Ninh Binh - an ideal weekend getaway destination.

With its proximity to Hanoi and diverse range of scenic attractions, Ninh Binh is becoming a top choice for many tourists seeking a weekend getaway.

Tourists enjoy the experience of kayaking in Hoa Lu Ancient Town.

From early Saturday morning, tourist buses from various provinces lined up heading towards Ninh Binh. Tourist destinations such as Trang An, Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Mua Cave, and Van Long Eco-tourism Area became significantly busier. Mr. Tran Huu Lam (a tourist from Hanoi) said: “Ninh Binh is always my family's number one choice when we want to find a relaxing weekend getaway. The scenery is beautiful, transportation is quick, the service is friendly, and the food is very much to our liking.”

In recent years, Ninh Binh has invested heavily in infrastructure, services, and tourism products, making its destinations increasingly attractive. Ms. Do Thi Thu Ly, Deputy Director of the Mua Cave Tourist Area, stated: "The number of visitors on weekends always accounts for about 30-40% of the total number of visitors during the week. Besides ensuring service quality, the tourist area focuses on enhancing the visitor experience."

Accordingly, in addition to mountain climbing and taking photos with lotus flowers, tourists can also participate in activities such as cooking with locals, picking lotus flowers, making lotus tea, enjoying tea, and embroidery... Therefore, tourists have the opportunity to better understand the local culture, history, and people, making their trip more meaningful.

Not only tourist attractions, but accommodation services in Ninh Binh also recorded a surge in visitors on weekends. According to surveys, many hotels, especially homestays in the provincial center and the Trang An and Tam Coc eco-tourism areas, often reach occupancy rates of 80-95% on Saturdays and Sundays.

According to Mr. Tran Van Hiep, representative of Tam Coc Center Luxury Hotel (formerly Ninh Hai commune, now Nam Hoa Lu ward), the hotel opened in early 2025 with nearly 40 modernly equipped rooms that still harmonize with the rural landscape and are close to nature. In recent years, the trend of tourists visiting for sightseeing, relaxation, and health rejuvenation has increased, so the hotel is always fully booked.

“Weekend bookings are usually fully booked by the middle of the week. The segment of group and family travelers on short trips accounts for a large percentage. We have implemented many service packages such as breakfast buffets with local specialties, resort packages that include sightseeing and traditional craft village experiences to best serve the needs of tourists,” Mr. Hiep said.

To enhance its appeal, Ninh Binh continuously innovates its tourism products. Besides sightseeing in natural landscapes, many travel agencies have partnered with local communities to organize experiential tours: cycling through the countryside, kayaking, participating in cooking classes, exploring traditional crafts, and enjoying local cuisine. Furthermore, tourist areas are also promoting resort services, spas, hot spring baths, and music shows to attract a diverse range of visitors.

Tourists visiting the Trang An Eco-tourism Area.

In particular, the merger of the three provinces of Ninh Binh (formerly), Ha Nam, and Nam Dinh has opened up vast opportunities and space to promote local tourism development. This has also made the new Ninh Binh province more attractive for weekend tourism.

According to Vu Duc Tung, a tour guide in Hanoi: “Ninh Binh's appeal lies in its ability to satisfy both leisure and exploration travelers. With its diverse natural and cultural resources, we can easily design 2-day, 1-night tour packages that combine sightseeing, boating, swimming, mountain climbing, and entertainment with cultural and historical experiences and relaxation amidst nature.”

Mr. Lai Ba Bon, Director of Hoang Anh Hotel in Thinh Long commune, shared that the hotel currently has 60 guest rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, and a restaurant area. During peak summer weekends, occupancy sometimes reaches over 90%. However, this busy period usually only lasts for a few summer months. Therefore, we hope that the merger will help localities complement each other's tourism products so that tourism activities can be more balanced.

Ninh Binh tourism, like many other localities, has historically faced the challenge of seasonality, meaning it's only vibrant during certain periods of the year. However, in recent years, Ninh Binh tourism has witnessed a breakthrough transformation, fundamentally overcoming seasonality and building itself into a "four-season destination" with many unique and attractive tourism products throughout the year. In particular, the number of visitors to Ninh Binh on weekends is very high, with hotel occupancy rates often exceeding 70%.

According to the Department of Tourism, with its favorable location, well-connected transportation system, and diverse tourism products, Ninh Binh has the potential to become a major weekend tourism center in the North. The industry has identified the development of weekend tourism as an important direction, taking advantage of its proximity to major economic centers. Accommodation businesses, restaurants, and tourist areas regularly organize staff training to improve service quality.

Weekend trips to Ninh Binh not only satisfy tourists' needs for relaxation and exploration but also contribute to boosting the local economy and improving the lives of the people. With its beautiful natural scenery, unique cultural heritage, diverse cuisine, and professional services, Ninh Binh deserves to be an ideal destination for weekend getaways.

Minh Hai

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/ninh-binh-diem-den-ly-tuong-vao-dip-cuoi-tuan-943667.htm