DISCOVER ANCIENT CAPITAL & PAGODA OF NINH BINH 2-DAY TOUR

07:30 – 08:00
Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter for a comfortable limousine transfer to Ninh Binh.

09:15
Enjoy a 15–20-minute break to stretch your legs, use the restroom, or grab a quick snack along the way.

10:30
Arrive in Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital from 968 to 1010. Visit the temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le and learn about Vietnam’s fascinating history during the Dinh, Le, and Ly Dynasties.

11:15 – 11:45
Join a 30-minute cycling tour to explore local villages and experience the tranquil countryside. Alternatively, you can relax at the restaurant and enjoy views of the lake, waterfalls, and surrounding valleys.

12:00
Enjoy a buffet lunch featuring local specialties in the private area of the Trang An Heritage Garden. Vegetarian options are available.

13:15 – 13:30

Choose one of the following unforgettable experiences:

• Option 1: Tam Coc
  Embark on a 1.5-hour boat ride along the scenic Ngo Dong River, passing vibrant rice fields, towering limestone karsts, and venturing through a series of caves including Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba. Tam Coc is often called “Halong Bay on land” for its breathtaking landscape.

• Option 2: Trang An
  Cruise through the magnificent waterways of Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized in 2014. Spend 1.5 hours exploring its spectacular tunnel cave system, famously featured in the 2016 movie Kong: Skull Island.

15:30
Proceed to Mua Cave (Hang Múa), where you’ll climb 500 stone steps to the summit for a panoramic view over Tam Coc and the surrounding countryside—a perfect spot for incredible photos.

17:00
Transfer back to Trang An Heritage Garden by minivan.

17:30
Check in to your room and enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool during the summer months.

19:00 – 19:30
Dinner is served at the restaurant. Overnight stay at Trang An Heritage Garden.

07:00 – 08:00
Enjoy breakfast at the restaurant.

08:15
Check out of your room.

08:30
Depart with your guide by minivan to visit Thai Vi Temple, an important site dedicated to kings and generals of the powerful Tran Dynasty, one of Vietnam’s most prosperous feudal periods.

Continue to Bich Dong Pagoda, a stunning landmark often called the “second most beautiful cave of Southern Vietnam.” Built in the architectural style symbolized by the Chinese character “三” (meaning “three”), the pagoda complex consists of three separate pagodas—the Lower, Middle, and Upper Pagodas—cascading up the mountainside.

11:30 – 12:00
Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring local Ninh Binh specialties at the private area of Trang An Heritage Garden Restaurant.

13:30
Continue your journey to Thung Nham Bird Valley. Board a small sampan to explore Hang But (Buddhist Cave), approximately 500 meters long, adorned with magical stalactites and stalagmites, including a striking Buddha-shaped formation beside an underground river. Visit a tropical fruit orchard in the area.

The afternoon is the best time to experience the bird sanctuary. Drift quietly on a boat through Thung Chim (Thung Nham), where over a thousand birds from 40 different species gather daily. It’s a perfect chance for stunning photography and immersing yourself in nature’s tranquility.

16:00 – 16:15
Transfer back to Mua Cave by minivan.

17:00
Depart Ninh Binh for the journey back to Hanoi.

19:30 – 19:45
Arrive in Hanoi and drop-off at your hotel in the Old Quarter. Tour ends.