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Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave Day Tour

The full Ninh Binh day: Hoa Lu's royal temples, the river caves of Tam Coc and the climb up Mua Cave for the best view in the province.

The day starts with history at Hoa Lu, the 10th-century capital where the Dinh and Le kings are still honoured in their temples among the hills.

Tam Coc follows – the 'Ha Long Bay on land', where the Ngo Dong River threads through three caves between rice fields and cliffs.

And then the climb: more than 500 steps up Ngoa Long Mountain at Mua Cave, to a panorama that puts the whole day in perspective. Lunch is a premium buffet at Trang An Eco Restaurant, and your guide is with you throughout.

  • Walk through Hoa Lu, the 10th-century capital, and the temples of the Dinh and Le kings
  • See the karsts and river caves of Tam Coc, the 'Ha Long Bay on land'
  • Climb 500+ steps up Ngoa Long Mountain for the Mua Cave panorama
  • Premium buffet lunch at Trang An Eco Restaurant
  • Old Quarter pick-up by shuttle bus, limousine or 9–11-seat Dcar

Day by day

  1. 1

    Pick-up in Hanoi Old Quarter

    Hanoi Old Quarter street with yellow facades and flags

    Your guide meets you in Hanoi's Old Quarter and the road leads south to Ninh Binh in the vehicle you chose – shuttle bus, limousine or a 9–11-seat Dcar. Drinking water is on board both ways.

  2. 2

    Hoa Lu, the ancient capital

    Stone gate of a temple at the ancient capital Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

    Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, under the Dinh and Le dynasties. Among the limestone hills you visit the temples of the Dinh and Le kings, while your guide brings the history and culture of the region to life.

  3. 3

    Buffet lunch at Trang An Eco Restaurant

    Cyclists riding through rice fields below karsts

    Break for a premium buffet lunch at Trang An Eco Restaurant before the next sights of the day.

    Meals:
    Lunch
  4. 4

    Tam Coc, the 'Ha Long Bay on land'

    River winding through rice fields between Tam Coc karsts

    Tam Coc is famous for its limestone karsts and winding waterways. The Ngo Dong River slips through three caves – Tam Coc means 'three caves' – between rice fields and sheer cliffs, and along the water you catch the everyday life of the villages.

  5. 5

    Mua Cave viewpoint

    View over green river and boats from Mua Cave

    Climb more than 500 steps at Mua Cave (Mua means 'dance') to the top of Ngoa Long Mountain. The reward is a panorama over Ninh Binh and the Ngo Dong River winding through the fields below.

  6. 6

    Back to Hanoi

    Hanoi Old Quarter street with yellow facades and flags

    Climb back aboard for the drive north, with drop-off in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

Moments you'll remember

  • Where a kingdom began

    At Hoa Lu the temples of the Dinh and Le kings sit low among the limestone hills – a quiet place to imagine Vietnam's capital a thousand years ago.

  • Three caves, one river

    The Ngo Dong River slides into the rock and out again, three times over, with rice fields and cliffs on either side.

  • The view from Ngoa Long

    After more than 500 steps, Ninh Binh opens up below you: the Ngo Dong River, the fields and the karsts stretching away in every direction.

Why we love this trip

It's the one we'd pick for a single day in Ninh Binh: the story, the water and the view, ending on a mountaintop with everything you've seen laid out below.

— The AmGo team

What's included

  • Round-trip transfer Hanoi Old Quarter – Ninh Binh by shuttle bus, limousine or 9–11-seat Dcar (your choice)
  • Premium buffet lunch at Trang An Eco Restaurant
  • Guide throughout the tour
  • Sport bicycles
  • Raincoat or conical hat, depending on the weather
  • Drinking water on the bus, both ways

Not included

  • Tips for your guide and driver
  • Drinks other than the water on the bus
  • Personal expenses
  • Holiday surcharge (see notes)
  • Anything not listed under what's included

Good to know

Cancellation

Free cancellation with a full refund up to 1 day before the tour starts.

What to bring

  • Comfortable walking shoes for the steps and temple grounds
  • Sun hat and sunscreen
  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for temples and pagodas
  • Camera or phone with a charged battery
  • Some cash for personal expenses

Notes

  • Price shown: shuttle bus from Hanoi, 924,000 VND per adult.
  • Upgrade: Limousine +126,000 VND per person (full price 1,050,000 VND per adult).
  • Upgrade: Dcar 9–11 seats +504,000 VND per person (full price 1,428,000 VND per adult).
  • Children 1–4 travel free sharing a seat with their parents; parents pay any extra entrance tickets or costs.
  • A child aged 1–4 with their own seat pays a seat surcharge of 350,000 VND (shuttle bus) or 420,000 VND (limousine).
  • Children 5–8 pay 75% of the adult price (one child with two adults; a second child pays the full adult price). From 9 years: adult price.
  • Holiday surcharge +40%: New Year (31/12–02/01), Lunar New Year (from the 28th of the last lunar month to the end of the 4th day of Tết), 30/4–1/5, Hung Kings Commemoration (29/04) and 2/9.
  • Transport only (no tour): Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi round trip 280,000 VND by bus or 350,000 VND by limousine per person; pick-up in the Old Quarter and drop-off at Hoa Lu, return pick-up at Tam Coc and drop-off in the Old Quarter.
  • Entrance tickets and boat rides are not itemised in our price list for this tour; our team confirms exactly what is covered when you book.
  • Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (CC BY 2.0).

Meeting point

Hanoi Old Quarter – the exact pick-up point and time are confirmed after booking

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Frequently asked questions

What is included in the price?

Round-trip transfer Hanoi Old Quarter – Ninh Binh by shuttle bus, limousine or 9–11-seat Dcar (your choice); Premium buffet lunch at Trang An Eco Restaurant; Guide throughout the tour; Sport bicycles; Raincoat or conical hat, depending on the weather; Drinking water on the bus, both ways.

Can I travel in a more comfortable vehicle?

Yes. The price shown is for the shuttle bus. A limousine costs 126,000 VND more per person (1,050,000 VND per adult), and a 9–11-seat Dcar costs 504,000 VND more (1,428,000 VND per adult).

How much do children pay?

Children 1–4 travel free sharing a seat with their parents; parents pay any extra entrance tickets or costs. A child aged 1–4 with their own seat pays a seat surcharge of 350,000 VND (shuttle bus) or 420,000 VND (limousine). Children 5–8 pay 75% of the adult price (one child with two adults; a second child pays the full adult price). From 9 years: adult price.

Where do you pick me up?

In Hanoi's Old Quarter. The exact pick-up point and time are confirmed after you book, and you are dropped back in the Old Quarter at the end of the day.

Is there a surcharge on public holidays?

Holiday surcharge +40%: New Year (31/12–02/01), Lunar New Year (from the 28th of the last lunar month to the end of the 4th day of Tết), 30/4–1/5, Hung Kings Commemoration (29/04) and 2/9.

Can I book only the bus to Ninh Binh?

Transport only (no tour): Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi round trip 280,000 VND by bus or 350,000 VND by limousine per person; pick-up in the Old Quarter and drop-off at Hoa Lu, return pick-up at Tam Coc and drop-off in the Old Quarter.

Can I cancel?

Free cancellation with a full refund up to 1 day before the tour starts.

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