Ninh Binh Full Day Tour From Hanoi With Customized Attractions

07:30 - 08:00 Our guide will pick you up at the hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter. Then we start a 110km drive on a comfortable limousine vehicle through verdant landscape. Stop over for a rest on the way. If your hotels located outside of the Old Quarter, please go to the meeting point - Hanoi Opera House at 7:50am to join tour group (Hanoi Opera House is just a meeting point for pickup, not a site for a visit in the tour).

10:30 Visit Hoa Lu ancient Citadel with King Dinh Temple dating back to the 10th Century. The old capital has a variety of historical places for visitors to pay a trip. The attractions are temples, where people worship the Emperors and royal people that ruled here more than 1000 years ago. And nowadays Hoa Lu still keeps the remaining of ancients fortress built by Dinh dynasty more than 1000 years ago. The Imperial palce lays under the ground for 3m and now become a very interesting place to visit. Then continue the tour with 30-minute biking in a rural village to discover the life of local people. Please notes that this short biking trip is just an extra activity (free of charge) to help you experience the peaceful rural landscapes, not a professional biking trip. If you don't know how to bike or not interested in this activity then you can skip it (and instead you can walk around the area to take photos or just relax at the restaurant to wait for others while they are cycling).

One of the most popular activities for travelers visiting Trang An is taking a boat tour through its intricate network of waterways, surrounded by towering limestone karsts and lush greenery. These boat tours typically start from the Trang An Wharf, where visitors board small rowboats guided by local boatwomen or boatmen. As you glide along the emerald waters, you'll be mesmerized by the breathtaking scenery, including limestone cliffs rising dramatically from the water, tranquil caves adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, and vibrant foliage reflecting in the crystal-clear river.

During the boat ride, travelers have the opportunity to explore several caves and grottoes, each with its own unique features and legends. Some of the notable caves include Hang Điệp Sơn, Hang Sửng Sốt, and Hang Tối (Dark Cave). The boatwomen or boatmen often share fascinating stories and folklore associated with these natural wonders, adding to the enchantment of the experience.

After lunch time, the group will continue the trip with a visit to Tam Coc. Take sampan boat trip rowed by the locals gently sail along Ngo Dong river, capturing the wonderful scenery of Karst hills, rice fields, and peaceful villages, and passing “Hang Ca” (First Grotto), “Hang Hai” (Second Grotto) and “Hang Ba” (Third Grotto). The boat trip is sure to leave you a wonderful memory.

Arrive at Mua Cave and start an amazing hiking up to the top of Ngoa Long mountain (lying dragon moutain) for watching the spectacular rice valley with precious view of the nature. Down a sleepy road between rice paddies, this cave (the name means 'Cave of Dance') is not terribly impressive, but there are panoramic views from the peak above. A stone staircase beside the cave entrance zigzags through the karst (beware the goat droppings) and it’s almost 500 steps to a simple altar to Quan Am (the Goddess of Mercy). Look west for the Ngo Dong River winding through Tam Coc. The climb is paved but steep in sections, so bring water and allow an hour return.

On arrival to the Park gate, you get entrance tickets then keep going further to the Park Center. You first visit the “Cave of Pre-historic Man", the limestone cave, which was excavated in 1966. It was one of the earliest discoveries of human habitation in the country, with graves, stone axes, bone-made spears and tools dating back some 7,500 years. Then keep going into the park central. You will have lunch at house-on-stilted in the park central. Taking a short trek into the National Park for sightseeing and learn more of fauna and flora in this oldest forest of Vietnam, to the giant ancient tree of 1000 years old in middle of the jungle. The next visit will be an "Endangered Primate Rescue Centre" which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation, breeding, research, and conservation of endangered primates, and to the protection of their habitats.

Then keep go to Bai Dinh pagoda complex, the largest pagoda, not only in Vietnam but also in Southeast of Asia. Scenically set on the foot hill of Dinh Mountain surrounded by amazing views of the exquisite river valley below and dotted and the limestone karsts dotted around which will take your breath away. After get off from electric car at the entrance gate, you will walk with our tour guide to visit this pagoda and learn more about buddism religion.

Have buffet lunch in a local restaurant with a lot of local foods goat meat, fried rice, rice crackers …. And also vegetarian foods are available in the buffet lunch.

After all activities, you go back to the tour bus to get back to Hanoi. Drop you off at your hotels in Hanoi or at the meeting point (Hanoi Opera House). End around 19:30 - 19:45. End of the service!