How to Go from Hue to Ninh Binh

Hue to Ninh Binh
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The ancient imperial city of Hue is one of the most popular places to visit in central Vietnam and is a popular stop.  So too is the Trang An Scenic Landscape complex, which tends to be more well known as Ninh Binh.  This UNESCO World Heritage site is known as Halong Bay on Land because of the glorious limestone karst mountains, and stunningly pretty waterways that all come together with amazing scenic views and heaps of rice paddies. Heading to Ninh Binh from Hue is a popular route that many people take on a South-to-North Vietnam Itinerary.  Here’s our guide to going from Hue to Ninh Binh.

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The Best Way to Get to Ninh Binh

The best way to go to Ninh Binh from Hue is to take the overnight train from Hue to Ninh Binh. Book early for the best availability.

Book your train here

There are three main ways to get from Hue to Ninh Binh, I’ll go through them all, including the time it takes to do each mode of transport, what the gotchas are, and include details on my recommendations of the particular timed buses and trains to catch to maximize your time in this part of Vietnam

Where is Ninh Binh?

The province of Ninh Binh is in Northern Vietnam and covers 48 square kilometres (19 miles).  The capital of the province is the city of Ninh Binh, which is where the train station for the area is.  However, people come to Ninh Binh to visit the Trang An Scenic Complex, and the most convenient place to stay is the town of Tam Coc, which is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the city of Ninh Binh.  The names Tam Coc and Ninh Binh tend to be used interchangeably.

Exactly How to Go from Hue to Ninh Binh

There are primarily three different ways to go from Hue to Ninh Binh and I’ll explain about each of them, and what the pros and cons of each are as well as recommendations for the best way to go to Ninh Binh from Hue.  I’ll start with my recommendation for traveling this route.  The Train

The Hue to Ninh Binh Train

If you can book the best-timed train, then this is a great way to travel to Ninh Binh from Hue in reasonable comfort.  I do like the trains in Vietnam as they are generally very comfortable. They’re so much better than they were when we first came to Vietnam years ago (our train trip from Hanoi to Sapa was long, sleepless, and pretty awful, but it’s WAY better now. – so long as you book a decent sleeper berth.  Here’s how to take the train to Ninh Binh from Hue.

Hue to Hue Railway Station

The train station in Hue is about 25 minutes walk from downtown.  We’ve walked it in both directions with backpacks and it’s not unpleasant, but if you have luggage, then it’s best to get a taxi or a transfer.   Your hotel will arrange it for you.

Hue to Ninh Binh Train

One of the most popular train routes in Vietnam goes up the coast ending in Hanoi, and the Hue to Ninh Binh train is on this track, so it tends to get booked quickly.   There are usually 5 trains a day that run this route.  The first train leaves Hue at 03:31 and the last one leaves at 20:41.  If you’re happy getting on a train at 03:31, then go for it.  Me? I prefer to have a better departure time and arrival time.

Ninh Binh Railway Station
Ninh Binh Railway Station

For us, the train that leave Hue at 20:35 and arrives in Ninh Binh at 08:55 is a great option for getting a reasonable night’s sleep, saving on the cost of accommodation and arriving in Ninh Binh in time for breakfast.

You can check the times and book tickets on these trains here.

Sleeper Berth Vietnam Trains
Sleeper Berth Vietnam Trains

When you arrive at Ninh Binh, you’ll be arriving in the city of Ninh Binh, which is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex.  The primary town to stay when visiting this area is Tam Coc.   The easiest way to go from Ninh Binh Train Station to Tam Coc is to take a taxi.

Ninh Binh Train Station to Tam Coc

You’ll want to be first off the train if you don’t pre-book a transfer, and head to the waiting taxis. There are never quite enough taxis for the number of people who come off this train (remember other people got on before Hue, and are heading to Ninh Binh too)

A taxi to Tam Coc from Ninh Binh train station will cost about 100,000 VND.  You can sometimes find a Grab here as well, and the rates will depend on demand. (Note that Grab in Vietnam is charges a 4% foreign card fee, so you might want to opt for paying cash)

Taking the Hue to Ninh Binh Bus

The bus from Hue to Ninh Binh is the mode of transport where you’ll have the most choice.  There are LOTS of buses that go from Hue to Ninh Binh.  This is also the cheapest way to go from Hue to Ninh Binh. Virtually all of these buses go all the way to Tam Coc.

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Hue to Ninh Binh Bus Journey Time

Buses from Hue to Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) take about 9.5 hours and they’re pretty much all sleeper buses, so you get to kind of lie down (so long as you’re not much taller than about 5 foot 7 (1.70 meters).

