• Home
  • Start Here
  • Work With enSquaredAired
  • Press & Features
  • For Bloggers
  • Start A Blog
  • Food
  • Life & Wellness

enSquared♡Aired

  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Mauritius
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Malaysia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • North America
      • Canada
    • Oceania and Australasia
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
  • Travel
    • Accommodations
    • Travel For A Year
    • Things To Do
  • Food
  • Life & Wellness
    • For Bloggers
  • Year Of Travel
You are here: Home / Destinations / Trang An Grottoes Tour | Everything You Need To Know

Trang An Grottoes Tour | Everything You Need To Know

Pssst… this post may contain affiliate links. That means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to make a purchase. For details on what this means, read my disclaimer policy.

9 Nov
trang an grottos boat tour people

Trang An Grottoes tour is a must do when you are visiting Vietnam!

If you are planning a trip to Ninh Binh in Vietnam, there’s a high chance you are going to do a boat tour. While there are two main tours to choose, this post covers everything you need to know about the Trang An grottoes boat tour. If you want details on the difference between the Tam Coc boat tour and the Trang An boat tour, then keep reading for more information. I built a table to help you make your decision on which tour to choose near the end of this post. If you are planning a day trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh for Trang An grottoes, you can click here to book your tickets online.

Trang An grottoes is a brand new travel route that recently opened its doors to travellers

Trang An Grottoes tour - temple by water

You’ll see beautiful temples during this tour

Trang An was recently recognized as a cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 2014.

Trang An Grottoes tour - mountain view

Unparalleled beauty is indeed an understatement

Because most people do not know what to make of Ninh Binh, they often call Trang An grottoes the Ha Long Bay of the land. I find it quite funny that people make that reference because Ninh Binh is way better than Ha Long Bay, in my opinion. It is Vietnam’s hidden gem if you were to ask me.

For starters, Trang An is nowhere near the coast. Instead, beautiful rice paddies connect the mountains. And um, there’s no place for you to sail around the area. You either get around by bike or take a boat ride to see the beauty of the Trang An grottoes.

Trang An Grottoes tour - workers on boat

We passed by locals who were transporting goods via a boat

One of the main attractions in Ninh Binh is the boat rides. While foreign tourists flock towards Tam Coc, the Trang An grottoes boat tour is the one where you will have a better experience.

Which boat tour should I choose? Trang An Grottoes Tour or Tam Coc boat tour?

Trang An Grottoes tour - mountain view

Beautiful mountain views along this boat tour

If you are reading this page, you’ve likely figured out that Trang An grottoes boat tour trumps the Tam Coc one. People say that Tam Coc is more beautiful, but when I look at the photos, I feel as if both boat tours look similar to me. You will see more rice fields during the Tam Coc boat tour though.

Trang An Grottoes tour - tree by water

Other tourists in the distance

The most significant difference between the two is the service. Since the Trang An grotto boat tour is managed by one company, customer service is regulated and consistent. Compare that to Tam Coc, where you will find hundreds of reviews online about the forced tipping at the end of the boat tour. The tipping piece isn’t the issue because that extra money goes a long way for the locals. However, it is the manner in how the tipping is forced upon you that ruins the experience. However, if you are planning on book a day trip from Hanoi for Tam Coc, you might want to book in advance from a reputable company. Click here to book your day trip from Hanoi for Tam Coc.

Here’s a comparison table of the two different boat tours:

  Trang An Grottoes Tour Tam Coc Boat Tour
More frequented by Vietnamese tourists Foreign tourists
Most crowded times Weekends and Vietnamese holidays  
Prices 200,000 per adult, 100,000 per child 150,000 per boat and 120,000 per adult (max two foreigners per boat)
Duration 3 hours 2.5 hours
Number of caves passed 9 3
Sights Forest and limestone karsts Rice fields, karstic rocks
Passengers per boat 4+ Max 2
Reputation Beautiful, good value for money, professionally managed Beautiful, but a tourist trap. There are boats selling food and drinks after the last cave. The locals will convince you to buy at an unreasonable price. You can refuse, but make sure to let your rower know that you will be tipping him at the end

What to expect on the Trang An grottoes tour

Trang An Grottoes tour - boats docked

Every boat has a life jacket for each visitor

The Trang An grottoes boat tour is incredible. A Vietnamese woman will likely be paddling your boat for three hours. During this journey, you will get a glimpse of three temples, 31 valleys and some of over 600 kinds of flora in the area.

