2 days motorbike in Ninh Binh: the jewel of Vietnam
Ninh Binh is a small town in the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. It is two hours from Hanoi and is known for its beautiful surroundings, full of karst mountains of different shapes and heights, surrounded by water, temples and villages.
We spent two days at Ninh Binh, which I can say were some of the best in Vietnam, especially in terms of landscape. We rented a motorbike and spent two days lost among rivers, rice fields, mountains and temples.
If you have more time you can even stay 3 or 4 days to relax, although two days is enough. But beware, you may fall in love with the place and want to stay all your life. You’ve been warned. Below, I will tell you about our experience during 2 days in Ninh Binh.
Where to stay at Ninh Binh?
As always in Vietnam, the bus left us in the middle of a road at 5 a.m. Having no idea where we were, we followed a man who led us to his hotel right across the street.
He took us to the Xuan Hoa Hotel, we saw that he was leaving on the Lonely Planet so with the late hour we didn’t think twice. Even without options to negotiate we didn’t end up paying much: 4 dollars that night for being early and 10 euros the next ones for a room for two.
Right now it has become a very tourist place, so provably you can find a lot of better options for a similar price. By the way, the best time to visit Ninh Binh is during the dry season, from November to April, when the weather is cooler and the landscapes are at their peak. May and June are also ideal, as the rice fields are dyed golden before the harvest.
What to do and what to see in Ninh Binh?
1. Motorcycle by Ninh Binh
All hotels in Vietnam offer tours of the area that they are. Sometimes they are unavoidable, like for example to see the Mekong. But, if you can, the best thing is to take a map, rent a motorcycle and go looking for the indicated places without fear of getting lost.
Many times you find the best when you get lost. In our case we even went without a map, we got lost and found incredible places without wanting to.
2. A boat ride in Tam Coc
Wandering around by chance we came across a place called Tam Coc, an area of mountains, rivers, lakes and caves. Tam Coc (“Three Caves”) is often compared to Halong Bay, Tam Coc offers boat rides among rice paddies and rock formations. The tour passes through three natural caves, providing a tranquil and scenic experience.
There are a few places where you can start the boat ride. We took an unforgettable two-hour ride along the river, between karst mountains and caves. Definitely highly recommended if you are visiting Ninh Binh!
3. Visit the most famous viewpoint in Vietnam
In the same area there is also a spectacular viewpoint with the best views of all the area, over the Ngo Dong River and overlooking the Tam Coc mountains. In the surroundings there are also temples that are hidden among the mountains and villages where you do not expect to find anything.
Riding a motorcycle in Ninh Binh is an endless number of surprises. We spent our best days in Vietnam and were able to enjoy something really beautiful and relaxing. I liked it so much that I’m sure I’ll come back one day.
By the way, years later, in China, I visited two places with similar karst mountains and equally spectacular landscapes: Luoping: the ocean of flowers of Yunnan and Puzhehei, visiting the karst landscape of Yunnan.
Next Destination: Trip from Ninh Binh to Halong Bay
After two days enjoying Ninh Binh, we took a four-hour bus to Bai Chai, Halong City, the city right across from Halong Bay. Upon arrival, we booked a tour to spend the next two days in one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World: Halong Bay. Before we boarded, we went to celebrate the birthday of my fellow traveler partner. But that’s another story…
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In 2017, I was living in China working as an English Teacher in Kunming (Yunnan), and I went back to visit Ninh Binh with some friends. I can say that, although there are more tourists than before, it is still an ideal place to spend a few days disconnected from the bustling cities of Vietnam and enjoying the unique scenery.
