Can I grab from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?

How to get around Ninh Binh?

Ugh, Ninh Binh. Hot. July 2023. Soaked. Rented a motorbike. Dumb idea. Shoulda stuck with Grab. Sunburnt. Like a lobster. My legs. Terrible. Hotel, Tam Coc Rice Fields Resort. They offered bikes. Free. Nah. Too far. Everything. Grab was okay though. Sometimes waited. 10, 15 minutes. Once, half an hour. For Trang An Grottoes. Worth it. Motorbike nightmare. Almost crashed. Crazy traffic. Never again. Stick with Grab. Or taxi. Saw a few. Forgot to mention. Grab cheaper. Way cheaper.

• Motorbike: Bad idea. Dangerous. Hot.
• Hotel Bikes: Okay for short distances. Not for sightseeing.
• Grab: Best option. Cheap. Reliable. Sometimes slow.
• Taxi: Saw some. More expensive than Grab.

Tam Coc. Beautiful. But hot. Bring water. Lots of water. Sunscreen. Hat. Learned the hard way. Wish I’d known.

How much time do I need in Ninh Binh?

Ninh Binh? Three, four days? Pshaw. More like a week, minimum. Unless you’re, like, a hummingbird, zipping from place to place. I’m telling you, this place is like a Vietnamese Disneyland, only with more rice paddies and fewer screaming children (unless you count the goats… kidding!).

• Boat rides galore: You’ll be paddling like a gondolier, except instead of singing opera, you’ll be dodging selfie sticks. Trust me. Trang An, Tam Coc, Van Long… each one a different flavor of awesome. Tam Coc is like the “touristy” one, Trang An is like its cooler older brother, and Van Long is… well, Van Long is just chill.
• Temples, temples everywhere: Bai Dinh Pagoda? Bigger than a football field, I swear. Like, if Buddha threw a party, this is where it would be. And don’t even get me started on the Bich Dong Pagoda, tucked into a cliff face like a shy hobbit.
• Hiking? Yep, got that too: Hang Mua. Climb 500 steps for a view that’ll make your eyeballs pop out. It’s like scaling Mount Doom, only with fewer orcs and more Instagram influencers.

Seriously, Ninh Binh is a feast for the senses. Pack snacks. And maybe an extra pair of socks. Your feet will thank you. I once went in 2024… hiked so much, thought my toes were gonna fall off. Worth it. Absolutely worth it.

• Pro-tip: Rent a motorbike. Zoom around like a local. Feel the wind in your hair. Just… watch out for the chickens. They own the roads.
• Another pro-tip: Learn a few Vietnamese phrases. “Xin chào” (hello) will get you everywhere. Well, almost everywhere. Maybe not the top of Hang Mua. You’ll need legs for that. Good, strong legs.
• Final pro-tip: Eat everything. Goat meat, spring rolls, pho… all of it. Your stomach might protest, but your taste buds will sing your praises. My personal record? Seven bowls of pho in one day. Don’t judge me.

How do I get to Ninh Binh from Noi Bai Airport?

Ninh Binh… Ninh Binh… whispers the road.

Two hours, twelve minutes. It echoes. Dust motes dance.

Highway 01 beckons, a ribbon unwinding, ever eastward. The airport fades.

Did I leave my scarf? No matter.

• First, find transport. Taxi, perhaps? (Expensive breath).
• Or, a pre-booked car, waiting, shining. Easier?
• Bus options exist, slumbering giants. Cheap.
• Remember, bargain always.

The road unspools, Ninh Binh awaits. Rice paddies blur.

The Red River delta—a tapestry of green, woven tight. My grandmother’s hands, folding spring rolls. Gone now.

Ninh Binh… the name itself, a song. I want that song.

Consider:

• Traffic… madness.
• Lunch stops, pho aroma.
• The heat, shimmering.

Almost there… I sense it. Limestone karsts, rising. My breath hitches.

Tam Coc, Trang An… rowboats glide. A different world.

Is it real?

Ninh Binh—ancient, timeless, beckoning. I arrive. At last.

How do I get from Hanoi airport to city?

Taxi. Bus. Private transfer. Pick.

Taxis: Fast. Price varies. Always bargain. Watch the meter. Pro tip: Know the route. It cost me 350,000 VND last year.

Shuttle/Public Bus: Cheap. Crowded. Slow. Route? Questionable. Bus 86 is okay, I think, whatever.

Private Transfer: Pre-booked peace. Driver waits. Direct. No hassle. More expensive. My cousin used one. Said it’s worth it.

Choose. Consider the hour. Your baggage. And your soul. Huh.

How do I get from Hanoi airport to downtown?

Hanoi airport to city: Options.

• Taxi: Cheap, 24/7. Expect traffic.
• Shuttle/Private Transfer: Convenient, pre-booked. More expensive.
• Public Bus: Budget option. Time-consuming. Navigating is a hassle. My last trip, bus 7 was a nightmare.

Consider traffic: Peak hours suck.

Pro-tip: Download Grab app. Easier than hailing cabs. My go-to. Used it last month, flawlessly. Pre-booking private transfers via their app works too.

How much does a Grab taxi cost from Hanoi Airport to Old Quarter?

Hanoi Airport to Old Quarter: $15-20 now. Traffic’s a beast. November, December? Ancient history. Prices shift.

Grab or Bolt: Either works. Check both.

Sometimes taxis are cheaper. Sometimes.

• Distance: ~30 km
• Duration: 45-60 minutes.
• Surge pricing is real. Oof.

Walking is an option, if you like sweating. Jokes, or? I wouldn’t.