The Best Way to Get to Ninh Binh

Looking to visit Ninh Binh, want to know how to get to Ninh Binh by bus, train or car, Chookies Travel will share with you from my personal experience about the best way to travel to Ninh Binh from other tourist destinations in Vietnam. Local and sleeping bus tickets are always the cheapest option but not the most comfortable and some drivers can be a little crazy on the roads. The train is a safer and more comfortable option, it’s more expensive but still affordable. Train tickets often sell out quickly so it’s best if you can plan in advance and book your train tickets a few days before you want to travel. For shorter distances then a private car is a great option for those who would like a little more flexibility and comfort while travelling.

From Hanoi to Ninh Binh

Limousine Bus Service

You can book a seat with Xe Vietnam for 150.000VND to Ninh Binh or 170.000 to Tam Coc. These are refurbished minivans with more comfortable chairs and they have free wifi and water. They can drop you off to your hotel in Ninh Binh city or nearby the boat station in Tam Coc, please note they will not drop you off to all hotels in Ninh Binh and Tam Coc so it’s best to check with them first. They leave from Cong Vien Thong Nhat, just next to the Circus Stadium in Hanoi. They leave every hour and it’s necessary to book first. Their phone number is 1900 1731.

Train

Take the train from Hanoi Train Station, it is located on Le Duan just near the old quarter. There are a number of trains departing to Ninh Binh everyday and it takes roughly 2 to 3 hours depending on the train. The soft seat (around 134k) is the best option for comfort and price. There are some trains at night but I think it’s best to arrive to Ninh Binh earlier in the day. Prices change regularly for the trains and generally have a 10 – 30% surcharge on weekends and public holidays. You can purchase tickets directly at the Hanoi Train Station, from Chookie’s Travel or other agency or online at baolau.com.

• SE7 d6.00am a8.14am

• SE5 d8.55am a11.08am

•  SE3 d19.20pm a21.32pm

Private Car

If you prefer a little more comfort and door to door service than you can arrange for a private car to drive you from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Most hotels can offer you this service and you can also contact us at Chookie’s Travel to arrange your private transfer. It generally takes around 2 to 2 and a half hours by car depending on the traffic. The price for a one way transfer usually starts at around $50 USD.

From Sapa to Ninh Binh

Sleeping Bus

Now that they have finished the new highway from Hanoi to Sapa, it’s made travel times to and from Sapa a lot quicker. Ha Son Bus Company have a sleeping bus that leaves Sapa around 5pm – 6pm from the Bus Station near Sapa Lake. You can book directly with us or you can ask your hotel in Sapa to book the bus for you. It takes roughly 7 hours to get to Ninh Binh and they will drop you in the city. It should be about 650.000VND per person.

Train

If you prefer not to travel by sleeping bus then you can take the night train to Hanoi and then from Hanoi you can choose what is the best option to travel onto Ninh Binh.

From Ha Giang to Ninh Binh

From Phong Nha to Ninh Binh

Sleeping Bus

It’s best to take the Duy Khanh sleeping Bus from Phong Nha, their office is located in front of the Central Backpacker in Phong Nha Town. The bus leaves at 5pm – 9pm and you will arrive to Ninh Binh around 4am, they can drop you off in Tam Coc or Ninh Binh City. You can also call us (0376 367982) to book your ticket. It should be about 730.000VND per person.

From Dong Hoi to Ninh Bình

Train

The train is a more comfortable option then the bus from Dong Hoi to Ninh Binh. The night train is good but you will get to Ninh Binh in the early hours of the morning so make sure to let your hotel know you will be arriving early. The SE20 is the better option but it just means you will have a late night in Dong Hoi before getting the train. There is a day train if you enjoy train travel and prefer to travel during the day. Here are the times of the trains from Dong Hoi to Ninh Binh. A soft seat will cost around $15 on the day train and a soft sleeper in the 4 berth cabin will cost around $30.

• SE2 d19:19pm a03:20am

• SE4 d18:25pm a02:29am

• SE20 d00:10am a09:04am

• SE6 d08:22am a16:47pm

Prices change regularly for the trains and generally have a 10 – 30% surcharge on weekends and public holidays. You can purchase tickets directly at the Dong Hoi Train Station, from an agency or online at baolau.com

From Hue to Ninh Binh

Sleeping Bus

The sleeping bus is always the cheaper option but not the most comfortable for the longer distances. It’s good for budget travelers but I would recommend the train if you can afford the extra. You can book your bus ticket through your hotel or directly with Duy Khanh, it should cost around 780.000VND to Ninh Binh. Duy Khanh will drop you off in the city centre or Tam Coc, you can book with us (0376 367982).

Train

A night train from Hue is the more comfortable option, if you don’t want to arrive too early in the morning then it’s best to plan in advance and book the SE20 that arrives at 9:04am in Ninh Binh. A soft bed in a 4 berth cabin should cost about $45.

• SE2 d16:08pm a03:20am

• SE4 d15:17pm a02:29am

• SE20 d20:38pm a09:04am

I hope this will help you find the best way to get to Ninh Binh, in my next post I will tell you how to reach Ninh Binh from Halong Bay, Cat Ba and more popular tourist destinations. Wishing you all safe travels in Vietnam and feel free to contact me if you need any more information about your trip to Ninh Binh.