Ninh Binh is 93km south of Hanoi in north-central Vietnam |
Gate to Lang Phu Coc, about 30 minutes south of Hanoi on Route 1A |
A church built by the French during the colonial era, about 30 min south of Hanoi |
A booming business, Sufat selling motorbikes in Vietnam, |
Fancy building along the highway south of Hanoi |
...I didn't catch a sign saying what it was... |
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 1680km south on Highway 1AL |
Near Starting to get into the scenery that the Ninh Binh area is famous for |
A flock of ducks, popular menu items in the Far East |
Communist hammer and sickle on the road to Hoa Lu with the date 21 January 1931 "Dang Bo Xa Ninh Hoa" |
The road to Hoa Lu, which was the capital of Vietnam ca 968-1009 |
Scenery on the way to Hoa Lu, part of the area known as the inland Halong Bay |
Entrance to Dinh Tien Hoang temple, Hoa Lu |
...looks like a dog doing its business... |
Dad at Hoa Lu |
Vietnamese school boy, Hoa Lu |
Lily pads and flowers, Hoa Lu - Dinh Tien Hoang temple |
Lily pads and flowers, Hoa Lu |
Lily pond, Hoa Lu |
Gate, Dinh Tien Hoang temple, Hoa Lu |
Gate, Dinh Tien Hoang temple, Hoa Lu |
Vietnamese festival flag, Hoa Lu |
Hoa Lu - Dinh Tien Hoang temple |
Dinh Tien Hoang temple, Hoa Lu |
Interior of the Dinh Tien Hoang temple, Hoa Lu |
Drum, Dinh Tien Hoang temple, Hoa Lu |
Lacquer dragon, Dinh Tien Hoang temple, Hoa Lu |
Altar with offerings of fresh fruit, Dien Tien Hoang temple |
Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoa Lu |
Paper lantern and stone lantern, Dinh Tien Hoang temple, Hoa Lu |
Vietnamese "Nam" = English "Man" |
Sculpture of a horse, Dien Tien Hoang temple |
Yen Ngua Mountain as the scenic backdrop for Dinh Tien Hoang temple, Hoa Lu |
Man playing a one-string traditional instrument, Hoa Lu |
Woman working to break up clumps of dirt, Hoa Lu |
Dad giving it a go |
...and yes, they finally got me into a photo... |
Take the time to explore some of the back country lanes past the temple, Hoa Lu |
Odd tractor-like vehicle |
Scenery around Hoa Lu, Vietnam |
Hoa Lu landscape with a snall house |
Ducks, Hoa Lu |
Another temple, Hoa Lu |
A small temple, Hoa Lu |
The area around Ninh Binh is said to be like an inland version of Halong Bay |
Traditional stone house, Hoa Lu |
A small canoe pulled up along the shore, Hoa Lu |
Another little temple in the scenic area around Hoa Lu |
A small temple, Hoa Lu |
Vietnamese school children pedaling home, Hoa Lu |
Dad taking a rest with a Vietnamese boy whose only English word is "money" |
View from the climb to the Tomb of Dieh Tien Hoang, Hoa Lu |
View from the climb to the Tomb of Dieh Tien Hoang, Hoa Lu |
Tomb of Dieh Tien Hoang, Hoa Lu |
Tomb of Dieh Tien Hoang, Hoa Lu |
View from the climb to the Tomb of Dieh Tien Hoang, Hoa Lu |
The interesting geological formations around Hoa Lu are volcanic in origin |
Small pagoda with festival flags at the parking area, Hoa Lu |
The car we hired for the day, Hoa Lu |
Our driver, who unfortunately spoke very little English |
Vietnamese license plate belonging to the car we hired for the day |
"Dry Halong Bay" Ninh Binh |
Bill board for Tam Coc, Ninh Binh's main attraction |
Gateway to Tam Coc, Ninh Binh |
Pricing for visits to Tam Coc (30,000 per person plus 40,000 per boat) |
Tam Coc "Harbor" - the landing for row boats to the Tam Coc caves |
Boat landing for the 2 hour paddle on the Ngo Dong River through the Tam Coc caves |
Row boat, Tam Coc (Ninh Binh) |
Tam Coc boat landing |
Tam Coc row boats waiting for customers, Ninh Binh |
Very odd - foot paddling |
Bridge over the Ngo Dong River, Tam Coc |
Tractor |
Paddle boat, Tam Coc |
Floating photographer, Tam Coc |
Another floating photographer waiting for a willing customer |
Ngo Dong River entering the scenic rock formations |
Dad with our paddlers, Tam Coc |
Tam Coc river excursion |
Hang Ca, the First Grotto, one of 3 caves the river passes through |
Low entrance to the First Grotto, 20m wide, 127m long |
First Grotto, Tam Coc |
First Grotto, Tam Coc |
First Grotto, Tam Coc |
Between the First and Second Grottos |
Traffic on the Ngo Dong River, Tam Coc |
Park Ranger, Tam Coc |
Rock formation, Ngo Dong River, Tam Coc (Ninh Binh) |
Tourist boat, Tam Coc |
Shrines near the entrance to the Second Grotto |
Row boat entering the Second Grotto, Ngo Dong River, Tam Coc |
Second Grotto, 18m wide, 60m long, Tam Coc |
Most of the paddlers are women, but some are men, Tam Coc |
Entrance to the Third Grotto, 18m wide, 45m long, Tam Coc |
Third Grotto, Tam Coc |
Entrance to the Third Grotto, Tam Coc |
Boat in the Third Grotto, Tam Coc |
Small floating market after the Third Grotto, Tam Coc |
After the Third Grotto, the boat turns around and paddles back to the starting point |
Second Grotto, Tam Coc |
Second Grotto, Tam Coc |
I'm surprised they don't stop here |
Tourist boat, Tam Coc |
Between the Second and First Grottos, Tam Coc |
Rock formations, Ngo Dong River, Tam Coc |
River eroded limestone formations, Tam Coc |
Tourist boat, Tam Coc |
Between the Second and First Grottos, Tam Coc |
Between the Second and First Grottos, Tam Coc |
Tourist boats on the Ngo Dong River, Tam Coc (Ninh Binh) |
Steep, rocky hills, Tam Coc |
Our assistant paddle lady, Tam Coc |
Our primary paddle lady, Tam Coc |
Tourist row boat, Tam Coc, Ninh Binh |
Row boat, Tam Coc |
Between the Second and First Grottos, Tam Coc |
Approaching the First Grotto, Tam Coc |
Approaching the First Grotto, Tam Coc |
Ngo Dong River, Tam Coc |
Entering the First Grotto on the return trip, Tam Coc |
Entering the First Grotto on the return trip, Tam Coc |
Tam Coc |
Inside the First Grotto, Tam Coc |
Inside the First Grotto, Tam Coc |
First Grotto (cave) Tam Coc |
Young man rowing a boat, Tam Coc |
Tam Coc |
Hilltop temple with a stone carved dragon which must have a great view of Tam Coc |
Tam Coc |
Nearing the end of our trip - the sales spiel over |
Tam Coc |
Tam Coc |
Tam Coc |
Tam Coc |
Back to the boat landing at Tam Coc |
Back on land, Tam Coc |
Wave goodbye from our boat lady, Tam Coc |
Various souvenir hats, Tam Coc (Ninh Binh) |
New Hotel, Tam Coc (Ninh Binh) |
Gas pump, Vietnam 1300 dong/liter |
Communist billboard in Ninh Binh City |
Japanese surrender - 9 September 1945 |
Ho Chi Minh watching over Ninh Binh (translation anyone?) |
Another Ho Chi Minh billboard in Ninh Binh City |