Understanding Ninh Binh Tour Rates and How Much Cash to Bring
You are searching for a tour to Ninh Binh but see multiple tour options with different rates. They go on the same routes but the price varies, from cheap tours to medium and expensive tours. If you find it hard to compare the differences between them, this post is for you. In this blog post, we explore why there are differences in Ninh Binh tour cost, and what element to look at to compare the quality. Besides, Aloha Vietnam Travel presents tips for Ninh Binh's travel budget, emphasising how much cash to bring and where to exchange money in Tam Coc, Ninh Binh.
Different tour rates in Ninh Binh, why?
When searching for a Ninh Binh Tour, you will find many local tour operators offer daily tours to Ninh Binh. It’s normal because Ninh Binh is a peaceful land, famous for its natural and historical sites such as Tam Coc, Trang An, Dragon Mountain, Hoa Lu Temple and Bai Dinh Pagoda…etc. Many international tourists come to Ninh Binh during your trip to Northern Vietnam. The high demand leads to an increase in the number of local suppliers.
Among them, some were established a long time ago, some are new. Experienced travel agents might have better rates cause they built their network and their volume attracts many service providers, so they can negotiate better tour costs. They set the price based on the tour cost.
On the other hand, new travel agents reduce the price to attract new customers, they need to keep the price lower to get the price competitive. If you are lucky, you can buy tours during their campaign. However, it happens in special events only.
The second point is that a travel agent specialising in the Ninh Binh tour has more competitive advantages. You might find a big company with many branches and many tours in different regions of Vietnam. However, their rates can be higher than smaller companies that focus on just Ninh Binh.
Ninh Binh tour price differences also because of the difference in service quality. The meal standard, the transport quality, the tour group size, types of accommodation, company branding, attractions included in tours… All affect on the tour price. Therefore, don’t just check the tour price, check the detailed itinerary, inclusion and exclusion part to see the difference.
What factors to compare?
Before you book a tour, consider these factors:
The company branding
Company branding is so important for a good tour. Some locals sell Tam Coc, and Trang An tours at a promising price. In fact, they don’t have company registrations, which means nothing guarantees when you book the tour, for instance, the travel insurance, the tour quality, or even the scam.
Experienced travel agents are always a safe choice because they know how to run a good trip and to deal with problems happen during the tour. Not usually but there is still potential for accidents, especially for tours with outdoor activities in Ninh Binh: biking, mountain climbing, and boat riding. Join a tour when you are worried making your trip unenjoyable.
Tour Inclusion & Exclusion
Always check out what is included in the tour. Some tour seems cheaper but when you look into the details, you will see they exclude the entrance tickets, tips for the guide, transport fee… Or there are some optional in the tour package and when you add all, the total is a significant number.
Level of Service
Tours with 4-star hotels of course have better prices than tours with 3-star options. Before booking a tour, it’s you are not sure, you should ask about:
- Transport: a local bus or a limousine car
- Group size: how many people join in the tour. A tour with a smaller group size optimizes your experience but might cost more.
- Type of accommodation: you can check the hotel/homestay name and quality.
- Entrance fee: all attractions included.
- Cancellation and children policy: check the policy in case of you have kids or your schedule can change.
- Meals in tour: Is it a buffet or set menu meal? How much for a meal/person/day?
- Activities included: Does your tour have biking, boat riding or not?
- Pick up and drop off point: almost every tour offers free pick up in the Old Quarter area, you must check. If you stay outside this area, ask for the closest pick-up point or an extra pickup fee.
- Season: peak seasons are always more expensive than low seasons.
After you have enough information, choose the tour that best suits your budget and preferences.
Reviewed from other guests
You should check their website, their Facebook page or look in the OTA such as Tripadvisor and GetYourGuide to see reviews from previous customers.
How to book a tour to Ninh Binh: Compare the Price, Online Websites, Travel Agents and Reviews
How much money for Ninh Binh
How much for a Ninh Binh Tour?
The cost of a Ninh Binh tour can vary widely depending on other factors: tour duration, and season. Ninh Binh day tours typically cost between $50-$80, while 2-day, 1-night tours range from $150-$190 per person.
Check our tour offer for more reference:
How much cash to bring to Ninh Binh?
How much cash to bring to Ninh Binh?
Any other extra cost I need to pay during the tour?
Ninh Binh is the countryside. It’s available to use cash instead of a card. Vietnamese dong is preferred. If you use USD dollors, it’s fine but they can refuse old banknotes.
You use cash to buy water, snacks, souvenirs, and for toilet. You should use small denominations (5,000đ; 10,000đ; 20,000đ; 50,000đ; 100,000đ or USD 1,2,5,10)because the locals don't have much money on hand to give you change.
If you book a full tour package, you don’t need to bring too much cash. All included just a small amount for your personal expense. Souvenirs in Ninh Binh are cheap.
Credit card is accepted in large restaurants, hotels or shopping centres, but usually charge around 3% payment fee.
Where to exchange money in Ninh Binh
Is it easy to exchange money in Ninh Binh?
While Ninh Bình is a popular tourist destination, it's still considered a more rural area compared to major cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. This means that your options for exchanging money or making payments might be limited. You should exchange the money in Hanoi for more convenience.
If you need to withdraw cash from an ATM, be aware that there might be fees charged by both the bank and the ATM operator. It’s also hard to find active ATMs in this area.
Where to exchange money in Tam Coc Ninh Binh?
In Tam Coc, your best options for exchanging money include:
- Hotels and Guesthouses: Many accommodations offer currency exchange services, though rates may not be the best.
- Local guides: Local guide usually has local currency. You can exchange with him. Or if not, you might still ask him where to exchange money, as he knows the area well and can direct you to the most reliable options. He can also help you with any language barriers.
Overall, learning more about Ninh Binh tour rates helps you make informed choices for your travel budget. From the above guide, hope you can compare different tour aspects and know how much cash to bring for a smooth trip.
For more tour options and detailed travel guides, check out our website at Aloha Vietnam Travel.
Read more:
Things must know before taking a Ninh Binh tour: Ninh Binh Travel Guide
