Ninh Binh Travel Guide

Ninh Binh (Vietnamese: Ninh Bình, or officially Hoa Lư) is a city of 300,000 people (2025) in Ninh Binh Province of North Vietnam. The area features dramatic karst scenery, sometimes described as the "inland Ha Long Bay". It was also an ancient capital of Vietnam, from 968 to 1009.

Noi Bai (Hanoi) International Airportis the nearest major airport, about a 2-hour drive away. Taxis from Noi Bai cost USD70.

Guesthouses may provide organised tours by car for USD20 per day. Taxis are also common and not different from the ones in Hanoi or Saigon, although a little cheaper.

When leaving your motorbike at the boat departure points, beware of thieves (such as removing a mirror while the motorbike is parked, then selling it back to you for 100,000 dong). Look for official parking areas to avoid such scams.

There are a number of cheap hotels just outside the train station and next to the bus station. Other hotels are located near the city centre. As there is nothing to see in city, either area is suitable. The area near the train station has become a mini-backpacker district, complete with travel agents, touts, overpriced drinks and English-menu restaurants.