Trang An Grottoes - Bai Dinh Pagoda Day Tours

What a brilliant day trip including the boat trip through the three caves. Our boat woman was skilled, fun and delightful. We were lucky to go the 1000m cave with no boats ahead of us: very special.

It starts off a bit chaotic getting bundled onto the boats but after you set off its really nice. Be prepared to do some rowing its part of the fun! Tour 1 was much quieter and you go through more small caves, however a few of the stops for “temples” were disappointing (just small shrines). If you want the better tour but don’t mind the crowds i would say 2 or 3 is better but definitely way busier. Fairly priced for a 3 hour activity and cheap to get a taxi to/from Ninh Binh.

The tour was really good. Xui was a great guide and we enjoyed his jokes. The Budist complex was spectacular, do not miss it.

Surprised this trip ain’t higher in the trip advisor ranks. Absolutely loved it, one of the best trips in Vietnam. It was the only trip I did in Vietnam where they don’t beg you for a review as well what was nice

I would certainly recommend going to Ninh Binh, but choose a different tour. The tour started with an extremely small and uncomfortable bus. Several people were promised limousines, but were not given this. On the 3 hours bus journey, we were taken to a location where we were given a 20 min sales pitch on buying bamboo clothes. We were never informed about this, and were confused by the whole arrangement. It felt odd to be forced into sales tactics after paying a lot for the tour. After getting back on the bus, we spent a lot of time dropping people off at different location, before getting to the Pagoda. The Pagoda is beautiful, but we did not get to see it up close. The guide also could not answer any of our questions regarding the history of the place. We then went to the Trang An Grottoes. It was beautiful, but we did not get to see any of the grottoes (and we were not told why) and it is very over crowded. We were also placed on a boat with another couple, and did not get to see much of the view as we were behind them, although we asked to change. We were then taken to a third location which was not included in our tour, and we got to choose to either sit outside in the hot weather for over an hour, and wait for the others or pay more to participate. We were not informed of this, and we spent a lot of time waiting for others, as we were not dressed for this nor were we expecting to have to pay extra. There were also several hidden costs (such as the bus to the Pagoda, which was also not included). The lunch is a buffet style with lots of other tour groups in a storage facility, and does not feel genuine or charming. All around, I would certainly recommend these sites, but the tour does not feel informative or genuine, and is full of hidden costs and sales tactics. The tour took a lot longer than promised, as we spent a lot of time waiting for activities that were not part of our package.

They have 3 routes so read the route map on the billboard near the ticket counter, so you can tell the rower which one to take. Otherwise they would often default to route one as it has the most stops. If you visit during spring then the weather can significantly affect the experience as slight fog can make the mountain top misty but heavy fog would block most of your view. Another thing the rower told me is that normally they would row by feet as it would be less tiring and faster; but due to Unesco influence, they are forbidden from doing it in the presence of foreigners. Personally I don't mind if they do it as it would be more authentic; if I visit India, I don't expect them to stop using their hands to eat because of me

We did the route 3 boat tour, which goes through 2 caves and stops at multiple pagodas. The route took just under 3 hours in total. The scenery is spectacular and going by boat is an ideal way to take it all in. Just make sure to put on plenty of sun cream if it's a sunny day.

This place is very nice, however, we choose wrong day to visit. It was public holiday in vietnam and there was rush like anything and it took us 45 min to reach to boat and there were boats and you were missing experience and vibe of the place. However, beauty of this place is amazing. It was just bad crowd management.

This is a full day! First up is the pagoda which is a huge complex- you could easily spend an entire day here. Very peaceful and beautiful. Next was a nice buffet lunch and after that the boat ride on the river and through the caves. Another beautiful and peaceful place in spite of the number of boats in the water. You can help row if you choose to but it’s not required. Our final stop was at another small pagoda.

We did route 1 which has the most caves. We were there during the week and about 9am so had no queue at all for tickets or boats, we also had many moments in the cave and on the river without other boats. Go early and if possible mid week.

