One of my favorite places in northern Vietnam is Ninh Binh. With its massive limestone mountains and winding rivers, it is easily one of the most beautiful destinations in Southeast Asia. However, if you are planning a trip there, you want to make sure you know exactly how to get to Ninh Binh from wherever you are in the country.
I traveled to Ninh Binh and absolutely loved my time there, but figuring out the logistics of buses, trains, and private drivers can be a little confusing at first.
Keep reading to find out the best ways to travel to Ninh Binh from major cities like Hanoi, Ha Giang, Da Nang, and more based on budget, travel time, and comfort.
Published: June 16, 2026
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How to Get to Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Because Ninh Binh is a massive tourist destination, getting there is relatively easy once you know your options. The province is well-connected to the rest of Vietnam by a network of trains, sleeper buses, and private tourist vans (often called “limousine vans”).
One crucial tip before you book anything: When most people say they are visiting “Ninh Binh,” they are actually staying in the nearby villages of Tam Coc or Trang An. Ninh Binh City itself is just a regular city without many tourist sights.
When you book your bus or train tickets, always check if the final drop-off is in Ninh Binh City or directly at your accommodation in Tam Coc/Trang An. If you arrive at the main bus or train station in Ninh Binh City, you will need to take a quick 10 to 15-minute taxi or Grab to get to the tourist areas.
To help you plan your itinerary, I’ve broken down all the transport options and the best way to get there from Vietnam’s most popular hubs.
How to Get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi
Hanoi is the most common starting point for a trip to Ninh Binh. Because the two destinations are only about 100 kilometers (62 miles) apart, the journey is short, easy, and very affordable. It usually takes around 2 to 2.5 hours to get there depending on traffic.
Here are your main options for getting from Hanoi to Ninh Binh:
Tourist “Limousine” Van (The Best Option)
For the vast majority of travelers, taking a tourist van (often called a Limousine Van or VIP Van in Vietnam) is the absolute best way to get to Ninh Binh. These are luxury Ford Transits with plush, oversized leather seats, air conditioning, and sometimes Wi-Fi.
- Cost: $7 to $15 USD
- Travel Time: 2 to 2.5 hours
- The Pros: They offer door-to-door service. They will pick you up directly from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and drop you off right at your homestay or hotel in Tam Coc or Trang An.
- The Cons: You are on a shared schedule, so pick-ups can take a little time as they navigate the narrow streets of the Old Quarter.
Book a Tourist Limousine Van to Ninh Binh from Hanoi: Transfer to/from Ninh Binh by Daily Luxury Limousine
The Public Train
Taking the train in Vietnam is a fun, cultural experience, and the route from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is very scenic. You will catch the Reunification Express from the main Hanoi Railway Station.
- Cost: $5 to $10 USD (depending on your seat class)
- Travel Time: 2.5 hours
- The Pros: Trains offer a lot of legroom, beautiful views of the countryside, and a set schedule that doesn’t get delayed by highway traffic.
- The Cons: The train drops you off at the Ninh Binh Railway Station, which is in the center of the city. You will have to pay for an additional taxi or Grab ride (about 10-15 minutes) to get to the tourist areas like Tam Coc.
Private Car or Taxi
If you have room in your budget, or if you are traveling with a group of three or four people, hiring a private driver is incredibly convenient. You can book this through your hotel in Hanoi or by using a ride-hailing app like Grab.
- Cost: $50 to $80 USD total
- Travel Time: Under 2 hours
- The Pros: Complete flexibility. You leave exactly when you want to, and you go straight from door to door without waiting for other passengers.
- The Cons: It is the most expensive option, especially if you are a solo traveler or a couple.
Book your private car from Hanoi: Transfer to Ninh Binh Private car.
My Recommendation: Book a seat in a Limousine Van. It is essentially the same price as the train but saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding a taxi once you arrive at the station.
