Destination Guide

Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi: Trang An, Tam Coc and Mua Cave

Kaushik RK

Co-founder, Trripah · 21 Oct 2026 · 6 min read

Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi: Trang An, Tam Coc and Mua Cave

Ninh Binh is about 90 km south of Hanoi. Here is how to get there, which boat ride to pick, how hard the Mua Cave climb is and what it all costs.

Quick answer: Ninh Binh is about 90 km south of Hanoi, so it works as a long day trip or an overnight stop. Take a boat ride at Trang An or Tam Coc, and climb Mua Cave (about 500 steps) for the view. Do Mua Cave first, in the morning, and the boat after lunch.

How do you get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?

Sources put it at roughly 2 hours by bus, 2.5 hours by train, or about 1.5 hours by taxi or Grab. A day tour from Hanoi that bundles transport, lunch and entry is listed from about US$21 to $34 per person, but check what is included.

Trang An or Tam Coc: which boat ride?

Both are boat rides through limestone karsts and caves, with a similar ticket price. Boat tickets are commonly listed at 250,000 VND (about ₹930) per person, with a shared boat seating four. One operator lists Trang An at 300,000 VND, so check the current price. Trang An is generally longer and more scenic, and Tam Coc is shorter and busier. If you have time for one, pick Trang An.

Is the Mua Cave climb hard?

About 500 steps to a viewpoint over the karst landscape and rice fields. It is steep but short, and most people finish in 20 to 30 minutes. Go early, wear grip shoes, and carry water. Entry is usually cited at 100,000 VND (about ₹370).