8 Best Things to Do in Ninh Binh

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. As of 2026, allow around 150,000 VND for adult admission.

The Mua Cave Viewpoint will require you to hike up the 486 steps along a stone stairway that zig-zags its way up to the top of a limestone mountain, giving you an incredible vantage point and a sweeping view of Tam Coc. Here, you will see why they called it the "on-land Halong Bay."

At the top, you will also find all kinds of concrete sculptures adorning the limestone peaks, from a dragon sculpture to a tiered pagoda. It is one of the most popular places to take photos and definitely offers an incredible vantage point during sunset.

Just be careful when scrambling around the jagged peaks at the top, especially during the rainy season, as it can get extremely slippery. Many organized tours include a visit to Mua Cave, and if you are short on time, I highly recommend you join one for the trip.

Where to Stay in Ninh Binh?

Budget

Ninh Binh Central Backpackers Hostel

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👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Tam Coc Holiday Hotel & Villa

Deluxe Villa | $$

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High-End

Le Clos Du Fil

Double Room | $$$

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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.

In Trang An, limestone karsts rise dramatically above flooded valleys and waterways, and the boat trips weave between them while passing through a series of low limestone caves and stopping at temples along the way. There are currently three main routes, and each one includes cave passages, although the number of caves and stops varies by route.

You can currently choose between three main boat routes, and all of them pass through caves. Route 1 is the most cave-heavy option, while Routes 2 and 3 combine different caves, temples, and stretches of open scenery. The adult ticket is currently around 250,000 - 300,000 VND depending on the latest tariff being applied, so check the price displayed at the official ticket counter when you arrive. The ride generally takes around 2.5 - 3.5 hours.

You can visit Trang An independently and get a ticket right at the pier, or you can go as part of an organized tour which should handle all the logistics as well as take you to other beautiful places in Ninh Binh.

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. Entry to the pagoda itself remains free, although you may need to pay a small parking fee if you arrive by bicycle or motorbike.

Bich Dong Pagoda's ornate gate, with a stone bridge spanning across a beautiful lotus pond, is probably one of the most iconic sights in Ninh Binh.

You can hike to several levels once you are at the temple. A stairway going up the mountain will take you to the middle-tiered pagoda and another to the top-tiered pagoda, although the last part was more of a scramble than a hike.

These pagodas and temples are dated all the way back to the 18th Century. Like most Buddhist sites in Vietnam, make sure that your dress code is correct. Ensure that your shoulders and knees are well-covered before visiting.

Many cycling tours also include a visit to Bich Dong Pagoda, so if you are looking to learn a little bit more about the history of Bich Dong Pagoda, I highly recommend that you go on an organized tour instead of doing it independently.

4. Stroll Around Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Hoa Lu was the capital of the independent Vietnamese state of Dai Co Viet in the 10th and early 11th centuries, associated particularly with the Dinh and Early Le dynasties. Today, the historic area preserves temples and other remains connected with that period. Adult admission is currently around 20,000 VND.

Hoa Lu is home to many old temples and antique structures that will give you a glimpse of what it must have been like in the first capital city of Vietnam during its peak.

Walking through Hoa Lu is as close to a time machine as it gets. The surrounding nature, layered banyan trees, and the idyllic atmosphere make the temple a great place to stroll around in the morning.

You can visit Hoa Lu independently, or you can go on a full-day cycling tour, which will often include a visit to other parts of Ninh Binh as well, making it much more convenient to see all the tourist attractions in a short period.

5. Be blown away by the scale of Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda is a massive Buddhist temple complex in Ninh Binh made up of an older pagoda area and a much larger modern complex. Entry to the temple grounds itself is currently free, although optional services such as the electric shuttle and access to some attractions cost extra.

The temple complex consists of several old and new temples, all adorned with complex Vietnamese-Chinese-style designs and intricate details that will remind you of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Since the temple complex is spread out over a large area, you can walk or use the electric shuttle. As of 2026, the standard round-trip electric-car ticket is around 150,000 VND per adult, which can save quite a bit of walking if you want to cover the sprawling complex.

There is also a nice viewpoint at the top of a 13-story watchtower that offers a sweeping panoramic view of the temple complex and all its surroundings, but you will have to pay a little extra to access the elevator that takes you up to the top.

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.

Most cycling tours in Ninh Binh often include visits to other tourist attractions such as Hoa Lu and Tam Coc. If you are already planning to visit these places but are unsure how to get there, a cycling tour is a great option for you.

You can also enjoy the scenery of Ninh Binh's countryside at your own leisure if you explore the area with a bike. Trust me, there are many amazing sights and photo spots along the way.

7. Explore Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong National Park, established in 1962, is Vietnam's first national park. It protects roughly 22,000 hectares (220 km²) of limestone forest across Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa. General adult admission is currently 60,000 VND, with separate fees for some conservation centers and guided activities.

The national park is home to an extraordinary range of flora and fauna, and its conservation facilities work with threatened primates and other wildlife. The Endangered Primate Rescue Center here is especially well known and can be visited separately from the main forest area for an additional fee.

Although you can explore parts of Cuc Phuong National Park on a bike, the national park is best done on foot, and to truly do justice to the place, I highly recommend going on an organized tour that will help guide you through these lush valleys and charming forests.

You can probably find a local tour in Ninh Binh when you are there, but most Cuc Phuong National Park tours that you can reserve online are often part of a larger tour, and they leave from Hanoi. So, if you are looking to visit Ninh Binh and Cuc Phuong National Park as a day trip from Hanoi, you can book the tour here.

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.

The nature reserve is another prime place to go on a boat ride, but this time, with fewer people than the Trang An boat ride, you will experience the wetlands' nature in all its glory.

A Van Long boat trip currently costs around 150,000 VND per person and generally lasts about 1 - 1.5 hours. The exact route can vary with water levels and conditions, so cave access is not guaranteed on every trip. For wildlife, particularly birds, early morning or late afternoon is usually a better time to visit than the middle of the day.