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Dec 04, 2017 / 19:47

Vietnam's province named among 50 best spots to visit in 2018

Ninh Binh Province (Vietnam) is often praised with varied landscapes.

 After the viral effect of the movie “Kong: Skull Island” filmed at the province, this site lures more international attention and gradually becomes a new burning tourist hub in the region.
Ninh Binh province. Photo: John Bill/Shutterstock
Ninh Binh province. Photo: John Bill/Shutterstock

Recently, the US. Travel site Insider named the Vietnam's province among top 50 best places to visit in the coming year. It mentions the province with the photo of Ngo Dong River elbowing limestone mountains in Tam Coc – a famous attraction of Ninh Binh Province.
The province came out on top of the list as a place that “boasts impressive topography”, thanks to its mesmerizing mix of rivers, limestone cliffs and paddy fields.
About the province, Insider comments: “Known as the "Halong Bay on Land," Ninh Binh is a small city in Northern Vietnam. Its proximity to Hanoi — 60 miles to the south — is the reason that many overlook the scenic destination. Nestled into the country's Red River Delta, Ninh Binh boasts impressive topography that includes mountains, limestone cliffs, and forests. Glide along the river in a traditional boat, explore caves in Cuc Phuong National Park, or visit the ancient temples and palaces in Hoa Lu.”
It is also treated as an underdog to the UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay around five hours away. It is sometimes referred to as the “Ha Long Bay on land”, given the green mountains that rise out of its paddy fields. Ninh Binh was one of the three filming locations for “Kong: Skull Island”, one of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters of 2017.
The province lies among three filming locations for “Kong: Skull Island”, one of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters of 2017.
Its 2018 bucket list spans across Europe and includes some other world’s biggest cities such as Buenos Aires, Chicago, London, Mexico, New Orleans and New York. In Asia, it recommends Singapore, Sichuan in China, Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands and Taipei.
Earlier, numerous travel blogs and sites did mention the Ninh Binh Province as well as suggested specific way to reach the spot.  
A fantastic addition to any Vietnam tour, Ninh Binh is about 2 hours’ drive from Hanoi. There are two main areas to take a boat trip, Tam Coc is more often visited by international tourists, but we recommend visiting Trang An Ecological Area instead. While still a popular tourist destination, there are many more Vietnamese tourists here than international visitors. Arrive in the early morning or after 3pm to avoid the crowds and take advantage of the serenity. Local women row the boats and most can row with both their arms and their legs, taking advantage of the extra power of their legs for the hour-and-a-half boat journey.
While in Ninh Binh there is an easy cycling circuit through the semi-urban villages past scenes of rice fields and limestone hills, cemeteries, houses and a French-colonial cathedral just off the main street. Continue cycling and you’ll get to Dinh Le and other temples about 4kms further on (about 20 minutes’ drive from Ninh Binh). This scenic temple is dedicated to founder of the once-impressive citadel it sits within called Ding Tien Hoang. The small 17th century gardens are beautifully shaded, a delightful respite from the heat of the day, and feel very authentic. All around are the limestone karsts, and a similar temple is just down the road. On the way back to Hanoi, stop off at Phat Diem, a huge 19th century cathedral surrounded by smaller buildings in a similar style, highlighting incredible Sino-Vietnamese architecture. The best light falls at about 3pm and there are very few tourists. You are not able to enter the buildings but the exteriors alone are worth the stop. - accoridng to insider-journeys.com.