Ninh Binh and the bay

Ninh Binh and a Ha Long Bay 5-star day cruise: Mua Cave, Trang An, Sung Sot and Ti Top in two days

4.7/5

780 reviews on GetYourGuide

The shortest way to see both Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay: a day of Hoa Lu, the Trang An boats and the Mua Cave viewpoint, a night in Ninh Binh, then a 6-hour 5-star day cruise on the classic Ha Long route with a seafood lunch and a jacuzzi. Rated 4.7 from 780 reviews, with taxes and insurance included.

Starts inHanoi

Pick-up at your Hanoi hotel is 07:20 to 07:40 by limousine to Ninh Binh. At 10:30 you visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital, then lunch on a local buffet. At 13:30 a sampan rows you through the Trang An Landscape Complex, and at 16:00 you climb about 500 steps to the Mua Cave summit for the view over Tam Coc, before a night in Ninh Binh.

Day two, if you choose the cruise option, starts with the limousine to Tuan Chau at 07:15 to 07:30. You check in at 11:00 and sail at 11:30 past the Fighting Cocks, the Incense Burner, Finger Islet and Elephant Rock, with a lunch of Quang Ninh seafood at 12:00.

The afternoon covers Sung Sot Cave at 13:00, a kayak, bamboo boat or the jacuzzi at Luon Cave at 14:20, and Ti Top at 15:40 for a swim or the viewpoint. The sunset party at 16:45 has drinks, snacks, fruit and karaoke as you return to Tuan Chau at 18:00. You may bring your luggage on the boat.

What guests love

Our summary of the reviews GetYourGuide shows on the product page.

Friendly staff and excellent food
Great value for money
A Ha Long cruise reviewers call excellent

Good for

Travellers with two days
Anyone combining Ninh Binh and Ha Long on a budget
Travellers carrying luggage onward

Not for

Travellers who want to sleep on the bay

How the day goes

07:20Hanoi
Limousine pick-up 07:20 to 07:40.
10:30Hoa Lu
The ancient capital; buffet lunch.
13:30Trang An
Sampan boat trip.
16:00Mua Cave
About 500 steps; night in Ninh Binh.
07:15Ninh Binh
Day 2 (cruise option): limousine to Tuan Chau.
11:30Ha Long Bay
Cruise and seafood lunch.
13:00Sung Sot, Luon Cave, Ti Top
Cave, kayak or bamboo boat, swim or climb.
18:00Tuan Chau Marina
The cruise ends.

Included

Round-trip transfer by air-conditioned vehicle
English-speaking guide in Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh entrance fee and one night there
With the cruise option: 6-hour 5-star day cruise, guide, entrance fees, kayak or bamboo boat, jacuzzi, sunset party, buffet or set lunch, insurance and service charge

Not included

Dinner in Ninh Binh
Drinks and personal expenses
Holiday surcharge on Christmas, New Year and national holidays

Why this one

For travellers with two days who want Ninh Binh and the classic Ha Long highlights rather than a night on the water. The 3-day combinations add an overnight cruise instead of the day boat.

The facts

Where it starts: Hanoi hotel pick-up 07:20 to 07:40
Duration: 1 to 2 days, by option
Road transfer: Hanoi to Ninh Binh about 3 hours; Ninh Binh to Tuan Chau about 3.5 hours
Bay: Ha Long Bay
Boat: 5-star day cruise with jacuzzi
Price: From €31.75 per person on the cheapest option (GetYourGuide, 15 Nov 2026); the cruise option costs more
Cancellation: Free up to 24 hours before

Checked against the GetYourGuide listing on 15 November 2026. Prices and options change: the calendar shows the current ones.

Before you book

The cruise is an option
The listing’s second day applies only if the optional Ha Long Bay cruise is selected, so the lowest from-price may not include the bay.
What to do. Choose the option with the Ha Long Bay cruise and check the price on the calendar.