Ninh Binh: Bai Dinh & Trang An Full-Day Tour

1. Day 1: Bai Dinh Pagoda & Trang An Scenic Boat Trip

   07:15 – 08:00 | Hotel Pickup in Hanoi: Your English- and Vietnamese-speaking tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel. Begin your full-day journey to Ninh Binh, located approximately 120 kilometers from Hanoi city center. Travel by the selected vehicle service, with Shuttle Bus, Thaco Limousine, and Luxury D-Car options mentioned in the tour program.

   09:15 | Rest Stop: Enjoy a short 20-minute break along the journey before continuing toward Ninh Binh.

   10:15 – 10:30 | Bai Dinh Pagoda – Buddhist Cultural Heritage

   • Bai Dinh Pagoda: Visit one of Vietnam's most renowned Buddhist temple complexes, famous for its impressive scale, magnificent architecture, and important religious and cultural significance.
   • 500 Arhat Statues: Admire the remarkable collection of stone Arhat statues displayed throughout the pagoda complex.
   • 36-Ton Bronze Bell: Discover the enormous bronze bell, one of the impressive architectural and religious features highlighted in the tour program.
   • 100-Ton Buddha Statue: Admire the monumental Buddha statue and discover its significance within the Buddhist complex.
   • Buddhist Architecture: Explore the impressive temple surroundings, traditional religious structures, and peaceful spiritual atmosphere of Bai Dinh Pagoda.
   • Electric Car Experience: Enjoy the two-way electric car service at Bai Dinh Pagoda, included in the tour package.
   • Capture memorable photographs of the grand Buddhist structures and surrounding natural scenery.

   12:30 | Lunch with Ninh Binh Scenic Views

   • Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring elegant, five-star-style design and panoramic views of Ninh Binh's picturesque mountains and rivers.
   • Shuttle Bus & Thaco Limousine Options: Enjoy a buffet lunch featuring a selection of local Vietnamese dishes in a modern and comfortable dining environment.
   • Luxury D-Car Option: Enjoy a Deluxe Set Menu lunch on the restaurant's second floor, featuring beautifully presented dishes in a private and cozy dining atmosphere.
   • Vegetarian Options: Vegetarian dishes are available with both the buffet lunch and Deluxe Set Menu lunch arrangements.
   • Relax and admire the beautiful surrounding landscapes before continuing the afternoon sightseeing program.

   13:30 – 13:45 | Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex – UNESCO World Heritage Discovery

   • Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex: Discover one of Ninh Binh's most spectacular natural destinations, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
   • 1.5-Hour Scenic Boat Trip: Board a traditional shared sightseeing boat and enjoy an approximately 1.5-hour journey through Trang An's breathtaking waterways and limestone landscapes.
   • Natural Limestone Cave System: Admire the extraordinary tunnel caves, towering limestone mountains, and peaceful river scenery that make Trang An a remarkable natural attraction.
   • Scenic Waterways: Cruise through beautiful surroundings featuring emerald-green waters, dramatic limestone formations, and picturesque mountain landscapes.
   • Kong: Skull Island Filming Landscape: Discover the natural scenery associated with the filming of Kong: Skull Island, which showcased the beauty of Ninh Binh's limestone landscapes.
   • Nature & Photography: Enjoy opportunities to capture memorable photographs of the magnificent mountains, scenic waterways, and extraordinary natural surroundings.

   16:00 | Return Journey to Hanoi: Complete your sightseeing experience and board your transfer vehicle for the return journey to Hanoi.

   18:00 – 18:30 | Hotel Drop-Off in Hanoi: Arrive back in Hanoi and return to your hotel. On weekends, when some Old Quarter streets are closed to vehicles for pedestrian activities, guests may be dropped off at the nearest suitable accessible location. End of the Ninh Binh full-day tour.

Important information

• Tour price includes

  Included

  • Round-trip transportation between Hanoi and Ninh Binh according to the selected vehicle package.
  • Professional English- and Vietnamese-speaking tour guide.
  • Entrance fee and shared sightseeing boat at Trang An.
  • Approximately 1.5-hour Trang An boat trip.
  • Two-way electric car transportation at Bai Dinh Pagoda.
  • Water and tissues.
  • Buffet lunch for guests booking the Shuttle Bus or Thaco Limousine option.
  • Deluxe Set Menu lunch for guests booking the Luxury D-Car option.
  • Vegetarian meal options available with both lunch arrangements.

