Ninh Binh: Tam Coc, Hoa Lu & Mua Cave Day Trip with Buffet

4.98

(2590 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to feel so quiet sitting in the back of that limousine van leaving Hanoi — but there’s something about early streets and the way our guide, Minh, greeted us that made me relax right away. The drive out to Ninh Binh isn’t short (about two hours), but watching the city fade into rice fields and limestone cliffs felt like pressing pause. We stopped for a quick stretch — coffee in hand, legs waking up — and then it was off again.

Hoa Lu was first. Minh told us stories about ancient kings while we wandered temple courtyards under banyan trees. The incense smoke was sweet and clung to my shirt for hours after. I’m not usually big on history lessons, but seeing the old stones and hearing how this place shaped Vietnam made it stick. After that, we had a choice: hop on bikes or just chill at the restaurant garden (I went for the ride — couldn’t resist). Pedaling past water buffalo and kids waving from doorways felt honest and kind of grounding, you know?

Lunch at Trang An Heritage Garden surprised me — not just because there were so many local dishes (the goat meat was way better than I expected), but because we ate beside a pond with lilies floating everywhere. Someone’s grandma waved from across the field; Minh joked she makes better rice wine than anyone else in Ninh Binh. Maybe he was right.

The highlight? The boat ride down Tam Coc’s river (you can pick Trang An instead if you want more caves). Our rower barely spoke but smiled every time we ducked into a cave — it echoed weirdly inside, cool air brushing my face after all that sun. The limestone cliffs look fake until you’re right up next to them. And then there’s Mua Cave: 500 steps up Ngoa Long Mountain sounded like too much after lunch, but honestly, standing at the top with wind tugging at my shirt and all of Tam Coc spread below… I still think about that view sometimes.