jandanielj2026
Sep 2026
Experience
Great experience with the assist pf ms Evie and Stella
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TripadvisorNinh Binh & Tam Coc Boat Ride
4.9 on Tripadvisor Licensed international tour operator What makes Meetup different
This journey is real. Yours will be your own version of it.
Ninh Binh is what Ha Long Bay would look like if you drained the sea and planted rice. The same limestone towers, the same still water threading between them, except here the water is a river a metre deep and the boats are rowed by hand, often by women rowing with their feet.
Three days is enough to stop rushing it. The first is inland and historical, at the tenth-century capital of Hoa Lu, with an afternoon on bicycles through villages of lotus ponds and grazing buffalo. The second belongs to the water and the view above it. The third is Trang An, the quietest of the three, where the channels widen and the grottoes run long enough that you sit in darkness before the next opening of green water and sky.
At a glance · this journey as it runs
Duration
3 days, 2 nights
Departs any day, year roundDestinations
1 stops, 16 spots
Ninh BinhTour pace
Slow
Physical rating
Easy
Getting around
Private van
Can be reworked overland if you would rather not flyBest season
Late May to early June for golden rice, February to April for green paddies and mist
Indicative from
From USD 240 per person
Route
Hanoi→Hoa Lu→Tam Coc→Trang An→Hanoi
Ninh Binh sits about 100km south of Hanoi, close enough that most people come for a day and leave before they have seen anything properly. Three days is the difference. It opens at Hoa Lu, capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010 before the court moved north to what became Hanoi, where two temples stand on the palace ground among limestone peaks. The second day is spent on the Ngo Dong River at Tam Coc, rowed through three cave tunnels with paddy on both banks, then up five hundred steps at Mua Cave for the view back over all of it. The last morning is Trang An, wider and stiller, a UNESCO landscape of flooded channels threading through the karst. One hotel, one boat a day, and no hurry.
About this trip
Ninh Binh is Vietnam's most dramatic inland escape - a province of towering limestone karsts, emerald rivers, and centuries-old temples that once served as the country's imperial capital. This 3-day journey takes you deep into that landscape, trading city noise for the gentle splash of oars, birdsong over rice paddies, and the cool shadow of stone cliffs rising on every side. From the ancient dynastic temples of Hoa Lu to the UNESCO-listed waterways of Trang An, every stop carries genuine historical and natural weight.
What sets this tour apart is the unhurried pace and the variety of ways you experience the scenery - by rowboat through cave tunnels at Tam Coc, on foot up 500 stone steps to the Mua Cave summit, by bicycle through quiet village lanes, and by boat again through the grotto-threaded channels of Trang An. Bich Dong Pagoda, built into three levels of a cliff face, closes the journey on a contemplative note before the easy 2-hour drive back to Hanoi. Small group size and private transport mean you move on your own schedule throughout.
The journey, day by day
Written out the way it runs, so nothing is left to your imagination. Read it, note the days you would keep and the ones you would skip, and a local expert reshapes the rest around you.
Your guide picks you up from Hanoi in the morning for a comfortable 2-hour drive south through the Red River Delta, rice fields gradually giving way to the dramatic limestone peaks that define Ninh Binh province. On arrival, the first stop is Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, the seat of two Vietnamese dynasties - the Dinh and Early Le - during the 10th and 11th centuries. Two temple complexes stand here, dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang and Emperor Le Dai Hanh, their red lacquered columns and stone carvings half-wrapped in the roots of centuries-old trees.
- Walk the shaded courtyard of Dinh Temple, built where the royal palace once stood
- Explore Le Temple with its intricately carved wooden panels and historical relics
- Learn how these emperors unified Vietnam's fragmented kingdoms in the 10th century
In the afternoon, there is the option to rent bicycles and pedal quietly through the surrounding villages - a low-rise world of lotus ponds, grazing water buffalo, and farmers returning from the fields. Dinner is served at a local restaurant where you settle in for the night and let the karst silhouettes cool in the last of the light.
Highlight
Ancient stone temples rise against jagged limestone peaks at Hoa Lu, where Vietnam's first imperial dynasties held court over a thousand years ago.
What this journey includes
This covers the journey as written above. Once your version is set, your local expert confirms in writing exactly what sits inside your quote and what does not, before anything is agreed.
What our guests say
X8813HNstevenc
Oct 2026
Money well spent to save a lot of time and peace of mind
I had a wonderful experience with Meetup Travel. The time saved and the peace of mine maintained during my first trip to Vietnam were truly impressive. It was also great interacting with my contact, Hazel Nguyen, was very kind and reassuring throughout the process. Whereas other people waited on multiple lines for quite a while, the combined time of my immigration and exit processes was less than half an hour. That just can’t be beat nowadays. Thank you again.
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Global46789095293
Oct 2026
All in one experience by amazing people of Meetup !!!
Hello 👋 team !!! We bid adieu to Vietnam🇻🇳 with tons of memories and good moments spent !!! 😍🫶 A big big thank you and shout out for all the team members who worked in making our trip smooth and memorable!!! Much appreciated 👏👏 @Hynnee Meetup : you were and are amazing from the starting discussion we had !!! 🤝👏👏 @~Krystal Meetup : Meetup is blessed to have you as an employee; your updates and recommendations were precise, detailed and up to the mark !!!! 🤝👏👏 You never hesitated for any questions of ours !!!! 🌟🌿✨ You guys made our bdays spl by sending such awesome and colorful cakes 🎂 for us !!! 🔝 notch 👌😎👍 Much love Overall an excellent customer experience and service from you guys !!! Well done and much deserved appreciation for you guys !!!! 🤝👌✨🌟👏 You shd convey this message and feedback to your management and the CEO !!!!
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Tripadvisor
yosit257
Sep 2026
Vietnam Travel
We had a very pleasant experience during our visit to Vietnam, thanks to the help of Mèetup Travel especially Hana and Hazel who always available answering any questions pre and during travle time. 100% would recommend Hazel and Hana for Vietnam travel.
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Tripadvisor
D8329HFgerardn
Oct 2026
Wonderful memories 😁
Meet up arranged my travel to Sapa - Hanoi last Sept 20 - 26. My experience was wonderful as they took care of everything w/c was mucg appreciated especially for a person with mobility problem like me (PWD). A limousine van was arranged to fetch me at Noi Bai Airport to Sapa. They assigned a wonderful tour guide for me,. What made it even better is that Krystal & Lynna & the rest of the team is always ready to assist me every time i need one. The tour they areanged gave me a very memorable one. And these beautiful ladies make sure to visit me on my hotel in Hanoi w/c was much appreciated. Overall, you’ll never go wrong with Meetup 😁
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406iil
Oct 2026
Highly recommend Meetup Travel
Highly recommend Meetup Travel for stress free Vietnam trip. From the very first day, the team is very responsive, and genuinely helpful in. They set our itinerary to our interests and pace. Every Transfer, Hotel, Guide, and Activity was arranged smoothly.
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Tripadvisor
Vinay781
Oct 2026
Awesome visit with the awesomeness of Meetup Travel
We recently travelled to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, with our daughter and had a wonderful experience, thanks to the excellent planning and support provided by Meet Up Travel, Vietnam. From the initial planning to the execution of the trip, everything was handled very efficiently and professionally. The itinerary was well planned, the arrangements were smooth, and the overall experience was comfortable and enjoyable for the entire family. A special mention to Rosie and Hazel, who were extremely supportive, responsive and efficient throughout our trip. They were always available to clarify our questions, address any concerns and ensure that everything went smoothly. Their attention to detail and willingness to help made a significant difference, particularly while travelling with a child. We truly appreciate the efforts of the entire Meet Up Travel team and would happily recommend them to anyone planning a holiday in Vietnam. Our Phu Quoc trip created some wonderful family memories, and Meet Up Travel played an important role in making it a hassle-free and enjoyable experience. Thank you, Rosie, Hazel and the entire Meet Up Travel team for a fantastic experience!
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215swapnils
Oct 2026
Meticulously planned, genuinely caring – highly recommend!
We just returned from a wonderful 10-day trip across Vietnam with Meetup Travel, covering Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Da Nang and Hoi An. From the start, Yvonne and Danny understood our requirements really well, including our vegetarian and Jain dietary needs, and planned everything meticulously at the right price. Once the trip began, their team (Krystal, Chloe, Stella, Kim and others) was always there to make adjustments and resolve last-minute issues quickly. They genuinely cared and even arranged some lovely surprises for us along the way. The tour guides were amazing, and our guide in Sapa, Ms May Lan, was exceptional. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Vietnam and would highly recommend Meetup Travel to anyone planning a visit.
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TripadvisorVinay781
Oct 2026
Awesome visit with the awesomeness of Meetup Travel
We recently travelled to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, with our daughter and had a wonderful experience, thanks to the excellent planning and support provided by Meet Up Travel, Vietnam. From the initial planning to the execution of the trip, everything was handled very efficiently and professionally. The itinerary was well planned, the arrangements were smooth, and the overall experience was comfortable and enjoyable for the entire family. A special mention to Rosie and Hazel, who were extremely supportive, responsive and efficient throughout our trip. They were always available to clarify our questions, address any concerns and ensure that everything went smoothly. Their attention to detail and willingness to help made a significant difference, particularly while travelling with a child. We truly appreciate the efforts of the entire Meet Up Travel team and would happily recommend them to anyone planning a holiday in Vietnam. Our Phu Quoc trip created some wonderful family memories, and Meet Up Travel played an important role in making it a hassle-free and enjoyable experience. Thank you, Rosie, Hazel and the entire Meet Up Travel team for a fantastic experience!
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Tripadvisor
574sharikar
Sep 2026
Family trip to Vietnam
We had a wonderful experience booking our Vietnam trip with the Meetup Travel. From the very beginning, they were extremely supportive, responsive, and helpful throughout the entire journey. Everything was well coordinated, and we truly enjoyed a memorable trip. Coming to Macao, she was the very first person we contacted when we made our initial enquiry. From that first conversation until the end of our trip, the entire journey was absolutely beautiful. She understood what we were looking for, guided us patiently, and made sure everything was taken care of. Another brilliant service from Stellah which is unforgettable. She had gone all the way out to help us and make sure we were comfortable ❤️ We are truly grateful for all the support and care . Highly recommended Meetup Travel for your Vietnam trip
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Tripadvisor
FarrahSM
Oct 2026
Amazing Service
Meetup planned a flawless trip for my mother and I. Grace, Kim & Stella handled every detail with care and professionalism. Truly amazing service, highly recommend.
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Tripadvisor
juanpaulon717
Oct 2026
Nostalgic
A Very Nostalgic Experience! ✨ I didn’t expect this tour to have such a positive impact on my overall well-being. Meeting the organizers made the experience even more enjoyable, as they were all cheerful and welcoming. I’m very satisfied with the services they provided, and I truly appreciate the hospitality of the tour guides. They were all accommodating and responsive to my questions about the places we visited. Overall, it was a memorable and worthwhile experience! I highly recommend their services to anyone planning a vacation. Thank you for making this tour such a wonderful experience! ❤️✈️
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Tripadvisor
zalinec
Oct 2026
Best team!
Had a great experience with Meet Up Travel! Everything went smoothly and we really appreciate how helpful and accommodating their customer support team was. Special mention to Jennie and Stella for their support and making everything easier. Also, thank you as well to Chloe, Krystal, Hazel, and Kim for assisting us And of course, a big thank you to our tour guide, May 🫶 She was amazing and made our trip even more enjoyable It’s always nice to deal with people who genuinely want to make sure you have a good experience. Thank you Meet Up Travel for taking care of us! Would definitely recommend them and book with them again!
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Tripadvisor
209avad
Oct 2026
100/10 Experience! Highly Recommend Meetup Travel! 🇻🇳❤️
I booked a Ha Long Bay cruise tour for my family through Meetup Travel, and honestly, it was a 100/10 experience! I absolutely loved how well they communicated with me and helped find the best options to fit my needs. Everyone was so professional, thoughtful, and accommodating! I had the chance to meet Xeon in person, and he was such a sweetheart! 🥹 He’s enthusiastic, friendly, patient, and incredibly professional. He even took the time to help us plan our overall trip around Vietnam, despite the fact that I only booked the cruise through them and not the entire tour. He was always happy to help and never made me feel like I was asking for too much. I also had Hazel supporting me throughout the process. Both Xeon and Hazel checked in from time to time to make sure the paperwork went smoothly and that everything was going well with my family and our trip. I genuinely appreciate how much they care. You can really tell that they love what they do and truly want their customers to have the best experience possible. ❤️ The cruise itself was amazing, and I would absolutely love to come back! Everything was well organized, the staff were friendly and professional, and there was even nighttime entertainment, including a traditional clothing show and karaoke. And the food? SO GOOD! 🤣 Even now, my mom is still wondering how they managed to make the shrimp taste THAT good! I would definitely recommend Meetup Travel to foreign tourists visiting Vietnam. Traveling in a new country can sometimes be stressful, especially if you don’t speak Vietnamese, but having a team like this makes such a huge difference. They help take away so much of the stress and make you feel cared for throughout the journey. A huge thank-you to Xeon, Hazel, and the entire team for making this such a memorable experience for my family. You made our trip extra special, and we’re so grateful! If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, definitely give Meetup Travel a try. You won’t regret it! 🥰✨
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Tripadvisorwilliamanthonym2026
Sep 2026
Honeymoon trip!
Meetup have made our holiday such a trip to remember, stress free. Kim, Phoenix and the rest of the team have gone above & beyond to make our honeymoon a dream come true. I so love Vietnam💜 thank you so much!😁💜💜💜
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Tripadvisoryosit257
Sep 2026
Vietnam Travel
We had a very pleasant experience during our visit to Vietnam, thanks to the help of Mèetup Travel especially Hana and Hazel who always available answering any questions pre and during travle time. 100% would recommend Hazel and Hana for Vietnam travel.
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Tripadvisor
Trek63307760434
Sep 2026
Honeymoon holiday
Had the pleasure of Meetup Travel organising our Honeymoon holiday from Hanoi to Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. Phoenix was my first point of contact & he organised our itinerary from beginning to end. We were then introduced to his Team Lead Kim who with the rest of her team carried us through our travels answering all our questions everywhere we went. I would highly recommend Meetup Travel to anyone coming to Vietnam. Thank you Kim & your team for a fantastic first time experience in Vietnam.
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Tripadvisor
N7329DIedwinp
Oct 2026
Vietnam Tour Sept - Oct 2026
Lynna and Stella provided excellent customer experience from Hanoi to Sa Pa and back to Hanoi. We will definitely get Meetup service again. See you again on Feb 2027!
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Tripadvisor
notn160
Oct 2026
BESTTTTTTT
We had a wonderful experience with meetup travel and a special thanks to Jasmine and Hazel for taking such good care of us throughout our trip. Everything was well organized and they were always helpful and responsive. We weren’t happy with our hotel in hanoi but when we shared our concerns they listened to us and arranged a change. The new hotel was much better, and we felt right at home there. We really appreciated how they made us feel comfortable and keep us stress free.
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Tripadvisor
kenaA4170UE
Oct 2026
Absolutely amazing Ninh Binh trip with Meetup Travel.
From the very first contact with Meetup travel I could tell I picked the right travel agency for my Ninh Bihn trip. The itinerary was planned with such detail and any questions I had for my group was answered right away by the Meetup team. Our driver was on time and the VIP limousine was amazing, our driver was very safe and friendly and our tour guide Po was truely amazing, he was very knowledgeable about the local history and spoke very well English and made our small group tour experience wonderful. We visited many temples and the ancient city and the history and culture of Ninh Binh far exceeded my expectations. Such a wonderful peaceful getaway from the city. Really slow pace where you can just enjoy the day and not have to worry about a single thing. For lunch we were taken to a beautiful lunch where we had endless options of local Ninh bihn dishes to try. They were very accommodating for the other guests special dietary needs and everything was amazing. After lunch we did an embroidery workshop that I absolutely loved "more then unanticipated even" was great to slow down and create something to take home to have the memories forever. The highlight of the trip for me personally war the boat tour to finish the day off. What an absolutely stunning boat trip! Words cannot describe what a perfect day Meetup travel pulled off for our personal Ninh Bihn group. Amazing team , will see you guys next year! Thanks Meetup Travel and especially Po!
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TripadvisorIs this journey a good starting point for you?
The honest version
The golden rice season at Tam Coc lasts about two weeks and cannot be booked around loosely. If those photographs are the reason you are coming, tell Meetup Travel and the dates will be set to the harvest rather than the month.
A good starting point if you are
- Anyone who has seen the day-trip version of Ninh Binh and wants the real one. Three days means the boats can be taken at first light instead of at noon with everyone else, and there is time for the bicycles, the villages and the pagodas that day-trippers skip. Good for photographers, for couples, and for families with children who like being on the water.
Say so early if you
- If you want nightlife, shopping or a resort, Ninh Binh has none of them. Evenings here are quiet by nature. The Mua Cave climb is also genuinely steep, though it is entirely optional and the day works without it.
The next step asks for real detail. Your dates, who is travelling, how you like to move, what you would change about this route. It takes a few minutes to fill in, because a local expert writes your itinerary from those answers rather than sending you a file. Nothing is booked or charged at this stage.
Before you get in touch
The golden rice season at Tam Coc peaks in the last week of May and the first week of June, and lasts roughly two weeks. Tam Coc has only one ripening per year, unlike most of northern Vietnam, so there is no second golden window in autumn. Farmers cut the crop within days of it ripening, so timing matters more here than almost anywhere else in Vietnam.
Ninh Binh province runs the Golden Colours of Tam Coc tourism week to coincide with it, including large murals planted into the paddy and visible from the Mua Cave viewpoint. Outside that window the fields are vivid green from February to April, freshly planted and reflective in midsummer, and fallow in winter. Meetup Travel sets departure dates against the harvest rather than the calendar month for travellers who want the gold.
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