Greetings, fellow travelers! Ninh Binh stands out as one of the most captivating destinations in the North, attracting numerous visitors with its natural wonders like Trang An, Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Bai Dinh Pagoda, and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. Upon arrival, you'll be mesmerized by the majestic natural scenery, encompassing lush green mountains, meandering rivers, and mysterious caves. Wondering about the best way to get around? Let's delve into some transportation insights for your Ninh Binh trip with Wanderlust Chronicles!
After perusing this article, Wanderlust Chronicles will equip you with the following insights:
Now, let's embark on this journey together with Wanderlust Chronicles!

Best Time to Visit Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is situated in a subtropical humid climate zone with distinct seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Therefore, the optimal time to travel to Ninh Binh for tourism is during the spring and early summer seasons.
Traveling to Ninh Binh during the spring months (from January to March) offers cool weather, minimal rainfall, and pleasant conditions, making it ideal for sightseeing and exploring the beauty of Ninh Binh.
During the summer months (from April to June), the weather in Ninh Binh is typically cool and comfortable, neither too cold nor too hot, providing ample opportunities to admire the artistic natural landscapes of Ninh Binh.
Getting to Ninh Binh
Getting to Ninh Binh from Hanoi
Ninh Binh is approximately 100 km from the capital city of Hanoi and serves as a crucial transportation hub with 9 national highways and a highly convenient expressway system. Therefore, if you're traveling to Ninh Binh from Hanoi, you can opt for the following common modes of transportation:
Traveling from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by private vehicle
Motorcycles and cars are popular choices among many travelers, especially young enthusiasts, when traveling to Ninh Binh. These modes of transportation offer flexibility in terms of time, distance, and can save you a considerable amount of money compared to other means of transport. Moreover, they not only provide convenience but also offer you interesting and memorable experiences and discoveries along the way. You can stop anywhere you like to admire the scenery, take photos, or capture beautiful moments on your journey.

If you're traveling to Ninh Binh by car from Hanoi, you can take the Phap Van – Cau Gie expressway to Ninh Binh. This route will take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes (depending on traffic conditions and driving speed).
For those traveling to Ninh Binh by motorcycle, from the city center of Hanoi, head towards Van Dien and Thuong Tin. Then, follow National Highway 1A towards Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province, and continue towards Ninh Binh. Please note to avoid mistakenly heading towards Nam Dinh – Thai Binh to save yourself from unnecessary detours. This route will take a little over 3 hours to reach Ninh Binh.
Traveling from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by bus
If you don't have the means to travel by car or motorcycle, you can opt for a coach. This can be a suitable choice for you when traveling from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.
When traveling by coach, you can rest and relax to prepare yourself physically and mentally for the journey to explore Ninh Binh, especially for travelers with minimal luggage. Additionally, the estimated coach fare is only around 80,000 - 100,000 VND per trip, helping you save costs.

Currently, there are numerous coaches commuting between Hanoi and Ninh Binh, such as:
Cuong Hung Coach
Minh Dung Coach
Thuy Duong Coach
Important notes when traveling to Ninh Binh by coach:
Traveling from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by train
In addition to the mentioned means of transportation, another option to travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is by train. This can be a very interesting experience and is also an ideal choice for those who suffer from motion sickness.
Ninh Binh and Hanoi are both located along the North-South railway line, making it easy for you to travel to Ninh Binh and vice versa by train at different departure times: 6 AM, 9 AM (morning), 1:10 PM, 2:30 PM (afternoon), or 7:30 PM, 8:10 PM (evening) with ticket prices ranging from 110,000 to 130,000 VND per ticket (including insurance and subject to change based on certain conditions such as ticket purchase time, passenger type, seat location, etc.).

Currently, there are 4 railway stations in Ninh Binh including: Ninh Binh Station (in Ninh Binh City), Cau Yen Station (in Hoa Lu District), Dong Giao Station (in Tam Diep City), and Ghenh Station (in Tam Diep City). Ninh Binh Station is one of the main stations on the North-South railway line, so you can purchase train tickets from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. The 115 km railway section from Hanoi Station to Ninh Binh Station takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Traveling to Ninh Binh from Ho Chi Minh City
For those traveling to Ninh Binh from Ho Chi Minh City, there are several options available, as follows:
Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Ninh Binh by airplane
The most convenient, optimal, and fastest way to travel to Ninh Binh from Ho Chi Minh City is by airplane. However, Ninh Binh currently does not have a direct airport connection from Ho Chi Minh City, so you can choose one of two options: fly from Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) to Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) or Tho Xuan Airport (Thanh Hoa), as these are the airports closest to Ninh Binh.

