| Ninh Binh | Ha Long Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Hanoi | about 90 to 100 km | about 150 to 170 km |
| Travel time | about 2 hours by road or 2h10 by train | 2.5 to 3 hours by road |
| Day trip | about $35 to 85 per person | about $40 to 75 (standard group) |
| A night there | hotel or bungalow, from about $15 | cruise with cabin, from about $105 |
| Landscape | cliffs, rivers, rice fields, caves | pinnacles in the sea, caves, kayaking |
| UNESCO listing | Trang An, World Heritage 2014 | Ha Long Bay, World Heritage 1994 |
| Best season | May-June and September-November | October-November and spring |
Prices seen in October 2026 on operator listings and guides; they vary with the date and the offer.
Choose by the time you have
One day. Ninh Binh gives the best value for time: Ninh Binh in one day. A day excursion to Ha Long Bay exists too (day cruise comparison), but it includes 5 to 6 hours on a bus.
Two days. A night on a cruise is the most pleasant way to see the bay: see the 2-day, 1-night cruise. The other option is two days in Ninh Binh, with sunrise at Hang Mua.
Four days. Combine them: a day in Hanoi, one in the bay, one in Ninh Binh. See Hanoi in 4 days.
By type of traveller
Ninh Binh suits walkers, cyclists and anyone who likes villages and rice fields. The bay suits honeymooners, families who want a night on board and kayak fans. For the detail on the landscape on land, see Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay on land; to pick a boat, the cruise guide. For the sites themselves, see Ha Long Bay and Trang An.
The Hanoi Authority editorial team, October 2026.
