Comparison · Vietnam
Ninh Binh vs Ha Long Bay: Which to Pick from Hanoi?
Based in Hanoi and torn between Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay? We compare getting there, days, budget, seasons and things to do, side by side.
Published
Flights to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport (HAN)
The short answer
Ninh Binh is a province in northern Vietnam about 90 km south of Hanoi, where limestone peaks rise from rivers and rice fields. Its highlights are the Trang An Landscape Complex, recognized by UNESCO in 2014 as a mixed natural and cultural World Heritage site, and Hoa Lu, Vietnam's capital in the 10th-11th centuries. It is a slow trip: a rower takes you through caves in a small boat, and you cycle country lanes.
Ha Long Bay is a seascape of countless limestone islands and islets rising from the sea in Quang Ninh, northern Vietnam. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 1994 and 2000, and in 2023 the listing was extended to Hai Phong's Cat Ba Archipelago as 'Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago'. It is a sea trip: cruising between the islands to visit stalactite caves, beaches and fishing-village culture.
If you are staying in Hanoi and picking one side trip, think of it this way. Choose Ninh Binh to take in rivers, rice fields and temples slowly by boat and bike. Choose Ha Long Bay to cruise between islands at sea, with the option of a night on board.
Getting there from Hanoi
Ninh Binh has no airport, so you fly into Hanoi Noi Bai Airport. Vietnam's national tourism authority describes Ninh Binh as about two hours from Hanoi. Regular buses run daily from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, and several North-South line trains leave Hanoi Railway Station for Ninh Binh every day. Straight from the airport, take bus 86 to Hanoi Railway Station and change to the train. With lots of luggage or a late arrival, a pre-booked car is easiest.
Ha Long Bay is also about a two-hour drive from Hanoi, according to Vietnam's tourism authority. The same authority says most visitors choose a packaged cruise that includes transport to and from Hanoi; confirm the pickup point, time and inclusions when booking. Going independently, take a bus from Hanoi to Ha Long (or Hai Phong), then a taxi to the port. The Ha Long Bay guide also covers taking a taxi or pre-booked car from Hai Phong Cat Bi Airport (HPH) to your hotel or the pier in Ha Long.
Check the official information before you go for bus and train fares and train travel times.
- Ninh Binh: bus from Hanoi, about 2 hours (varies with traffic); check official information for fares
- Ninh Binh: North-South line train from Hanoi Railway Station, several daily; check Vietnam Railways for times and fares
- Ninh Binh: bus 86 from Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi Railway Station, about 50,000 VND
- Ha Long Bay: bus from Hanoi to Ha Long (or Hai Phong) plus a taxi, about 2 hours' drive (varies with traffic); check official information for fares
- Ha Long Bay: cruise package with transport to and from Hanoi, about 2 hours' drive; check official information for fares
How many days, and what budget
Both guides suggest 2 to 3 days. In Ninh Binh, you might stay in Tam Coc and climb Hang Mua at dusk on day one, then take an early boat route at Trang An (about 3 hours) and visit Hoa Lu the next day. In Ha Long Bay, you might stay around Bai Chay, take route VHL2 to Ti Top Island and Sung Sot Cave the next day, and, with one more day, route VHL1 for Thien Cung and Dau Go caves and Trong Mai Islet.
A Ninh Binh budget is made up of entry and boat fees at sites such as Trang An, a guesthouse or city hotel, restaurants, and a bike or taxi. Ticket and boat prices change often, so check at the counter and buy only at official ticket offices.
The Ha Long Bay guide's daily budgets per person are below. Per the management board's official list, day routes VHL1 and VHL2 cost about 250,000 VND and the coastal route VHL8 about 70,000 VND (subject to change).
- Ha Long Bay low: about 1,000,000 VND per day (guesthouse, local food, a day boat)
- Ha Long Bay mid: about 2,500,000-4,000,000 VND per day (city hotel, restaurants, a day tour or budget overnight cruise)
- Ha Long Bay high: about 6,000,000 VND+ per day (upscale overnight cruise or resort)
Seasons: what the two guides say
For both places, this section follows the timing advice from Vietnam's tourism authority as given in each guide. Check the official forecast before you go for this year's weather.
