Ninh Binh
Two hours south of Hanoi by train, Ninh Binh is what people mean when they say “Halong Bay on land” — the same dramatic limestone karsts, but rising out of rice paddies instead of the sea. The classic outing is a small bamboo sampan through the caves at Trang An or Tam Coc, rowed by a woman in a conical hat using her feet on the oars. Climb the dragon-topped staircase to the Hang Mua viewpoint at sunset for the panorama, and detour to Bich Dong Pagoda nestled into a moss-covered cliff. It works as a long day trip from Hanoi, or better, an overnight in a homestay among the rice fields.
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