Ninh Binh
With royal ruins, limestone mountains, caves and crystal rivers, northern Ninh Binh Province has nearly everything a visitor could want. Around 100km south of Hanoi, the province offers a world of opportunity to explore nature, culture and history. Considered one of the original dia linh (sacred) lands, Ninh Binh has 975 notable sites, of which 80 have been dubbed national heritage sites, and throughout history it has given birth to great talent, including the likes of Dinh Tien Hoang, Duong Van Nga, Nguyen Minh Khong, Truong Han Sieu and Nguyen Cong Tru. The surrounding countryside is gorgeous, confirming all the postcard fantasies of what Vietnam has to offer – water buffalos, golden-green rice paddies, majestic limestone formations and more. There are plenty of sights in the vicinity to justify a stay of several days. Some regions have beautiful landscapes, others have great historical relics, but Ninh Binh has both: enchanting scenery and deep history