Custom Day Tour: Private Driver, Your Itinerary
You decide where to go. Your driver knows how to get there.
No Fixed Route Choose from Trang An, Tam Coc, Hoa Lu, Bai Dinh, Van Long, or anywhere else in Ninh Binh. Combine what you want, skip what you don’t.
8 Hours, Your Way A private car and driver for the full day. Stop wherever you want, stay as long as you like.
One Price for the Whole Car Not per person. Bring your partner, your family, or your friends. The more you are, the better the value.
Pickup from Hanoi or Ninh Binh Your driver picks you up at your hotel. You don’t need to arrange anything else.
Your Car. Your Driver. Your Day.
You know what you want to see in Ninh Binh. Maybe you have been here before and want to go deeper. Maybe you have done your research and have a list of places that no standard tour covers. Or maybe you just want a car and a driver and the freedom to decide as you go.
This is the tour for all of that. We give you a private car with an experienced local driver for 8 hours in Ninh Binh. Where you go, when you stop, how long you stay: that is entirely up to you. There is no fixed route, no set itinerary, no group to follow.
We are based right here in Ninh Binh. Your driver is part of our team, not a subcontractor from another city. He knows the roads, the shortcuts, the quiet spots, and the best times to visit each site. Think of it as having a local friend with a car.
Not Sure Where to Go? Here Are Some Ideas.
Most guests who book this tour combine two or three of the following, depending on their interests:
- Trang An – UNESCO boat ride through limestone caves and hidden temples (2-3 hours)
- Tam Coc – Rowboat through rice paddies and karst mountains (1-1.5 hours)
- Mua Cave (Hang Mua) – 500-step climb to the most famous viewpoint in Ninh Binh
- Hoa Lu – Ancient capital of Vietnam with 10th-century temples
- Bai Dinh Pagoda – The largest Buddhist temple complex in Southeast Asia
- Bich Dong Pagoda – A centuries-old temple carved into a limestone cliff
- Van Long Nature Reserve – Quiet wetland, great for birdwatching and langur spotting
- Thung Nham Bird Garden – Thousands of birds returning to roost at sunset
Not sure what combination works best? Tell us what you are interested in when you book and your driver can suggest a route that makes sense for the day.
Perfect If You Have Already Seen the Highlights
If you did the Mua Cave and Trang An combo on a previous trip (or on our Best of Ninh Binh tour), this is the way to explore the rest. Go to Tam Coc for a completely different boat ride through the rice fields. Visit Bai Dinh, the enormous pagoda complex that most day tours skip because of time. Cycle through the villages around Tam Coc. Drive out to Van Long for a peaceful morning on the water with almost no other tourists.
There is much more to Ninh Binh than the standard route, and this tour lets you see it.
Also Great for Photographers, Families with Small Kids, or Anyone Who Likes to Take It Slow
Photographers love this tour because they can stay at a location until the light is right. Families with toddlers love it because they can take breaks whenever they need to. And some guests simply prefer to have a car and a driver available without being locked into a program. Whatever your reason, it works.
One Price for the Whole Car, Not Per Person
The price is per car, not per person. Whether you are traveling alone, as a couple, or with a group of friends, you pay one flat rate. The more people you bring, the better the value. No surprises, no hidden costs.
8 Full Hours in Ninh Binh
You get 8 hours of tour time in Ninh Binh. If you start from Hanoi, the drive there and back (about 1.5 hours each way) is on top of that, so you do not lose any exploration time. Your driver picks you up at your hotel and drops you back at the end of the day.
Want the Stories Behind the Sites? Add a Guide
Your driver speaks basic English and can handle all the logistics. But if you want someone who can explain the history of Hoa Lu, the Buddhist traditions at Bai Dinh, or the ecology of Van Long, a local English-speaking guide makes the day richer. You can add a guide when you book.
What’s Included
- Private car with experienced driver (our own team, based in Ninh Binh)
- Fuel, tolls, and parking
- 8 hours of tour time in Ninh Binh
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel (Hanoi, Ninh Binh, or Tam Coc)
- Fully flexible itinerary
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
What’s Not Included
- Entrance fees (these vary by location and are paid on the spot)
- Drinks and meals
- Tour guide (optional add-on)
What Guests Say
“This was our second time in Ninh Binh. Last year we did the standard Mua Cave + Trang An tour. This time we wanted Tam Coc and Bai Dinh, and our driver put together a perfect route. Tam Coc in the early morning with the mist over the rice fields was magical. Bai Dinh was almost empty. Exactly the kind of day we wanted.” – Marco R.
“We had a very specific list: Bich Dong, Van Long, and a cycling route through Tam Coc. Our driver knew all three and even suggested a small temple on the way that was not in any guidebook. Having a local driver who actually lives here made all the difference.” – Priya S.
“I’m a photographer and I needed to be at Tam Coc at sunrise and at Mua Cave at golden hour. No group tour lets you do that. My driver understood immediately and planned the rest of the day around those two moments. Some of the best photos I’ve ever taken.” – David L.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Best of Ninh Binh tour follows a set route (Mua Cave + Trang An) and includes entrance fees. This Custom Day Tour gives you total freedom to go wherever you want, but entrance fees are paid separately at each location. Choose the Best of Ninh Binh if you want the classic highlights with everything arranged. Choose this tour if you want flexibility and control over your day.
Modern, air-conditioned SUVs (Ford Everest, Chevrolet Trailblazer, or similar). Clean, comfortable, and well-maintained for a full day on the road.
Cash on the day of the tour. No prepayment, no deposit. Vietnam is a cash country, and paying cash means no credit card fees. Need an ATM stop? Just ask your driver.
Cuc Phuong needs a full day on its own and is not a good fit for a combined Ninh Binh day. We have a separate Cuc Phuong National Park tour for that.
8 full hours in Ninh Binh. If you start from Hanoi, the drive there and back (about 1.5 hours each way) is on top of that.
Absolutely. That is the whole point. Want to skip something and stay longer somewhere else? Just tell your driver.
Yes. Many guests use this tour as a travel day between Hanoi and Ninh Binh. Your bags stay safe in the locked car while you explore.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour. No questions, no fees.
Looking for the Classic Ninh Binh Experience Instead?
If you prefer a set itinerary with the two most famous highlights (Mua Cave + Trang An boat ride) and all entrance fees included, take a look at our Best of Ninh Binh in One Day tour.
Also need transport for the rest of your trip? We arrange every transfer in North Vietnam, from airport to airport, with no prepayment. Read how it works.