Trang An Boat Tour Ninh Binh 3 Days 2 Nights

Ticket Prices & Opening Hours (Latest Update)

• Adults (over 1.3m) : 300,000 VND/person .
• Children (from 1m to 1.3m) : 150,000 VND per child .
• Children under 1 meter tall : Completely free.
• Private boat rental : 1,200,000 VND/boat (Each boat can carry a maximum of 4-5 adults to ensure safety).
• Opening hours : Summer 6:00 – 16:45 | Winter 7:00 – 16:30.

Differences Between the 3 Boat Routes in Trang An

Route 1: Cave Exploration (3.5 – 4 hours)

• Route : Boat dock ➔ Trinh Temple ➔ Dark Cave ➔ Bright Cave ➔ Wine Brewing Cave ➔ Tran Temple ➔ Three Drops Cave ➔ Seo Cave ➔ Son Duong Cave ➔ Khong Palace ➔ Bao Hieu Pagoda ➔ Khong Cave ➔ Tran Cave ➔ Turtle Cave ➔ Boat dock.
• Highlight : Passing through the most caves ( 9 caves and 3 spiritual sites).
• Suitable for : Those who enjoy adventure and admiring natural stalactites deep within the mountains.

Route 2: Dinh Phong Canh Traditional Medicine Clinic (2.5 – 3 hours)

• Route : Boat dock ➔ Lam Cave ➔ Trinh Temple ➔ Vang Cave ➔ Thanh Truot Cave ➔ Cao Son Temple ➔ Dai Cave ➔ Suoi Tien Temple ➔ Vu Lam Royal Palace ➔ Boat dock.
• Highlights : Check in at the ancient Thuy Dinh pavilion floating in the middle of the river and visit the ancient military base of Vu Lam Palace from the Tran Dynasty.
• Suitable for : Tourists who enjoy taking photos of ancient architecture and harmonious landscapes, and who prefer a trip that’s not too tiring.

Route 3: Experience the Longest Cave (2.5 – 3 hours)

• Route : Boat dock ➔ Trinh Temple ➔ Dot Cave ➔ May Cave ➔ Suoi Tien Temple ➔ Dia Linh Mountain ➔ Dai Cave ➔ Vu Lam Royal Palace ➔ Boat dock.
• Highlight : Explore Hang Đột Cave – the longest water cave in Trang An, stretching up to 1,000m , and admire the stunningly beautiful, pristine stalactites and stalagmites.
• Suitable for : People who want to admire magnificent caves and also check in at unique cultural heritage sites.

Things You Need to Know About Boat Trips

• Ideal time to go: Early morning ( 7:30 – 8:30 ) or early afternoon ( after 3:00 PM ). Avoid the time between 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM as it will be very hot and there will be a huge influx of tourists from Hanoi tours.
• Things to prepare : You absolutely must bring a wide-brimmed hat, an umbrella, sunscreen , and drinking water because there will be absolutely no shade for the entire 3 hours on the river.
• Dress code : Wear comfortable clothing as you will be getting on and off the boat several times. If you plan to light incense at temples, choose modest clothing that covers your knees.
• Boat rowing culture : The boatmen in Trang An work very hard; you can help row with the oars available on the boat. If you are satisfied with the trip, a small tip (around 50,000 – 100,000 VND) will be a great encouragement for them.

Introducing Trang An – Ninh Binh

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (Ninh Binh) is one of Vietnam’s most famous and valuable tourist destinations. It proudly holds the distinction of being the first and only mixed World Heritage site in Southeast Asia recognized by UNESCO (in 2014), satisfying both stringent criteria for Culture and Nature. Below are the most distinctive features that define this heritage site:

Magnificent Nature: ” Ha Long Bay on Land”

• Flooded valley system: Towering limestone mountain ranges embrace crystal-clear, tranquil rivers, where you can see the mossy bottom.
• Mysterious underwater caves: Trang An boasts dozens of stunning natural underwater caves (such as the 1,000m long Dot Cave, Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Nau Ruou Cave…). Small boats can travel through the heart of the mountains from one valley to another.

Historical and Spiritual Depth

• Military base during the Tran Dynasty: This site preserves the relics of Vu Lam Royal Palace, where the Tran kings chose as a secure base to hide their troops, practice asceticism, and direct the resistance against the Yuan-Mongol invaders during the 2nd and 3rd wars.
• Ancient temples: Nestled at the foot of the mountains along the boat route are sacred temples dedicated to meritorious officials and generals of the Dinh and Le dynasties, such as Trinh Temple, Tran Temple, Cao Son Temple, Khong Palace, etc.

Core Experience : Bamboo Boat Ride

• You can choose one of three enclosed boat routes, winding through caves and stopping to admire the scenery at ancient temples and pagodas along the riverbank.
• The experience of checking in at the ancient Water Pavilion rising amidst the calm water has become an iconic image attracting millions of international tourists.

The Ideal Time to Visit

• Spring (January – March in the lunar calendar): The weather is cool and pleasant, perfect for combining a boat trip in Trang An with a New Year’s prayer visit at Bai Dinh Pagoda right next door.
• Rice harvest season (May – June): The entire Trang An valley is covered in the vibrant golden color of ripening rice paddies, contrasting with the green of the rocky mountains and the river.

