Since I generally prefer landscapes to cities, I knew I wanted to spend some time in Ninh Binh on our 10-day visit to Vietnam. Two days in Ninh Binh allowed us to see some of the highlights of this Vietnamese province, which is home to the country’s original capital city. We could easily have enjoyed a few more days here.
We stayed at The Tam Coc Lily Homestay and were very happy with it. Lily was a welcoming host, helping us get rides and plan out our time here. The rooms were clean, and I made use of the bikes she offered us.
Things to Do in Ninh Binh Province
Mua Cave
The name of this attraction is a bit confusing, as the cave is only a tiny part of the visit. Once you enter this complex, there are two mountain paths to climb to lookouts, a small cave, rice and lotus flower fields to walk among, and many restaurants. Be sure to visit here first thing, as it gets bustling as the day progresses.
The climbs are strenuous, with 500 stairs leading to the top of two different peaks, where you’ll find lookout towers and pagodas.
Take a Bike Ride through the Rice Paddies.
Our homestay provided bikes, which I used for a leisurely ride through local neighborhoods and rice paddies. There wasn’t much traffic in this area, which made the ride pleasant.
Tam Coc Boat Ride
I’ll put this here as an optional activity, but the boat ride in Trang An is better if you only want one, as they are similar.
Enjoy an Evening at Hoa Lư Old Town
Walk along the boardwalk (Hoa Lư Walking Street) of this tourist destination and enjoy dinner along the Ky Lan Lake amongst many lanterns and pagodas while watching boats glide along the river. We also had massages (a daily experience for us in Vietnam) at one of the many spas.
At the end of the street, there are stairs to ascend for a view, or you can enter the Bac (Silver) pagodas from floating walkways.
The next day, we spent the day with a local tour guide and driver, Dao Xuan Khang (WhatsApp: +84969081094). I highly recommend using his services.
Hoa Lư Ancient Town
The Ancient Town is the site of Vietnam’s original feudal capital city in 968. With murals, our guide, and visits to the buildings in the complex, we learned a great deal about Buddhism and Vietnam’s history.
Am Tiem Cave
This attraction is similar to the Mua Cave and is hidden near Hoa Lư Ancient Town. I preferred it as it is less touristy, the cave was better, and it was less crowded. The omnipresent Buddhist flute songs filled our ears as we walked up the small hill to the cave and around a beautiful lake surrounded by flowers, lanterns, and green rising hills.
Bich Gong Pagoda
Bich Gong was my favorite of the pagodas that we visited, because the location is so tranquil and some of the pagoda is actually built into the side of the mountain. It reminded me of Matera, Italy, one of the most magical places on earth.
Lunch in Tam Coc
Rather than taking the Tam Coc boat ride, we had lunch with a view of the boats. We ate at the Tam Coc Riverfront Homestay, and the food was yummy! Be sure to have the fried fish with pineapple wraps and a coconut coffee.
Trang An Boat Ride
This almost three-hour boat ride (paddled by a private driver) takes you through the jungle, to pagodas, by rice fields, and if you choose the correct route (route 3), even through limestone caves!
My Favorite Vietnamese Buddhist Story
While on the Trang An boat ride, we stopped at a few temples in the jungle. One had these statues that I had seen versions of throughout the area, featuring a crane atop a turtle – a little lesson to help those around us.
The Trang An boat ride was an excellent way to wrap up our two days in Ninh Binh, and Dao drove us to Hanoi.