Nice experience with family especially kids. They love the view and learn lots from the local culture. Will not get bored to come every year

Did the option 3 tour today. We arrived there late afternoon which seems to be a good time to avoid the crowds. Make sure not to arrive too late though, to avoid ending your boat trip in the dark. Upon our arrival, we parked our bikes for 10.000 Dong, bought the boat tickets and went on the boat. They always put four people in one boat, so your group will be filled up accordingly. Everything was very well organized and we had no queueing whatsoever. Our boat lady was friendly. However, she didn't speak any English. A bit unfortunate since it would have been very nice to learn more about the caves and rock formations. The boat ride itself was good. The nature is spectacular and the caves were really cool (and narrow!). The temples on the way were unspectacular but the temple stops are nice because you get a short break and can use restrooms etc. All in all, I can recommend the tour. It is very well organized and the nature and the caves are surely worth seeing.

The trip to Trang An Grottoes and Bài Dinh are two must see places if you want some time outside of busy Hanoi. The tours were quick and really only gave you small glimpse of the how amazing the places are. More time is needed to fully experience these two special places. Unfortunately there were a couple of things I found disappointing with this particular tour group. They combined other tours with our group. I ended up going to Mua mountain (I’ve been here before) and had to wait over an hour until they finished their tour of this place. This extended the travel day and maybe why the day felt so rushed. It was not part of my paid itinerary. Also, at Bài Dinh, they asked us to pay for the electric car on the bus. It should have been included in the first place. Our tour guide was nice, but he moved us from one place to another. I’ve had other guides that openly share the history, stories and the importance/significance of the places we visit. This was lacking. This tour did feel rushed. I will have to go back and revisit these places when I can.

Amazing and truly fascinating view. If you can stay over in ninh binh and spend time on the 9 spots ( one of the 3 routes ) We took the 3 spots ( route 3) as we only do a day trip . Visited few places on a bamboo boat and the view is spectacular and overall experience is awesome . We have teens and seniors with us so we took 2 boats ( 4 in a boat ) . it is all suitable as not much walking but coming on and off the boat is possible with some assistance. You can purchase tickets at the entrance . To me there is no need to arrange for a guide as they will provide you with the routing to choose from and directions are pretty clear too. Recommended to do it in the morning . For us to visit 3 spots it took us about 3 .5 hours at our own pace. Coming from hanoi traffic is heavy . We reached at about 930am( leaving hanoi old quarter at 745am) and it’s quite rush and we only managed to do 2 spots for the day . So advice to go earlier than 7am if you are travelling on a day trip

The place it’s magic! 2-3 hours boat ride through incredible landscape! You’ll pass 4 caves and after each one the scenery changes revealing a new set up to explore. The only annoying thing is that you’ll be with other 2000 boats doing the same thing, so go there early!

I am very satisfied with this trip in Vietnam. Everything there is great, the air is fresh, the people are friendly, there are also unique architectural works, the huge bell at Bai Dinh. Thank you AVT travel company for providing good service, hope to come back here to experience.

Tràng An is absolutely a beautiful place to visit in Ninh Bình. Service is excellent, and people are friendly. I went there with my big family size of 12, including kids and the elderly. The tour is designed appropriately for the whole family. There is no complaint. The only reason for giving it one star is that boat drivers are not well paid. They do not have any insurance (medical or social) from the invested company (XUAN TRUONG GROUP JOINT STOCK COMPANY). This makes us feel so bad that we spend money on a service that exploits and takes advantage of local people.

We had a lovely time on our trip, the scenery is stunning. We shared a 4 person row boat with a Vietnamese couple, it cost us about £17 for both of us for a 3 hour trip. The lady rowing did not speak English which was a bit of a shame as she couldn’t explain what we was seeing or share any history, but not a big deal as we can research this ourselves. The boats are not the comfiest, we are in our late 20’s and found our bums going numb and lower backs sore within the last hour. We chose tour 1 which was lots of caves & a few stops where we could get off and walk. The caves were very cool, you had to dodge a lot of pointed edges coming down off the rocks. Unfortunately for us, it started raining on our trip. I would definitely advise going on a nice sunny/dry day! I would say the 3 hours is a bit long, near the end I was actually quite happy to get off the boat and we was all helping her row to get there quicker. I would say the scenery is quite similar to that of Tam Coc, we biked around Tam Coc which was my more favourite out of the 2.