How to Get to Ninh Binh from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Traveling from the south of Vietnam to the north is a massive journey. Ho Chi Minh City is about 1,500 kilometers (over 900 miles) away from Ninh Binh. Because of the huge distance, your options here range from a quick flight to a multi-day train ride.
Here are the best ways to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Ninh Binh:
Fly to Hanoi and Limousine Van (The Best Option)
Ninh Binh does not have its own airport. The closest major airport is Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi. If you want to save time, the absolute best way to make this trip is to catch a quick domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, and then take a van or private car directly to Ninh Binh.
- Cost: $50 to $100+ USD for the flight, plus $10 to $15 USD for the van.
- Travel Time: 2-hour flight + 2.5 to 3-hour drive (about 5 to 6 hours total travel time).
- How to Book: You can find cheap domestic flights on Trip.com or Skyscanner. For the transfer from Hanoi Airport to Ninh Binh, book a van or shuttle in advance on 12Go.Asia or GetYourGuide.
- The Pros: This is by far the fastest and most practical way to cover the distance if you are on a standard 1-to-2-week vacation.
- The Cons: You have to deal with airport security, and budget airlines in Vietnam (like VietJet) have strict luggage limits that cost extra.
The Sleeper Train (The Slow Travel Option)
If you are backpacking or have a very loose itinerary, you can take the Reunification Express train all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to the Ninh Binh Railway Station. You will definitely want to book a bed in a 4-berth sleeper cabin for a journey this long!
- Cost: $50 to $80 USD for a soft sleeper bed.
- Travel Time: 28 to 32 hours.
- How to Book: Because sleeper cabins sell out quickly, you must book this in advance. You can easily compare train schedules and book your bed on Trip.com or 12Go.Asia.
- The Pros: It is an epic, scenic journey up the coast of Vietnam. It also saves you a night or two of paying for a hotel.
- The Cons: It takes over a full day of non-stop travel. It can be noisy, the bathrooms get dirty, and it eats up a lot of your precious vacation time.
Long-Distance Sleeper Bus (The Extreme Budget Option)
There are sleeper buses that run the entire length of the country. These buses have seats that recline almost completely flat, allowing you to sleep on the road.
- Cost: $30 to $50 USD.
- Travel Time: 32 to 36 hours (sometimes longer with traffic and rest stops).
- How to Book: You can check routes and book tickets on 12Go.Asia.
- The Pros: It is the absolute cheapest way to get across the country.
- The Cons: I honestly do not recommend this for most people. 30+ hours on a bus is exhausting. The beds are often too short for anyone over 5’8″, and the driving can be erratic.
My Recommendation: Save your time and sanity by booking a cheap domestic flight to Hanoi, and then taking a limousine van straight from the airport to Ninh Binh. Only take the sleeper train if you are purposely looking for a slow, romantic train adventure!
How to Get to Ninh Binh from Da Nang / Hoi An
If you are traveling from central Vietnam to the north, you have a few great options. It’s important to note that Hoi An does not have an airport or a train station. If you are staying in Hoi An, you will first need to take a quick 45-minute taxi or shuttle to neighboring Da Nang to catch your flight or train.
Here are your best options for getting from Da Nang to Ninh Binh:
The Overnight Sleeper Train (The Most Popular Option)
Taking the sleeper train from Da Nang straight to the Ninh Binh Railway Station is a rite of passage for travelers in Vietnam. You go to sleep in central Vietnam and wake up in the beautiful limestone karsts of the north.
- Cost: $35 to $55 USD for a soft sleeper bed (4-berth cabin).
- Travel Time: 14 to 15 hours.
- How to Book: Book your bed well in advance on 12Go.Asia or Trip.com.
- The Pros: The Da Nang to Ninh Binh train is a direct route that saves you a night of paying for a hotel. The rhythmic rocking of the train actually makes it relatively easy to sleep.
- The Cons: You have to share a small cabin with strangers (unless you book all four beds), and the bathrooms can get a bit messy by the morning.
