Duc Tuan Hotel Ninh Binh

... down a picturesque narrow through little villages, farms and fields to the Mau Cave. As we pulled up at a gatehouse the guide with the most English smiled and pointed to a distant temple on top of a nearby hill - "500 steps - good view" he said. He was only smiliing because he wasn't coming with us! From the bottom the rough cut stairs snaked around the rocky outcrop from side to side as far as our eyes could see. To be honest I didn't think either of us were that keen to go to ...

... pedalo, and large speaker playing some sort of speech. After dinner we retired to our room for an evening of watching films in bed. The TV channels in Vietnam show great, English speaking programmes, including Discovery and HBO. <br><br>The best way to visit the main attractions around Ninh Binh is to hire a motorbike. So this is<br>what we did, planning on heading to the national park for the day we got up early and set off. All going well we arrived at Tam Coc one of the main sights ...

... 32 degrees yesterday....<br><br>Have to admit that at the 3rd and final temple, I was desperate to tell my driver, 'enough already with the temples'.<br><br>Stopped for a drink at a tiny place in the middle of nowhere, and was given some sort of nasty tea, and watched the men smoking this huge bamboo pipe. The little kids all came out to have a look at me, they couldn't have stared more if I'd been wearing a big red nose and clown shoes (which I can assure you I was not ...

... and went to Van Long Reserve. We were alone on a small boat with a little woman and discovered the wonderful nature of the area.<br>After that, direction Ken Ga, where we met Trang, a Vietnamese who gave us some beer and something to eat in his own house. What hospitality!<br>At the end of the day we visited Hoa Lu, an old capital of Vietnam. I climbed a rock (thanks Jason for the training !) and enjoyed a great view (look the pictures).<br>Next: South Vietnam and Muine<br>See you<br>Cyril

... Booked in &amp; was $12 a night for big air con room. We both crashed for a few hours sleep. Nath would have slept all day but I woke him at 10.30am.<br><br>Grabbed a fresh hot baguette with cheese for brekkie &amp; paid $2 each to rent some bicycles. We were given a map on how to ride to the river &amp; caves at Tam Coc, pointed in the right ...

... a hostel to stay in and the literature said it should be no more than 20,000 dong in a taxi from the bus station. A taxi quoted us 50,000 dong and refused to budge any lower. After we decided to walk instead we were chased by aggressive motorcycle taxis down the road. During the 20 minute walk to the hostel, the heavens opened and we were forced to seek shelter in a bicycle shed for the next 30 minutes. Why had we decided to come ...

... couldn't remember where the heck my new hotel was.... luckily a helpful man and a moped helped me find it.... the people here are so friendly!<br>Oh and I met someone who was in the Top Gear special that was filmed in Vietnam, can't quite remember what he did in it but I'm sure I'll remember when I watch it again!<br><br>day 4:the hostel donates $1 from every booking to a nearby orphanage, and arranges trips there every Sunday... I booked to go, a) to see where my ...

... and soon I was catching the boat, through the river past the huge rock formations. It was very peaceful as there were not too many boats out. We went through three caves, well tunnels. The return trip took about two hours. <br><br> <br>Then it was back on the bike to Hoa Lu. Hoa ...

... gradi. Puntiamo nuovamente a nord facendo un tratto di costa e poi rientrando nuovamente verso il parco nazionale ci riportiamo al nostro punto di partenza. abbiamo percorso 40km. Ci sembrava strano e troppo tranquillo il viaggio di ritorno da Cat ba a Ninh Bin organizzato dal gestore dell'hotel e infatti un'imprevisto dietro l'altro... sballottamento in tutti i sensi, ci hanno condotto alle 20.30 ...

... monkeys were really sweet, the Big Tree was Big, and the cave was a little scary, we crawled in practically on our knees, and turned our heads to see 3 bats hanging in the dark, we ventured a little more into the darkness, then came back.<br><br>On our way back from the Big Tree, we encountered another big tree, but it had fallen down across the road..... There was only one way in and out..... We had only passed the same spot about half hour before, and not ...