EXPLORE NINH BINH IN 2 DAYS– HALONG BAY ON LAND

In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to Ninh Binh, across the green valleys, serpentine rivers, lush rice fields, and small villages.

On arrival, we will take a bicycle ride and get lost on winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples, and cottages. We will stop to visit Bich Dong pagoda, which is hidden among the trees on a lush hillside. After that, we will go to Hang Mua, which means Dancing Cave because King Tran used to come here to enjoy dancing and singing shows performed in this cave. We will arrive at Hang Mua, where we will challenge ourselves to conquer the 500 stone steps to get to the top of Mua Mount. You can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Tam Coc countryside and the Ngo Dong River.

In the afternoon, you will board a rowing boat in Tam Coc (three grottoes) for peaceful navigation along the Ngo Dong River, cruising among limestone mountains, between rice fields and through three beautiful limestone caves. We will then transfer to Hoa Lu, the former feudal capital of Vietnam at the end of the 10th century. You will visit two ancient temples dedicated to Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh and admire the unique architecture from ancient times.

Overnight at a hotel in Ninh Binh.

After a refreshing breakfast at your hotel, we will visit Thai Vi temple which is dedicated to worshiping Kings and Generals of the glorious Tran Dynasty. Afterward, we will drive to Cuc Phuong, the largest and oldest primitive forest in Vietnam. An enjoyable hike will allow you to discover the rich fauna and flora here. On the way, we will see a giant 1000-year-old tree and stop to visit a cave once home to a prehistoric man (7,000-12,000 years ago). Many artifacts have been found in numerous caves within the forest, including human graves, pointed bone spears, oyster shell knives, stone axes, and tools for grinding. In the afternoon, we will transfer by car to Hanoi.