Hi,

My family of 5 (Spouse+ 6 year old kid and parents 80+ years old) are traveling to Vietnam. We are there first week of November. I have a few questions:
1) Would it be possible to hire a taxi from Hanoi to take us to Ninh Binh, take us around sightseeing in Ninh Binh and then drop us off at Halong Bay. Would you recommend that we book transport separately for each leg or is it possible to hire one taxi for the entire duration.
2) Would you recommend staying closer to the sites in Ninh Binh or is it ok to stay on the outskirts where we can enjoy nature.
3) Should we stay 2 nights in Ninh Binh and head to Halong bay in the morning to catch our cruise or would you suggest we stay in Halong Bay for the night and catch our cruise the next morning.

Thank you.

Ninh Binh really deserves a couple of nights, one full day plus maybe a half day on arrival or departure. Whether you do it before or after Ha long doesn’t really matter- whichever fits with your itinerary. You could do it in a day by taxi but frankly, that would be v rushed.
Given the make up of your group, a private tour to NB which then drops you off at your cruise would be the most convenient and cost effective option. We have used Ethnic Travel a couple of time in the past and have been pleased. Your accommodation in Hanoi may also be able to source something for you.

here is a link to our blog covering such visit to NB which will give you some idea of what to expect. https://accidentalnomads.com/2014/12...d-kingfishers/

We stayed in town but in hindsight, that was a mistake. If on a tour I would try and find a nice Homestay out in th country.

Thank you for the information. Would you know if Halong Bay is worth staying at if the need arises?

I confess Halong Bay is not high on my list of top places to visit in Vietnam ( Bai Tu long and LAN Ha Bays are nicer and more pristine IMO if you want to explore that area. I wouldn’t recommend Halong City as a place to stay

Ninh Binh demands at least two dyas, so it is better you do Hanoi-Ninh binh by day train + taxi NB-TC 8 km, and hire a taxi to do Ninh Binh-Haiphong + speed boat Haiphong-Cat Ba Islanf.

?any agencies offer Halong Bay. One of the very best is Oriental Bridge Travel; Open
www.orientalbridgetravel.com
and click on all te links "Halong"

1. Public transports are avail but they don't speak much English. Carefully of a taxi, you'd better discuss the price clearly or you will be shockingly surprised at the end of the trip
2. Staying near the site of Ninh Binh is better, as you may find something else to do if you are bored
3. Head to Ha Long in the morning, unless you want to do something or just want to relax then staying in Ha Long for a night is the better option.

1)Would it be possible to hire a taxi from Hanoi to take us to Ninh Binh, take us around sightseeing in Ninh Binh and then drop us off at Halong Bay. Would you recommend that we book transport separately for each leg or is it possible to hire one taxi for the entire duration.
--> You can hire a local driver but would recommend to stay in Ninh Binh for at least 1 full day. There are plenty of activities you can enjoy and it'll be a shame to rush through it. It's also a great place to relax and just enjoy the magnificent views. I recommend doing the Trang An Boat tour.

2) Would you recommend staying closer to the sites in Ninh Binh or is it ok to stay on the outskirts where we can enjoy nature.
--> There are two areas you can stay at: Tam Coc and Trang An. Stay in Tam Coc if you want to within walking distance to most restaurants. Stay in Trang An if you prefer a more quiet and relaxed atmosphere. The views are magnificent and you can always call a taxi to drop you off anywhere for around $4 each way.

3) Should we stay 2 nights in Ninh Binh and head to Halong bay in the morning to catch our cruise or would you suggest we stay in Halong Bay for the night and catch our cruise the next morning.
--> Halong Cruises normally starts around 12 to 1 pm. There's not much to do in the area so would recommend taking a morning taxi to Halong instea.

I do not know any hotel in Trang An, which is a large river boating site with no charm whatsoever developed for the Asian masses; the best boating site is by far the Tam Coc one, to do in the morning or after 15:30 to avoid the groups from Hanoi

A taxi will cost you A LOT, for it has to drive back to Halong. Take a bus.(2:30 trip)