7/27 from Cat Ba to Ninh Binh
Sad leaving from Cat Ba, since I wanted to stay here longer, and explore the various beaches by bicycle!
We arrive in Ninh Binh at 15.00 under an uncertain sun, it’s damn not! At the bus station we are assaulted by touts, they all want to bring us to New Queen Mini Hotel. As usual I leave Roberta with the baggage and go in search of an alternative. Having no idea where to go, I follow some French who were on our same bus, who are now directed to the train station, until I reach the Queen Hotel, right next to it, and in front of the New Mini Queen.
It looks new! They show me a beautiful standard room at 20 USD (on the website prices are much higher) and I confirm it without thinking twice. From the top floor, where a restaurant has yet to be built I see an expanse of roofs, and in the distance a flood of round limestone rocks..
After having taken possession of our room we take a stroll in the city, only a few Western people around, we buy some fruit at the market, and follow the riverside promenade full of boats on which people live and fish
Being a little touristy town, agencies are missing, so for trips we must rely on our hotel, then taxi or mototaxis.
7/28 Ninh Binh
For 33 USD, 17.5 each, we have a taxi to explore the surroundings.
The first stop is at Tam Coc, where we arrive early enough not to find visitors from Hanoi. Entrance is 70 thousand dong. It is absolutely worth it, we go by boat along a quiet canal with water lilies, surrounded by towering mountains. Few people, and very quiet.
The rowers try to sell their souvenirs, but they are very expensive. Also the tip, unfortunately, is a must, although they are lazy and do absolutely nothing to deserve it. Second stop, the pagodas of Bich Dong, nothing special, but the entrance is free, and there is a nice water lily garden. I trudge on rather steep slopes, the heat and humidity start to be suffocating, so after a while I desist.
Third stop, the Mua Cave, 20 thousand dong entrance, a huge hard work, but well rewarded with panoramic views. The temple, at the tip of the hill, is nothing special, but the view from up there is great.opyright – Randagia nel mondo
The only drawback, 500 steps. I reach the top all sweaty. Few people would have the will and the strength to make such an effort, and at least I have the satisfaction of being alone.
Rather weary, I arrive to Hoa Lu, 10 thousand dong entrance, cozy complex of temples, and beautiful water lilies
Several pests are waiting for tourists at the gates, insisting to change currency. They’re really sticky, the usual “no thanks” is not enough, you really have to look bad at them and say “go away”.
At Trang An we do no longer want to take boats to do a trip which seems similar to Tam Coc, and thus remain under the trees waiting for our taxi driver to be back. In any case the entry would cost 100 thousand dong each.
I think one day in Ninh Binh is more than enough, but unfortunately we have already booked the train the next day, so we have to stay another night here
7/29 Ninh Binh, evening train to Huè.
For 33 USD for the two of us a taxi takes us to Van Long, and the fishermen village of Kenh Ga. In the first place I quarrel with a rower because I refuse to give her a tip. In the second one a motor boat takes us to visit a village. The best thing in the whole excursion is lunch, in a shabby restaurant which, though, serves generous portions, and the best spring rolls eaten in Vietnam, 100 thousand dong in two.
At 18.06 our soft seat is waiting for us. Dirty as usual, infested with cockroaches, as usual