Fly to Hanoi and Limousine Van
If you are short on time and don’t want to sleep on a train, flying is the fastest way to get north. You will fly out of Da Nang International Airport (DAD) into Hanoi (HAN), and then take a van down to Ninh Binh.
- Cost: $40 to $80 USD for the flight + $10 to $15 USD for the van.
- Travel Time: 1.5-hour flight + 2.5 to 3-hour drive.
- How to Book: Compare flights on Trip.com. For the airport transfer, book a van or shuttle on 12Go.Asia or GetYourGuide.
- The Pros: It is much faster than taking the train or bus.
- The Cons: You lose a chunk of your day navigating airports and waiting for transfers.
Long-Distance Sleeper Bus
There are direct sleeper buses that run from Da Nang (and sometimes directly from Hoi An) to Ninh Binh.
- Cost: $20 to $30 USD.
- Travel Time: 15 to 17 hours.
- How to Book: Check routes and book tickets on 12Go.Asia.
- The Pros: It is the cheapest direct option.
- The Cons: 15+ hours on a bus is uncomfortable, and the driving can be rough compared to the train.
My Recommendation: Book a soft bed on the overnight sleeper train. It is a classic Vietnam travel experience, very affordable, and brings you right into Ninh Binh city by morning.
How to Get to Ninh Binh from Ha Long Bay / Cat Ba
Combining Ha Long Bay (or Cat Ba Island) with Ninh Binh is one of the most popular itinerary routes in northern Vietnam. Luckily, there is a very well-established tourist route between the two, so you don’t even need to go back to Hanoi first.
Tourist “Limousine” Van or Shuttle Bus (The Best Option)
You can easily book a direct shuttle bus or VIP Limousine Van that will take you straight from the coast to Ninh Binh. If you are coming from Cat Ba Island, the bus ticket will include the quick ferry or speedboat ride back to the mainland.
- Cost: $12 to $20 USD.
- Travel Time: 3.5 to 4.5 hours.
- How to Book: Book your seat online through 12Go.Asia or grab a combo ticket on GetYourGuide.
- The Pros: It is direct, easy, and very affordable. They will usually pick you up at your hotel or cruise port and drop you off in Tam Coc.
- The Cons: If coming from Cat Ba, the transfer from the bus to the ferry and onto another bus can feel a little chaotic, but the guides will herd you to the right place.
Book your Limousine Van from Halong to Ninh Binh: Halong/Ninh Binh: Bus Ha Long to Ninh Binh to Ha Long Limousine.
Private Car or Taxi
If you are finishing up a luxury cruise in Ha Long Bay and want a smooth, comfortable ride to your next destination, a private car is the way to go.
- Cost: $70 to $100+ USD.
- Travel Time: Around 3 hours.
- How to Book: Book a highly-rated private transfer in advance on Viator or GetYourGuide.
- The Pros: Extremely comfortable, direct, and you can leave at the exact time you disembark your cruise.
- The Cons: Expensive for solo travelers.
My Recommendation: The tourist shuttle or limousine van is perfectly fine for this route. It’s inexpensive and gets you there in just a few hours.
How to Get to Ninh Binh from Sapa
Sapa is high up in the northern mountains, while Ninh Binh is south of Hanoi. This means you have to travel a long distance, passing through the Hanoi area to connect the two.
Direct VIP Sleeper Bus / Cabin Bus (The Best Option)
In recent years, “VIP Cabin Buses” have become incredibly popular in Vietnam. Instead of a standard reclining seat, these buses have private, pod-like cabins with massage features, charging ports, and privacy curtains. You can take one of these directly from Sapa to Ninh Binh overnight.
- Cost: $20 to $35 USD.
- Travel Time: 8 to 10 hours.
- How to Book: Check schedules and book your VIP cabin on 12Go.Asia.
- The Pros: It is a direct route, meaning you don’t have to deal with transferring in Hanoi. Taking it overnight saves you the cost of a hotel. The VIP cabins are surprisingly comfortable.
