Info on Hai Phong and Ninh Binh

Hai Phong is a nice little town with wifi cafés everywhere, unlike Ninh Binh where it's really hard to get online.

We loved Tam Coc, where we were rowed for 2 hours and enjoyed the Karst mountains in rice fields (similar to Halong Bay) and pass through 3 caves.

Cuc Phong National Park is nice with its Endangered Primates Rescue Center. The primate center is really for the monkeys and not a zoo, so don't expect to get up close and personal with the monkeys.

Hoa Lu temple is not very interesting, but the motorbike trip through the countryside to get there is very nice. The villages have a lot of charm.

Nihn Bihn was our cheapest stop so far. We stayed in a nice clean room for $12 at the Thanh Thuy hotel. We were sceptical of the hotel since we were taken there by our bus driver - but it really was the nicest option.

There is really nothing to do at night - not even eating out, so most people eat at the hotel where the food is acceptable and cheap.