Ninh Binh 3-Day Tour Review: Trang An, Mua Cave, Pu Luong

Okay, so you’re possibly thinking about doing the Ninh Binh thing from Hanoi, right? The Trang An, Mua Cave, and Pu Luong combination tour sounds cool, sure, a bit like all of the best bits of the region packed into three days. I wanted to write something that might tell you what to seriously think about before you actually book that thing. I just took this exact tour, so the stuff I’m passing on here is fresh.

First Impressions: Getting Out of Hanoi

The first day typically kicks off early, as in, before you’ve even had a coffee, just to try to beat some of that crazy Hanoi traffic. Most tours start with a hotel pickup, actually, which can be pretty convenient, very similar to just rolling out of bed and straight into an air-conditioned van. The ride to Ninh Binh, now, that usually takes around two to three hours, so I suppose just catch up on some sleep or look at the paddy fields going by, maybe.

Thing is, the initial stretch might feel a little like any other bus trip. Yet, the landscape starts shifting bit by bit, you know? That city greyness eventually fades, just like that into the kind of greens you didn’t even know existed. Honestly, the change in scenery kind of tells you, too, that you’re getting ready to see some amazing sights. It really builds that feeling of expectation, I feel.

Trang An: A Peaceful Boat Trip

Trang An, you know, that’s usually the first major stop, actually. This is where you’re getting on a small sampan boat, with some local rowers, more or less, ready to take you down this super peaceful river. The water sort of winds through a bunch of these limestone karsts, those big rock formations that stick straight out of the ground. This is seriously gorgeous.

Keep your eyes peeled, since you’re going to be seeing grottoes and caves all over the place that the boats squeeze through. Seriously, some of these spots are dark, maybe even a bit claustrophobic, but, well, very neat. I found it more interesting because of it! You may even, very probably, find folks selling drinks from their boats along the route, so just consider grabbing a water or a soda because it can get surprisingly hot, that is.

The rowing itself is so calm and easy, mostly. It can take, you know, up to a couple of hours, depending on what route the guide picks, really. The whole thing, basically, is very peaceful, I felt. The only sounds are often the water lapping at the boat and the rowers chatting now and again. It’s just the thing if you need to kind of unwind.

Mua Cave: The Climb and the View

Mua Cave is quite a bit different, I have to say. Forget the boat trip calm. This stop is, more or less, all about climbing. There are quite a few steps – I heard over 500 – up to the top of this mountain viewpoint. Make no mistake though, that climb isn’t just for the workout; there’s a super satisfying reward when you reach the top, nearly. That view of the whole Tam Coc area? It’s hard to put into words.

Make sure that you take water, okay? The steps, that is, can be uneven and it definitely gets really tiring going up. Also, you know, it is usually really hot during the daytime, especially mid-afternoon when a lot of tours schedule this climb. Take it gradually, too. Don’t be afraid to stop for a minute here and there. Everyone else will also be puffing and panting, that’s okay, no shame there!

At the summit, the views over the rice paddies, as I said, and the river are totally incredible, really. You definitely want to take lots of pictures, nearly, and just catch your breath, surely. See if you can visit late in the day, arguably. Then, you can also watch the sun sink, casting these wild shadows over all of the landscape.

Pu Luong: Rural Beauty and Homestays

Pu Luong is somewhat off the typical tourist track, that’s what I like about it. A bit further to travel from Ninh Binh city, maybe a couple of hours by van on smaller roads, yet this area is a whole different kind of beauty. The focus here is, possibly, on the rural and relaxed feel.

I think many tours include a stay at a local homestay, usually a big house where a local family lives, right. They rent out rooms, also, to visitors, and they will feed you meals. You eat what the family eats. In some ways, you’re staying as part of the family for the time you are visiting. Accommodations may well be fairly basic in some of these places, to be frank, with shared bathrooms and simple beds, yet it’s absolutely about the whole experience, really, right?

Pu Luong is the place to do some walking or biking, too it’s almost. It’s easy to fill an afternoon riding through rice terraces and past the tiny local villages. The people that you meet, now, are usually very smiley and friendly, always waving, really happy to see you. It makes you kind of remember what things can be like outside of big city craziness.

What About the Food?

Food that is. Seriously, I should talk about the food. Typically, that is, you’re going to eat where the tour guide takes you, especially, in the main tourist spots, something like Trang An and Mua Cave, but that can vary a little, I suspect.

There’s normally a set lunch kind of included, right? The tour has an understanding, you know, with the restaurants. It usually will involve different dishes with rice and maybe, sometimes, you’ll get spring rolls. Now and again, maybe, there’s a chicken or pork dish and some veggie stuff, but expect Vietnamese flavours to be on display! Don’t expect haute cuisine, though. Lunch, for most of the tours that I saw, are okay, but okay, more or less. In Pu Luong, because you might be eating with a local family, they might show you food that they made, you know.

Things to Think About Before You Book

So, here is some things to actually remember, should you go on this three-day Ninh Binh tour.

Pace Yourself: That schedule is surprisingly packed, and those days are, nearly, pretty long. Just ensure you get sleep the night before and kind of remember that you don’t have to do everything or see everything if you don’t want to.
What to Wear: Lightweight, easy-dry clothing is your best bet. Think layers for those changing temperatures, something like early mornings and air-conditioned buses, you know? Walking shoes, now, or something for the steps up Mua Cave? Necessary.
Money Situation: You, that is, need to have some cash available. You might need to purchase water or any little extras. A few of these places really won’t take card payments. Plus, tipping that rower? You might want to think about doing that, also.
Be Realistic About Homestays: Those homestays? What did I say, they can be really amazing and an insight into family life. Be real and realize they won’t be quite as posh, nearly, as fancy hotels in Hanoi! You want to go for something simple, remember that you’ll be helping a family just by you visiting, really.
That Weather Thing: Vietnam can do sun and rain at anytime, that is. Taking a raincoat or poncho will always be worth it. That and, really, remembering the sunscreen? Essential.

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