Start with the essentials: Hoa Lu, the 10th-century capital; Tam Coc's river caves; and the climb up Mua Cave to the top of Ngoa Long Mountain.
After a night in a bungalow with a pool at Trang An Holiday Retreat, day two slows down.
Bich Dong is a pagoda set into the mountain in three levels; Thai Vi is the old temple of the Tran kings; Thung Nham is forest, caves and a bird park. It's Ninh Binh at its most peaceful.
- See the karsts and river caves of Tam Coc, the 'Ha Long Bay on land'
- Climb 500+ steps up Ngoa Long Mountain for the Mua Cave panorama
- A night in a pool bungalow at Trang An Holiday Retreat
- Bich Dong Pagoda, built into the mountainside
- Thai Vi Temple of the Tran kings
- The green valleys and bird park of Thung Nham






