Believe it or not, you’d be shocked to see how much you can fit into one day in Ninh Binh. Make no mistake, it’s large by any standards with an area of 1,384 km², so you cannot expect to see everything in Ninh Binh in 1 day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try to get a feel for the province.
Here’s our recommended Ninh Binh 1 day itinerary to help you out whether you’ve got a quick stopover or a full day.
Ninh Binh 1 day Itinerary
*Note: You can start anywhere in Ninh Binh, but ideally from Tam Coc area to avoid spending too much time riding.
8:00 am: After breakfast, make your way to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. First, drop by King Dinh temple—where you worship Dinh Tien Hoang, the king that chose Ninh Binh as the capital in 968. Besides, make sure to visit the next-door temple of Le Dai Hanh, successor of Dinh, to complete your knowledge of the history of Ninh Binh.
09:30: Grab a taxi (~70,000 VND) to Mua Cave. Most people choose to travel there in the morning, but we suggest doing so to avoid the crowds.
10:00 am: Arrive at Mua Cave. Spend around 1–1.5 hours climbing up to the two viewpoints and enjoying the panoramic view of Ninh Binh.
11:30 am: Get a taxi to the Tam Coc area (~50,000 VND), the main tourist hub of Ninh Binh. You’ll find tons of restaurant options, from local specialties to some Western touches like burgers or pizza. Have a nice lunch.
2:00 pm: Take a leisurely walk to Van Lam Pier. Purchase the ticket (~250,000 VND) and board the local sampan boat. We’ll start our boat ride to explore Tam Coc and its 3 caves. Slowly sailing through the yellow rice field along the Ngo Dong River and taking in the beauty of limestone mountains. The boat trip takes 1.5 hours.
3:30 pm: Get off the boat and ride a bike (2.8 km) to Bich Dong Pagoda.
4:00 pm: Arrive at Bich Dong Pagoda. The first thing to check out is the entrance of the pagoda, with a lovely little bridge over the lotus pond. Walk around the complex and climb up to the top pagoda. From there, you’ll have a chance to witness the golden hour, seeing the sun slowly set behind Ninh Binh’s limestone mountains.
6:00 pm: Return to Tam Coc Town. Grab some dinner.
8:00 pm: If you still have any energy left, consider visiting Hoa Lu Walking Street. It’ll be a night market with lots of street foods and other night activities like traditional music performances, games, etc.
Tips
- Before you go, it’s essential to choose your best way to get around Ninh Binh. Taxis are the most popular way. Biking is also a good option since the streets are beautiful and quiet there.
- If you only have one day in Ninh Binh, we recommend staying around Tam Coc. This area is more central and easier to navigate around.
- Prepare cash in Vietnam Dong during your day, since the ticket booths at attractions will only accept them.
- If you find its too hustle, consider our Ninh Binh 1 day tours here. These all-inclusive tours pick you up at your hotel in Ninh Binh, and cover all the highlights in just 1 day.