Too commercial and over crowded . Too noisy at the wharf, people push each other .... Don't go to this place. Tôo many man-made made stuff Vân Long, Tam Cốc are much better

This was an enjoyable tour. You have an option of 3 tours. The shortest is 2 hours going through 4 caves. There is a 2 1/2 hour tour with more caves, then the 3 hour tour that goes through 9 caves. We found that once you’ve gone through the 4 caves, the rest would just be repetitive. We did bring along rain ponchos just in case. We enjoyed this tour and would recommend it.

This trip was impressive! This is absolutely a must when visit Ninh Binh. My family took one boat and we took tour 2 and 3. Some may don't understand why we did both tour on the same day. This route is highly recommend from the local. He told that when we go, take the tour 2, when return tour 3. If so, you can visit 2 longest and most beautiful caves. We went on the afternoon so the weather is perfect. No piece of trash was seen along the trip. You can swim a boat if you want to (there are bonus paddles on the boat) One fact that, the Kong movie actually been filmed at Trang An. You can ask the boatmen where the scenes were set up.

This is an absolute must do when visiting Ninh Binh. Absolutely beautiful! We were a group of 6 so they provided 2 boats and we took tour 2 which took around 3 hours. So worth it! We came in July 2020 and took the tour during the week at 10am, it’s was extremely quiet!! We only saw around 30 other boats out! Just heaven!

We went on a group tour from Hanoi, which included Trang An boat ride. We loved the trip. The place was quite organized. We enjoyed the boat ride immensely. You are immersed in nature the whole time. It's a bit crowded and there are a large number of boats on the river, but, it's still an amazing experience. A must do experience for all nature lovers!

Did this trip with a lady who rowed with her feet, impressive. Good gentle boat ride through quiet (if a little busy) river and through 3 caves. Watch out for the hustle at the turnaround, the vendor getting you to buy lunch for the boat lady

Trang An is very beautiful and its a must visit. Buy a ticket and ride on the bamboo boat which can accommodate 4 people. The boat ride takes 2 hours at least. The boat goes through 7 caves and we have to bend down while passing through the caves. Besides caves, enjoy the scenery of many small mountains along the journey. There are old temples that can stop and walk down to pay a visit along the ride. Really enjoyed the trip to Trang An.

Very romantic boat ride, although it was shared with another couple. It would be preferable to go as a group of 4 friends. Landscape is quite unique, and probably less touristic than Ha Long Bay. The only minus is the high amount of boats around you in the afternoon, so its advisable to go early in the morning.

This circular 2.5 hour boat ride was spectacular with Mother Nature showing off some chokkingly beautiful landscapes. There are caves to go through plus some modern temples to stop at. Definitely a highlight of the region. Thanks for the vote if you found this review helpful.

I did this tour in December which is second best to its rice field counterpart of Tam Coc(which in December is not good as the rice is harvested). The boat tour took 2-3 hours and is managed by a single company. The trail A, which I took was so amazing. We came across few temples, rowed under few caves and rowed between mountains. Just live the moment instead of taking pictures as every frame from here is picturesque and have a lot of fun.