Ninh Binh: Vietnam's tourism authority says March-May and September-November have the most pleasant temperatures. The rice around Tam Coc turns gold from late May to early June, and October brings harvest scenery too. The Ninh Binh guide notes that July-August sees sudden downpours and storms, so keep your plans flexible.
Ha Long Bay: Vietnam's tourism authority names March-April and September-November as the best times. The Ha Long Bay guide notes that December-March brings atmospheric mist and cooler weather, and June-August is the monsoon season with unpredictable conditions. When storms or bad weather approach, authorities suspend tour-boat departure permits, so cruises can be cancelled at short notice, as happened in June and July 2025.
So the months both guides name as good times are March-April and September-November.
What you do there
Ninh Binh is a trip on rivers and land. At Trang An a boat takes you through limestone caves and past temples: Route 1 visits 9 caves and 3 spiritual sites in 3+ hours, and Route 2 visits 4 caves and 3 temples in about 3 hours. At Tam Coc you pass by boat through three grottoes pierced by the Ngo Dong River, and the rice-field lanes and villages around it are ideal by bicycle.
There are plenty of steps too. At Hang Mua, about 500 steps (486 per the provincial tourism department) lead to sweeping views of paddies, rivers and peaks, and Bai Dinh Pagoda has about 300 steps up to its cave temples. At Hoa Lu Ancient Capital you visit the temples of King Dinh and King Le, and at Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve quiet rowing-boat trips offer a chance to spot birds.
Ha Long Bay is a trip on the sea. Boats leave from Tuan Chau International Port or Ha Long International Port and follow official routes VHL1 to VHL8 to caves and islands. Route VHL2 includes Ti Top Island, for a swim and wide bay views, and Sung Sot Cave, the widest cave discovered in Ha Long Bay; route VHL1 includes Thien Cung and Dau Go caves and Trong Mai Islet (Fighting Cock Islet), seen from the boat.
For quieter water, there is Bai Tu Long Bay northeast of Ha Long Bay, or Lan Ha Bay near Cat Ba Island. Kayak and take bamboo boats only in designated areas set by the authorities and on guided tours.
How to choose
Ninh Binh suits you if you want a slow trip: through caves in a rowing boat, along rice-field lanes by bike, and on to temples and an ancient capital. Boat trips at Trang An and Tam Coc last 2-3 hours with little shade, so bring water, a hat and sunscreen, and cover your shoulders and knees at temples.
Ha Long Bay suits you if you want to sail between islands on emerald water, see caves and beaches, and perhaps spend a night on board. Visit on an official route ticket aboard a registered tour boat, and check where the life jackets are and how to wear one. In July 2025 a tour boat capsized in a sudden thunderstorm with heavy loss of life. Sailings can be cancelled because of the weather, so keep a spare day.
If you want to see both, plan each from Hanoi as the guides describe. Check the official information before you go for any connection between Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay. Entry conditions can change, so check the Vietnamese government or embassy for official information.
Plan your Ninh Binh trip
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Plan your Ha Long Bay trip
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FAQ
How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh and to Ha Long Bay?
Vietnam's tourism authority describes Ninh Binh as about two hours from Hanoi and Ha Long Bay as about a two-hour drive from Hanoi. Bus times vary with traffic; check Vietnam Railways for train times.
How many days should I plan for each?
Both guides suggest 2 to 3 days. In Ha Long Bay, tours can be cancelled because of the weather, so a spare day helps.
When is the best time to go?
Vietnam's tourism authority names March-May and September-November for Ninh Binh, and March-April and September-November for Ha Long Bay. The months both share are March-April and September-November.
Can I go straight from Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay?
Each guide describes how to get there from Hanoi. Check the official information before you go for connections and travel times between the two.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Ti Top Island · thalling55 / CC BY 2.0
- Sung Sot Cave · Adam Jones (adamjones.freeservers.com) / CC BY-SA 3.0