Where to Stay in Ninh Binh, Vietnam: 3 Best Areas & Hotels

Planning a trip to Ninh Binh and wondering where to stay? We’ve got you covered!

Ninh Binh is a stunning, remote city in Northern Vietnam. It’s often called “Ha Long Bay on land” because huge limestone karsts rise out of rice fields, and we think it’s a true bucket-list destination. The area is pretty spread out, so choosing the right place to stay matters.

In this guide, we’re breaking down the three best areas to stay in Ninh Binh to help you pick the perfect one for your travel style. We’ll cover what each area is best for and our favorite hotels at every budget. Let’s get into it! 

Overview of the Best Areas to Stay in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh’s main attractions are spread out between rice fields and historic sites, so where you stay can make a real difference to how easy your trip feels. Public transport doesn’t really work for sightseeing here, but around Tam Coc, bicycles are great for exploring.

However, for traveling further afield, you’ll need wheels. We rented a scooter, but you can also use private drivers or organized tours.

And on that note, be sure to download the Grab app before arriving. If you’ve traveled elsewhere in Vietnam or Asia before, the chances are you already have it! It works a lot like Uber, and driver availability is pretty good around Ninh Binh City and Tam Coc.  However, it’s pretty limited in more rural parts of Ninh Binh, so sometimes organizing a taxi through your hotel can be a better bet.

All three of the below areas can work really well for a trip to Ninh Binh, as long as you have a rough plan for getting around. But don’t worry, we’ll go over that later on!

• Tam Coc – Best for first-time visitors – This is the easiest base overall, with restaurants, bike rentals, and the Tam Coc boat pier close by. Tam Coc Peaceful Nature is a lovely property surrounded by dramatic limestone karsts.

• Trang An – Best for couples & nature lovers – Stay here if you want a quieter countryside setting. THE GOAT BOUTIQUE RESORT offers a whimsical stay with charming wooden bungalows and goats in the garden!

• Ninh Binh City – Best for local restaurants & transport connections – This is the most practical choice if you want easy access to the railway station, and there are some great local restaurants around here, too. Ninh Binh Legend Hotel is a comfortable option with great facilities, such as a large indoor pool and a well-equipped gym.

Where to Stay in Ninh Binh

Tam Coc

BEST FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS

Pros

• Easy access to restaurants, cafés, and bike rentals
• Right by the Tam Coc boat pier and beautiful countryside

Cons

• The village center can get busy
• Less peaceful than staying out near Trang An

If it’s your first time in Ninh Binh, we think Tam Coc is the easiest place to stay. It’s the region’s main traveler hub, so you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafes, plus a wide choice of hotels and homestays. And best of all, this convenience is surrounded by rice fields and dramatic limestone mountains, aka the scenery that you come to Ninh Binh for!

One of the biggest perks of staying here is having the Tam Coc boat pier right nearby. It makes it super easy to head out on one of the area’s famous boat trips without having to organize transport in advance. You’re also really close to Hang Mua, so it’s easy to cycle over and climb up for those famous views over the valley.

We also really like Tam Coc as a base because cycling around here is so straightforward. You can rent a bike and explore the surrounding countryside at your own pace, which is exactly what you should be doing in Ninh Binh.

The only downside is that the center of the village can get pretty busy. This is especially true around Lunar New Year, when there’s a huge surge in domestic tourism, and in October and November, when international tourists flock here due to the optimal weather conditions. But for us, the convenience was totally worth it! 

Nham Village Resort – $$$

If you want to splurge, Nham Village Resort is our top luxury pick around Tam Coc. It feels completely tucked away in nature, with mountain views and lots of greenery. Beyond the gorgeous setting, it feels steeped in tradition, with heritage wooden houses, earthy color palettes, and local artwork.

The property is around a 10-minute drive from central Tam Coc, so we’d pick this one if the hotel experience matters more to you than being able to walk out to restaurants every evening. It feels like its own little village oasis!

Rates start at around $280 USD per night, so this is definitely a treat-yourself stay.

If Nham Village is fully booked, Tam Coc Garden Resort is another beautiful countryside retreat with traditional Vietnamese-inspired rooms. If you’re dreaming of spa treatments surrounded by rice paddies and limestone scenery, we’re confident you’ll love this place. 

We also like Emeralda Resort Tam Cốc if you want something grander and a little more unusual. The resort takes inspiration from old Vietnamese aristocratic mansions, and the property sits right on the Ngo Dong River.

Tam Coc Peaceful Nature – $$

Tam Coc Peaceful Nature offers a nice middle ground between countryside views and access to Tam Coc. It sits among greenery and limestone mountains, but you can still get into the busier part of the village pretty easily.

