Vietnam may have big cities that attract tourists from all over the world, but the country’s natural landscape is also astounding. There are great places all over the country, but if you are looking for a few places where you can enjoy the best of Vietnam, you can go to Ninh Binh and Phong Nha. Ninh Binh in the north of Vietnam has hundreds of karst formations combined with farmland. You can take a boat on the canals to get the most out of the landscape, go into the caves or climb the mountains where hidden pagodas can be found. After Ninh Binh, a good option is to go to Phong Nha. Here you can enjoy the increasingly popular Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, home to the oldest karst mountains in Asia. It is a World Heritage Site due to the stunning beauty of its caves, rivers and many other attractions. Read on to find out how to get from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha.
Travel options from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha
The route from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha can take almost a whole day, but we have no doubt that it is worth it. The shortest road route is about 400 kilometers. So if you were driving your own car it would take 7-8 hours to get there. The bus ride takes even longer because it has to go slower, but it also stops at several stops along the way. Another option is to take the train, although it is more expensive than the bus and does not go to Phong Nha, so it is necessary to take another means of transport from the station. Finally, you can also travel north to Hanoi and take a train or plane from Hanoi to Dong Hoi. However, as in the previous case, this is not the simplest solution, because you would have to find a way to get from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha.
From Ninh Binh to Phong Nha by bus
If you are looking for a cheap and practical solution, the bus is a great way to get from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha. It is the cheapest means of transport for this route, and since there are direct buses to Phong Nha, it is the most convenient. But traveling by bus for such long distances is not entirely comfortable. Given that the tour can last 12 hours, this is not an option recommended for every traveler.
If you’re looking for bus options, be sure to book a ticket that covers the entire route from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha. There are several companies that operate this direct service: Queen Bus and Hung Thanh Bus. The best thing about these companies is that you can travel by sleeper bus. The advantage of this type of bus is that it runs at night and has very comfortable reclining seats so you can lie down and hopefully sleep. They leave Ninh Binh around 9:00 PM and arrive in Phong Nha around 4:00 AM the next day. This may seem early to some, but the bus stops right in the center of Phong Nha, where there are many hotels, so you may be able to check in as soon as you arrive.
There are other bus companies that can take you from Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi, such as Hoang Long, but in this case a change is necessary as the first one runs 45 kilometers from Phong Nha. It is not a difficult change, but it is more expensive and slightly longer journey.
From Ninh Binh to Phong Nha by train
There are several route options you can choose from if you decide to take the train from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha. But as we mentioned earlier, the train does not go to Phong Nha city itself. Still, train travel in Vietnam is highly recommended as it gives you the opportunity to enjoy a romantic train journey and fantastic landscapes. While it is more expensive than traveling by bus, there are more services onboard and more comfort and space, so it might be worth spending a little more.
One solution is to take the train from Ninh Binh to Minh Le. This Vietnam Railways train leaves Ninh Binh at 8:17 AM and arrives at Minh Le 7 hours and 20 minutes later at 3:37 PM. This is a day train that allows you to enjoy the scenery throughout the journey. Tickets can be booked via the travel website 12Go.asiawhere you can see all available ticket options and easily compare prices. The cheapest tickets are for air-conditioned second-class seats. Since you are traveling during the day, the seat may be comfortable enough for this route. The advantage of the train over the bus is that thanks to the greater space, you can get up and go for a walk whenever you feel like it, as well as buy food on board or use the toilet.
If you want more space, you can also choose a 2nd class with a bed or a 1st class with a bed. Thanks to this, instead of sitting, you can lie down and rest more. If you choose a First Class Bed ticket, the bed will be more comfortable than in Second Class and you will share the compartment with fewer passengers.
Another option to take the train from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha is to go to Dong Hoi. There are more train options when following this route, giving you more flexibility in choosing your departure day and time. It is also possible to travel in a sleeping compartment if you choose to take this tour. It is known that traveling by sleeper train has its advantages, because the journey takes place at night and you can sleep on the way.
Please note that if you choose to take the train from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha, you will need to complete your journey from Minh Le or Dong Hoi until you reach Phong Nha Town, which you can do by bus or taxi. If you don’t mind spending a few hours on the bus, you can also take a direct bus from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha. This way you can save some money compared to the train ticket. Of course, because of the experience and comfort it offers, we recommend this train journey.