8 Best Things To Do In Ninh Binh In 2022 - A Guide To Backpacking ...

Ninh Binh, as a city, may not turn heads like Hoi An or Hue, but the nature surrounding the city and the fact that it is only an hour's drive away from Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, make it a great place for travelers who are looking to escape the bustling Hanoi and be among nature.

Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to visit Ninh Binh and a complete list of the best things to do in and around the city. Without further ado, here are the top 8 things to do in Ninh Binh for solo travelers.

Looking for a complete itinerary for Vietnam? Check out:2 Weeks Vietnam Itinerary

Table of Contents

• Ninh Binh Things To Do Itinerary Map
• Where to Stay in Ninh Binh?
• Quick Summary: Things to do in Ninh Binh
• 8 Best Things to Do in Ninh Binh
  • Climb Up the Mua Cave Viewpoint
  • Go On a Trang An Boat Ride
  • Visit Bich Dong Pagoda
  • Stroll Around Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
  • Be blown away by the scale of Bai Dinh Pagoda
  • Go On a Bike Tour Around the Countryside of Ninh Binh
  • Explore Cuc Phuong National Park
  • Visit Van Long Nature Reserve
• More Ninh Binh Activities
• Vietnam Travel Video
• Further Reading for Backpacking in Vietnam

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Ninh Binh Things To Do Itinerary Map

Quick Summary: Things to do in Ninh Binh

❤️ Must Visit 1. Climb Up the Mua Cave Viewpoint Mua Cave Viewpoint is, hands down, my favorite tourist attraction in Ninh Binh. Although the temple and the cave themselves are pretty average, the stairway with elaborately sculpted dragons straddling both sides, leading up the limestone mountain to a viewpoint, is a different story. Read More 2. Go On a Trang An Boat Ride One of the most famous things to do in Ninh Binh is to go on a boat ride along the beautiful river nestled between the stunning limestone mountains, and there is no better place to do it than in Trang An. Read More 3. Visit Bich Dong Pagoda Bich Dong Pagoda is an ancient tiered pagoda nestled between the limestone mountains in Ninh Binh, and it is one of the most scenic places in the area. Read More 4. Stroll Around Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Hoa Lu is an ancient capital city of the Dinh and Le dynasties that reigned over this area for many centuries. It is considered to be the first capital city of Vietnam, being established in the 10th Century. Read More 5. Be blown away by the scale of Bai Dinh Pagoda Bai Dinh Pagoda is a massive temple complex in Ninh Binh that spans over 700 hectares, making it the largest temple complex in Vietnam and one of the largest in Southeast Asia. Read More 6. Go On a Bike Tour Around the Countryside of Ninh Binh Ninh Binh's beauty lies not in its bustling city but in the surrounding nature in the countryside, and there is no better way to explore all the green rice paddies, limestone mountains, and temples in Ninh Binh than to go on a cycling tour. Read More 7. Explore Cuc Phuong National Park Cuc Phuong National Park is considered to be the first established national park in the country and the largest nature reserve spanning more than 200 km. Read More 8. Visit Van Long Nature Reserve Standing amid the stunning limestone mountains in Ninh Binh, Van Long Nature Reserve is one of the few wetlands in the area that are known for their abundance of bird species and other rare animals like the endangered Delacour's langurs. Read More Planning to visit soon? 🛌 Booking hotels: Booking.com, Agoda, and Hostelworld.

1. Ninh Binh Central Backpackers Hostel (Budget)
2. Tam Coc Holiday Hotel & Villa (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
3. Le Clos Du Fil (High-End)

🏄 Booking tours: Viator, GetYourGuide, and Klook.

1. Full-Day Ninh Binh Highlights Tour from Hanoi (11 hours)
2. Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave Via Boat & Bike (11 - 12 hours)
3. Ninh Binh Tour From Hanoi : Small-group JEEP/VESPA + BOAT + LIFE (11 - 12 hours)

🚘 Renting a car: Discover Cars. 🏥 Travel Insurance: Heymondo. Get 5% off today!

8 Best Things to Do in Ninh Binh

1. Climb Up the Mua Cave Viewpoint ❤️ Must Visit

Mua Cave Viewpoint is, hands down, my favorite tourist attraction in Ninh Binh. Although the temple and the cave themselves are pretty average, the stairway with elaborately sculpted dragons straddling both sides, leading up the limestone mountain to a viewpoint, is a different story.