There’s a lovely pool with mountain views, plus free bicycles, which are perfect for exploring the rice fields and quiet lanes nearby. We especially love the infinity pool, which offers head-on mountain views – you’ll be dreaming of coming back as soon as you leave!

Rooms start from around $100 USD per night.

If Tam Coc Peaceful Nature is full, Tam Coc Green Haven Retreat is another strong mid-range option with an infinity pool and spa facilities, plus free bikes. It’s a great pick if you want plenty of facilities without moving up into luxury-resort prices.

Alternatively, Tam Coc Moonlight Sweet Home is much smaller and more homely, but it still has a restaurant and a fantastic location for exploring Tam Coc on foot. It also includes breakfast and gets incredible reviews! 

Tam Coc Holiday Hotel & Spa – $

If you want to keep things affordable while staying right in the heart of Tam Coc, Tam Coc Holiday Hotel & Spa is a brilliant budget choice. You’re within walking distance of the Tam Coc boat pier, which is great if location is your priority.

And despite the budget price tag, this place is really nice! It’s housed in a yellow heritage building with lots of colonial charm. There’s also a hot tub and sauna on site, and a full spa treatment menu. We think it offers fantastic value for money.

Rooms can start from around $45 USD per night.

If it’s full, we also love Tam Coc Serenity Hotel & Bungalow! It’s an affordable hotel with a tropical, eco-chic feel and lots of nods to traditional Vietnamese style.

We also like Tam Coc Horizon Retreat, which has modern rooms with private balconies. It’s a good alternative if you want something small and peaceful rather than a larger hotel.

Related Read: You’ll likely stay in Hanoi before reaching Ninh Binh, so check out our Where to Stay in Hanoi blog for our top area and hotel recommendations!

Trang An

BEST FOR COUPLES & NATURE LOVERS

Pros

• Beautiful rural  setting beneath the limestone karsts
• Handy for the Trang An boat complex and Hoa Lu

Cons

• Restaurants and hotels are more spread out
• You’ll need transport more often

If scenery is your priority, Trang An is probably the most beautiful place to stay in Ninh Binh. This part of the region feels much quieter and more rural than Tam Coc, with small resorts and ecolodges tucked between rice fields and huge limestone karsts.

We think it’s a particularly lovely choice for couples and nature lovers, or anyone who’d rather wake up somewhere peaceful than be right in the middle of the main tourist hub. You’re also really well placed for the Trang An boat complex, which is one of the biggest reasons people come to Ninh Binh in the first place, as well as Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.

The main thing to keep in mind is that everything is more spread out here. You won’t have the same concentration of cafés and restaurants as in Tam Coc, and Grab availability is limited, so you’ll need to rent a scooter or arrange taxis and drivers through your hotel. But if you don’t mind that, the scenery alone makes Trang An a really special place to stay.

THE GOAT BOUTIQUE RESORT – $$

THE GOAT BOUTIQUE RESORT offers such a whimsical stay, with charming wooden bungalows tucked among the limestone mountains and actual goats wandering around the garden! It’s basically a tiny fairytale village in the Ninh Binh countryside.

There’s a gorgeous outdoor pool surrounded by greenery, plus an on-site restaurant and bar. This place feels really special, and you don’t even have to pay top dollar to stay here! Rooms start from around $65 USD per night, which we think is great value for such a memorable stay.

If THE GOAT is fully booked, Trang An Ecolodge is another gorgeous countryside option. It has an infinity pool, spa, and free bicycles – what more could you need?

HoangLong Riverside Homestay – $

For something much more affordable, HoangLong Riverside Homestay is a great find. It sits right by the water with mountain views all around, and although the rooms are relatively simple, they have a cozy, heritage feel. 

You still get an outdoor pool, restaurant, spa facilities, and free bikes, so the property really doesn’t feel bare-bones despite the budget price. There’s a deck where you can enjoy a drink overlooking the river, and an outdoor pool with mountain views. Not bad for as little as $25 USD per night!

An’s Eco Garden Resort is another lovely option right on the river. The rooms are simple, but there’s an infinity pool and a restaurant on site, and the setting feels so secluded and peaceful.

We also like Trang An Quynh Trang Happy Homestay & Garden for a personal and welcoming stay. It’s super peaceful and you can reach lots of Ninh Binh’s major sites by bike, and we also love the fact that the restaurant deck sits right on the river.

Ninh Binh City

BEST FOR LOCAL RESTAURANTS & TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS

Pros

• Handy for the railway station and onward travel
• Good choice for local restaurants and shops

Cons

• Much less scenic and more urban than Tam Coc or Trang An
• You’ll need transport to reach the main attractions

Now, we’ll be real with you: Ninh Binh City is the practical choice, not the fun choice. It offers excellent transport connections as you can catch the train up to Hanoi from here, or down to Phong Nha and Dong Hoi airport. There are also plenty of amenities, like pharmacies and shops. We think it’s a good choice for a night or two if you’re arriving in Ninh Binh late at night, or departing early in the morning.

