Ninh Binh • Private
Hoa Lu’s royal temples and a local lunch, a rowing boat at Tam Coc or Trang An — you choose — then the climb up Mua Cave for the view. Your own car, driver and guide — everything included. Start from your Ninh Binh hotel or from Hanoi, at a time you choose between 6:30 and 9:30 AM.
All-inclusive Private day car, guide, tickets & lunch
per person · all included · kids 3–7 pay 75%
Private car, driver & English-speaking guide
Pick-up in Ninh Binh or Hanoi
Lunch & every ticket included
per person · everything included
The Stops
Hoa Lu’s temples in the morning — with an optional bike ride around them — a rowing boat at Tam Coc or Trang An after lunch, and Mua Cave to finish. Your guide keeps the order and the pace; you decide how long to linger.
Morning · about 2 hours
A thousand years ago this hidden valley was the seat of Vietnam’s first independent kings. Walk the courtyards of the temples of King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh, wedged between the limestone hills, while your guide tells how a kingdom was run from here. Please cover shoulders and knees.
Optional
Optional · late morning · about 1¼ hours
After the temples, swap the car for a bicycle and ride the flat, quiet lanes around Hoa Lu — rice paddies on both sides, ducks in the ditches, farmhouses and little shrines, the karst towers never out of view. Easy riding at an easy pace, with your guide alongside. Optional — add it in the booking form if you would like it.
Choose one
Afternoon · 1½ to 2½ hours
A small sampan rowed by a local, life jackets on board. Tam Coc: about two hours, out and back through three caves under the karst peaks. Trang An: the longer, UNESCO-listed loop through a chain of caves with stops at island temples. Compare them
Included
Late afternoon · about 1½ hours
After the boat, the climb: roughly 500 stone steps up a limestone ridge — 20 to 30 minutes, steep in places — to the stone dragon and the widest view over Tam Coc. Included for everyone. Rather not climb? Wait with your guide at the lotus pond below.
Your Choice of Boat
Both are rowed by hand between the limestone peaks, and both are beautiful — and whichever you pick, Mua Cave comes after. They make for quite different afternoons on the water, though. Here is how they compare, honestly.
On the water · three caves
Best for: a gentle afternoon, families with small children, and May, when the rice turns gold.
Choose Tam Coc
Longer · caves & temples
Best for: anyone who loves caves and temples and does not mind a longer seated ride.
Choose Trang AnEither way: a small sampan with its own rower (two guests to a Tam Coc boat, four to a Trang An boat), life jackets on board, and no shade on the water — bring a hat. A tip for the rower is customary, but never required.
Our short answer: a gentle afternoon, small children, or here in May for the golden rice — Tam Coc. Caves and island temples, and time to spare — Trang An. Same price either way.
How the Day Runs
07:00
Your guide meets you in the lobby and the private, air-conditioned car is waiting outside. Water is on board; the plan for the day is talked through on the way to Hoa Lu.
Hanoi 07:00 pick-up · Hoa Lu ~09:00Private tour · any time 6:30–9:30 AMapprox. 09:00 – 11:00
Through the old stone gate to the temples of King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh: carved pillars, dark wooden halls, incense, and the hills standing guard all round. Your guide fills in the story of the 10th-century kingdom — and when to stop and simply look.
approx. 11:10 – 12:25
Straight from the temples onto the bikes: an easy, flat ride through the villages and rice fields of the old capital, limestone hills on every side. Stop wherever something catches your eye. Added because you ticked it in the booking form.
approx. 11:30
A set Vietnamese lunch with several shared dishes — or a vegetarian table if you told us in the booking form (vegetarian, allergies). Goat and crispy rice are the local specialities if you would like to try them.
approx. 12:45 – 14:45
About two hours on the Ngo Dong river in a small sampan: out through the three caves of Tam Coc under the karst peaks, then back the same way. Your rower may well use their feet on the oars.