- The Cons: The mountain roads leaving Sapa are very winding, which can cause motion sickness if you are prone to it.
The Train (Via Hanoi)
There is no direct train from Sapa to Ninh Binh. To do this, you have to take a bus/taxi from Sapa to the Lao Cai train station (about 45 minutes away), take the overnight sleeper train to Hanoi, and then transfer to a separate train or bus to get to Ninh Binh.
- Cost: $40 to $60 USD total.
- Travel Time: 10 to 12 hours total.
- How to Book: Book the train segments on Trip.com or 12Go.Asia.
- The Pros: The train from Lao Cai to Hanoi is very smooth and comfortable compared to the winding mountain roads.
- The Cons: It requires multiple transfers and is much more expensive and time-consuming than the direct bus.
My Recommendation: Book a direct VIP Cabin Bus. The privacy and ability to lie flat make the long journey manageable, and skipping the Hanoi transfer is a huge relief.
How to Get to Ninh Binh from Ha Giang
If you have just finished doing the epic Ha Giang Loop by motorbike, your body is probably exhausted. You have a long journey ahead to get down to Ninh Binh, but thankfully, there are direct options available.
Direct Sleeper Bus or VIP Cabin Bus (The Best Option)
Just like the Sapa route, the easiest way to travel between Ha Giang and Ninh Binh is on a direct, long-distance sleeper bus. Most travelers opt for the overnight bus so they can sleep through the journey.
- Cost: $20 to $30 USD.
- Travel Time: 8 to 10 hours.
- How to Book: Book your ticket in advance on 12Go.Asia.
- The Pros: Direct travel with zero transfers. It’s the cheapest way to cover the massive distance and saves you a night of accommodation.
- The Cons: Sleeping on a bus after 3 or 4 days of riding a motorbike on the loop can be a bit uncomfortable on your sore back.
Limousine Van to Hanoi and Transfer to Ninh Binh
If you absolutely cannot sleep on a bus and prefer to travel during the day, you can break the trip up. Take a morning Limousine Van from Ha Giang to Hanoi, grab some food in the city, and then catch an afternoon van or train down to Ninh Binh.
- Cost: $25 to $40 USD total.
- Travel Time: 6 hours to Hanoi + 2.5 hours to Ninh Binh (plus wait times).
- How to Book: Book both legs of the trip on 12Go.Asia or Trip.com.
- The Pros: You get to travel in a much more comfortable Limousine Van seat, and you get to see the scenery during the day.
- The Cons: It eats up an entire day of your itinerary just for traveling.
My Recommendation: Bite the bullet and take the direct overnight sleeper bus. It’s the most efficient way to get south so you can wake up and immediately start exploring Ninh Binh.9
How to Get Around Ninh Binh Once You Arrive
Once your bus or train drops you off, you still need a way to get to all the amazing temples, viewpoints, and boat tours scattered around the province.
The good news is that the tourist areas of Tam Coc and Trang An are incredibly flat, making getting around much easier and less stressful than the chaotic streets of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Here are the best ways to get around Ninh Binh:
Rent a Motorbike or Scooter (The Best Option)
Renting a scooter is the most popular way to explore Ninh Binh. The roads connecting the main sights (like Hang Mua, Trang An, and Bai Dinh Temple) are well-paved, relatively quiet, and offer stunning views of the limestone karsts right from the road.
- Cost: $5 to $7 USD (about 120,000 to 150,000 VND) per day, plus a couple of dollars for gas.
- How to Book: You don’t need to book in advance. Almost every homestay and hotel in Tam Coc or Trang An will have scooters sitting out front available to rent.
- The Pros: You have total freedom to explore at your own pace, beat the tour buses to popular spots early in the morning, and get off the beaten path.
- The Cons: You need to be comfortable driving a scooter. While the roads are quieter than the cities, you still have to share them with the occasional truck or bus.
