Ngoc Anh Hotel Ninh Binh

After our 'not quite as planned' trip to Halong Bay, our next stop was Ninh Binh.

We thought long and hard about our trip to Ninh Binh. Whilst researching our next stop in Vietnam we’d read some negative things about Ninh Binh – much of the opinion was that it was only so so and perhaps not worth the visit. We were also getting a little tiresome of the attitude of many of the people we’d met during our time in Vietnam – anyone who deals with visitors on a daily ...

Ninh Binh has a more laid back and friendly feel to it than Hanoi. Tourists here seem to be more of a novelty, especially with the children who are always keen to run out with a big "hello" and a high five. Its very cute! The traffic is still as crazy but is confined more to the main road running through the city, where drivers blissfully ignore signs asking for no horn use while passing through! We hired bikes from our hotel (again, I know, but its a great way to see a city) and we joined th...

Having not slept much on the sleeper train back from Sapa, we got into Hanoi railway station at 4.30am and were surprised to see that Hanoi was very much awake already, and the taxi touts were definitely on top form, we agreed to get into a Malinh taxi (the reputable brand that Handspan tours recommend), however when we got to the cab it was a different firm, we didn't think it would make that much difference. Wrong, 7km and 100,000 Dong later - which is about 4 pounds, we wished we had enoug...

Today we awoke excited and slightly nervous about the prospect of hiring and riding a bike, neither of us have ever driven a motorbike before, though we've both been on the back of my dad's bike - I hated it and Paul loved it. I drive a fair bit in London and on the wrong side of the road in other countries and I've driven minibuses and vans and bicycles, so I wasn't too worried, just a matter of getting to grips with the gears really. We had a chat to a nice Canadian couple, and even talked ...

We had heard a lot of stories about the scams in Tam Coc, from the lonely planet, other people's blogs and from other people in the hotel. Tam Coc Area is very beautiful and part of it has been turned into a bit of a tourist merry-go-round, with a river trip along the same lines as we experienced in the perfume pagoda. Paul and I opted for pedal-power today and, once we'd bought some cheap/naff hats, made our way out into the countryside. We rode around past rice paddies, more buffalo and kid...

Today we were going to visit the first ever national park in Vietnam, Cuc Phoung, established in 1963 by the legendary Uncle Ho. The park is situated around 45 kilometres west from Ninh Binh. Since I was becoming a pro with the motorbike, there wasnt really any other option. Plus it would be a great adventure without the stringent lobbying of a tour. To make sure we would arrive with good time, an early breakfast was in order. As was the case in Vietnam, breakfast revolved around a baguette a...

It wasn't a nightmare but.....I don't want to do it again real soon. Thuan dropped me off at the bus station and I desperately started to scan the waiting customers. In the morning there had been two stinky very large Germans on the bus....I hoped to God they were not going to replicate my plan......As I was scanning I met a lovely Polish girl who is studying in China and was on her University break. She picked up on my scanning and told me of the night bus she had been on where there were tw...

Thanks for all of your concern......the noise behind the curtain.......I found it in the morning........even though I couldn't find a thing at first, when I shook out the large drapes a mid sized gecko finally went flying across the room. Poor little guy - just about an 8 incher, hanging on desparately, probably well rested because I left the bathroom light on and they usually work all night, in the dark, eating bugs so they are very welcome. Tonight - all quiet so far and I have the window w...

Pictures from gentle, quiet and beautiful Ninh Binh. What a lovely few days in Ninh Binh. When I was the only one getting off the bus to Hanoi at 4:30 in the morning, I was wondering if perhaps this was a crazy idea and why I always seem to choose the road less travelled. The past few days have hardened my resolve to trust my instincts. I was getting tired of the tourist route and I have found that Vietnam has a much defined route. About 80% of the travelers I have met here are going north to...

More pics of the beautiful peaceful countryside around Ninh Binh.