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Both Halong and Ninh Binh are famous attractions of Vietnam. The distance between them is 192 kilometers and take about 3.5 – 4 riding hours by either bus, motorbike or private car. In this post, let’s find out how to get to Ninh Binh from Halong Bay.
Here’s the summary:
| Transport Mode | Duration | Cost (USD) | Comfort | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus/Limousine | 3.5–4 hours | $13–$17 | High | Comfort & convenient |
| Private Car/Taxi | 3 hours | $55–$65 | Very High | Convenient, fast travel |
| Train | 3.5–4 hours | $20–$25 | Low | Scenic & Authentic |
Bus/Limousine
- Best if: You’d love the convenient with a reasonable cost
- Don’t if: If you travel too late in the evening
Buses are the most common ways of traveling between Halong and Ninh Binh. Most companies offer 2 kind of buses: limousine (with 9 designed seats) or standard bus (29 seats). They could pick you up from any hotel in Halong City and drop you off at your hotel/homestay in Ninh Binh.
The ride normally takes around 3.5 to 4 hours. The standard have only 1 schedule per day: 12:00 while limousines offer more itineraries, with one leaving Halong Bay every hour starting at 5:00. Vexere is a reliable platform to book a bus in Vietnam. Otherwise, try to book directly with one of the operator here.(Keep in mind that the staff speak very little English).
Private Car/Taxi
- Best if: If you have a spacious budget and time is critical for you
- Don’t if: You don’t want to spend much on a transportation
Private car from Ninh Binh to Halong Bay is a convenient options. These cars offer you a package that includes everything you need for the trip, such as tickets and admission fees. It would also make it easier for you to negotiate a fixed price in advance.
It’s better to book a private car through your homestay, hotels. They’ll know local drivers who have experienced travel this route. A private car from Halong Bay to Ninh Binh costs around 1,500,000 VND per way for a 4-seater and 2,000,000 VND per way if you are looking for a bigger car.
By Train
Unfortunately that there’s no direct train between Halong and Ninh Binh.
If you’re a fan of traveling by train, take a bus from Halong Bay to Hanoi then catch a Reunification train from the city’s main station. There’re 5 trains leave daily from the Hanoi Train Station to Ninh Binh, including SE5 (depart 15:30 – arrive 17:48), SE7 (depart 06:00 – arrive 08:19) or SE3 (depart 19:20 – arrive 21:31) so make sure to adjust your bus on time. The ticket cost for a train to Ninh Binh would be about 125,000vnd per way, and could be booked via Vietnam Railway official website.
Note that Ninh Binh Train station is in Ninh Binh city, and might take 15-20 minutes taxi ride to popular tourist area, like Tam Coc or Trang An.