Around two and a half hours in a small sampan, rowed by a local through a chain of caves — some long and low — with stops at temples on little islands.
approx. 15:00 – 16:30
About 500 stone steps up the ridge to the dragon and the widest view over Tam Coc, with the small cave at the foot of the hill. Anyone who would rather rest waits with your guide by the lotus pond and café below.
~16:30
Sit back for the two-hour drive and you are dropped at the door you were collected from.
A later start means a later return; an earlier pick-up gives you cooler temples and quieter lanes.
Approximate timings, worked out from the pick-up time, starting point and boat you choose. The sequence stays the same; how long you linger at each stop is up to you and your guide. We confirm the pick-up by message the day before.
That is all — nothing else is added on the day.
The bike ride is optional — and easy. Tick it in the booking form if you want it: flat lanes around Hoa Lu, gentle pace, your guide rides with you. Not confident on a bike, or travelling with small children? Tell us in the notes and we will plan around it.
Mua Cave is a real climb. Around 500 uneven stone steps, steep near the top. We don’t recommend it for older guests, anyone with a heart condition or bad knees, or babies carried in arms. Anyone who skips it waits with your guide at the lotus pond and café until everyone is back.
Trang An boats take 4 guests (Tam Coc boats take 2). If your party is fewer than 4 on Trang An, you share the boat with other travellers. Want a boat just for your party? A private boat is $12 per empty seat — tick it in the booking form.
The tour price
On request
per adult — everything included
Children: under 3 travel free; ages 3–7 pay 75% of the adult price; 8 and over pay the adult price.
Check your dateLana’s WhatsApp +84 336 515 830 · Philip’s WhatsApp +84 84 635 9779 · email info@vsidetravel.com — we reply fast.
Tickets, lunch and guide are all included. See the full timings
Real reviews from guests on our private Ninh Binh days
"We had an unreal private day trip to Ninh Binh. Our guide Anna spoke excellent English, making it easy to learn about the local history, culture, and attractions throughout the day. She was incredibly friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable, and happy to answer our questions. What really stood out was the flexibility of the tour. We were able to tailor the day to our interests, with plenty of freedom to decide where we wanted to go and how much time we spent at each location. We especially loved Hang Mua and Tam Coc. The stunning scenery, excellent guiding from Anna, a comfortable vehicle with a very friendly driver, and the flexibility to customise the itinerary made this one of our favourite day trips in Vietnam."
Private Ninh Binh Tour: 1. Bai Dinh Pagoda; 2. Trang An Boat Ride; 3. Mua Cave & Duck Feeding
“Just had the best day in Ninh Binh with Hieu and driver Hung. We saw so much and Hieu was very patient, friendly and knowledgeable. We would definitely recommend this trip with VSide Travel as you can customise and they will accommodate where they can. The duck feeding at the end was a great way to end the tour. Thank you Hieu for a great day! 😊”
Verified review · TripadvisorHanoi to Ninh Binh: 1. Trang an Boat Ride 2. Bai dinh pagoda 3. Thai Vi Temple & feed ducks
“Great, well-organized day trip to Ninh Binh! We had a very nice day exploring beautiful Ninh Binh. The operator contacted us beforehand with a clear overview: no delays, hidden costs, or surprises. Pickup was perfectly on time, and the car was clean and comfortable. Our guide, Hieu, was friendly and knowledgeable, sharing history and fun facts. It was great that he joined us on all activities. Our thoughts on the itinerary (we chose ourself): Trang An boat ride: Absolutely amazing, the highlight of the day. Bai Dinh pagoda: A massive site, made easy with the electric shuttle. Waterfall restaurant: A scenic spot for lunch in Tam Coc. Thai Vi temple: A small, beautiful, and peaceful stop. Duck feeding: Different from Insta-reels but fun. The ducks roam free, meaning cyclists or traffic might pass between you. Overall, a well-spent day with a smooth schedule and great guidance. Recommended for a hassle-free trip!”
