Ninh Binh Day Tour: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave with Buffet Lunch
A full-day trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh combining Hoa Lu's ancient temples, a bamboo boat ride through Tam Coc's limestone caves and a climb up Mua Cave.
- Explore the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and learn about Vietnam's Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties
- Cycle through flat village roads and countryside to see rural life around Ninh Binh up close
- Enjoy a Vietnamese buffet lunch with a wide selection of dishes, including vegetarian options
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Choose your date
Passengers
Join-in Big Group Tour
Choose your date
September 2026
Change the date or party above
What's included
- Full-day tour from Hanoi
- Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Buffet lunch
- Bamboo boat ride in Tam Coc
- Bicycle ride
- Pick-up from hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter
About this ticket
Your ticket includes the full 12-hour Ninh Binh day tour itinerary in a group of up to 30 people. You will be picked up from your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter, or you can meet the group at the Hanoi Opera House if you are staying elsewhere. All main activities, including the buffet lunch, are covered.
What's not included
- Drinks
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Practical info
This ticket is valid for a single day trip on your selected date. The tour lasts approximately 12 hours with a maximum group size of 30 people. Pick-up is included for hotels within the Hanoi Old Quarter; otherwise, the meeting point is the Hanoi Opera House. Children aged 1–4 are free, and those aged 9 and above require an adult ticket.
How to redeem
You will receive a QR code ticket. Show this to your guide at the start of the tour, either at your hotel pick-up point or at the designated meeting point.
Important notes
- No refunds are given for late arrivals or no-shows.
- The child rate for ages 5–8 applies to the first child in a booking only; any subsequent children in this age range will be charged the adult rate.
- The tour itinerary may change due to weather or operational reasons.
This ticket is for the full-day tour with a larger group of up to 30 participants.
Choose your date
September 2026
Change the date or party above
Join-in Small Group Tour
This ticket is for the full-day tour with a smaller group of 17 to 22 participants.
Full-day tour from Hanoi · Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle · Buffet lunch · +3 more
Cancellation up to 1h before
From
£29.90
per person
What's included
- Full-day tour from Hanoi
- Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Buffet lunch
- Bamboo boat ride in Tam Coc
- Bicycle ride
- Pick-up from hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter
About this ticket
Your ticket includes the full 12-hour Ninh Binh day tour itinerary in a smaller group of 17 to 22 people. You will be picked up from your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter, or you can meet the group at the Hanoi Opera House if you are staying elsewhere. All main activities, including the buffet lunch, are covered.
What's not included
- Drinks
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Practical info
This ticket is valid for a single day trip on your selected date. The tour lasts approximately 12 hours with a group size of 17 to 22 people. Pick-up is included for hotels within the Hanoi Old Quarter; otherwise, the meeting point is the Hanoi Opera House. Children aged 1–4 are free, and those aged 9 and above require an adult ticket.
How to redeem
You will receive a QR code ticket. Show this to your guide at the start of the tour, either at your hotel pick-up point or at the designated meeting point.
Important notes
- No refunds are given for late arrivals or no-shows.
- The child rate for ages 5–8 applies to the first child in a booking only; any subsequent children in this age range will be charged the adult rate.
- The tour itinerary may change due to weather or operational reasons.
This ticket is for the full-day tour with a smaller group of 17 to 22 participants.
About this experience
Ninh Binh's countryside unfolds about two hours south of Hanoi, where limestone karsts rise out of flooded rice paddies and centuries-old temples mark the site of Vietnam's first royal capital. This day tour starts at Hoa Lu, capital of the Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties, where you'll walk through temple grounds still dedicated to the kings who ruled here over a thousand years ago. From there, a bicycle ride along flat village roads takes you through the surrounding countryside, past rice fields and everyday rural life rarely seen from a tour bus window.
The middle of the day is built around water and food: a Vietnamese buffet lunch with vegetarian options, followed by a bamboo boat gliding along the Ngo Dong River. This stretch of Tam Coc has earned the nickname "Ha Long Bay on Land" for good reason, with the boat passing directly through low limestone caves and between towering karst cliffs that hem in the river on both sides.
The day closes with the tour's most physical stretch: a climb of roughly 500 stone steps to the summit of Mua Cave, also known as Dragon Peak. The reward is a panoramic view over Tam Coc's rice fields and winding river below, before heading back to Hanoi. Between the temple history, the cycling, the boat ride and the climb, the tour packs a wide cross-section of what makes Ninh Binh worth the trip out of Hanoi.
What to expect
The day begins with the drive out from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, arriving first at Hoa Lu to explore the temples and ruins of Vietnam's ancient capital. From there, you'll switch to a bicycle for a ride along flat village roads through the surrounding countryside, followed by a Vietnamese buffet lunch to refuel before the afternoon's activities.
After lunch, you'll board a traditional bamboo boat for a cruise along the Ngo Dong River through Tam Coc, passing beneath limestone caves and past rice fields on either bank. The final stop is Mua Cave, where a climb of close to 500 stone steps leads to a summit lookout over the karst landscape below, before the drive back to Hanoi.
Things to note
- Bring drinking water, insect repellent and cash for optional purchases or personal expenses
- Wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes for cycling and the walk around Hoa Lu
- The Mua Cave climb involves around 500 stone steps and requires a reasonable level of fitness
- Pack sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, plus a raincoat in case of wet weather
- Rice fields around Tam Coc look most vibrant during harvest periods, typically May to June and September to October
- Bring a camera for the boat ride through Tam Coc and the view from Mua Cave summit
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