Explore o Melhor de Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc e Gruta Mua

The tour guide arrived at the pick-up point on time. The itinerary consisted of five stops: First, visiting a bamboo silk workshop with no pressure to buy. Second, a visit to the ancient town of Hoa Lu, primarily for taking photos. Third, enjoying a buffet lunch at a resort village; the food options were not very extensive, but the portions were sufficient, and the only minor drawback was that drinks had to be paid for separately, though this was also a time when guests could choose to go cycling around the area. Fourth, visiting an antique site or experiencing a boat ride on the river, which lasted about an hour; the scenery was exceptionally beautiful, providing plenty of photo opportunities and serving as the highlight of the trip, although the boat rower did actively ask for a tip. Fifth, climbing a hill, which took about an hour with rather steep steps, making it a bit strenuous for most people. The entire day's tour lasted approximately 12 hours, with the tour guide being attentive throughout, providing detailed introductions to the various locations, and ensuring everyone was safely returned to their hotel.

Một ngày kỳ diệu tại Ninh Bình – Rất đáng trải nghiệm! Tour khám phá Ninh Bình trong ngày này là một trải nghiệm chạm đến cảm xúc từ đầu đến cuối. Việc đặt tour qua Klook rất thuận tiện, và chuyến đi được tổ chức vô cùng hoàn hảo. Hướng dẫn viên thân thiện của chúng tôi đã chia sẻ nhiều thông tin sâu sắc về lịch sử Việt Nam khi chúng tôi khám phá Hoa Lu, cố đô xưa với những ngôi mộ cổ ẩn mình giữa các dãy núi đá vôi. Nhưng điểm nhấn chính là chuyến đi thuyền ở Tràng An — một hành trình khó quên qua làn nước ngọc bích, những hang động huyền ảo và các vách núi đá vôi sừng sững. Khi chúng tôi lướt qua những cảnh quan tươi tốt và tiến vào những hang động vang vọng, cảm giác như đang trôi dạt trong một giấc mơ. Bữa trưa tại một nhà hàng vùng quê rất ngon miệng, phục vụ nhiều món ăn truyền thống đích thực của Việt Nam. Chuyến đi khép lại với hành trình leo núi Hang Múa đầy thử thách nhưng vô cùng xứng đáng. 500 bậc thang không hề dễ dàng, nhưng khung cảnh toàn năng từ đỉnh núi — nhìn xuống dòng Ngô Đồng và những cánh đồng lúa bất tận — thực sự đáng giá từng bước chân.

If you only have one day to get out of Hanoi, you have to do a day trip to Ninh Binh. It feels completely different from the city—massive limestone cliffs, temples tucked into the mountains, and rivers everywhere. Tips for the Tour: ​Bring a hat and sunscreen for the boat ride because there is zero shade on the water, and definitely save enough energy (and water!) for the Mua Cave climb at the end of the day. Your legs will hurt the next day, but the views are 100% worth it.

Wonderful trip. Tom a.k.a. Tom Cruise was very helpful with all information. He gave us a background about the place and was very clear with instructions on what to expect from locals, how to bargain, how much to pay / tip to avoid being ripped off. The limousine bus is very comfortable. The lunch includes a decent amount of vegetarian options. Overall, the trip is placed very well - starts with a visit to the temple, followed by lunch, then boating and finally a good hike.

Positive points: - The ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, and the caves were even more scenic than expected. - The bus was spacious, making travel time comfortable. Negative points: - We were taken to a souvenir shop selling bamboo crafts, ostensibly for a rest stop, and were subjected to a sales pitch that detained us for nearly an hour. Without this stop, I think we could have visited at least one more spot in Ninh Binh. They sold light snacks, but they were clearly overpriced compared to market rates. - There was a cycling session, but the tour guide gave no advice on sights to see, simply telling us to keep turning right and come back to the same place, which was baffling. The roads and bicycles were of poor quality, and it was far from what could be called a cycling tour. - After lunch, the guide told us to wait because we would be transferring from our bus to a van to go to Tam Coc, but the van never came, and we ended up taking the same bus to Tam Coc. During the lunch break, the guide was chatting with other guides, and I feel arrangements could have been sorted out then. - The boat rowers in Tam Coc persistently begged for sales and tips. Because of this, a fellow tour participant got into an argument with a boat rower. If you have limited time and are torn between Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, I recommend going to Ninh Binh. The water in Ha Long Bay is not very clean, and there are too many people to sightsee at a leisurely pace. For similar scenery, Krabi in Thailand has clearer water and allows for a more relaxed sightseeing experience.