Trang An Grottoes tour - boatmen

Two locals spending their day working on the river

Trang An grottoes boats try to have four passengers per boat (not including the rowing lady). That means that if you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon when there are fewer tourists, you will have to wait a bit. Yet, being able to experience Trang An grottoes at a peaceful time is so worth the wait.

Going in the morning is incredible because the water is so still and clear

Trang An Grottoes tour - quiet time in the water

What you can experience if you take the tour first thing in the morning

There are moments when you will see nothing but the reflection of mountains from the water. You might also find it to be a bit misty in the morning, making the trip feel all the more magical. We timed the Trang An grottoes boat tour so that we were the first ones on the water. We checked for opening times at 8 am and arrived there the moment the gate opened its doors. Make sure to check opening times with your hotel or online as opening hours may vary.

The experience was so incredible – we were utterly alone, floating down the Trang An grottoes. Feeling ultra peaceful was an understatement. As we cruised along limestone mountains and rowed through lotus flowers, I could help but feel so in awe of Ninh Binh’s beauty.

Trang An Grottoes tour - pink lotus flowers

Beautiful lotus flowers along the edge of the rocks

What I didn’t know about the Trang An grottoes boat tour is the number of temples you can stop by along the way. In fact, one of the temples was only accessible by boat.

The rowing lady asked us if we wanted to stop at the temple. We decided to pass and admire the temples from afar, considering how our boat ride was three hours not including the temple stops.

Visiting the caves during the Trang An Grottoes Tour

Trang An Grottoes tour - caves entrance

Cave #1!

The first few caves were fun to see and explore. But by the end of the tour, we had visited a total of nine caves, which took a total of three hours to finish. Needless to say, I was “caved out” by the end of the tour, and our butts were super sore. The full tour usually has 12 caves that you’re supposed to pass through. But to be honest, anything more than three is overkill.

Trang An Grottoes tour - inside the caves

Exiting the first cave

There were many moments where we had to lie on our backs or duck because the gap between the water and the cave was so low.

Trang An Grottoes tour - exiting caves

Beautiful views as we exit the cave

Apparently, you could choose two routes, but I don’t remember picking.

Route 1: Visit nine caves. That’s what we did

Route 2: Visit fewer caves and the skull island. I was not aware of the skull island until like…now as I am putting together this post for you. I missed out big time…boo…

Trang An Grottoes tour - lotus flowers

More beautiful lotus flowers

We saw ducks and natural lotus growing outside.

Trang An Grottoes tour - cave exit

The end of one of our many cave tours

Earthen pots in a cave

What’s interesting is that there was a bunch of earthen pots in the middle of a cave in one of the Tran An grottoes. I wish I could tell you what they meant, but I couldn’t understand the boat lady’s accent.

The experience with the rower during the Trang An Grottoes tour

Trang An Grottoes tour - rowers on the boat

Locals quietly working away to make a living

We read online all the horrible reviews about how the rowers will stop the boat in the middle of the lake and not row back until customers tipped them. Or, they were forced to buy pop at a high price and give them to the rower. That was not our experience at all. The lady was nice, quiet and rowed with incredible strength.

Trang An Grottoes tour - entrance of caves

Beautiful views as we exit this cave

The four of us felt bad for her, so we took turns helping her row throughout the trip.

There was also no pressure to tip and none of the scams you may have read online. While the lady didn’t ask for a tip, we still gave her 50,000 VND anyways.

Trang An Grottoes tour - surrounded by nature

The water is so still

The other two people on our boat were from Saigon so that I understand them when they spoke in Vietnamese. However, I struggled to understand whenever the rower was talking because of her Northern accent. It was interesting to hear the conversations between the two parties because, as you may know, North and South Vietnam are different.

At one point, we passed by a mountain that had electricity poles at the top of the hill. The Vietnamese couple and the rower were talking about how hard it must have been to install the electricity poles since there are no roads. The lady’s response was simple, and a reflection of the Vietnamese work ethic: “Work is work, nothing is ever too hard for us. At least there would be work to do.”

