How to get to Ninh Binh

Once the capital of Vietnam, Ninh Binh now stands as a famous attraction, known for its rich history, yellow rice fields, and stunning limestone caves. How to get there should always be the first question, and the answer is very easy.

Ninh Binh doesn’t have its own airport, so you’ll most likely fly to major cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh and make your way there. The province is also linked to main transport networks including highway 1A or North-South Vietnam train route, making travel there from elsewhere in Vietnam even easier.

Here’s our completed guide of how to get to Ninh Binh by bus, train or private car.

Bus

Buses could help you to get to Ninh Binh from everywhere in Vietnam.

If you start from the north of Vietnam, you’ll likely take a bus from the local stations to the Ninh Binh bus station. These buses are destinations to all the major cities of the north, including Thai Nguyen, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh or even Sapa.

Bear in mind that there are only 1-2 schedules per destination per day, so plan accordingly. Tickets could be booked directly at the station ticket counters.

Travelers from Hanoi or Halong Bay get a better option of traveling by limousine vans. These vans offer a hassle-free ride by picking up and dropping off at your accommodations. They typically depart hourly from 05:00 to 19:00 every day and take about 3.5 hours to get to Ninh Binh.

Tickets cost roughly around 250,000 vnd per ride and could be easily booked online via Vexere or directly at your hotel receptions.

Most travelers departing from South or Central Vietnam won’t typically travel by bus to Ninh Binh since train or flight are more attractive options. However, there are overnight sleeper buses that start daily from Ho Chi Minh City or Danang and arrive in Ninh Binh by early in the morning.

Note that these buses might take 8-12 hours depending on where you start and are not famous for their comfort. Tickets are pretty cheap (350,000vnd ~ 700,000vnd) and could be booked easily with hotel reception or travel agencies anywhere.

Train

At the middle point of Vietnam’s railway system, Ninh Binh is well served by train.

Even though Vietnam trains are far from being “superior” and could be a bit noisy, it’s still an excellent way to experience how Asia train will be like. The station is also located in the city center, with easy access to Ninh Binh’s attractions.

From North cities like Hanoi, the train ride might take from 2 hours to 3 hours, with tickets from 80,000 VND to 150,000 VND depending on the type of seats and distance. Soft seats are recommended since they offer air- conditioning, but the cheaper hard seat option will have far more fun with lots of locals sitting around you.

From southern provinces like Ho Chi Minh City or central provinces like Hoi An or Hue, a train ride to Ninh Binh is much longer, up to 12 hours. Booking a sleeper seat is highly recommended. A sleeper seat will normally be in a cabin of 4 beds, and you might have to share with others or go private by booking others 3.

Beds are pretty cleaned, with AC and free access to a shared bathroom. Tickets start at 350,000 vnd and go up depending on the distance.

Remember that most trains from south or central Vietnam arrive in Ninh Binh either early in the morning or late at night, so plan your transfer accordingly.

While tickets could be easily booked at any hotel or agency for a small commission, you could easily pre-book them online via the Vietnam Railway website or book directly at the station if it’s just a short ride.

Private Car

Fast, compact, and flexible, getting to Ninh Binh by private car or taxi is ideal if you’re departing from Hanoi, Halong Bay, or any destinations that are within 200 kilometers. While standard taxis are plenty yet include a mixture of reliable and scams, we suggest you go extra mile by arranging a private car with your hotel or agency in advance.

Check the distance with Google Maps; negotiating a fair price in advance (12,000 VND ~ 15,000 VND per kilometer) will help you avoid any confusion later on.