Another perk of staying here is the choice of restaurants. This area is more residential than touristy, which means more authentic Vietnamese food that’s not tweaked for the tourist palate! 

The trade-off, however, is the scenery. You don’t get the same dramatic limestone backdrop as Tam Coc or Trang An, and most of the places you actually come to Ninh Binh to see are outside of the city itself. This means you’ll need a driver or a scooter to go sightseeing, but it’s still very doable! 

In fact, Ninh Binh City can be a really smart choice if you’re short on time! You can head out early and tick off the main highlights, then come back to the city and make the most of those convenient transport connections when it’s time to move on.

Ninh Binh Legend Hotel – $$

If you want plenty of facilities, Ninh Binh Legend Hotel is our top pick in the city. It’s a big, modern hotel rather than a cute boutique stay, with big standalone bathtubs and spacious, contemporary rooms. The hotel has three swimming pools on site, including an infinity pool on the roof. It also has a large gym, a tennis court, and, best of all, a rooftop bar! 

It’s also a particularly smart option if you’re staying in Ninh Binh City for the transport connections. The hotel offers complimentary pickup and drop-off from both the bus and train stations, which is SO handy if you’re arriving late or catching an early train the next morning.

If you’d rather stay somewhere smaller, Khách sạn Phố cổ Hotel is a great alternative on a quiet street with lake and mountain views. There are spa treatments and bike rentals available too, so it offers a nice middle ground between a practical city hotel and somewhere with a little more character.

Meanwhile, AN Retreats Ninh Binh is our pick if you want more of a tropical resort than a big hotel. The suites have their own private pools, so this one feels much more romantic and secluded, although it’s less convenient if being right in the city center is your main priority.

Victory Homestay – $

For a budget stay, Victory Homestay looks way nicer than the price tag would suggest! It has both private rooms and dorm beds, plus a leafy outdoor pool, restaurant, bar, and plenty of space to hang out. If you’re looking for somewhere social where you can meet other travelers, this place is ideal.

What really stands out here, though, is the personal feel. The staff and owners are so friendly and welcoming, and they’re happy to help with everything from transport and laundry to local recommendations. It’s also in a more local part of Ninh Binh, which fits perfectly if that’s one of the reasons you’ve chosen the city over Tam Coc. 

Dolce Mia Home is another affordable option with a fantastic central location. The rooms are simple and modern, many have balconies, and there’s a garden, terrace, and bar where you can relax after a day of sightseeing.

Or for more of a conventional hotel setup, check out MOMALI Hotel Ninh Binh. It actually feels more like a modern apartment complex than anything else, and there’s a restaurant and coffee shop on site, with even more options nearby.

Top Activities in Ninh Binh

There aren’t loads of organized tours that actually start in Ninh Binh, since so many are designed as day trips from Hanoi. But to be honest, you don’t need a tour for everything here! These are three great ways to make the most of your time.

• See Ninh Binh’s biggest highlights in one day – If you’re short on time, this full-day tour is a really convenient option because it actually departs from Ninh Binh! Over eight hours, you’ll visit Bich Dong Pagoda, Mua Cave, Hoa Lu, and Trang An, where you’ll take one of the area’s famous boat rides. Transport, lunch, and entrance fees are included, so you can pack a LOT into one day without worrying about the logistics.

• Go BIG at Bai Dinh Pagoda – And we really do mean big! Bai Dinh is an enormous Buddhist complex with monumental temples and statues, plus a long corridor lined with 500 stone Arhat statues. Give yourself plenty of time to wander around because this definitely isn’t a quick temple stop.

• Swap the boats and temples for the jungle – If you want a completely different day out, head to Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam’s first national park. There are hiking trails through ancient forest and wildlife conservation centers where endangered primates and turtles are rehabilitated. We think it’s a great addition to your itinerary if you’ve got a few days in Ninh Binh and want to see more than karsts and pagodas.

Thanks for reading!

Ninh Binh is such a beautiful part of Vietnam, and because it’s a bit hard to reach, it feels like a hidden gem. Choosing the right place to stay to suit your travel style will make all the difference, but honestly, any of these options will set you up well! Be sure to book your hotel well in advance so you can snag your favorite option.

Before you go, see the rest of our Vietnam blogs. We have more resources to help you plan your trip around the country, from picking out the best place to stay to filling in your entire itinerary. Here are a few blogs you might like to get started. Cheers!

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