Ninh Binh - Green Halong Bay

The region and landscape around Ninh Binh is also called Halong Bay on Land. And indeed, the rocks there look similar to those I saw in the bay and the impression was enhanced by the fact, that all rice paddies were flooded.

I spent two full days there which was more than enough for me. On my first day I rented a bike from my guesthouse to explore the area. Since the weather was not the best, I had many of the sometimes very bumpy paths to myself.

Whenever I stopped to look at something, Vietnamese business people regularly beckoned me more or less vehemently to assign me a parking space for my bike. However, I had already heard from other travelers that this is a money-making scam and that one can usually park one's bike for free. Unfortunately, these experiences somewhat spoiled my experience in the region.

The same thing happened the next day when I took a tour on a small rowing boat that was steered by a local and at the end of the tour I was more or less compelled to buy him a drink. Apart from that, I was presented with a breathtaking landscape in the best weather, which I admired from the river.

In the evening of the second day, I had my first ride on a night bus. And even though I made the biggest beginner's mistake and chose a bed on the lower level in the middle, I was able to sleep for several hours before arriving early the next morning in Hue, the old capital of Vietnam.

Dragon Mountain

At the top of Dragon Mountain

Biking through the Rain

River with boat

Temple in the mountains

Temple in the mountains

Boat trip

Through caves