Northern Vietnam: More Karstic Mountains, Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is a small town just south of Hanoi.  It’s primary attraction are the Tam Coc caves.  This geologic formation is very similar to the limestone formations that Ha Long bay is famous for.  The difference here, is that rather than rising from the sea, these Karstic mountains rise out of the rice paddies.  They’re accessible by river and easily navigated.  The town itself is quite small and it was the first time, since we’ve been in Vietnam, that the locals have really stared at us.  I guess they’re not too used to seeing foreigners yet cause we got quite a few stares that lingered a bit longer than we were comfortable with.  Oh well, no big deal right.  Not much to report here.  We enjoyed the caves and the river but we only stayed one night.  Enjoy the pictures!

Rice noodles with bamboo shoots and pigs feet.

Little girl we met on the train ride to Ninh Binh.

The local train.

Local lady passed out on the train.

Some locals enjoying a ride down the river.

A temple up on the ridge.

The view during our bicycle ride to Tam Coc.

Some water buffalo's enjoying lunch.

A temple near the river.

Tam Coc.

The guy we hired to row us down the river.

A local couple fishing in the river.

Tam Coc

Some locals working in the river.

The house of a hermit.  He lives 6 miles down the river all by himself.

The hermits house and his lone companion, his dog.