90km far from
Hanoi, Ninh Binh nowadays is a popular destination thanks to beautiful tourist
sites including
Tam Coc, Hoa Lu, Kenh Ga and
Cuc Phuong National Park.
Tam Coc:
Tam Coc known as "Halong Bay on land" boasting a breathtaking scenery.
While Halong Bay features huge rock formations jutting
out o the sea,
Tam Coc has them jutting out of its rice paddies. Tam Coc means three caves;
that is Hang Ca (the first), Hang Giua (the second) and Hang Cuoi (the smallest).
The boat trip to all three caves takes about two hours. If you are lucky, sometimes
you can see mischievous monkeys or mountain goats. This is a very peaceful and scenic
trip.
Hoa Lu:
Nearby Tam Coc,
Hoa Lu, the first capital of
Vietnam, is also an interesting historical site. Most of which has been
destroyed. The remains are the temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the two
heroes who lived in 10th century and chose Hoa Lu to build the citadel of the capital
city. In 1998, archaeologists unearthed a "new" section of the old citadel, which
have been preserved together with some artifacts and shown in a display room built
around them.
Travel Tips:
For journeys to Hoa Lu Tam Coc even in cloudy days, bring sunscreen and a hat or
umbrella. At Tam Coc, a little bit hassle as boat owners try to sell you embroidery
or boat vendors ask you buy drinks, take photos. If you really don't like, just
say no.
