Hanoi to Ninh-binh

The distance between the two towns being small, the train journey is short and delightful. It takes only 2.5 hours to reach Ninh Binh from Hanoi in the Vietnam railways. There are several trains running to and fro the two towns throughout the day. The earliest departure is at 6 AM and the final one is at 8:10 PM.

The seats for the train journey are of four types in increasing order of comfort: hard seat, soft seat, hard berth (6 berths per cabin) and soft berth (4 berths per cabin). The tickets can be easily booked online. The hard seats are the cheapest starting at VND 70,000. The soft berths are priced at around VND 135,000. If you wish to relax through the journey, getting a berth seat is the best choice.

The train stations in both Hanoi and Nanh Binh are located in the city centre and hence are easily accessible. You can easily hire a taxi or a Grab car to reach the train station from your hotel or any other location.

The bus journey takes only about 2-3 hours, depending on the road traffic. The buses leave exactly on time, so do make sure to arrive at the bus station at least 15 minutes before the departure time. However, the buses are often crowded and drivers can sometimes drive rashly. Some drivers also try to charge more than the normal ticket rate, so please be aware of such bus companies.

There are about 25 bus operators providing commute service from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, the popular ones being Hoang Long, Queen Cafe, and Non Nuoc Ninh Binh. There are a variety of services ranging from buses with limousine seats to soft berths to normal soft seats. The prices vary accordingly.

A limousine seat can cost about VND 200,000 per person. The berth seat is priced at VND 100,000 whereas the normal soft seat tickets cost anything between VND 100,000 and VND 150,000. The tickets can be booked online or bought at the bus station or through travel agencies. But, it is best to book the bus tickets beforehand.

The bus stations in both cities are easily accessible by taxis or Grab cars. Some bus operators also offer pick-up services from your location for free or for a nominal price.

The car-rental service for a 4 seater car costs between VND 1,000,000 and VND 1,500,000, whereas it costs about VND 2,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 for a 29 seater mini bus.

If you like privacy and flexibility in your schedule, a private vehicle is the best option. It is also more comfortable. You can choose your pick-up location and time and do not have to worry about making it to the railway or the bus station before you miss your commute.

There are many private car services in Hanoi. It is usually a renting package for a round trip. You can choose a 4 seater car or multi-utility vehicle or a 29 seater bus. However, do make sure to check the car, the insurance papers and the fuel and toll fee conditions before booking the trip to avoid being charged exorbitantly later. Most car-rental services and their drivers know basic English, so there will not be much of a language barrier.