Mid-week in Ninh Binh

How time flies! It doesn't seem long to me when I was on the plane to Hanoi, and now half of my time here has already passed. I have already been able to visit many interesting places and experience Vietnamese life.

Since I currently have a relaxed university routine, I decided to take a short trip to Ninh Binh, located 90 km south of Hanoi, last weekend. It took me just over two hours by train to reach the capital of the province of the same name. I rented a bike at the train station and cycled to my hostel in Tam Coc. During the half-hour ride, I could already see the limestone rocks protruding from the rice fields, so it did not surprise me that this beautiful place is also called the "dry Ha Long Bay". These rocks are made of limestone and are not only great for climbing, but also cover breathtaking cave systems, some of which are flooded with water. In addition, the rocks are home to extraordinary temples and pagodas, such as Bich Dong. The next morning, on recommendation, I cycled to Hang Mua, a mountain where 500 carved stairs lead to a spectacular view. The view more than made up for the effort! A nearly 360-degree panorama of rice fields and rocks enchants the eyes and camera lenses of visitors. But I wasn't done yet, because there was another highlight on the program. A boat tour is a must-do in Ninh Binh and therefore attracts many tourists. With a total of five passengers on board, the boat guide set off from the pier and we paddled on the calm water towards a temple. After visiting the temple, we sailed through a one-kilometer-long cave, which deserves the label "fascinating". A few centimeters above our heads, stalactites make their way towards the surface of the earth. The journey continued through two smaller caves and to Skull Island, which was once a filming location for King Kong. For a few thousand Dong (1 Euro corresponds to 28,000 Dong), you could also take a photo with the "natives", who provided tourist folklore in front of their simple straw huts.

On the final day of my trip, I visited Bai Dinh Pagoda, which is record-breaking in many ways. Although it was only built in 2003, the entire complex covers an area of 80 hectares, making it the largest in Vietnam.

Happy and satisfied, I then got back on the train and arrived in Hanoi on Saturday evening.

In addition, I had visitors from Germany in the past few days, but more on that in the next article.