After arriving at the selected airports, you can take a taxi or coach to Ninh Binh (as planned). However, to save costs, it is advisable to choose option 1: fly to Noi Bai Airport, then take a bus to downtown Hanoi for 12,000 VND per trip. Afterward, take a coach or limousine to Ninh Binh with fares ranging from 80,000 to 250,000 VND per trip (depending on the type of vehicle, whether standard or premium).
Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Ninh Binh by private vehicle
Because Ninh Binh city is located on National Highway 1A, it is very convenient if you choose a car or motorcycle as your mode of transportation when traveling to Ninh Binh. There are 2 routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Ninh Binh that you can consider:
Route 1: Passing through National Highway 14 and National Highway 1A
From Ho Chi Minh City, head towards National Highway 22 and National Highway 14 to Da Nang City, then continue along National Highway 1A through some provinces in the Central region until you reach Ninh Binh.
Route 2: Passing through Route 13
Route 13 is a route that crosses through Khammouane province in Laos. Similar to Route 1, when starting from Ho Chi Minh City, you will travel along National Highway 22 then onto Route 13, Road National 7 – AH131 / Route 12 – Route 8 – AH15 – National Highway 8A. Upon reaching Nghe An province, you can continue along National Highway 1A to reach Ninh Binh.
Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Ninh Binh by coach
The distance by coach to Ninh Binh is over 1000 km, so if you choose this mode of transportation, it will be quite challenging for you. However, if you have good health, don't suffer from motion sickness, and enjoy traveling by coach, this can be a quite interesting experience. The estimated travel time by coach from Ho Chi Minh City to Ninh Binh is approximately 32 to 40 hours.

Currently, there are numerous coaches commuting between Ho Chi Minh City and Ninh Binh, such as:
Cuong Hinh Coach
Cuong Tot Coach
Hoang Long Coach
Hieu Tai Coach
Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Ninh Binh by train
Transportation options in Ninh Binh
When in Ninh Binh, you can choose one of the following means of transportation to explore the tourist attractions and discover Ninh Binh.
Getting around Ninh Binh by taxi
This is a fairly common mode of transportation and easy to find, especially for large groups (including elderly and young children), making it a practical choice. Additionally, you can negotiate the fare for each journey with the driver or go by the taxi meter.

Some taxi companies (along with phone numbers) in Ninh Binh that you can consider:
Getting around Ninh Binh by renting a motorbike
You can rent motorbikes at the hotels where you stay or at motorbike rental points in Ninh Binh city such as:
Viet Dung Motorbike Rental
Dung Manh Motorbike Rental
Phuong Tien Motorbike Rental
Chị Trang Motorbike Rental

A small note for you when intending to rent a motorbike is:
Choose the type of bike, such as automatic bikes, Lenovo bikes, or Honda bikes, which consume less fuel.
When refueling, remember to refuel little by little, or depending on how much you plan to travel on that day to buy just enough fuel. Pay attention to the amount of fuel when buying to see if it matches the amount of money.
Make sure to thoroughly check all accessories such as rearview mirrors, turn signals, and headlights to ensure they are functioning properly, and ensure the bike has all the necessary documents. When renting a motorbike, you will need to present your ID card.
Considerations when choosing a transportation method to Ninh Binh
Here are some considerations when choosing a transportation method to Ninh Binh for your reference:
Choose a transportation method that fits your travel budget because every trip requires budget planning from the start. You will need to spend a lot of expenses, so set a certain amount for transportation and choose based on that budget.
For those traveling from Ho Chi Minh City by airplane, you should limit the weight of your luggage, so be sure to calculate carefully to avoid additional costs due to excess baggage.

If you choose to travel to Ninh Binh by train or bus, make sure to prepare food to bring along. Food sold on trains or at bus stops often has a high price and it's difficult to ensure food safety and hygiene. Therefore, bringing dry food is necessary to ensure your health.
Video guide on traveling when visiting Ninh Binh
Above are the travel experiences for your trip to Ninh Binh. Hopefully, this article will help you plan and choose the right transportation to start your journey exploring Ninh Binh with the most exciting experiences. Wish you all the best.
Posted by: Vu Nguyen
Keywords: Traveling Experience in Ninh Binh