3-day, 2-night tour itinerary to Trang An, Ninh Binh

Summary of  the 3-day, 2-night Trang An – Ninh Binh itinerary.

• Day 1 : Hanoi – Hoa Lu Ancient Capital – Tuyet Tinh Coc (Valley of Love) – Mua Cave (Overnight stay in Tam Coc/Trang An)
• Day 2 : Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An Heritage Boat Trip – Hoa Lu Ancient Town at Night
• Day 3 : Thung Nham Bird Garden Ecotourism Area – Bich Dong Pagoda – Hanoi

Detailed Itinerary for a 3-Day, 2- Night Trip to Trang An, Ninh Binh

Day 1: Journey to the Source & Conquering Mua Mountain Peak

• 07:30 – 08:00 : A limousine will pick you up in Hanoi and depart for Ninh Binh via the highway (approximately 2 hours).
• 10:00 AM : Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital , tour the temples of King Dinh and King Le, and listen to explanations about the ancient capital of the 10th century.
• 11:00 AM : Move to the adjacent area of ​​Tuyet Tinh Coc (Am Tien Cave) . Walk through the tunnel xuyên the mountain to admire the emerald green lake, climb the stone steps to visit the ancient temple and cave on the cliff.
• 12:30 PM : Enjoy a lunch of local specialties, grilled mountain goat meat and crispy rice, at a restaurant in the Truong Yen or Tam Coc area. Afterwards, return to your homestay/hotel to check in and rest.
• 3:30 PM : Check-in at Mua Cave . Challenge yourself with nearly 500 stone steps resembling the Great Wall of China to reach the summit of Mua Mountain. This is the ideal time to watch the sunset over the winding rice valley below.
• 6:30 PM : Dinner. Free time to stroll around Tam Coc area or relax at the homestay.

Day 2: The Land of Buddhist Spirituality & the Wonders of the Trang An River

• 07:30 : Breakfast at the accommodation.
• 08:30 : Depart for Bai Dinh Pagoda (the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam). You should buy an electric tram ticket to visit the record-breaking structures: the Corridor of 500 Arhat statues, the magnificent Tam The Hall, and the 13-story Pagoda.
• 11:30 : Lunch at a restaurant in the Bai Dinh/Trang An area.
• 13:00 : Arrive at the Trang An Ecological Park boat dock . Purchase tickets for a boat ride experience lasting approximately 2.5 – 3 hours.
  • Recommendation : It is advisable to choose Route 2 or Route 3 to check in at the floating Water Pavilion, Vu Lam Royal Palace, and pass through Dot Cave (the longest water cave in Trang An, reaching 1,000m).
• 16:30 : The boat docks, and a vehicle will take you back to your accommodation to rest and freshen up after a day of traveling outdoors.
• 7:00 PM : Dinner in Ninh Binh City. In the evening, visit Hoa Lu Ancient Town (right in the city center), admire the dazzling lantern displays, the shimmering Ky Lan Lake, and enjoy street food.

Day 3: Immerse Yourself in Nature at Thung Nham Valley & the Ancient Bich Dong Cave

• 07:30 : Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, breathing in the fresh air of the heritage mountain region. Check out.
• 08:30 : Cycle or drive a motorbike/car to Bich Dong Pagoda (an ancient pagoda known as “the second most beautiful cave in Southern Vietnam”). Check in at the stone bridge over the ancient lotus pond in front of the gate and climb the mountain to visit the three-tiered pagoda hidden into the cliff.
• 10:00 AM : Travel to Thung Nham Eco-tourism Area nearby.
  • Discover Vai Gioi Cave, nestled high in the mountains, with its many sparkling stalactites.
  • Visit the Buddha Cave by small boat deep inside the dark cave to admire the Buddha statues made of natural stalactites.
• 12:30 PM : Lunch at a restaurant inside Thung Nham tourist area, featuring dishes such as free-range chicken and fish from the natural lake.
• 14:30 : Arrive at the bus station, board the limousine and depart for Hanoi.
• 16:30 – 17:00 : The vehicle arrives back in Hanoi, dropping you off at the initial pick-up point. This concludes your memorable 3-day, 2-night trip.

Suggestions for Suitable Accommodation Areas

• If you prefer a relaxing and peaceful getaway : Choose bungalows /resorts in the Trang An area or around Bich Dong Pagoda (for example: Trang An Lamia Bungalow, Tam Coc Garden Resort, Chez Loan… ). These places offer stunning views of rice fields or limestone cliffs, and the dimly lit atmosphere is very relaxing.
• If you enjoy a lively atmosphere and convenient nightlife : You can choose hotels in the center of Ninh Binh City so that in the evening you can easily walk to Hoa Lu Old Town to enjoy snacks and sightseeing without having to travel far by taxi.

If you’d like a more detailed plan, please share it with me:

• What month is your group planning to go ? (If you’re going during the butterfly season in Cuc Phuong National Park, around April-May, you could change the third day from Thung Nham to Cuc Phuong National Park).
• Do you want to travel independently by renting a motorbike, or book a private package tour with transportation throughout the trip?