Situated 2.5 hours riding motorbike from Hanoi, Ninh Binh is a fantastic place for a day riding out of the city. This countryside of the Red River Delta boats a unique beauty, with Karst formations rising out of the rice fields and wet lowland. Therefore, many people refer to Ninh Binh’s countryside as “Halong bay on land”. As a result, a motorbike tour to Ninh Binh is the best way to admire this beauty.
Among the different Vietnam motorbike tours, Ninh Binh motorbike tour can last for 1 or 2 days. Thus, this is one of the easiest and most flexible options. Leaving from Hanoi, we suggest riding motorbike along the countryside of the Red River Delta. So your riding route will follow the bank of the Day river. Along the way, expect to see the green fields and bucolic countryside scenery.
Ninh Binh motorbike tour – Places to ride to
Van Long Nature Reserve
Van Long is the largest Wetland Nature Reserve of the Red River Delta. The place is known for tranquil water canals surrounding towering green rocks. Van Long keeps 02 records of Vietnam Record Book, being 1. The place with largest population of Delacour’s langur and 2. The grandest nature picture. Van Long is listed as one of the Ramsar sites of the world and this is home of a variety of birds.
Arriving at Van Long, motorbike riders can choose to park your bike, then go for a boat ride of some 90 minutes along the glorious limestone pinnacles.
Trang An Landscape Complex
From Van Long, Ninh Binh motorbike tour riders can choose to ride along the river bank and the rice fields to get to Trang An, then Tam Coc. This ride is 40 km and truly scenic with towering karst formations on both sides of the ride. Also, riders get to go through peaceful villages of the Red River Delta. Along the way, expect to see rivers and waterways winding way around Karst formations. Also, buffaloes gazing by the road side and children swimming in the river will add up to the riding fun.
This is a spectacular landscape of vertical cliffs rising from valleys and waterways. Ninh Binh motorbike tour riders can choose to go boating in either Trang An or Tam Coc. Both places are as scenic and photogenic. Each boat trip lasts for some 90 minute and you can get to see amazing scenery during the boat trip ride. This is a relaxing part of your Ninh Binh motorbike tour.
Bai Dinh pagoda
If you are into temples and architecture, the grand Bai Dinh pagoda is a good place to combine on your Ninh Binh motorbike tour. Bai Dinh pagoda is a complex of architectures covering an area of 539 hectares. The pagoda is a newly erected structure, and it is more known for its scale rather than history. The construction started in 2003 and accomplished in 2010. A large hall rises from the heart of the complex at 34 m tall. Every pagoda in Vietnam has a “festival day” – the day of ceremonial activities. The festival in Bai Dinh pagoda is on the 6th of every 1st lunar month with colorful possession.
The Bai Dinh pagoda holds a number of records in Asia and Vietnam, including: The biggest gold plated statue of Buhhda; The longest Arhat hall in a temple in Asia; Southeast Asia’s biggest bronze statue of the Happy Buddha, etc
Where to stay on your Ninh Binh motorbike tour
These days, there are multiple options when it comes to staying in Ninh Binh. Most of these accommodations are in the areas of Van Long and especially Tam Coc. You can choose to stay in one of the higher end lodges, a comfortable hotel or a local home-stay, where you get to stay privately in one of the local accommodations.