Private Ninh Binh Daily: 1. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital; 2. Trang An Boat Ride; 3. Bich Dong Pagoda & Duck Feeding; 4. Mua Cave
“Our family absolutely loved Lana, she shared so many interesting background storys with us, which gave us a better understanding of the history and culture of Vietnam. Would definitely recommend spending the day with Lana.”
"We were a little uncertain at first because there aren’t many reviews yet, but now we can definitively say this is one of the best tours we’ve ever had. Lana was very helpful in tailoring to our requests and super responsive. Anna was just a joy as our guide! She is so energetic, patient with us as we explored Ninh Binh in 100+ degree heat, and very knowledgeable about the area and Vietnam. We learned a lot, felt taken care of, and had such a good time. Lunch was also great and driver Henry was lovely. Thank you to everyone!"
Verified booking · GetYourGuide"We had a fantastic day trip to Ninh Binh, organized by Lana and our driver Hung. One day is sufficient to cover 3-4 interesting sites. Lana provided a complimentary lunch, catering to our vegetarian diet, which was thoughtful and very delicious. Our driver was also very responsive whenever we needed him to collect us after exploring different places, he drove safely and efficiently, offering sun shades for the car when it got very hot in the afternoon. 10/10 I would go for Lana’s travel company again whenever I visit Vietnam in the future! All the best!"
Verified booking · GetYourGuide"We got to choose what we wanted and our guide was always accommodating. We would definitely book with them again!! The food at lunch was also very excellent. We are very happy with the day :)"
Verified booking · GetYourGuideHanoi: Private Ninh Binh UNESCO Sites & Incense Village
“Our guide Stephen (Vū) was great! Very friendly, very flexible and extremely helpful in every way. He was a superb storyteller who exhibited great love for his country. Lana, the co-ordinator was also very patient and helpful when she supported us on all pre-tour arrangements. Go for this provider if you want a hassle free experience.”
Custom Private Ninh Binh: Explore Your Way
“Lana was our tour guide during the private drive around Ninh Binh. We were two families with 5 kids from ages 3-11. It was super convenient to travel with a private driver as we could leave items in the van and not have to lug it around. We could also take our time and travel at our own pace. She gave us choices for tours around Ninh Binh, helped us with the Trang A booking, and accommodated evening travel into Hoa Lu old town.”
Verified booking · GetYourGuideCustom Private Ninh Binh: Explore Your Way
“L’activitat a Ninh Binh va anar molt bé, la Mae la nostra guia va ser molt atenta en tot moment i ens va fer sentir molt còmodes al llarg de tot el dia. A més, apart de portar-nos a veure els llocs més emblemàtics de la regió Ninh Binh ens van portar ella i el conductor pels llocs amagats i sense turistes per a poder gaudir i veure el país en el seu estat més pur. No podria haver sigut millor.” “The activity in Ninh Binh went very well. Mae, our guide, was very attentive at all times and made us feel very comfortable throughout the day. In addition, apart from taking us to see the most iconic places in the Ninh Binh region, she and the driver took us to hidden places without tourists so that we could enjoy and see the country in its purest state. It couldn’t have been better.”
Thank you — your private Hoa Lu day is with us. We will confirm the pick-up time and the price for your group shortly.
Message Lana on WhatsApp · +84 336 515 830Good to Know
Yes. The car, the driver and the guide are booked for your party alone — one traveller or ten. Nobody else joins your day, and the plan bends around you: longer in the temples at Hoa Lu, a slower ride, a longer lunch.
Of course — choose Hanoi hotel in the booking form. The car collects you in the Old Quarter or central Hanoi at the time you choose, anywhere from 6:30 to 9:30 AM. It is about two hours each way — a 7:00 start reaches Hoa Lu around 9:00 and gets you home around 18:30–20:00, depending on the boat and whether you add the bike ride — and the round-trip car is already included in the Hanoi price — nothing is added for the drive.
