Hanoi to Ninh Binh

About the ride from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

One of Vietnam’s most popular destinations, Ninh Binh is beautiful. Known to many as ‘Halong Bay on land,’ Ninh Binh has endless limestone peaks, beautiful hikes and one of the world’s most interesting cave trips. And even better, it’s only a short trip from Hanoi!

For the 95km (59 mile) journey from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, you have four main options: 

• Bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh - typically around 2.5 hours
• Car from Hanoi to Ninh Binh - typically around 1.5 hours
• Minivan from Hanoi to Ninh Binh - typically around 2.5 hours
• Train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh - typically around 2 hours

Many tourists decide to rent a scooter and drive from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Since riding a scooter in Vietnam can be dangerous, it's not a recommended option.

A final option is a one day tour from Hanoi. On this one day tour, you can experience some of Ninh Binh’s highlights as a day trip from Hanoi. It’s not the best option for experiencing all that Ninh Binh has to offer, but it’s an excellent choice if you’re on a tight turnaround.

 

What to see when traveling from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

Leaving Hanoi is a fun part of the trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. In your time in Vietnam’s capital, you’ll have experienced the madness and mayhem of Hanoi’s roads. But watching your bus navigate through them is an even stranger experience. Your bus will squeeze through tiny gaps with feats of flexibility you never thought possible.

Once these tiny gaps make way for wider roads, you’ll leave behind the craziness of Hanoi and drive past farms, small towns and roadside stores.

As Ninh Binh’s towering limestone karsts come into view, you’ll be greeted by one of Vietnam’s most verdant areas. Green and serene, the last part of your journey takes you through spectacularly beautiful terrain. 

 

How to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

Taking a bus

The bus offers a very easy, comfortable and affordable way to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. The journey takes around 2.5 hours and offers AC. There’s no luxury onboard, but it’s great for the price.

A day tour bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is also available. If you choose this option, you leave Hanoi and return to Hanoi on the same day. You will spend around 5 hours in Ninh Binh, enjoying temples, caves, karsts, rivers and some of the region’s tastiest food.

Taking a car 

With the SUV Car from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, you don’t buy a ticket for your individual seat. Instead, you rent the entire car for your journey and split the cost between all of the people you’re traveling with. Up to five people can travel in the car from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.

The car is very comfortable and offers AC and an English-speaking driver. With a private car from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, you can choose your own departure and arrival times, and you can stop whenever you like!

Taking a minivan

There are a huge number of options for getting a minivan from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. With some, you can rent the entire vehicle and split the cost with your traveling party. With others, you can simply buy a ticket for one seat. The quickest of these options is 1.5 hours, while the longest is just over 3 hours.

Different providers offer different perks, but some of the most luxurious journeys offer very comfortable seats along with power sockets, blankets, WiFi and English-speaking staff.

Taking a train 

The train to Ninh Binh from Hanoi can be an excellent experience. Most tourists choose to use buses while traveling in Vietnam, but the train is often more comfortable - and you haven’t fully experienced Vietnam until you’ve traveled on one of its trains!

All train journeys take 2 hours and 15 minutes, and they’re all very affordable. On some journeys, you get a bed. On others, you get a seat. All offer food, drinks and toilets.