ran smoothly from the start, as we were picked up right on time, the car was spotless, and we could begin the day relaxed. We spent the whole day with Jack in a group of nine people from Germany, Colombia, Australia and the USA, which created a really open and friendly atmosphere. We especially enjoyed the short bike ride to the pagoda, which was a nice change of pace. After lunch, we continued with the boat trip in Trang An, and after the optional climb up the steps, we were rewarded with a wonderful view over the landscape. The food was consistently good throughout the day, and Jack made sure everything was relaxed and well organized, so we can recommend this tour without hesitation.
Doing this tour as a solo traveler was the best decision ever. The hospitality was amazing, and the transfer was great—the car was super clean and nice. My guide, Jack, was a absolute legend! He made sure I felt included and helped me take great pictures so I have amazing memories to look back on. 10/10 experience!
Great trip. Loved the whole experience. Mr Jack was a wonderful guide. Explained everything in detail. Highly recommended
Great guide, very friendly. Had lots of fun with him in ninh binh.
Alex was a fantastic tour guide. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much to our tour guide and bus driver for your energy, time and effort for our tour to run smoothly in Ninh Binh! We were part of a small group and enjoyed all the different activities and site seeing such as boat ride, temples, cycling and mua caves. The journey on the bus was super comfortable and spacious with massage seat!!! We loved every minute of the day trip and couldn’t be happier - we appreciate you for taking good care of us!
Mr Alex is a very friendly and helpful tour host. He advised us on what to do and look for every step of our day tour. Particularly helpful was his attention to time keeping so we avoided excessive queuing at the attractions we visited. I highly recommend Mr Alex if you want to experience Ninh Binh. Brent Fleming.
Alex was our guide for the trip. He was professional, knowledgeable, and punctual. He’ll make sure you get the best bang for your buck.
My husband and I had a lovely experience with Alex. We were fortunate enough to be set with some kind and friendly folks as well which made the trip even more enjoyable. The views of Tam Coc were stunning, hike was doable and fun and even the bike ride provided us with lovely views. Lots of food offered to make up the calories lost too. Would definitely recommend to a friend. 10/10.
Was a fantastic day . David our guide was brilliant and our driver was the best . The trip had a bit of everything and so organised. Great value for money . Will be recommending this day trip to my friends . The luxury coach was great and small numbers even better. 100%
Absolutely worthwhile. The journey already started being picked up by a luxury van with massage seats. The drive was very relaxed and our tourguide Jack was an absolutely pro. He took us to all the places before the big tourist busses arrive. We had some of the places completely to ourselves. Also he gave a lot of helpful information and even made a lot of videos and pictures from everyone that wanted to. The driver was also very nice and helpful. I can only recommend this tour and also this tour guide. Big 5 star!!
It was such a wonderful experience! Our tour guide David was not only informative but also so friendly/kind. Anyone who wants to explore Ninh Binh, I highly recommend this tour!
We had a fantastic day exploring Ninh Binh with our guide Jack on the Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, Mua Cave and Bich Dong tour. We were picked up directly from our hotel in Hanoi, which made for an easy and convenient start to the day. Jack was friendly, relaxed and extremely knowledgeable throughout the day. One of the unexpected highlights was hearing him play the traditional Vietnamese flute, which was a lovely touch and made the experience even more memorable. The climb up the 500 steps at Mua Cave was certainly an adventure. We were caught in a massive rainstorm on the way up, but Jack was incredibly patient with us. There was absolutely no pressure or rushing, and he simply let us take it at our own pace. Reaching the top and seeing the views made it well worth the effort. We also really enjoyed cycling through the countryside and the beautiful sampan boat trip at Tam Coc. The itinerary had a great variety of experiences and never felt rushed. There was plenty of bottled water provided throughout the day, and we could even borrow traditional Vietnamese nón lá conical hats, which were both practical and great fun for the photos. We had a lovely group of fellow travellers, and Jack's easy-going personality and sense of humour helped make it a very enjoyable day for everyone. He also took plenty of photos of my wife and me and sent them to us afterwards, another very thoughtful touch. Ninh Binh is spectacular, but having such a knowledgeable and personable local guide made the day even better. We would happily recommend this tour and especially Jack. Cảm ơn rất nhiều, Jack!
