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Things to Do in Bac Ninh (2026)
Begin your visit at the historic Bac Ninh Citadel, a well-preserved fortress dating back to the Ly Dynasty. Located at 1 Ly Thai To Street, the site offers a glimpse i… 🏛️ Start at Bac Ninh Citadel
Begin your visit at the historic Bac Ninh Citadel, a well-preserved fortress dating back to the Ly Dynasty. Located at 1 Ly Thai To Street, the site offers a glimpse into the region's military and cultural history. Admission is free, and it's open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
🎭 Experience Quan Ho Folk Singing
Bac Ninh is the birthplace of Quan Ho, a UNESCO-recognized folk music tradition. Catch a live performance at the Bac Ninh Cultural Center (2 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street) on weekends, or visit a local village like Lim during the Lim Festival (held annually in January or February). Many performances are free, but donations are appreciated.
🏯 Explore Dau Pagoda
Dau Pagoda, one of Vietnam's oldest pagodas, is located in Thuan Thanh District, about 30 minutes from the city center. Built in the 3rd century, it features ancient statues and a serene courtyard. Entry is free, and it's open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
🛍️ Shop at Bac Ninh Night Market
Every Saturday and Sunday evening, the Bac Ninh Night Market comes alive along Nguyen Van Cu Street. You'll find local handicrafts, souvenirs, and street food like banh cuon (steamed rice rolls). Prices are negotiable, and the market runs from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
🍜 Taste Local Specialties
Don't miss banh phu te (a savory rice cake with pork and mushrooms) at Quan An Ngon on Tran Phu Street, or try com (green sticky rice) at a stall near the market. Meals cost around 30,000-50,000 VND. For a sit-down experience, visit Nha Hang Huong Sen at 12 Ly Thai To Street.
🚲 Cycle Through Villages
Rent a bicycle from your hotel or a local shop (about 50,000 VND per day) and explore the countryside. Ride to Phu Lang village, known for its pottery, or Dong Ho village, famous for traditional folk paintings. The flat terrain makes for easy cycling, and you'll pass rice paddies and ancient temples.
🌳 Relax at Hoa Binh Park
Hoa Binh Park, located at the intersection of Ly Thai To and Nguyen Van Cu Streets, is a green oasis in the city center. It's perfect for a morning walk or an afternoon picnic. The park is free and open 24 hours, but it's best visited before 10:00 AM to avoid the heat.
🎉 Attend a Local Festival
Bac Ninh hosts numerous festivals throughout the year, with the Lim Festival (January or February) being the most famous. It features Quan Ho singing competitions, folk games, and a bustling fair. Check local listings for exact dates, as most festivals are free to attend.
I've been to the night market a few times and it's worth timing your visit for the food stalls near the Nguyen Van Cu entrance. The banh cuon there is consistently good, but I'd also grab some nem chua ran (fried fermented pork rolls) from the lady with the blue cart, she's been there for years and her batch is always fresh. For the citadel, if you go around 4 PM the light is nicer for photos and it's less crowded.
ngl the quan ho singing is the real highlight here but you gotta go to a village performance not the cultural center. i went to a random one in hoai thi village last year and the locals invited me for tea after, it was way more authentic than the staged thing downtown. also for food, skip the tourist spots on tran phu and hit the little alley off ly thuong kiet around noon, there's a lady who sells bun cha with this insane fish sauce dip, only 25k and she's been doing it since the 90s. the citadel's nice but honestly after 30 mins you've seen it, the real charm is wandering the backstreets near the old market where the houses have those faded yellow walls
the cycle through villages tip is spot on but i'd suggest going to dong ho village in the morning, like 8 or 9 am, because the painters are usually at work then and you can watch them make the folk prints from scratch. they'll sell you a small one for about 20k vnd and it's a nice souvenir that's actually made there, not mass produced. also if you're cycling, the road from the city to phu lang is pretty straightforward but watch for trucks on the main stretch, the side paths are safer
Best Food in Bac Ninh (2026)
Bac Ninh is famous for its bánh phở trộn (mixed rice noodles) and bánh đa cua (crab noodle soup). Don't miss the local specialty bánh tẻ (steamed rice cake filled with pork and… 🍜 Must-Try Dishes
Bac Ninh is famous for its bánh phở trộn (mixed rice noodles) and bánh đa cua (crab noodle soup). Don't miss the local specialty bánh tẻ (steamed rice cake filled with pork and mushrooms). These dishes are widely available at street stalls and markets throughout the city.
