A Ninh Binh minute
We arrived in Ninh Bin by way of tour bus. Signing up for a group tour with our hotel in Hanoi, was actually cheaper and easier than getting there ourselves and navigating the few sightseeing spots we wanted to check out. We started out the trip seeing the Hao Lu Temple. Learning that here in Vietnam temples can be for more than religious observation. In this case, this temple is a dedication to the King's of Vietnam during the Dinh and Le Dynasty, in what was once the capital city of Vietnam. Its large mountains and limestone monolith making a great natural barrier for enemy attack.
Our next stop was Tam Coc, an area known for its rice fields and limestone mountains... sound familiar? Well it should, here is know as Ha Long Bay on land- being similar in many ways to the rock formations in Ha Long Bay. But here, more inland, the formation of these mountains didn't result with the sea filling in, but it did however create a perfect valley of sorts for the rice fields to stay damp most of the year. We unfortunately, visited right after a harvest, so the rice plants weren't as lush as they are at other times of the year. The thing to do here is a boat trip, as there is much to see along the banks, as well as caves scattered down the river.
We hopped aboard and let this tiny lady row us along the peaceful river, as we took in the scenery.
We ended the day in a bike ride through the small rural villages on the banks of the river. We saw a tight community of rice farmers and locals, dogs, and chickens greeting us as we rode. A great little visit to Tam Coc, and then we headed back to Ninh Bin only about 15 mins down the road for some Bun Cha with a regional twist.
There isn't too much going on in Ninh Bin, which was just fine by us. Needing a moment of self care and time to catch up on this blog, we rested and explored the tiny town around us.
The market here is especially... diverse. As in many small towns, people do all their shopping at markets daily, so it's not supposing to find a large section of this town with a stall for everything from barbies to live eels. Here are some of the sights and sounds at the market in Ninh Bin, and trust me, you're not missing the smell.