We booked a tour to Trang An Ecocomplex while we were staying at the La Siesta (Ma May Street) in Hanoi. The hotel staff there were able to arrange a great trip for us with less than one day notice. We had a private car and driver (Tin), plus a separate guide (Tam). They were both fantastic and really made the day enjoyable. The trip from Hanoi was about an hour and a half, but the scenery along the way is interesting. Some people who have reviewed various river excursions have complained that the person who rowed their boat demanded a tip at the end, or they were pressured to buy them a beverage from a floating vendor. We did not experience either of those while we were there, although we gladly tipped the gal who rowed our boat. She was obviously getting a workout. The only draw back to the boat ride is the large number of boats on the waterway at the same time. The route takes you past some temples along the banks, plus through a few caves. The tour we took also included a stop at several temples, lunch at a local restaurant, and a bike ride through a local village. We paid roughly $101USD per person and I felt the value for what we received was great. This covered the cost of the car, driver, tour guide, boat and rower, bike rental, and lunch at a local restaurant. Some of the temples we stopped at required women to cover their legs if they had shorts on. There were some local people sitting outside that would rent you a cover for a small fee. While we were at a temple, our guide took a photo of us and said "It was for the hotel." I didn't quite understand what she meant until we returned to our room at La Siesta that night and found that she must have e-mailed it back to the hotel while we were still on the trip, and the hotel staff printed it and put it in a nice frame. It was waiting for us as a gift which was just one more reason I would recommend booking both hotel stay and tours through La Siesta's parent company, Elegance Hospitality Group (EHG). We travel a lot and I wish all companies were as concerned with customer service as La Siesta and EHG are.

We booked a day tour to Trang An from the local tour company in Hanoi. The good thing is the view there is nice, plus it was a sunny day. Now for the bad things, first of all, our tour guide came late and the driver didn't know anything about there will be a guide, so he just departed right after he picked us. Only later driver found out and had to turn back and pick up the guide. Now, here is the terrible thing: the guide never explains why he's late and apology for that. Then the driver starts to complain about us to the guide, that he missed me for the tour guide, we lived too far (in Tay ho area), the morning traffic, with lots of f-words in the process. Meanwhile, our guide seems to be more interested in joining the complaining instead of introducing himself to his customers. I guess it's our fault that he is late, that the moment when he saw our address and he already felt tired. After 20-30 mins of complaining, the guide just falls asleep while we head toward the destination. Terrible. Note that we are taking an 11-seater Ford and we sat right behind the driver and the guide. After we arrived, the place is crowded with people selling overpriced hats or fruits, and people who take photos of you without asking if it's ok first. Later they print photos out and try to sell it to you. The boatmen as usual (usual means whenever you take a boat in Vietnam) ask for tips after the trip, but with an attitude that we owe him money, and complains loudly that we tip him too little. It feels terrible when someone sitting at your back keeps asking for money. The vendors are even funnier. We try to buy bamboo hats from one of the stands. When a price is agreed upon and the money is given, the vendor said we paid short and asking for more money while holding the money we gave her. What a sales technique! Which we are not sure is legal in any civilized country. On the way back to Hanoi, the driver is complaining and cursing as usual, and he decided not to bring us back to the hotel entrance but the intersection of the road so he can rush to the airport for the next pickup. No goodbye or thank you and he just took off. What a pro!

A very nice place with excellent landscape. We had a wonderful time here. Like it a lot and will visit again for sure!

My friend and I were come here last month, really beautyful and peaceful. I enjoy it so much. I already fall in love with the nature in here ♥♥

Trang An was a great experience! The grottoes were amazing and the water was blue and beautiful. Make sure you have at least 3 hours for this trip as the boat ride is long. There are several options to choose from which was nice. We truly enjoyed all of the stops on our tour although some of them required hiking up massive, steep hills which was difficult at times. Bring a hat and sunglasses if there is a lot of sun as it makes it easier to look at everything while in direct sunlight. The caves were so cool! Also, across the street you can also enjoy a banh mi for a few bucks. This was a cheaper alternative to the restaurant on site and the sandwiches were delicious! Overall, I would recommend this. Lastly, you have the same boat rower the entire time so at the end of the long 3 hour ride, make sure you tip them as they most certainly deserve it!!!!!!

Four people to a boat paddled by a local lady. Awesome river and views which we found as good or better than Ha long bay. We took tour route three, less caves but longer, one was a kilometre long! Other routes have more caves but much shorter.

We had an amazing boat tour with such a sweet guide! She went out of her way to ensure we had a good time and saw everything we wanted to see. She did her best to use google translate or try to speak in English for us which was very appreciated! She even took us into a little temple to have tea, which the other tours did not receive! We were in boat 669, but I don’t know what our guides name was :(

This is a tourist magnet, as evidenced by the very large number of boats available for tours. Nonetheless, this is a magnificent area with numerous unusual features making it a very attractive destination. The Bai Dinh Pagoda is also exceptional and worthy of at least a half day visit.