Life of a rower on the Trang An Grottoes Tour

Trang An Grottoes tour - rower

Life of a rower

The Vietnamese lady told us (well, the Vietnamese couple) that there were over 2,000 boats. Yet, she only gets to row once a week during the slow season and usually one ride per day during busy season. The Vietnamese couple then joked about how she could go home and rest for the day, but unfortunately, things don’t work that way. Even though she likely won’t have any other customers for the rest of the day, she still has to go back and wait in the queue. I suppose it’s a precaution in case there are more customers during the day?

Trang An Grottoes tour - rowers on boat

I don’t know what they had in their boats, but these two were very smiley and happy

Did I feel safe during the Trang An Grottoes Tour?

Trang An Grottoes tour - cave exit

Most of the cave tours are relatively short

I felt very safe, despite being in open waters and being the only foreigners on the boat.

What kind of food should you bring during the Trang An Grottoes Tour?

I brought snacks but barely touched any throughout the ride. I’d suggest bringing some dry snacks if you think you’ll get hungry during the two-three hour ride.

Was it hard to find food during the Trang An Grottoes Tour?

There is no food during the tour because you know, you’re on the water. The tour runs from two to three hours so bring some snacks in case you are snackish. There is food to buy once you are back on land.

How much did it cost to go on the Trang An Grottoes Tour?

Trang An Grottoes tour - entrance tickets

Entrance tickets for the tour

The tickets cost 200,000 VND per person, which you can buy on site. They usually try to wait until there are at least four passengers on the boat so you might have to wait for a bit. We also tipped the lady 50,000 VND.

If you are planning a day trip from Hanoi to visit the Trang An grottoes tour, you can click here to book your tickets online.

What to wear and what to bring on the Trang An Grottoes Tour?

Trang An Grottoes tour - boat tour

Rowers from afar

Wear layers and make sure to bring a waterproof bag for your belongings. When you’re on a boat, there’s always a chance that your belongings could get wet or you could drop things into the water. Bring sunscreen and a hat if you go during the daytime when it is extremely hot!

The facilities around the Trang An Grottoes Tour

The bathrooms are clean in the area. Make sure to go before you hop on the boat. As always, bring toilet paper just in case.

What’s the best time to go on the Trang An Grottoes Tour?

I recommend going early in the morning or late in the evening.

Where did I stay when I took the Trang An Grottoes Tour?

I stayed at Nam Hoa hotel, which is a short drive to the Trang An Grottoes Boat Tour

Travel tips to note about the Trang An grottoes tour

Trang An Grottoes tour - boats ashore

These boats are tiny!

  • Try to get to the place first thing in the morning as soon as it opens. It opened at 8 am during the season that we went and we had a great time
  • Expect your butt to be super sore from sitting on the boat
  • Don’t travel during Vietnamese holidays as it will get crazy busy!
  • Avoid midday as there is no shade and it is extremely hot
  • Consider visiting during the autumn or winter as it is less busy. It’s just too cold for local travellers to visit Ninh Binh!
  • If you forgot to bring a hat, keep an eye out for the traditional Vietnamese hats

Read all my Vietnam posts here.

PIN FOR LATER

Trang An Grottoes tour - pin
Trang An Grottoes tour - pin
Trang An Grottoes tour - pin

This post was first published in December 2018 and last updated on November 2019

Related posts:

ninh binh travel blog - laughing Buddha at Bai Dinh PagodaNinh Binh Travel Blog | One Of The Best Places To Visit In Vietnam Some Of The Best Things To Do In Singapore | Are you looking for things to do in Singapore? Not sure which places to visit? Click on this post for Singapore photography and tips on sights you'll want to visit during your tripThe Best Things To Do In Singapore For First Timers Thailand Travel - Chiang Mai Temples - 28 - Wat RajamonteanThailand Travel | Temple hopping in Chiang Mai blue bird taxi bali hanoiHanoi Travel Blog Diaries From My Year Of Travel (Part 1) Hanoi trip blog - St. Joseph's CathedralHanoi Trip Blog | Being Scammed For The First Time In Hanoi Sheraton hanoi hotel vietnam - Outdoor poolIs The Sheraton Hanoi Hotel Vietnam The Best Luxury Hotel In Hanoi? FBest Day Trips Osaka Japan - ushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine in Kyoto9 Of The Best Day Trips From Osaka Japan What To Do In Dotonbori - ferris wheelEat, See, Do: The Ultimate Guide For Things To Do In Dotonbori

Archive Filed Under: Destinations, Travel Tagged With: Ninh Binh, Things To Do, Vietnam

About Nancy

Hi, I’m Nancy! I am obsessed with self-awareness, food, semi-minimalism, stories, budgets, & adventures around the world. Read more here.

