Full-Day Ninh Binh Highlights Tour from Hanoi

We booked this trip as a group of 4 through GetYourGuide in the UK prior to our trip to Vietnam. Comms with Aloha Travel leading up to the trip was excellent. We were picked up from our hotel in Hanoi on time and met by our guide for the day Vu (Bob). We were pleased to learn that there were no other guests on our trip and the transport was a luxurious minivan. Travel to the Ninh Binh area from Hanoi took about 2 hours with one short toilet / drink stop. During the journey, Vu provided a comprehensive history about Vietnam and the history of the Kings who ruled from the Ninh Binh area. He was very engaging and his English was excellent. Our first stop was at the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. The temples and buildings were set amongst amazing scenery and once again Vu provided the history of the site as well as taking photos of our group. The next stop and just down the road was Mua Cave site where we climbed the 500 steps up the mountain side to get amazing views of the countryside and limestone karsts. Vu provided us with bottles of water before our climb and they were definitely needed. The climb wasn't particularly difficult for someone with a reasonable level of fitness but it was extremely hot, so recommend taking a hat and fluids with you. Towards the top of the steps, the path splits in two, first going up to the dragon that sits atop of the highest point of the mountain. The views below of the river winding through the paddy fields were absolutely stunning. We climbed here first before descending then reascending on the other path to where there was a small pagoda. This gave you views of the dragon on the other peak. We spent about an hour in total climbing up and down the mountain which was plenty of time to get to the top of both peaks and to take photos. Following a short break at the bottom for refreshments from the cafe, Vu then took us on a walk around the grounds of the complex, taking in the caves themselves, some pretty waterfalls and then finally a walk around a lake on a boardwalk created in the shape of a lotus flower. Again the views were stunning. Next on the itinerary was a short van ride to a lovely riverside restaurant where we served an 8 course meze style lunch. My wife being a veggie was provided with separate meat free dishes which was a nice touch (make sure you let your guide know of any dietary requirements in advance). The food was excellent and included in the price of the trip but you paid the restaurant directly for drinks. Following lunch Vu took us on a bicycle ride through the countryside to the Bach Dong Pagoda. Once again the scenery was absolutely fantastic and there was ample time to stop and take photos. There was a local photographer who followed us for a short distance on a motorbike taking photos as we cycled along, which you could purchase later. We did buy some but only after a bit of bartering on the price. On arrival at the pagoda, Vu gave us some history about the site before we made the climb to the three separate temples. Again there was a bit of a climb up some steps but nothing too arduous. Following the visit we cycled back to the restaurant on a different route taking in the local sights. Our final activity of the day was a Sampan boat trip along the Tam Coc river. We had a boat per couple and it was amazing to watch the lady paddle the boat using her feet. There was a bit of a language barrier so there was not a great deal of interaction on the boat but it wasn't really needed as you soaked in the scenery. We spent about 90 minutes on the boat and passed through 3 cave systems on the river. There were a number of locals in boats on the river who were selling their wares including cold drinks and fruit if you wanted to buy, but they weren't too pushy. We were advised to tip the boat lady by Vu and she seemed happy with the VND 100,000 we gave her at the end of the trip. Following another break for a drink, we headed back to Hanoi getting back about 1930. All in all it was about a 12 hour day but absolutely worth it and and one of the top highlights of our 15 day trip to Vietnam. Vu was superb as a guide and I wouldn't hesitate to use this company in the future. A fantastic day out.

This is going to be a long review, but hopefully helpful too. I traveled with my wife and three other people (I think the maximum amount they take is 7 people, so the group size is pleasantly small). First of all, I gave the tour 5 stars for the obvious reason: it delivered what was promised. Our guide was a guy named Vu who was excellent in his job. He was enthusiastic, informative, educated, positive and ready to answer any questions the group had. Everything was planned very well and Vu kept everyone very well informed, which as a former guide myself I know is the most important thing to do when hosting groups. The driver (whose name I unfortunately forgot) was a very good one and the trip felt really safe all the time. All activities were done as promised. There was little time to wander off, but I understand that they need to keep the group together and stay in schedule. The most pleasant surprise was the restaurant visit: food was good, there was plenty of it and a lot of variance (best of all, it was included in the tour price, not counting drinks). So, I can highly recommend participating in this tour even if it costs a bit more than some other options. However (and this is the part I wish you to acknowledge so there won't be any surprises for you, these are not bad things but something to keep in mind): - Some extra tipping is recommended for the riverboat rowers. Vu explained everything very well but I saw in the earlier comments that some people had gotten upset about this extra cost. The tip is very small, like 50000 dongs ($2) and shouldn't destroy anyone's budget if you've already paid for everything. -When biking, there is a guy taking photos. He will the want to sell you the printed versions after the activity is over. Some may think this as a scam, but again, its like 100000 dong ($4) for 5 printed pictures. Not much and supports the local economy. I just made funny/stupid faces when he was filming me and got a humorous mini album as a souvenir. -Vu will create a WhatsApp group to share photos He has taken during the trip. Some may find sharing their phone number awkward, so just a heads-up. You can probably decline, for us and for the rest of the group it was fine. - On the drive back to Hanoi we were encouraged to give the experience a 5 star review. A direct link to the review form was distributed through the forementioned WhatsApp group. I think this is also something that might make some people feel pressured to give a review against their will. I understand it is for visibility in Tripadvisor and Vu was very open about this. To me this part was the only remotely uncomfortable part of the trip. It felt like a company policy to insist on high review scores. Due to this I was very close to skip the review or lower the rating to four stars, but after returning to our hotel, I decided to rate the experience based on the value it had for me and for the expertise and diligence of the guide (and the driver). So thank you Mr. Vu and the nameless driver, for giving us great experiences! You deserve the five stars ????

Tired of Hanoi's rush? Go to Ninh Binh! ???? It's something you must see and experience! This trip was well organized and guided (thanks Vu for all the information about history and Vietnam todays!). We had nice group and a lot of fun during climbing, biking and exploring new places. Highly recommend! Ps. Remember to take some scarf to cover your shoulders and knies while visiting pagoda and reserve small budget for tips (tipping is common in here).