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We are visiting Vietnam this week. For the Thanksgiving day, we took a day trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, where it is considered as Ha Long Bay on land. The weather was wet and miserable but we were able to climb the 500 steps to the mountain top of Hang Mua. The view from there was well worth our efforts. If you zoom in on the steps, you might be able to see a few other souls braving the rain and wind also.
We took a boat tour several days ago to explore the landscape of limestone karst at the Trang An river complex. It was raining all day and there were only few tourists taking the ride. I took the above photo of the boats and the paddling ladies waiting for their turn to row. Each boat can take up to three passengers, is manually rowed, and has to navigate through a series of narrow caves going through the limestone karst. The boat ride took 1.5 hours to complete and our tour guide suggested a tip of 50,000 Vietnamese dong/boat, equivalent to 2 USD. Obviously we did not follow his well intended instruction.
Tam Coc is also called the Halong Bay of the Vietnamese inlands. The mountains here are not surrounded by ocean, but by green rice fields and wild nature. By far the best activity you can undertake in Tam Coc is taking a boat trip. Board a rowboat and let the locals paddle you through the green area. Karst mountains, caves and beautiful views pass you by, and in roughly 2 hours you will close this region to your heart.
A Vietnamese woman behind the doors of an ancient temple. Ninh Binh, Vietnam
The ao dai, Vietnam’s iconic traditional dress, symbolizes grace and national identity. Emerging in the 18th century, it blends Vietnamese and foreign influences, evolving into the modern, fitted design. The non la, or conical hat, dates back over 3,000 years, offering protection from sun and rain. Together, they represent Vietnam’s cultural heritage, with the ao dai often worn during ceremonies and festivals.