Previous Post: « 12 Useful Tips About Patong Beach For First Time Visitors
Next Post: 18 Terrific Kyoto Cheap Eats For Under ¥1,200 ($11 USD) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Thi Dang says

    October 30, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    Hello,
    I’m planning a tip this December to Trang An Grottoes. Your pictures look beautiful! May i ask if you had to purchase tickets in advance? Did you buy ahead of time online or did you simply purchase upon arrival? I tried to look through Trang An Grottoes website, but could not find where to prepurchase tickets.
    Thanks a million for your help!
    Thi

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      November 10, 2019 at 7:55 pm

      Hi Thi! You can buy the tickets directly at the Trang An Grottoes. However, if you are planning a day trip from Hanoi, I suggest booking it in advance to save time lining up for tickets (unless you go early in the morning!). You can prepurchase the tickets if you’re planning a day trip from Hanoi here.

      Reply
  2. Trang An Grottoes tour says

    September 23, 2022 at 1:15 am

    Great pictures and very enjoyable information, thank for your experienced

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to enSquaredAired

Hi, I’m Nancy! I am obsessed with self-awareness, food, semi-minimalism, stories, budgets, & adventures around the world.

enSquaredAired is a travel and lifestyle blog where you can learn practical tips that will optimize your time and save you money. Read More Here

Let’s connect!

ensquaredaired on instagram ensquaredaired on facebook ensquaredaired on twitter ensquaredaired on youtube ensquaredaired on RSS feed
nancy@enSquaredAired.com

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Related posts:

ninh binh travel blog - laughing Buddha at Bai Dinh PagodaNinh Binh Travel Blog | One Of The Best Places To Visit In Vietnam Some Of The Best Things To Do In Singapore | Are you looking for things to do in Singapore? Not sure which places to visit? Click on this post for Singapore photography and tips on sights you'll want to visit during your tripThe Best Things To Do In Singapore For First Timers Thailand Travel - Chiang Mai Temples - 28 - Wat RajamonteanThailand Travel | Temple hopping in Chiang Mai blue bird taxi bali hanoiHanoi Travel Blog Diaries From My Year Of Travel (Part 1) Hanoi trip blog - St. Joseph's CathedralHanoi Trip Blog | Being Scammed For The First Time In Hanoi Sheraton hanoi hotel vietnam - Outdoor poolIs The Sheraton Hanoi Hotel Vietnam The Best Luxury Hotel In Hanoi? FBest Day Trips Osaka Japan - ushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine in Kyoto9 Of The Best Day Trips From Osaka Japan What To Do In Dotonbori - ferris wheelEat, See, Do: The Ultimate Guide For Things To Do In Dotonbori

Recent Posts

  • A Hospitable Stay At The Aloft Taipei Beitou
  • 13 Really Fun Things To Do In Odaiba Tokyo
  • How to Use the New and Improved Features of Tailwind for Instagram
  • Everything You Need To Know About Booking Phuket Tours
  • Ultimate Guide | World Famous James Bond Island Tour in Thailand
  • A Great Trek On The Beautiful Campuhan Ridge Walk In Bali
  • Ultimate Guide To Climbing The Batu Cave Steps In Malaysia
  • How Matt’s Flights Can Help You Find Cheap Plane Tickets
  • How To Travel From Chiang Mai To White Temple
  • Wat Rong Khun White Temple In Chiang Rai | Everything You Need To Know

© 2019 ensquaredaired. Unless specified, all photographs and content published on this blog are created by enSquaredAired & Co. Please ask for permission, give full credit, and link back to this site if you wish to share or use any content or photographs

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy