Timetable checked on October 21, 2026
Hanoi to Ninh Binh by train
A short ride south of Hanoi: 115 km in 2h 08m to 2h 16m to Ninh Binh station, the gateway to Trang An, Tam Coc and Hoa Lu. Comfortable seats, few departures in the middle of the day.
- Journey time
- 2h 08m to 2h 16m
- Departures
- 9 a day
- First / last
- 06:00 / 21:45
- From
- ₫210,000
- Distance
- 115 km
Hanoi Station (Ga Hà Nội) → Ninh Binh Station (Ga Ninh Bình)
The short answer
The official timetable lists 9 trains a day from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, between 06:00 and 21:45, all of them long-distance North–South trains that stop on the way; the trip takes 2h 08m to 2h 16m. The early-morning departures are the useful ones for a visit: they arrive mid-morning, and an afternoon train brings you back in the evening. A soft seat is enough for two hours. From Ninh Binh station, Trang An and Tam Coc are a short taxi or Grab ride away.
- FastestSE17 at 20:25, arrives 22:33 (2h 08m)
- CheapestSoft seat, air-conditioned from ₫210,000 (≈ $8)
- Think twiceSE1 arrives at 00:00, in the middle of the night
Timetable Hanoi → Ninh Binh
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE76-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 06:00 | 08:13 | 2h 13m | ₫210,000≈ $8 | Book |
| SE54-berth | 08:00 | 10:13 | 2h 13m | ₫370,000≈ $15 | Book |
| SE96-berth · 4-berth | 13:00 | 15:14 | 2h 14m | ₫370,000≈ $15 | Book |
| SE23 | 14:15 | 16:29 | 2h 14m | — | Book |
| SE36-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 19:20 | 21:33 | 2h 13m | ₫220,000≈ $9 | Book |
| SE19 | 19:45 | 21:54 | 2h 09m | — | Book |
| SE17Soft seat | 20:25 | 22:33 | 2h 08m | — | Book |
| SE11 | 20:40 | 22:56 | 2h 16m | — | Book |
| SE1Night trainSoft seat | 21:45 | 00:00+1 day | 2h 15m | ₫220,000≈ $9 | Book |
Timetable Ninh Binh → Hanoi
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE4 | 02:14 | 04:36 | 2h 22m | — | Book |
| SE24-berth | 03:24 | 05:42 | 2h 18m | ₫320,000≈ $13 | Book |
| SE24 | 06:29 | 09:35 | 3h 06m | — | Book |
| SE12 | 07:12 | 10:10 | 2h 58m | — | Book |
| SE204-berth · VIP 2-berth | 08:18 | 11:10 | 2h 52m | ₫340,000≈ $14 | Book |
| SE18Soft seat · 4-berth | 11:29 | 14:10 | 2h 41m | — | Book |
| SE86-berth · 4-berth | 13:59 | 16:20 | 2h 21m | ₫280,000≈ $11 | Book |
| SE6 | 16:55 | 19:14 | 2h 19m | — | Book |
Official Vietnam Railways (VNR) times for Thursday, November 12, 2026, checked on October 21, 2026; 12Go fares checked the same day. Times change at Tết and during engineering works: the booking page always shows the live timetable.
Fares by class
| Class | VNR fare | 12Go, from |
|---|---|---|
| Soft seat, air-conditioned | — | ₫210,000≈ $8 |
| Hard sleeper, 6 berths | — | ₫370,000≈ $15 |
| Soft sleeper, 4 berths | — | ₫370,000≈ $15 |
VNR fares: best carriages, compiled from dsvn.vn by seat61 (June 10, 2026); a lower berth costs a little more than an upper one. 12Go prices include its service fee and were checked on October 21, 2026. Amounts in other currencies are indicative.
Stations and connections
Trains leave from Hanoi Station (Ga Hà Nội), main building on Lê Duẩn street; arrive half an hour early, as the train only stops briefly in Ninh Binh and you must be in the right carriage.
Ninh Binh station (Ga Ninh Bình) is in the city, not in the countryside you come to see: Trang An, Tam Coc and Hoa Lu are a few kilometres away, a short taxi or Grab ride; many hotels in Tam Coc arrange a pick-up.
Going back, 8 trains leave Ninh Binh for Hanoi between 02:14 and 16:55: the night departures arrive in Hanoi before dawn, the daytime ones are easier.
Train or bus?
Limousine vans are the main competitor: they pick you up in Hanoi's Old Quarter and drop you at your hotel in Tam Coc or Trang An in about two hours, with no transfer at either end. The train is the cheaper and calmer option, and the better one if you are staying in Ninh Binh city or travelling on south.
Booking tips
- Outside the holidays, a soft sleeper is usually easy to find a few days ahead; book one to two weeks ahead for a weekend, and as soon as sales open for Tết (late January or February) and the 30 April – 1 May holiday.
- Tickets are e-tickets: keep the PDF or the QR code on your phone with your passport, which staff can ask to see.
- Children aged 0 to 4 travel free, children aged 5 to 9 get 25% off and children from 10 pay the full fare (seat61, from the Vietnam Railways rules).
- Luggage goes under the lower berths or in the space above the compartment door; keep valuables with you at night.
Where to buy
- 12Go: English interface, foreign cards, Vietnam Railways seats and private carriages in one search; a service fee is included in the price.
- Trip.com also sells Vietnam Railways tickets (and fewer private carriages than 12Go), with a discount code for a first booking. Trip.com train code (TRIPTRAIN5P, −5 %)
- dsvn.vn, the official Vietnam Railways site: the cheapest, but less easy to use from abroad.
- At the station ticket office: cash in dong, often no English; fine a few days ahead outside the holidays.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
Between 2h 08m and 2h 16m, depending on the train. The fastest is SE17, which leaves Hanoi Station at 20:25 and arrives at 22:33.
How much is a train ticket from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
On 12Go, prices start at ₫210,000 (≈ $8) for soft seat, air-conditioned (fee included, checked on October 21, 2026). A berth in a 4-berth soft sleeper costs more.
Is there a night train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh?
Not a useful one: the trip takes about two hours, so the evening trains reach Ninh Binh late at night. Take a morning train if you want to make the most of the day.
Can I book the Hanoi to Ninh Binh train online?
Yes. 12Go and Trip.com accept foreign cards and send an e-ticket; the official site dsvn.vn is cheaper but less easy to use from abroad. Book early for weekends and holidays.
Train or limousine van to Ninh Binh?
The limousine van is door to door, from your Hanoi hotel to your Tam Coc homestay, in about two hours. The train is cheaper and more comfortable, but leaves from Hanoi Station and arrives in Ninh Binh city, so add a taxi at each end.
Is Ninh Binh station close to Tam Coc and Trang An?
Not on foot. The station is in Ninh Binh city; Trang An, Tam Coc and Hoa Lu are a few kilometres away, a short taxi or Grab ride.
Can I do a day trip from Hanoi by train?
Yes: take an early-morning departure, which arrives in Ninh Binh mid-morning, and an afternoon train back, which reaches Hanoi in the evening. Check both directions in the timetables below and book both tickets in advance.
How we compile these timetables
Times come from the official Vietnam Railways timetable (giotaugiave.dsvn.vn) for one travel date, cross-checked with the 12Go booking engine; private carriages, ratings and "from" prices were read on 12Go the same day. We update the page after each new check and show the date at the top. We do not copy reviews: ratings are 12Go's, dated.
- Vietnam Railways official timetable, giotaugiave.dsvn.vn (travel date Thursday, November 12, 2026, checked on October 21, 2026)
- 12Go booking engine, train results (travel date Thursday, November 12, 2026, checked on October 21, 2026)
- seat61.com, Vietnam page, fares compiled from dsvn.vn (updated June 10, 2026)
Booking links go to our partner 12Go; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes the times or prices shown.
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