Rent a Bicycle
If you aren’t comfortable driving a motorized scooter, a bicycle is a fantastic alternative. Because the landscape here is dominated by flat rice paddies (with mountains shooting straight up out of them), you don’t have to worry about pedaling up steep hills.
- Cost: $2 to $3 USD per day (many homestays actually offer them to guests for free!).
- The Pros: It is incredibly peaceful, eco-friendly, and perfect for exploring the immediate area around Tam Coc or Trang An.
- The Cons: Ninh Binh can get extremely hot and humid, especially from May to September. Biking long distances (like the 20km ride to Bai Dinh Pagoda) will leave you drenched in sweat.
Book your Ninh Binh bicycle tour: Ninh Binh Cycling Tour: Tam Coc Boat, Mua Cave & Rural Life
Taxis and Grab
If you want to get from point A to point B without driving yourself, you can use local taxis or the ride-hailing app, Grab. Grab works similarly to Uber and allows you to call either a car or a motorbike taxi.
- Cost: Varies based on distance, but short trips are usually under $5 USD.
- The Pros: Air conditioning (if you book a car) and zero stress about navigating or parking.
- The Cons: While Grab is available in Ninh Binh, there are fewer drivers than in the big cities. You might have to wait 10 to 15 minutes for a ride, especially if you are at a more remote temple.
Hire a Private Driver or Book a Tour
If you only have one day in Ninh Binh and want to see as much as possible without any logistical headaches, hiring a local driver or joining a small tour is the way to go.
- Cost: $30 to $50 USD for a private driver for the day, or $20 to $40+ USD for a guided tour.
- How to Book: You can arrange a driver through your accommodation, or book a highly-rated day tour in advance on Viator or GetYourGuide.
- The Pros: Maximum convenience. A driver knows exactly where to go, where to park, and can give you great local recommendations.
- The Cons: It is more expensive than renting your own bike and offers less spontaneity.
My Recommendation: If you know how to ride, rent a scooter. The freedom of cruising through the rice paddies with the wind in your hair is a massive part of the Ninh Binh experience. If you don’t ride, grab a free bicycle from your homestay for short trips, and use Grab for the sights further away.
- Book your buses, trains, and ferries in Asia: 12Go.Asia
- Find the cheapest domestic flights in Vietnam: Trip.com or Skyscanner
- Book highly-rated private transfers and day tours: GetYourGuide and Viator
- Find the best homestays in Tam Coc and Trang An: Booking.com or Agoda
Wrap Up: The Easiest Way to Get to Ninh Binh
No matter where you are starting your journey in Vietnam, getting to Ninh Binh is entirely doable and absolutely worth the trip.
To summarize the best ways to get to Ninh Binh:
- From Hanoi or Ha Long Bay: Take a Limousine Van for the easiest, most comfortable door-to-door trip.
- From South or Central Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang): Take a quick domestic flight to Hanoi, or embrace the slow travel adventure of the overnight sleeper train.
- From the Northern Mountains (Sapa, Ha Giang): Book a direct VIP cabin sleeper bus to save time, money, and the hassle of transferring in Hanoi.
Once you arrive, rent a scooter or grab a bicycle to explore the towering limestone mountains, ancient temples, and peaceful rivers at your own pace.
Figuring out transportation in a new country can feel overwhelming, but the tourist infrastructure in Vietnam makes it incredibly simple once you know what to book. I hope this guide helps you plan your itinerary so you can fall in love with Ninh Binh just like I did!
Ready to plan your trip? Here are all my favorite travel planning resources:
- SafetyWing for travel insurance
- Flytographer for professional photoshoots all over the world
- Daily Drop Pro for miles and points bookings (learn more in my guide)
- Booking.com for a huge variety of hotels, vacation rentals, flights, and more
- HostelWorld for the best hostels around the world
- Vrbo for vacation homes and rentals
- Going and Thrifty Traveler for cheap flight alerts
- Amazon for travel and packing must-haves
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