---
title: "How to Get to Ninh Binh 2026: Train, Van, Tam Coc"
description: "Vans from Hanoi go straight to Tam Coc and Trang An in 2 to 3 hours from 187,500₫; the train takes 2h13 to Ninh Binh city from 106,000₫. On to Cat Ba."
canonical: "https://vietnamtransportguide.com/ninh-binh/"
language: "en"
content_type: "destination"
last_checked: "2026-10-09"
confidence: "medium"
status: "published"
structured_data: "https://vietnamtransportguide.com/ninh-binh/#webpage"
alternates: "en=https://vietnamtransportguide.com/ninh-binh/ fr=https://vietnamtransportguide.com/fr/ninh-binh/ de=https://vietnamtransportguide.com/de/ninh-binh/ es=https://vietnamtransportguide.com/es/ninh-binh/ ja=https://vietnamtransportguide.com/ja/ninh-binh/ ko=https://vietnamtransportguide.com/ko/ninh-binh/ ru=https://vietnamtransportguide.com/ru/ninh-binh/"
---
# How to get to Ninh Binh and Tam Coc

## Short Answer

From Hanoi it takes 2 to 3 hours. Limousine vans from the Old Quarter or Noi Bai airport go straight to Tam Coc or the Trang An boat station, from 187,500₫ for October 2026. The train from Ga Hà Nội takes 2 hours 13 minutes, from 106,000₫ for a soft seat, but stops in Ninh Binh city, a ride away from Tam Coc and Trang An. Night buses from Tam Coc go on to Sapa, Ha Giang and Hue.

## Quick Facts

- Region: North; Ninh Bình province, which absorbed Hà Nam and Nam Định on 1 July 2025
- Usual way in: Limousine van to Tam Coc or Trang An; SE train to Ga Ninh Bình
- Stations and terminals: Ga Ninh Bình (railway); Bến xe Đồng Gừng (bus station); Tam Coc boat station and company offices
- Last checked: 2026-10-09
- Confidence: medium

## From Hanoi: a van to Tam Coc, or the train to the city

**By limousine van.** Dozens of 9 to 12-seat vans leave Hanoi's Old Quarter and Noi Bai airport from about 04:30 to the evening.

The ones worth booking go to **Tam Coc** or the **Trang An boat station**, where the boats start; others stop at an office in Ninh Binh city, which leaves you with the same onward ride as the train. The [Hanoi to Ninh Binh page](/hanoi-to-ninh-binh/) lists the companies and their drop-offs.

**By train.** Six SE trains a day stop at Ga Ninh Bình on their way south. The October 2026 timetable:

- SE7 06:00 → 08:13, SE5 08:00 → 10:13, SE9 13:00 → 15:14.
- SE3 19:20 → 21:33, SE19 19:45 → 21:54 and SE1 21:45 → 00:00.

The morning trains are the useful ones for a day out.

**From Ha Long.** Duy Khang's limousine runs between Tuần Châu and the Bích Động post-office stop in Tam Coc in about 3 hours 30 minutes; see the [Ha Long Bay page](/ha-long-bay/#ninh-binh-to-ha-long).

## Leaving Ninh Binh

**Back to Hanoi by train.** SE20 at 08:18 reaches Ga Hà Nội at 11:10, SE8 at 13:59 arrives at 16:20 and SE6 at 16:55 at 19:14; SE4 and SE2 pass in the small hours. For October 2026 a soft seat on SE8 cost from 106,000₫, or 92,000₫ on the 02:14 SE4.

**To Noi Bai airport.** Several van companies drive straight to the airport, so you need not go into Hanoi for a flight; the [Hanoi route page](/hanoi-to-ninh-binh/) names them.

**North to Sapa or Ha Giang, south to Hue.** Night cabin buses leave Tam Coc and Bến xe Đồng Gừng; see the [Sapa](/sapa/#ninh-binh-to-sapa), [Ha Giang](/ha-giang/#ninh-binh-to-ha-giang) and [Hue](/hue/#ninh-binh-to-hue) pages. The SE trains south to Huế leave from Ga Ninh Bình. Travellers in 2026 report the long buses stopping every two to three hours for food and toilets.

## Tam Coc to Cat Ba: one ticket, bus and ferry

Buy the bus and the boat as one ticket.