  Not Included

  • Other meals not mentioned in the program.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Tips and gratuities.
• Good to know

  Tour Information

  • Tour duration: Full day.
  • Departure location: Hanoi.
  • General pickup time: 07:00 according to the tour information section.
  • Detailed hotel pickup window: 07:15 – 08:00.
  • Scheduled visit to Bai Dinh Pagoda: 10:15 – 10:30.
  • Scheduled lunch time: 12:30.
  • Scheduled arrival at Trang An: 13:30 – 13:45.
  • Trang An boat trip duration: Approximately 1.5 hours.
  • Scheduled departure for Hanoi: 16:00.
  • Detailed itinerary hotel drop-off time: 18:00 – 18:30.
  • The general tour information lists 19:00 as the return time. The correct ending time requires confirmation.

  Transportation Options & Prices

  • Shuttle Bus: Nett price of 1,180,000 VND per person. The pricing section specifies 30–32 passengers.
  • Thaco Limousine: Nett price of 1,280,000 VND per person. The pricing section specifies 19–23 passengers.
  • Luxury D-Car: The program mentions a 9–11-passenger vehicle option with Deluxe Set Menu lunch, but the price is not specified.
  • The included services section lists Thaco Limousine as a 25-passenger vehicle, which differs from the 19–23-passenger description in the pricing section.
  • The included transportation section mentions Thaco Limousine and Luxury D-Car, while the pricing section also lists Shuttle Bus. The applicable vehicle arrangements require confirmation.
  • All transportation packages are described as round-trip services between Hanoi and Ninh Binh.

  Lunch Arrangements

  • Lunch is scheduled at 12:30 at a local restaurant featuring elegant design and scenic views of Ninh Binh.
  • Shuttle Bus option: Buffet lunch.
  • Thaco Limousine option: Buffet lunch.
  • Luxury D-Car option: Deluxe Set Menu lunch on the restaurant's second floor.
  • Vegetarian dishes are available for both buffet and set-menu arrangements.
  • The original document does not provide a detailed food menu.

  Bai Dinh Pagoda Information

  • Bai Dinh Pagoda is a major Buddhist temple complex in Ninh Binh.
  • The itinerary highlights 500 stone Arhat statues, a 36-ton bronze bell, and a 100-ton Buddha statue.
  • Two-way electric car service at Bai Dinh Pagoda is included.
  • The inclusions explicitly mention Trang An entrance fees and boat services but do not separately confirm every possible entrance charge at Bai Dinh Pagoda.

  Trang An Boat Trip Information

  • Trang An is a UNESCO-listed scenic landscape recognized in 2014.
  • A shared sightseeing boat is included in the tour package.
  • The boat journey lasts approximately 1.5 hours according to the original itinerary.
  • The tour explores limestone landscapes, scenic waterways, and natural tunnel caves.
  • The exact boat route and individual caves visited are not specified.

  Weekend Drop-Off & Schedule Changes

  • Some roads in Hanoi Old Quarter may be closed to vehicles on weekends to accommodate pedestrian activities.
  • During these restrictions, the vehicle may drop guests off at the nearest suitable accessible point instead of directly at the hotel.
  • Tour programs and schedules may change due to weather conditions or other external factors.

  Children Policy

  • Children aged 3 and under: Free of charge according to the general policy. Parents are responsible for their care, meals, and any applicable entrance fees.
  • Only one child under 3 years old is permitted free of charge for every two accompanying adults. The second child and each additional child are charged 50% of the tour price.
  • Children aged 4–9 years old: 75% of the adult tour price. Separate meals are provided, and sightseeing tickets are included. The original policy also refers to sharing accommodation with parents.
  • Children aged 10 and above: Adult tour price applies.

  Additional Information

  • The children's policy uses both '3 and under' and 'under 3' for complimentary places, creating an inconsistency for children exactly 3 years old.
  • The children's policy refers to accommodation sharing even though this is a one-day tour without overnight accommodation.
  • The original document does not specify a cancellation policy.
  • The original inclusions do not explicitly list VAT.
  • Luxury D-Car pricing and the final vehicle capacity for the Thaco Limousine option require confirmation with the tour operator.