How to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi

Ninh Binh is a favorite place for a day trip from Hanoi. It is also referred to as “Halong Bay on land” with beautiful limestone karsts. Boat trips, cycling, historical sites, tourist attractions, rice paddies, stunning sceneries and abundant cuisine are what Ninh Binh offers. Just about 100km from Hanoi city center, you can reach Ninh Binh by many means of transportation. Let’s check out the following detailed transportation guide to choose the most suitable one for you.

By train

Yes. You can get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi by train. Vietnam Railways operates 4 daily trains from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (SE1, SE3, SE5, SE7); the earliest departure is at 6:00 AM and the latest one is at 22:15 PM. The ticket price starts from 79,000 VND (3.5 USD)/ per passenger for a hard seat. Pay a little more for soft seat or soft berth if you want more comfort. The journey will take around 2.5 hours. You can book the train ticket online or go directly to Hanoi Railway Station and get one. Bear in mind that Ninh Binh Railway Station is located within city center and you still need to add a 15-20-minutes taxi ride to Tam Coc or Trang An Complex, which would cost around 160,000 VND. If you choose to go by train to Ninh Binh, it is better to spend one night there so that you have enough time to explore the place.

Hanoi Railway station: No. 120 Le Duan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
Ninh Binh Railway Station: No.1 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Nam Ninh District, Ninh Binh City.

By local bus/ limousine

There are many local buses offering the route from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. The price is very cheap, about 70,000 – 80,000 VND/ ticket but you need to go to Giap Bat Station to get on the bus and also take a taxi to get to Tam Coc or Trang An from Ninh Binh bus station. The travel time is a bit longer, about 2,5 – 3 hours.

You also choose limousines for better service and more comfortable. Some of them provide pick-up services within Hanoi Old Quarter and drop off at major tourist attractions in Ninh Binh such as Trang An Complex, Hoa Lu, Tam Coc… Here below are some trusted limousine companies you may consider:

* Huu Binh Limousine (9, 16, 19 seats):
– Departure: at 7:30 AM and 15:00 PM
– Price: starts from 180,000 VND/ one-way ticket
– Pick-up point: Hotels located in Hanoi Old Quarter and Hanoi Opera House
– Drop-off point: Trang An Complex, Bai Dinh Pagoda and Phat Diem Cathedral.

* Khanh An Limousine ( 9 seats):
– Departure: every hour from 5:30 AM to 15:30 PM
– Price: starts from 135,000 VND/ one-way ticket
– Pick-up point: 70-72 Tran Nhan Tong, Le Dai Hanh, Hai Ba Trung, Ha Noi
– Drop-off point: Ninh Binh city center, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An Complex…

* Binh Minh Limousine ( 9 seats):
– Departure: every hour from 6:00 AM – 21:00 PM
– Price: starts from 155,000 VND/ one-way ticket
– Pick-up point: Hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter
– Drop-off point: Ninh Binh city center and major tourist spots in Ninh Binh: Trang An pier, Tam Coc pier, Bich Dong Pagoda, Hoa Lu…

By taxi/ private car

If you travel in a group or look for the privacy, a taxi or private car should be your choice. It is suggested to book a private transfer including pick-up and drop-off service with a local travel agency to get better deal. The advantage of this option is that you don’t have to wait for other pick-ups and you also freely stop along the way for photo opts or short break if you want to. It will take you around 2 hours to reach tourist spots in Ninh Binh. Especially, this option is ideal for any tourists traveling to Ninh Binh from Noi Bai International Airport. The price is about 50-100 USD/ one way depending on your group size and types of car/ van.

By motorbike

For adventure seekers, riding a motorbike to Ninh Binh from Hanoi is possible. The road is pretty easy to ride. From Hanoi city center, you follow Giai Phong Street, through Hanoi Giap Bat Bus Station around 3km and turn left for 1km to Phap Van – Cau Gie Highway and then Cau Gie – Dong Van – Phu Ly – Ninh Binh. Don’t forget to bring a small map on the way or use Google map on your phone. The travel time is roughly 3 hours. Motorbike rentals are available in Hanoi and cost about 7-15 USD per day. International driving permit and passport are required to hire a motorbike.

Depend on your budget, travel style and group size, you should choose the best option to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. If you are still confused, just contact us to get support from our dedicated travel consultant team.