A very worthwhile activity to explore. The tour started on time and the bus ride took about two hours, with a stop along the way for restrooms and snacks. It is recommended to have breakfast before setting off. The first stop was Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, with about 50 minutes of activity time. Remember to bring a fan and an umbrella, as in Vietnam it can suddenly pour heavily when it rains! The second stop was for lunch, which was a buffet. The taste was just okay; don't expect too much, it's just a buffet to fill your stomach. After lunch, the tour guide led us to go cycling, but those who didn't want to ride could also stay and rest at the restaurant. After lunch, we went boating. There are two location options, Trang An and Tam Coc, and we were assigned to Tam Coc. The whole experience was a lot of fun. Remember to bring an umbrella; along the way, you will be asked to buy their handmade paintings, but we politely declined. After getting off the boat, the rower will ask for a tip. The third stop was Mua Cave for mountain climbing. Because the stairs were quite slippery after the rain, and we were too tired, we decided not to climb up for safety reasons. Instead, we sat at a restaurant below and took some pictures. I must praise our tour guide, Ryan; his explanations were very witty and humorous, extremely clear 👍🏻 and helpful 👍🏻

Mañana lluviosa cuando nos recogieron. Me pidieron que caminara hasta el punto de encuentro porque los autobuses no están permitidos en el Barrio Antiguo. Explorar Hoa Lu (la antigua capital) no fue muy fascinante, tal vez la ruta necesite más riqueza o detalles históricos más profundos. El almuerzo estuvo bien, en algún lugar de un complejo eco-turístico. El paseo en bote en Tam Coc es pintoresco, pero hacía demasiado calor. Todos estábamos sudados a las 4 de la tarde cuando subimos al monte del Dragón y el grupo solo tuvo una hora. Tom, nuestro guía, es muy servicial. La excursión de un día en general está bien, pero realmente hay que estar preparado para el calor. Traiga paraguas y protector solar.

This was most definitely the highlight of our trip—surprisingly, even more memorable than our 2D1N cruise in Lan Ha Bay / Ha Long Bay! The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. We highly recommend choosing Tam Coc over Trang. Tam Coc offers the best of both worlds: the iconic towering limestone karsts and beautiful green rice fields. It’s incredibly scenic and peaceful. We did the Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Mua Cave tour, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Our tour guide, Trang, was amazing—so passionate, knowledgeable, and full of energy. She gave us detailed insights into the rich history and culture of the places we visited. We boarded the limousine bus, which is totally worth it. This tour is a must-do if you’re visiting Ninh Binh!

Tour này rất vui, suôn sẻ và hoàn toàn không hề căng thẳng. Mọi thứ đều được sắp xếp với nhịp độ hợp lý, từ việc khám phá cố đô Hoa Lư lịch sử cho đến chuyến đi thuyền tre yên bình ở Tam Cốc, và cuối cùng là leo lên các bậc thang Hang Mua để ngắm nhìn khung cảnh tuyệt đẹp. Tôi không hề cảm thấy bị giục giã vì chúng tôi có dư dã thời gian để thực hiện các hoạt động trong lịch trình. Flora, hướng dẫn viên du lịch của chúng tôi, đã thực sự cố gắng hết sức trong suốt cả ngày. Cô ấy tỏ ra rất thành thạo công việc khi luôn quan tâm đến chúng tôi, đặc biệt là khi phải xếp hàng dài hoặc khi chúng tôi trông có vẻ mệt mỏi. Cô ấy thân thiện, ngăn nắp và chuyên nghiệp. Cảm giác như cô ấy đang dẫn dắt một đội ngũ thực thụ chứ không chỉ là một nhóm người xa lạ. Bạn có thể nhận thấy cô ấy thực sự quan tâm đến việc đảm bảo chúng tôi có những trải nghiệm tuyệt vời. Ngoài ra, bữa trưa tự chọn rất ngon. Rất đáng giới thiệu nếu bạn đang ở Hà Nội và muốn tìm kiếm một chuyến đi kết hợp giữa thiên nhiên và văn hóa mà không bị căng thẳng. Cảm ơn Flora vì năng lượng tuyệt vời và sự hướng dẫn tận tình của cô ấy!

It was a very precious experience. The guide was always hardworking and did their best to accommodate the requests of the tour participants. In Hoa Lu, they gave a thorough explanation of the history. In Tam Coc, there was about 90 minutes of relaxing boat time, but since the sunlight was strong, you need to protect your skin with a parasol or long sleeves. Don't forget to buy plenty of water before getting on the boat. At Mua Cave, after climbing 500 steps, you will encounter a wonderful view. If possible, I recommend upgrading the bus. It will make your travel much more comfortable.