Tam Coc is about two hours in a small rowing boat, out and back through three caves under the karst — gentle, easy with small children, and lovely in May when the rice turns gold. Trang An is the longer, UNESCO-listed loop (about 2½–3 hours) through around eight or nine caves with stops at island temples — it is $2 more per person. Either way, Mua Cave is included after the boat. Choose in the booking form, or compare them in the boat section. A Trang An boat takes 4 guests, so a smaller party shares — for a boat just for you, tick Private boat ($12 for each empty seat: $12, $24 or $36). A Tam Coc boat takes 2, so a couple has its own boat and rower.
The day is built around one boat, so it stays relaxed with Hoa Lu in the morning and Mua Cave to finish. If you would like both Tam Coc and Trang An, say so in the notes — we will tell you honestly whether it fits your pick-up time, and quote any difference before you confirm.
It is optional: tick Cycling around Hoa Lu in the booking form and about 1¼ hours on the bikes is added straight after the temples, before lunch — bikes included, nothing extra to pay. Leave it off and you go straight from the temples to lunch. It is not hard: the lanes around the old capital are flat and quiet, the pace is gentle, and your guide rides with you. If someone in your party is not comfortable on a bike, tell us in the notes and we will plan around it.
Around 500 stone steps, 20 to 30 minutes up at a steady pace, uneven and steep near the top. Most reasonably active travellers manage it with a breather or two. We don’t recommend it for older guests, anyone with a heart condition or bad knees: anyone who would rather not climb waits with your guide by the lotus pond and café at the foot while the others go up.
No. Under 3s travel free, children aged 3 to 7 pay 75% of the adult price, and from 8 years old it is the adult price. Add them with the Children and Infants counters in the booking form and the total updates as you go.
Very welcome — the boat ride is usually their favourite part. If you add the bike ride, tell us the children’s ages so we can sort the right bikes or a child seat. The Mua Cave steps are not suitable for babies carried in arms, so one parent can wait below with the little one while the rest climb.
Only two things: drinks with lunch and tips for the guide, driver or rower. The car, the guide, every ticket, the bikes (if you add the ride), lunch and bottled water are all in the price — and from Hanoi, so is the round-trip drive.
Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the Hoa Lu temples, comfortable shoes (with grip if you climb Mua Cave), a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, a light rain jacket in the wet season (roughly June to September), and some cash in dong for drinks and tips.
March to May and September to November usually bring the kindest weather. The paddies around Tam Coc turn gold in May — beautiful from the boat, the bike or the top of Mua Cave; the rest of the year they are green or bare. Summer is hot with afternoon showers, but the scenery is lush and the day still runs as normal.
A passing shower is normal in Ninh Binh and does not cancel the day — the temples, the boats and the lanes are all fine in light rain, and the karst looks wonderful in the mist. If the forecast is genuinely bad we will contact you before your pick-up and offer another date or a full refund. Nothing has been charged by then anyway.
A private car, driver and guide cost us almost the same for one guest as for two, so a solo booking is 1.75× the adult rate — $183.75 from Hanoi or $161 from a Ninh Binh hotel with the Tam Coc boat, a little more with Trang An. Bringing a baby under 3 does not change that. As soon as a second guest joins (another adult or a child aged 3–7), everyone simply pays the normal rate.
Sending the form costs nothing and commits you to nothing. We reply within 24 hours to confirm the date, the pick-up time and the final price. Then you pay one of three ways, chosen in the booking form: cash on the day to your guide, in USD or VND, with no fee; Moreta Pay QR (+1.5% of the tour total) — after we confirm, you scan our VietQR (Sacombank) with the Moreta Pay app using your own card; or an online payment link (+15% platform fee), a card link we send after confirmation. We only confirm bookings from Lana’s WhatsApp +84 336 515 830, Philip’s WhatsApp +84 84 635 9779 or our email info@vsidetravel.com — never pay or click a link sent from any other number or address.
Your Day, Your Pace
The kings’ temples of Hoa Lu in the morning, a rowing boat through the caves of Tam Coc or Trang An, and the view from Mua Cave to finish — with your own car and guide, from your hotel in Ninh Binh or Hanoi.
English
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português
Bahasa Indonesia
Filipino
עברית