Hue to Ninh Binh Bus Journey Times

The first bus of the day from Hue to Ninh Binh leaves Hue at 05:00, and the last bus of the day leaves Hue at 19:45.  You should take a look at what time the buses get into Ninh Binh (and where they arrive) as if you’re arriving into  Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) in the early hours of the morning then you’ll not be able to check into your hotel until usually mid-afternoon.

You can check availability on bus times and buy tickets here

Hue to Ninh Binh Bus Departure Locations

Each of the different bus companies in Hue usually leave from their own offices, rather than a central bus station.  So make sure you check before booking.  Luckily 12goAsia has convenient maps that show departure and arrival points.

Hue to Ninh Binh Bus Arrival Locations

Virtually all of these buses arrive at Tam Coc, but be sure to check as the city of Ninh Binh is 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Tam Coc and the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex.

Hue to Ninh Binh Flights (via Hanoi)

Flying from Hue to Ninh Binh is the quickest way to get the 574 kilometers (357 miles) between these two locations. There is an airport at Hue (HUI), but the closest airport to Ninh Binh is Hanoi.  So here’s how to go to Ninh Binh from Hue via plane.

Hue to Hue Airport

Hue’s Airport (HUI) is about 13 kilometers from the city and you can either take a bus or a transfer to the airport.  There’s a shuttle bus that runs from 20 Ha Noi Street that runs every 20 minutes or more likely best to get a transfer.

Hue Airport (HUI) to Hanoi Airport (HAN) aka Noi Bai Airport

There are usually up to 8 flights a day from Hue to Hanoi, although this may differ and there may be less in the low season.  The flight time to Hanoi from Hue is about 70 minutes.  The first flight of the day leaves Hue at 08:05 and the last flight of the day leaves Hue at 21:30.

You can check the flight times and costs from Hue to Hanoi here.

Hanoi Airport to Ninh Binh (Tam Coc)

You have two options when arriving at Hanoi Airport to go to Ninh Binh.  There’s usually a bus that leaves from the airport at about 15:30, so if your flight coincides with that, then it’s a good option.  Alternatively, take a taxi or pre-book a transfer..  A pre-booked transfer is about twice the cost of the bus ticket (so if there are two or more of you, I would just go for the pre-booked transfer)

Check the times and prices of buses from Hanoi Airport to Ninh Binh here.

Book a taxi from Hanoi Airport to Ninh Binh here.

Map of Transport Stations for going to Ninh Binh from Hue

I haven’t included the different bus office options here, because there are too many of them (and they change), but you can see where the train station is in Hue, as well as where the Ninh Binh railway station is located. You can also see this map here

Map of How to Go from Hue to Ninh Binh in Vietnam

Key Routes to Travel in Vietnam

Want to know more about different forms of transport in Vietnam? Our guide to Vietnam transport is here. And here’s how to travel some of the popular routes around Vietnam, your options, and how we did it.

The quickest way to get from Hue to Ninh Binh

The quickest way to go from Hue to Ninh Binh is to fly, but you’ll also have to plan to get to the airport in Hue (not difficult) and then take a bus or a transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.

Check flight prices from Hue to Hanoi here.  And prebook a transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh here.

The easiest way to go to Ninh Binh from Hue

The easiest way to go from Hue to Ninh Binh is to take the overnight sleeper bus – there are fewer moving parts in this option, simply crawl on the bus in Hue and then crawl off in Ninh Binh. There are lots of options for buses.  And I recommend you pick the bus with the best times of departure and arrival for your schedule.

The cheapest way to go from Hue to Ninh Binh

The cheapest way to get to Hue from Ninh Binh is to take the overnight sleeper bus.  Check the times and prices of buses from Hue to Ninh Binh Buses here. 

The best way to go from Hue to Ninh Binh

I always prefer overnight trains to overnight buses.  They’re definitely easier to sleep on – there’s more legroom than Vietnamese sleeper buses and if you get yourself a decent sleeper they’re actually good fun too.  This is the best way to go from Hue to Ninh Binh.  

Travel Tips for Exploring Vietnam

Final Words on How to Go from Hue to Ninh Binh

Both Hue and Ninh Binh are popular places to visit in Vietnam, and this route, heading from the South to the North is a popular Vietnamese itinerary.   You’ll want to plan your transport around your schedules to get the best use of your time in this part of Vietnam, but the transport is generally good, comfortable, and decent value too.

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AUTHOR

Sarah Carter
Sarah Carter is an avid reader, writer and traveller. She loves hiking, sailing, skiing and exploring the world through food. She left a successful career in IT security and compliance in both the UK and US to travel the world with husband and partner in adventure, Nigel.

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