Vietnam Ninh Bình Province Ninh Bình
A city in northern Vietnam known for karst landscapes, historic temples, and Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tips from the community
An overnight ride on the
Reunification Express takes you deep into the heart of North Vietnam. First stop: Ninh Binh. The Vietnam of the travel brochures, this is a land of needle-like rock spires and dramatic karst mountains, all dropping down to flat valleys patched in rice paddies and wiggled through by riverways. Cycling is perhaps the most adventurous way to get around (if you’re feeling particularly brave, try
bikepacking in North Vietnam). A bike will let you navigate to the mysterious ancient capital of
Hoa Lu and the photogenic rural landscapes of Tam Coc, which is particularly Insta ready in June when the rice shoots turn daffodil yellow.
jrfrancis
3 years ago
You’re probably wondering why I haven’t mentioned Ha Long Bay yet. Is she crazy? No, my friends, I’m going to tell you about Ninh Binh instead. Many refer to this mountainous region as “Ha Long Bay on Land,” and it’s an accurate statement. If you can imagine what a forest of mountains looks like, that’s Ninh Binh. Slow-moving rivers meander their way through countless limestone karsts, and life moves at a much slower pace than at notoriously visited Ha Long Bay. River cruises are available in the area and they’ll show you the waterside caves and small corners where the road simply won’t take you. Don’t get me wrong: you need to see the glory of Ha Long Bay too, but Ninh Binh offers the same level of beauty with much less of the buzz.
sarahlempa
5 years ago
Aptly described as “Ha Long Bay on Land,” Ninh Bình is a bit off the beaten path, but packs all of the same beauty. Come for the
Tràng An Caves and stay for a boat ride down the Ngo Dong River, right next to steep vegetation-covered mountains. Many visit for a day trip, but mountainside homestays and ample tranquil lodgings make it an ideal place to recuperate from metropolitan madness.
sarahlempa
5 years ago
Ninh Bình Articles
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Like a bar mitzvah or a grad party, backpacking the well-worn trails of Southeast Asia is nothing short of a rite of passage. For the budding traveler, the trodden route that links electrifying Bangkok to the temples of Angkor and the rolling surf of Bali is a chance to discover what street food and tuk […]
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Vietnam is notorious for chaotically vibrant cities, iconic limestone mountains, and enough crave-worthy local cuisine to inspire you to extend your visa. Seriously, that pho is downright captivating. But wait, there’s more, and I’m not here to just tell you about Ha Long Bay like everyone else. You’re going to want to make your way […]
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Vietnam might be a geographically narrow country, but there’s certainly nothing easy about narrowing down your decision on which spots to visit. With nearly 1,000 miles from the top to the bottom, this Southeast Asian country is filled with beautifully chaotic cities, towering limestone mountains, and absurd amounts phở whenever your heart desires. Vietnam’s northernmost […]