Small-Group Ninh Binh Day from Hanoi: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc Boat Ride and Mua Cave

Ninh Binh, about two hours south of Hanoi, is where Vietnam’s limestone country meets the rice fields. This small-group day starts at Hoa Lu, the country’s capital in the 10th century, where temples to the early kings sit among the karst hills.

After lunch you board a small rowing boat at Tam Coc for a ride along the river, through rice paddies and under three low caves; the rowers often paddle with their feet. A short bike ride through the villages follows, and the day ends with the climb up Hang Mua’s stone stairs for the view over the valley.