Buzz
After visiting Ninh Binh four times already, I still have the urge to come back once more. Honestly, Ninh Binh is a place that even after endless visits, you'll still want to return :((
Transportation
- I traveled by plane from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Since I booked last minute, the prices were quite steep, so remember to book in advance for better deals.
Photo: Hạnh Lê
- Upon arrival in Hanoi, I traveled to Ninh Binh by Limousine for 160k per person. The Limousine took us directly to the Homestay we had pre-booked.
Accommodation
- I opted for Trang An River View Homestay; you can check it out on Vntrip.vn for more details. Let me tell you a bit about the homestay - it has a quite lovely courtyard with an outdoor swimming pool for you to indulge in Instagram-worthy moments ;). The hosts were also incredibly charming; upon checkout, they even gave each of us a bottle of water for the journey.
Photo: Hạnh Lê
*You can also explore some other hotels in Ninh Binh on Vntrip.vn.
Check-in Itinerary
Day 1:
– We checked in at the homestay at 3 PM, then changed clothes and headed to Trang An. A small tip for you: the parking fee here is 15k. To enhance the photos, I bought a conical hat for easy sun protection (25k each).
– The entrance ticket costs 200k. At first, it seemed a bit pricey, but later I felt it was really worth it. You can choose from tours 1, 2, or 3 depending on your preference. Tour 3 is longer than the others, so you can consult the boat rower for advice.
Photo: Hạnh Lê
Day 2:
Tuyet Tinh Coc:
– I was determined to visit Tuyet Tinh Coc after hearing so much about it online. Seeing is believing (huhu), the scenery of mountains and crystal-clear water is stunning. And the entrance fee is surprisingly cheap, only 20k per person.
Photo: Hạnh Lê
Am Tien Cave:
– Am Tien Cave also offers a beautiful spot for photos. Just climb a few dozen steps and you'll find a super cute corner for photos from below.
Photo: Hạnh Lê
Day 3:
Mua Cave:
– Next up is Hang Mua. Definitely, visiting Ninh Binh without climbing Hang Mua is like not visiting Ninh Binh at all :v. The entrance fee is 100k per person, and even on a sunny day like the one we went, we still had to struggle to climb. But when we reached the top, it was so refreshing, making the effort worth it...
Photo: Hạnh Lê
– If you've already climbed Hang Mua, you can also try Ngọa Long Mountain. The higher you climb, the cooler it gets, but I advise those who fear heights to prepare themselves mentally..
Bai Dinh Pagoda:
– After getting bored with Hang Mua, we stopped by Bai Dinh Pagoda - the largest pagoda in Vietnam. Honestly, it's so vast that we couldn't explore it all. The parking fee at the pagoda is 15k. Then, head to the electric car area to enter the pagoda. Since we didn't have much time left, we only spent about 2 hours there before heading back because it was getting late.
Photo: Hạnh Lê
Dining
– Like everyone else visiting Ninh Binh, we tried local specialties such as mountain goat and crispy rice, so there's not much to review.
Important Notes
– Always ask for the price before buying something.
– Always carry water with you; it's to save money on buying drinks.
– Don't forget to bring a power bank; it's not just for checking in on social media without worrying about battery percentage, but also in case you get lost without phone battery, which can be quite troublesome. So, better safe than sorry!
– It's advisable to wear a pair of low shoes or sandals because there's quite a lot of walking involved here, so avoid wearing high heels.
Wrapping up my 3 days in Ninh Binh, I still want to come back here many more times. <3