Can’t describe how beautiful it was. I started from Hanoi at 6AM and arrived Trang An at 7:30, it was so peaceful as not many tourist. There was 3 different tours, and I chose tour 2, which is less caves and more tourist attraction. Happy that I did decide to visit Trang An.

At Trang An, the rower rows conventionally with their hands as opposed to Tam Coc, where they row with their feet; whichever way they do it, they still expect a tip at the end. I think the scenery at Trang An is better than at Tam Coc, but perhaps the whole venture is more commercialised. On the whole, I prefer Trang An to Tam Coc. The Bai Dinh pagoda complex is enormous and my tour did not allow me enough time to enjoy it fully. You might well have to walk up a hill and back down again when you visit. Well worth seeing.

What a fantastic visit to the Trang An Grottoes. We paid for a 2 hour guided boat tour (200k dong a person). We went through a number of the grottoes and stopped off at the pagoda. It was wonderful and the Vietnamese men and women that row the boats are friendly and kind. A must see if in the Ninh Binh region.

This is a very memorable experience for entire family. I am surprised by some unsavory experiences posted here. I guess I need to understand that this is not an amusement ride and you will be disappointed if you are seeking some steroidal thrills. If you can appreciate nature's beauty and tranquility then you will love it to core.

We enjoyed the couple hours we spent on the boat floating through the grottos as our boatman paddled. The water is clear and beautiful. There are tremendous photo opportunities. You can stop at islands and walk around. There is a small gift store when you finish the trip and it has some lovely items. We found some beautiful silk scarves.

The nature is amazing! The water is clear, i can see fish! So peaceful and people here are hard workers!

Nothing more to add it is beautiful and quiet. The boat trip takes 2 hours to finish but it worth. Normal boat allows 4 persons to travel. Be prepare with your camera for capturing nature at its best.

Trang An is filled with beautiful scenery and caves. We did Route 2 and loved it. Wouldn’t want to do any longer as the seats get quite uncomfortable and it’s very hot. We were quite happy with our driver until he demanded a tip- and told us exactly how much he wanted, refusing to take the smaller notes we had. Shame he made us fill out the feedback forms BEFORE this. Despite the rude ending to our experience, would still highly recommend this as the location is just spectacular

It was very nice tour, each boat is 4 people plus the women who paddle for us. Also she ask sometime to help her... it is not mandatory. The safe jacket is mandatory and there are some checkpoint that if you dont wear you can be fine as well as the women who paddle. Very pleasant tour of about 2 hours.

My family did the route 2 tour and had a wonderful time. The views are simply amazing and the pagodas are some of the most ornate we saw on our Vietnamese excursions. The only thing I would warn is that it does get very hot, so take plenty of sun cream and cover up where possible. I burned my knees for the first time ever!

Come back after 2 years: scenery, people, boat tour, still amazing. Highly recommended for the nature lovers

Upon arriving, we were really worried that this was going to be an overly toursity natural destination ruined by rubbish, lots of shops, and lots of people. Despite there being quite a few people- the area is big enough that you never feel crowded and are able to enjoy the beauty of the park. There are people cleaning the surface of the water and making sure that noone is smoking etc, so the whole area is very clean and well maintained

So it was pouring rain and the typhoon had just been and we were in Hanoi, I so wanted to go here, but couldn't decide because of the weather, i decided that we were here and that no matter what we needed to visit - even if we were sitting in our boat - drenched for 3 hours. We left Hanoi city at 7.30 in the pouring rain and only once we were about 1hour away from Trang An did the rain stop and it was absolutely beautiful, even if it is raining it would be so well worth doing. We were told by our guide to pick option 3 (better scenery caves and you get to stop at the Skull island - movie set). Good advice. Make sure you take sunscreen as the sun did come out and we all got a little burnt. It's a great day out.