NINH BINH - Tam Coc

 Tam Coc

We went to Ninh Binh to go on the boat trip, but found so much more. That's why there are just so many pictures. These are just a hand full from our three days here.

Yes three days! and anyone who only comes here for a day trip from Hanoi is mad. I originally decided to come for so long so we could go on the boats outside the normal tour operating hours, as we did this we had the river to ourselves the whole time plus we got an extra special side trip where we were taken to a part of Tam Coc the tourist don't usually go. This was definitely the high light and believe me the scenery was even more spectacular in this part....

The Boats actually leave from Tam Coc not Ninh Binh. This is a sleepy little town that only gets busy in the middle of the day when the tours arrive to go on the river. I booked a place called THE LONG HOTEL. Quite a unique building and not the place for you if you are precious as it is so quirky. I'll put some pictures in a bit later of The Long Hotel.

3 Days here was perfect - could have stayed even longer!

The Boat Trip

When you get to the furthermost part of the boat journey there are some lovely ladies waiting in their boat with food and coffee and biscuit's. Some people complain about this, but I say embrace it. The kids had a treat we had a coffee. They were never pushy but encouraging and asked if we wanted to buy our lovely ladies a drink. Now why not, they had just rowed us for an hour. I think they deserved it. Don't you... We had so much fun with these ladies laughing about having this picnic.

As for the boat ride and the scenery it was WOW. 

Just see the pictures bellow.

No rice growing at this time of year so It wasn't like the photos I had seem on the net, 

still breathtaking. We were here in December 2011.

Today's Water Buffalo

This is the ticket office where the boats leave from.

The whole trip cost us about $12 USD

The Long Hotel

Reception

 CraZy HOtel CrooKed floOrs

Great base for an adventure and the staff are really nice. Please don't have high exceptions for english speaking staff all over Vietnam. However the hotel manager here speaks great English and is a Super Star when it come to fixing any problem. She saved the day when our bus company forgot to pick us up. She even got in the taxi to take us to Ninh Binh to make sure the bus was waiting there. No charge for the taxi I might add.

 FATHER COOKING _ TAM COC

If you come to Tam Coc you have to eat at Father Cooking.

Super delicious and the lady who runs it is a gem. Wish I could go there now for lunch!

 Father Cooking across the road from The Long Hotel.

Riding Tandem Bikes Around Ninh Binh

We hired our tandem bikes from The Long Hotel. This was the most fantastic way to explore the outer lying area of Tam Coc. Because the bikes where so crazy, the local people really opened up to us. You'll see in the pictures just how much fun we had.

 Dich Dong Pagoda

 Sorry for the blur but there are 4 people on this bike. 

School Pick up

 

On the Way To Thai Vi Temple

 Thai Vi Temple

 Best little mini mart in Vietnam

 Lottie pie Mmmm.....

 

Mua Cave

It took us an hour up and an hour down. Doesn't look it but it is crazy steep. 

Quite scary coming back down.

 Here you can see the boats traveling down the river in Tam Coc....

 These kids live in a village just near Mua Cave and we stopped with them for ages while they had a go of our bikes. We saw them again later on our way back when they were collecting mud and they ran down and stopped us again. Begging for another go. They were such fun kids!

Ta Da...