How to get from HANOI to NINH BINH? → Train or Bus [2019]?

Ninh Binh is a good place for stop, if you travel from the north to the south of Vietnam.
Many travelers from Hanoi want to visit Ninh Binh town and nearby places (Tam Coc, Trang An, Cuc Phuong National Park..). Ninh Binh is 85 km from Hanoi. There is a beautiful karst scenery in Tam Coc and Trang An, Hang Mua Caves, Hoa Lu historic city and other interesting places to visit. For example Cuc Phuong National Park and Van Long Nature Reserve. Ninh Binh is a good place for stop if you travel to southern Vietnam.

Ninh Binh - Tourist boat trips, historical sites and beautiful karst sceneries.
The boat trips in Tam Coc or Trang An Scenix complex take about 2 hours and here you will see many tourists and travellers and also very nice karst sceneries and historical sites. Boat rides and cycling in this area are the main tourist attraction in Ninh Binh. The best option how to get to Ninh Binh is to travel by train or bus (very cheap). Travel by train/bus takes about 2–2.5 hours and train tickets start already at $2.80/pp. It is not a big problem to find an accommodation in Ninh Binh town and nearby places.
There are 4 ways of getting from Hanoi to Ninh Binh:
- Train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
- Bus/Van from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
- Taxi/Private transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
- Travel on motorbike from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

How to travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
1. From Hanoi to Ninh Binh by Train
- there are a few trains every day from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
- travel by train in Vietnam is quite an interesting experience
- it takes about 2,5 hours from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by train
- trains are comfortable and refurbished, you can buy food
- see the Vietnam railway map
- there are about 6–8 trains every day of Vietnam Railways from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
- one-way train ticket from Hanoi to Ninh Binh costs about 70 000–80 000 viet.dongs ($2.80–7, hard or soft seat)
- train station in Hanoi - Hanoi Railway Station (120 Le Duan)
- train station in Ninh Binh - Ninh Binh Railway Station (1 Hoàng Hoa Thám)
>>> Book and buy train e-tickets online on Baolau or 12go.asia, secured online payment
- lots of tourists travel to the southern Vietnam - recommended - book your train tickets online!
- you will receive your e-ticket by email, ready to print or carry in your mobile phone or tablet and present when boarding the train

2. From Hanoi to Ninh Binh by Bus or Van/Minivan
- lots of buses run from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (tourist or small local buses)
- travel by bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh takes about 2,5 hours
- bus ticket price - between 80–150 000 viet.dongs ($5–10)
- various bus companies - Queen Cafe, Non Nuoc Ninh Binh, Hoang Long, Grouptour, Truly Ha Giang and many other small bus companies
- several buses go directly to Tam Coc or Trang An, you can find these tickets on Baolau
>>> Book and buy bus e-tickets online on Baolau or 12go.asia, secured online payment
- you will receive your e-ticket by email, ready to print or carry in your mobile phone or tablet and present at the ticket counter of the station before boarding the bus


3. From Hanoi to Ninh Binh by Taxi
- you can go by taxi or private car from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, price should be about $50–100 for one-way trip (depends on the car)
You can book taxi or private car/van on 12go.asia, secured online payment
- travel by private taxi from Hanoi to Ninh Binh takes about 2.5 hours
4. From Hanoi to Ninh Binh on the Motorbike
- it is very easy route on the motorbike from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
- recommended place for visit on this route: Perfume Pagoda (Chùa Thiên Trù - historical buddhist place)
- there are lots of motorbike rentals in Hanoi (1 day costs about $7–15)
5. From Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi to Ninh Binh
- You can also travel by van/minivan directly from Noi Bai Airport to Ninh Binh (Noi Bai Airport is about 30 km north of Hanoi)
- travel by van of Ninh Binh Excursion Company from Noi Bai Airport to Ninh Binh costs about $18
>>> Book and buy e-tickets from Noi Bai Airport to Ninh Binh on Baolau
Full story about traveling from Hanoi to Ninh Binh read here.

Faqs - Travel route from Hanoi to Ninh Binh:
How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
- Travel by train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh takes about 2,5 hours.
- Travel by bus/van from Hanoi to Ninh Binh takes about 2,5–3 hours.
- Travel by private taxi from Hanoi to Ninh Binh takes about 2,5 hours.
What is the travel distance from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
- Travel distance from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is about 90–100 km by train, bus or private taxi.
How much does it cost to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
- Travel by train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh costs about $2.80–7.
- Travel by bus/van from Hanoi to Ninh Binh costs about $5–14.
- Travel by taxi from Hanoi to Ninh Binh costs about $55–130.
How long to stay in Ninh Binh? 3 days optimal.
- It depends what you want to visit in this nice area. There are a lot of various amazing places in the whole area of Ninh Binh. In my opinion, 3 or 4 days are optimal.
- A lot of travel agencies offer 1-day tours from Hanoi, but 1-day is very limited.
What is the cheapest way of transport from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
- The most cheapest way of travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is to travel by train. Train tickets start already at $2.80/pp for hard seat.
How to get from Ninh Binh back to Hanoi?
- The same way how you came to Ninh Binh. You can travel by bus, van or train. Read carefully from which bus stops station buses depart.
- Read this article: How to get from Ninh Binh to Hanoi + Schedule
It is possible to travel from Noi Bai Airport to Ninh Binh?
- Yes you can travel directly from Noi Bai International Airport to Ninh Binh. There are private vans and minivans, you can book tickets on Baolau.
Where you can travel from Ninh Binh?
- From Ninh Binh you can travel to central and southern Vietnam. E.g. to Dong Hoi, Hue or Da Nang (+Hoi An).
Is there an airport in Ninh Binh?
- No, there is not an airport in Ninh Binh. If you can travel to central Vietnam you have to travel by train or bus. If you want to travel by plane to central Vietnam, you have to go back to Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport.
Is an e-ticket in your smartphone acceptable?
- Yes, train/bus e-tickets are acceptable in your smartphone or tablet, but it is recommended - print your ticket.
Where to rent a motorbike or bicycle in Ninh Binh?
- Many hotels and guesthouses offer various motorbikes and bicycles, so ask at the hotel. Bicycle or motorbike is the best way how to move in Trang An or Tam Coc areas.
How to book and buy train/bus tickets from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
You can book train/bus tickets from Hanoi to Ninh Binh on Baolau or 12go.asia