What an awesome journey! 🇻🇳 A very special thank you to our wonderful Guide Jack and Driver Ding, who were truly great ambassadors for Vietnam and for the agency. From start to finish, everything was very well planned and organised. They made our journey safe, enjoyable, wonderful and, above all, truly memorable. Their professionalism, kindness and hospitality made all the difference. BRAVO to Jack and Ding! 👏👏 You both did a fantastic job and helped us discover the beauty of Vietnam in such a special way. And a special mention to Jack Daniel — not only a great guide, but also a talented flute player! 🎶 That was a lovely and unexpected touch that added even more charm to our journey. Our sincere thanks also go to Mevin from Bluesky Agency in Mauritius, who organised this wonderful trip for us and made sure everything came together so smoothly. Well done to the whole team, and thank you for giving us such beautiful memories of Vietnam. 🇻🇳❤️ Highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Danee & Rajendra Payen, Mauritius 🇲🇺
An amazing experience from start to finish. They picked us up from our hotel and drove us to Ninh Binh. Our guide Jack was excellent giving us tips and making us feel welcome during the trip. He knows the area and history very well. Would definitely recommend.
Was picked up in a very comfortable van one of the best I’ve been in. Our tour guide David had very good english speaking skills and gave an interesting deep history of ancient Vietnam which I found to be quite interesting. The tourist lunch stop for food is the only thing that could be improved - the selection and freshness could be better. Overall had a great experience on this tour
We had a wonderful experience with our tour guide, David. He was very friendly, professional, patient, and knowledgeable throughout the entire trip. He explained everything clearly and shared interesting information about the places we visited, which made the tour much more enjoyable and meaningful.
We had a wonderful experience with Jack on our cycling and boat ride tour. He was friendly, funny, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. Jack was very knowledgeable about the local area and shared interesting stories and insights along the way, which made the tour much more engaging. He was also attentive and made sure we were comfortable throughout the cycling and boat ride. His great sense of humour and easy-going nature made it feel less like a guided tour and more like spending the day with a friend. I would definitely recommend Jack to anyone looking for a fun and memorable experience!
Alex is a great tour guide. He explains everything with detail and communicates clearly and politely. I recommend to book his guide and tour services.
The experience of a lifetime, truly one of a kind. Mr Tu was very informative, he shared history and interesting facts about Vietnam. It rained heavily when we came but the tour agency still made things work. The bus was comfortable despite everyone being wet the whole day. The food was pleasant too and was able to accomodate muslims by providing a variety of vegetarian options.
We had a great day with Alex during our trip . Extremely friendly and helpful
I had an amazing day with Alex who shared his knowlege about Vietnam history and culture. We had enough time for all activities. I recommend it!!!
Been wanting visit Ninh Binh since the last time I was in Hanoi (2024) but wasn’t able to due to time limitations. Didn’t a quick search and decided to go book this time. What an experience I must say…had a great time and experience learning some background on Ninh Binh by tour guide Mai. She is very friendly and easy to ease questions and dedicated tour guide. The trip itself was an easy pick up from my hotel to then destinations. Includes an awesome all you can eat buffet midday (except drinks including water) then the final challenge to burn that meal off climbing 500 steps to some great views. Being a fan with you as it can get hot climbing up but well worth it. This will be an all day tour so dedicate a day for it. Highly recommended and well worth the price for the experience.
Mai was our tour guide.We had a wonderful day .Mai gave us a great historical background to the area.Answerd all questions and was super helpful on making our day a great experience. Highly recommend this tour and we thank Mai for making our day one we will allwqys remember. Rechel and Kim
A wonderful experience our tour guide had good knowledge which helped us to understand Vietnam history I loved the bicycle part of the tour I would highly recommend this tour
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