🏪 Top Street Food Stalls
For authentic bánh phở trộn, head to Bà Tuyết stall at 12 Nguyễn Đăng Đạo, open 6 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM. Another favorite is Cô Hoa's bánh đa cua at 45 Lý Thái Tổ, serving from 7 AM to 9 PM daily. Prices range from 20,000 to 40,000 VND per bowl.
🍽️ Best Restaurants
Nhà Hàng Hương Sen at 88 Trần Hưng Đạo offers a refined dining experience with local specialties like chả cá Lã Vọng and bánh tẻ, priced 50,000-150,000 VND. For a mid-range option, Quán Ăn Ngon at 15 Huyền Quang serves a variety of northern dishes in a cozy setting, open 10 AM to 10 PM.
🌃 Night Market Eats
The Bac Ninh Night Market on Nguyễn Đăng Đạo Street operates every Friday to Sunday from 6 PM to 11 PM. You'll find grilled skewers, bánh mì, and chè (sweet dessert soup) for 10,000-30,000 VND. The lively atmosphere makes it a great spot for evening food exploration.
💰 Budget Tips
Street food meals cost between 15,000 and 40,000 VND, while a sit-down restaurant meal ranges from 50,000 to 150,000 VND per person. Bring cash as many stalls do not accept cards. Avoid tourist-heavy areas near the city center for lower prices and more authentic flavors.
🚌 Getting Around for Food
Most food spots are concentrated in the city center, easily walkable or reachable by taxi. Use ride-hailing apps like Grab for short trips costing around 10,000-20,000 VND. For a local experience, rent a bicycle from your hotel to explore the back alleys where hidden stalls thrive.
🍵 Local Drinks
Pair your meal with a glass of bia hơi (fresh draft beer) at a local bia hơi joint, costing 5,000-10,000 VND per glass. For a non-alcoholic option, try nước mía (sugarcane juice) from street vendors, typically 5,000-10,000 VND. These drinks are perfect for cooling down in Bac Ninh's humid climate.
📅 Seasonal Specialties
Visit during the Lim Festival (January or February) to taste bánh dày (glutinous rice cake) and chè lam (sticky rice snack). In autumn, look for cốm (young green rice flakes) sold at stalls near the Cổ Loa Citadel. These seasonal treats offer a unique glimpse into local culinary traditions.
The guide nails it with the bánh đa cua at Cô Hoa's, but I'd add that she also does a killer bowl of bún riêu if you ask for it, same price around 30k. It's not on the menu but she'll make it if she's got the crab paste ready, usually before 2pm.
For something the guide skipped, try the chả rươi at Quán Bà Xuân on Lê Thái Tổ, it's a seasonal fried patty made from sandworms that comes out around October. Locals go nuts for it and it's only 25k a serving, best with a cold bia hơi from the shop next door.
oh man this guide is great, really covers the bases. one thing i'd throw in is the bánh tẻ from the little lady with the bamboo baskets near the train station around 5pm, she's been there for years and hers are way better than the ones at the market, softer and more filling, only 10k each
and for a late night snack, the grilled corn vendors pop up around 9pm on Trần Hưng Đạo near the park, they char it over coals and brush on this salty butter mix, 15k and it's
honestly this is a solid guide, props to whoever put it together. one thing i'd add is that the bánh phở trộn at Bà Tuyết is legit but get there before 8am or you'll be waiting in line for 20 minutes with all the locals. also, if you're near the night market on a saturday, skip the grilled skewers and grab the bánh mì from the old guy with the cart at the far end - he uses this homemade pate that's way better than the standard stuff, only 15k
for drinks, there's a bia hơi spot on Nguyễn Văn Cừ that's not in the guide, just past the big intersection. they pour it ice cold and it's 5k a glass, perfect after walking around. the sugarcane juice vendors near the market are fine but sometimes they water it down, so watch for that