Taking a motorbike ride from Hanoi to Ninh Binh absolutely the most common road trip in Northern Vietnam. We basically follow highway 1 to make your way from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. 

Ninh Binh Road Map – Right click and open in a new tab for full view

Here are 3 suggested motorbike routes by Hynam Travel for a road trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh with distance, duration and road condition in order to provide you with more details on arranging a trip to Ninh Binh with several options

Hanoi to Ninh Binh by motorbike : 3 routes

Route 1 : Hanoi – Hoa Lu ancient capital – Mua cave – Tam Coc – Bich Dong : Highway 1

Total Distance: 224.4 kilometers

Duration: 6.5 to 7.5 hours only for riding

Road condition: Highway 1 and rural path

Distance among attractions

Hanoi – Hoa Lu : 108 kilometers – 3 hours 

Hoa Lu – Mua Cave : 9 kilometers – 20 minutes

Mua Cave – Tam Coc : 4.4 kilometers: 11 minutes

Tam Coc – Bich Dong : 3 kilometers: 7 minutes

Bich Dong – Hanoi : 100 kilometers : 3 hours 

Brief itinerary for route 1 

Starting time : 7.00am , Finishing time : 7.30pm

+ Walk into 2 temples of King Ding and Le, learn more about its long history of Hoa Lu former capital: 40 minutes

+ Climb 500 steeped steps for stunning view on Mua Cave peak : 1 hour

+ Lunch in a restaurant in Tam Coc : 1 hour

+ Senic sampan boat ride in Tam Coc (Three caves) – 1 hour and 45 minutes

+ Hiking to Bich Dong pagoda for cool photo shooting. : 30 minutes

If you are traveling in winter time, we suggest early start at 6.00am because it is getting dark soon, around 6.00pm 

Suggested budget 

Entrance fee for Hoa Lu ancient capital : 20,000VND per person

Entrance fee and boat ride for Tam Coc : 195,000VND per person

Mua Cave entrance fee: 100,000VND per boat 

Lunch : 120,000VND

Gasoline : 150,000VND

Route 2 : Hanoi – Bai Dinh pagoda – Trang An eco-tourism site – Hoa Lu ancient capital

Total Distance : 208.1 kilometers

Duration : 5.5 to 6.5 hours only for riding

Road condition : Highway 1 and rural path

Distance among attractions 

Hanoi – Bai Dinh pagoda : 95 kilometers : 2.5 hours

Bai Dinh pagoda – Trang An : 11.5 kilometers : 18 minutes

Trang An – Hoa Lu : 4.6 kilometers: 7 minutes

Hoa Lu ancient capital – Hanoi : 97 kilometers : 2 hours and 40 minutes 

Brief itinerary for route 2 

Starting time : 7.00am , Finishing time : 7.00pm

+ Taking an electric bus to Bai Dinh pagoda, hiking the steps: 2 hours

+ Lunch in Truong An restaurant near the small bridge T-Junction 1 hours

+ Board a sampan ride on Trang An ecotourism site : 3 hours

+ Visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lu with  2 king temples: 40 minutes 

Suggested budget 

Entrance fee for Hoa Lu ancient capital : 20,000VND per person

Entrance fee and boat ride for Trang An : 200,000VND per person

Electric car for Bai Dinh pagoda: 60,000VND per boat 

Lunch : 150.000VND

Gasoline : 130,000VND

Route 3 : One way by Ho Chi Minh trail and the way back by Old Highway 1 : Hanoi – Cuc Phuong welcome gate – Bong center for trekking – Van Long nature reserve – Hanoi

Total Distance : 275.6 kilometers

Duration : 8.5 to 9.0 hours only for riding

Road condition: Highway 1 and rural path

Route instruction: Lang Hoa Lac – Xuan Mai – Ho Chi Minh trail – 

 There is a shorter route: Hanoi – Van Long – Cuc Phuong. Basically, you are following old highway 1 like route 2. Route 3 is for those who like driving off the tourist trail route. 

Distance among attractions 

Starting time : 6.00am , Finishing time : 19.30pm

Hanoi – Cuc Phuong welcome gate : 118 kilometers : 3.5 hours

Cuc Phuong – Bong Center for trekking (Cuc Phuong Zone A) : 18 kilometers : 46 minutes 

Bong Center – Van Long nature reserve : 48.6 kilometers : 1.5 hours 

Van Long – Hanoi : 91 kilometers : 2.5 hours 

Brief itinerary for route 3

•  2.5 hours hiking to 1000 years old and back
• 1.5 hours taking a bamboo boat ride in Van Long nature reserve
• 1 hour for lunch at Bong Center in Cuc Phuong national park
• Half an hour visit both Endangered Primate Center and Turtle Conservation Center 

Suggested budget 

Entrance fee for Cuc Phuong national park : 60,000VND per person

Entrance fee for 2 centers in Cuc Phuong : 40,000VND per person

Boat ride in Van Long : 60,000VND per boat and 20.000VND for entrance fee

Lunch : 100.000VND

Gasoline: 190,000VND

If you are taking this route, you’d better stay in Van Long area. And take 1 more day in Ninh Binh. 

Travelling to Ninh Binh by motorbike from Hanoi: Best travel tips

• Fill in fuel at a big gas station where many big trucks and containers stop
• Ask the staff to you should fill your motorbike’s fuel tank to full
• If you are not professional at motorbike ride, then choose to go with an automatic scooter is easier to manage
• Follow our instructions above to find out where to go first because it is well-planned by our experts who have been working years in the tourism industry
• Most of the tourist attractions in Ninh Binh opens from 7.30am to 5.00pm, make sure you get there on time. Don’t get to Cuc Phuong national park after 2.00pm because it may get dark after trekking. 
• Bring a smartphone with an internet connection as always. Please note that there is no internet access in Cuc Phuong national park

Frequently asked questions for travelling Ninh Binh by motorbike

Is that fine to travel Ninh Binh by motorcycle for first time visitors?

If you have never driven a motorbike before, don’t do it because there is a lot of traffic on the highway 

Can I travel by motorbike to Ninh Binh in one day?

Of course, there are 3 options above to choose from. If you have time, spend 2 or 3 days to Ninh Binh is better. 

How long does it take?

2.5 to 3 hours without stopping 

We hope this detailed Hanoi to Ninh Binh by motorbike guide will you some ways to plan a motorbike trip to Ninh Binh, Vietnam. 

Hynam Travel also offer tours to Ninh Binh for a day 

Ninh Binh Eco Tours