13 Best Things to Do in Ninh Binh and Tam Coc

Ninh Binh province in northern Vietnam is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the country. There’s a lot to see and do in Ninh Binh, with most of it centered around the small towns of Tam Coc and Trang An. Most of the activities take advantage of the area’s nature and wildlife, and there’s enough attractions for you to spend several days in Ninh Binh. With this list of the best things to see and do in Ninh Binh, you’ll immerse yourself in jaw-dropping views and step back in time at ancient temples.

Take the Trang An Boat Tour

The Trang An boat tour is one of the most popular things to do in Ninh Binh and Tam Coc, and there’s a good reason why. You’ll take a boat through several caves, float along a serene river surrounded by limestone cliffs, and discover beautiful temples.

When buying your ticket, be prepared to pick between three routes. Each route brings you to a different number of caves and temples, and lasts anywhere between two to three hours. While Route 3 goes through the longest cave in the area, you can’t go wrong with any of the routes.

Note that each boat fits four people. If you don’t have enough people to fill the boat, you’ll need to wait until they find others to join you. Alternatively, you can pay for any empty seats in order to set sail right away.

Visit Bich Dong Pagoda

Bich Dong Pagoda is one of the closest attractions to Tam Coc’s town center. It’s so close that you could walk there – it’d just take about 40 minutes. Although Bich Dong Pagoda is made up of three pagodas, it’s small. Despite its size, it’s the most memorable pagoda I visited in Vietnam because it’s nestled into the side of a mountain. Also, the entrance requires you to cross a small pond, making it feel like you’re walking up to something special.

Climb the stairs up to Hang Mua Viewpoint

Hang Mua viewpoint is another popular site that attracts a lot of visitors. Climb up 500 stairs and you’ll be rewarded with an amazing bird’s eye view of small limestone mountains and rice fields. Because Hang Mua can get busy with tourists, I recommend either going as early as possible or within the last few hours before it closes. If you time it right, you may even be able to watch the sunset from the top.

Explore Bai Dinh Pagoda

Bai Dinh Pagoda is an enormous complex covering 700 hectares that’s filled with temples, pagodas, and Buddhist statues. To help visitors get around faster, Bai Dinh Pagoda offers electric vehicles that come at an additional cost. If you decide to explore every corner of the complex, it’ll take a few hours. When visiting, make sure you go up Bao Thep Tower to see the entire complex from above.

Since Bai Dinh Pagoda is 12.8 km from Tam Coc or about a 32-minute drive, it may not be worth it for everyone. If you like cultural attractions over nature though, make sure you visit this impressive site.

Go birdwatching at Thung Nham Bird Park

As northern Vietnam’s largest natural bird park, Thung Nham Bird Park is home to 40 species of birds. While it’s now a successful ecotourism project, you’d never guess that the area used to be a wasteland and farm. Even if you’re not into birdwatching, Thung Nham Bird Park is worth a visit due to its serene gardens, caves, and boat rides.

Enjoy a boat ride through Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve

Although you can enjoy Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve by taking the road that runs alongside it, it’s better experienced through a boat ride. While the views are slightly less spectacular than the Trang An boat ride, Van Long is much less touristy. You’ll most likely be one of a few tourists there, or you might even have the entire lake to yourself.

Tour Thien Ha Cave

Thien Ha Cave, also known as Galaxy Grotto, is yet another boat ride through a cave. However, Thien Ha Cave isn’t widely known, which means you may be the only tourist there and need to communicate with your tour guide using Google Translate.

Go back in time at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

As Vietnam’s capital during the 10th and 11th centuries, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital still houses some of the buildings that once stood there. The site is slightly less than half the size of Bai Dinh Pagoda, making it a much faster activity. There’s several temples, pagodas, and tombs that you can visit, aside from simply walking around the grounds.

Hike through Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong National Park is worth either a half-day or full-day trip. Not only does it take 1.5 hours to get there from Tam Coc, but the national park is also huge. Established in 1962, it’s Vietnam’s oldest national park and houses an impressive number of plants, species of animals, and species of birds. Since hiking in Cuc Phuong National Park is a popular activity, you shouldn’t have any issues going alone. However, you can also book a tour to learn more about the park and wildlife.

See Thai Vi Temple

Thai Vi Temple is just outside of Tam Coc’s town center, which means you can either walk or bike there. It’s also free to visit. Although Thai Vi Temple isn’t as grand or large as other temples, its understated appearance, mountainous backdrop, and surrounding greenery are charming. The road that leads to the temple is quiet and picturesque. In fact, some people prefer the journey to Thai Vi over the temple itself.

Take the Tam Coc Boat Tour

The Tam Coc Boat Tour is just as well known as the Trang An Boat Tour, but there are a few differences. It’s immediately accessible in the center of Tam Coc, which makes it quick and easy to get to. The boat ride is shorter by about 30 minutes to an hour depending on which Trang An route you compare it to, it’s cheaper, it doesn’t bring you to any temples, and the ticketing process is less organized.

Visit the Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary

Run by FOUR PAWS, a global animal welfare organization, the Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary will delight any animal-lover. When visiting, you can take a guided tour or explore their skywalk on your own. Either way, you’ll be able to see and learn about the Asiatic black bears that are being cared for there.

Bike around the countryside

When you’ve exhausted all your options or want a relaxed day, there’s nothing better than simply renting a bicycle and riding around Tam Coc, Trang Ang, and the surrounding countryside. The area is peaceful with not a lot of traffic, so you don’t have to be worry about sharing the road with lots of cars or motorbikes. See how far you can go and feel free to veer off to see anything that interests you. This is one of the best ways to take in Ninh Binh’s nature and truly see the area.

More resources for traveling Vietnam

• How Long to Stay in Ninh Binh
• The Best Time to Visit Ninh Binh and Tam Coc
• 13 Best Restaurants in Tam Coc and Ninh Binh: Where to Eat
• Ninh Binh 1 Day Itinerary: Top Sights and Activities
• 5 Complete Itineraries to See North Vietnam in 7 Days