How many times have you see a film and thought that the locations are stunning and you want to go there? Often, the locations used come in small lettering in the titles at the end and you don’t get the chance to read them. Well, there has been a film made recently, best described as a remake of the iconic film ‘’King Kong’’ where the location sought was stunning. It is Ninh Binh Province, a couple of hours east of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The growth of tourism in Vietnam is fully justified because of the treasures within its borders, natural as well as manmade. If you talk to a good Vietnam travel agent about a Vietnam travel package, you will be able to include a visit to Ninh Binh during your time in the north. You will not regret it, and if you are keen on activities, there will be the chance of hiking, cycling and boating while you are there; fresh air in a great natural environment.
Ninh Binh offers limestone karst scenery, a little like the UNESO World Heritage site of Halong Bay whose peaks are islands as opposed to Ninh Bin’s mountains.
The best time to visit for the outdoor life is the dry season which runs from November until April.
Here are some of the things to do while you are there:
• Cycling to Tam Coc from Ninh Binh is fairly easy. Your route will not include any mountains so you can relax and take in the scenery.
• Boating from Tam Coc where you set out from the pier to explore caves, passing through some on your unique journey.
• Trang An Grottoes are even larger. You will need to keep your eyes open as you sail through because some of the ceiling as quite low.
• Trekking and homestays in Cuc Phuong National Park. It’s a lovely good Vietnam travel agent will be able to arrange a homestay for you. It will probably the first time you have slept in a house on stilts.
• The best bird watching in Vietnam is in the eco-park at Thung Nham. There are almost 50 different species, eagles, storks, herons and waterfowl as well as many mammals, fish and of course a great diversity of fauna. You can take to the waters in a canoe and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the area.
• Bai Dinh Pagoda is a complex of temples, the whole site covering 700 hectares and well worth exploring. There is no Buddhist temple complex in Vietnam larger than Bai Dinh where the modern construction was begun in 2003 and took seven years to complete.
• Bich Dong Cave and Pagoda are worth some of your time. They are close to Tam Coc which, as already described, is an easy cycle ride from Ninh Binh, and an even easier journey by car. The Pagoda is one of 3 and the higher up the hillside you go, the better the view but you should make sure you have suitable footwear if you plan to go there; do not think you can climb in flip-flops.
• place where visitors travelling in Vietnam can not only enjoy the natural environment but also learn more about daily life; a
• Thai Vy Temple is up the road from the side of Tam Coc Pier and another gem worth seeing.
When your Vietnam holiday finishes you will have a host of memories in your mind, and likely plenty of photographs. The digital age makes photography so easy and you can click away and keep your best shots. There is little doubt that you will have some great pictures from your time in Ninh Binh and if friends ask you where it is and what inspired you to go, tell them to watch ‘’Skull Island’’ and to plan a tour of Vietnam themselves and to include Ninh Binh.
