Halong Bay vs Ninh Binh: 5 Reasons We Chose the Latter as Our Day Trip from Hanoi

Piecing together my Northern Vietnam trip was an exciting challenge. 

There are plenty of things to try and stunning places to see, yet I only had four days to explore. I had to make hard decisions choosing what was for this trip and what was for next time. 

One decision I faced was choosing between Halong Bay and Ninh Binh as a day trip option from Hanoi. 

My first impression was that they’re very similar, with Ninh Binh as the land version of Halong Bay. Both boast marvelous karst limestone landscapes. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And regardless of whether it’s Halong Bay or Ninh Binh, you’ll be riding a boat to explore. 

As you can already tell from the title, I chose Ninh Binh over Halong Bay.

For what reasons? I will let you know everything.

But first, let me give you a quick comparison overview of Ninh Binh and Halong Bay.

5 Reasons Ninh Binh is a Better Day Trip from Hanoi than Halong Bay

To sum it up, there are five reasons why we chose Ninh Binh as our day trip from Hanoi instead of Halong Bay.

• First, Ninh Binh is more laidback and less touristy. It is perfect for the relaxing getaway that we were planning.
• Second, it is more sensible to have a day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. Halong Bay needs two or three days for a fulfilling trip.
• Third, Ninh Binh offers a variety of experiences. You can get them all in only a one-day visit.
• Fourth, Ninh Binh is closer to Hanoi than Halong Bay. This saves travel time and gives you extra hours for other activities.
• Fifth, Ninh Binh lets you explore the scenic countryside. This is an experience in itself.

If you’ve already decided to visit Ninh Binh, here’s my day trip itinerary to give you an idea of how to explore this beautiful part of Vietnam. You can also check out my list of alternatives to Halong Bay and Ninh Binh for more travel options.

Check out my travel planning page for the best day trips from Hanoi.

Now, let me share the details behind our decision to visit Ninh Binh instead of Halong Bay.

Hanoi Day Trip Full Insights: Ninh Binh vs Halong Bay

Going back to why I chose Ninh Binh over Halong Bay…

That was my decision because my main goal was to make my Northern Vietnam trip a refreshing escape.

Actually, I was not alone on that trip. My friend was with me for most of it. And it was our agreement to make our trip a getaway that would not stress us out further. The trip should make us feel relieved. It should prepare us to face more tough days when we got back to our jobs.

Because of that, we thought, as much as possible, we must avoid busy destinations. You know, those super famous attractions where there are long lines and overcrowding.

Being surrounded by all kinds of tourists could be draining. That would defeat our objectives for that trip.

Obvious enough, that is minus points for Halong Bay.

It is the crown jewel of Northern Vietnam. And with that kind of hype, we could already imagine how hard it would be to even breathe there.

Of course, we did not give up on the possibility. So we checked. Guess what? We were not surprised with what we found on news and blogs.

Bloggers described Halong Bay as a paradise plagued by swarms of tourists. Boats jostling for space. What should be their peaceful getaway turned out to be a commercialized frenzy. 

Another blogger even paints a picture of “nightmarish” itineraries from the tour providers.

Kayaking turns into a bumper-car session among dozens of other vessels. Popular stops like Surprise Cave involve queues snaking through dimly lit passages. Tourists get packed so tightly that movement is almost impossible. 

It’s a shame to read comments like that about Halong Bay, especially since it looks so stunning on Instagram.

Ninh Binh, on the flip side, based on our experience, was nothing like Halong Bay as described by other travelers. I was thankful we made the right decision. 

I cannot recall any moments where we had to stand in line and wait for so long. In Trang An, we immediately got a boat ride after passing the gates and having our tickets validated. The same was true for Bai Dinh Pagoda.

In some parts of our boat ride in Trang An, it seemed almost the whole place was reserved for us. Only two or three other boats were with us enjoying the spectacular, towering karsts all around. 

Of course, the Trang An boat tour had sections where boats bunched up one behind another. This is unavoidable, especially before entering an underground river with small openings. 

But all in all, we enjoyed our boat ride in Trang An. I would recommend it if you also like to escape the crowd.

Another reason why we thought it’s better to skip Halong Bay for Ninh Binh is the duration of our trip. We wanted to see as many places as possible with our short, four-day Northern Vietnam getaway. 

If we were going to visit Halong Bay and aim for a relaxing experience, we wouldn’t have enough time to see other places. 

Bloggers mentioned that a two-day, one-night trip is the ideal minimum for Halong Bay. 

A three-day, two-night visit is what we should aim for if we want to achieve our goal of having a relaxing getaway. That includes off-the-beaten-path areas, floating villages, hiking on islands, and more. 

A day trip to Halong Bay from Hanoi is possible, but we would need to set our expectations. We should expect to only see the highlights. And the cruise exploration would be somewhat rushed.

We did not like that experience.

Choosing Ninh Binh, we didn’t regret having it as a day trip from Hanoi, since a day trip is completely doable.

The best part? We even had two or three completely different activities without feeling rushed. 

• First, a boat ride in Trang An’s serpentine river with epic, close-up views of the karst mountains. 
• Second, a stroll in Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest Buddhist temple complex in Southeast Asia. 
• Third, a very quick bus sightseeing in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam. 

Yes, Ninh Binh was 100% worth it!

And one more thing. Did you notice that Hanoi is closer to Ninh Binh than Halong? We noticed that too during our planning. 

The travel time between Ninh Binh and Hanoi is about two hours. The trip between Halong and Hanoi takes roughly three hours. 

This means choosing Ninh Binh for a day trip from Hanoi saves you two hours of round-trip travel time. It allows you to spend more time on activities.

For us with a very limited time for our entire trip, that was already a considerable factor. I can’t recall what exactly we did with our spare time. But I imagine we embarked on a food trip that late afternoon, looking for some unique Banh Mi.

Actually, there’s another perk to visiting Ninh Binh. That is the chance to see and explore the Vietnamese countryside. 

You can walk or rent a bike to cycle through rice paddies and lotus ponds and say hi to Vietnamese farmers. 

If you’re up for an adventure, you can also climb the 500 steps to the Dragon’s Back ridge. A 360-degree view of the breathtaking countryside scenery awaits you there. 

This one, though, we kind of overlooked because we weren’t looking for a hike. 

But definitely, the view is worth the climb up.

Before You Go

Before finalizing your travel plans, don’t forget there’s something you shouldn’t miss in the Vietnamese capital. Whether before or after visiting Halong Bay or Ninh Binh, these experiences are worth checking out.

I only spent one day in Hanoi, but I had an amazing time thanks to Hanoi Walking Street and everything I experienced while hanging out in Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square. Check them out!

Planning a Trip to Hanoi?

You may be amazed at how much more there is to explore in Hanoi.

Exploring Northern Vietnam?

Don’t stop at Hanoi! Northern Vietnam has SO MUCH to offer.