Online fares for October 2026 departures:

- Cat Ba Discovery: Tam Coc Queen Travel office at 09:00 and 13:30 to 6 Tùng Dinh on Cat Ba four hours later, 337,500₫.
- Good Morning Cat Ba: Bến đò Tam Cốc (Tam Coc boat landing) at 14:00 to its island office at 18:30, 372,693₫, with the ferry connection guaranteed on the ticket.

| Fact | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Usual way | Bus and ferry on one ticket |
| Where it departs | Tam Coc Queen Travel office, or Bến đò Tam Cốc |
| Where it arrives | 6 Tùng Dinh, or the Good Morning Cat Ba office |

**Coming back, same date.**

- Cat Ba Discovery: 6 Tùng Dinh at 09:00 to its Tam Coc office at 13:30, 406,250₫, more than the outward trip.
- Good Morning Cat Ba: its island office at 12:30 to the Tam Coc boat landing at 17:00, 372,693₫.
- Daiichi: 217 Một Tháng Tư at 08:30 to Lapis Tam Coc Restaurant at 13:00, 319,000₫, the cheapest.

Each lands at a different Tam Coc address.

## Tam Coc to Phong Nha: the direct day bus

A direct bus takes 5 to 6 hours. For October 2026, G8's single cabin left its Tam Coc office at 08:15 and reached Thanh Phat Hotel in Phong Nha at 13:45, for 640,500₫ online; its 09:15 from the Tam Coc boat station arrived at 15:00 for 686,250₫. An evening bus at 17:30 arrives at 23:15.

| Fact | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Usual way | Direct day bus |
| Where it departs | G8 Tam Coc office, or the Tam Coc boat station |
| Where it arrives | Thanh Phat Hotel or Central Backpackers Hostel, Phong Nha |

**Coming back:**

- G8: Thanh Phat Hotel at 09:30 to the Tam Coc boat station at 15:00, 610,000₫; or at 15:00 arriving at 20:30 in a cabin, 640,500₫.
- HK Buslines: Central Backpackers Hostel at 13:30 to Tam Coc Agency at 18:30, 727,740₫.

Since 1 July 2025 Phong Nha is in Quảng Trị province, which absorbed Quảng Bình.

## Ninh Binh trains, vans and buses: what people ask

### How far is Ninh Binh from Hanoi?

115 km by rail from Ga Hà Nội to Ga Ninh Bình. The train takes 2 hours 9 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes; a van to Tam Coc 2 to 3 hours.

### Does the train stop at Tam Coc?

No. It stops at Ga Ninh Bình, in the city. Tam Coc and Trang An are a road ride further; many visitors take a van that goes all the way instead.

### Can I take a bus from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba without booking a separate ferry?

Yes. For October 2026, Cat Ba Discovery sold one bus-and-ferry ticket from Tam Coc Queen Travel office at 09:00 to 6 Tùng Dinh on Cat Ba at 13:00, for 337,500₫ online.

### How do I get from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha?

By direct bus, about 5 hours 30 minutes. For October 2026, G8 left its Tam Coc office at 08:15 and reached Thanh Phat Hotel in Phong Nha at 13:45, for 640,500₫ online.

## The railway's dated timetable

1. [Vietnam National Railway Group ticket site (dsvn.vn) — official](https://dsvn.vn/)
2. [National Assembly Resolution 202/2025/QH15 on merging provinces — official](https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=213930)

## Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long and Hue

- [Hanoi to Ninh Binh by limousine van or train](https://vietnamtransportguide.com/hanoi-to-ninh-binh/)
- [Hanoi: Noi Bai airport, the train station and where buses leave](https://vietnamtransportguide.com/hanoi/)
- [Getting to Sapa: buses, Lao Cai station and onward routes](https://vietnamtransportguide.com/sapa/)
- [Getting to Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba](https://vietnamtransportguide.com/ha-long-bay/)
- [Getting to Hue by train, plane or bus](https://vietnamtransportguide.com/hue/)
- [Vietnam buses: sleepers, cabins and daytime vans](https://vietnamtransportguide.com/bus/)
- [Vietnam trains: tickets, sleeper berths and journey times](https://vietnamtransportguide.com/train/)