Hello, I am Akira Fukasawa, photographer. I have just participated in a study tour to “Hanoi and Halong Bay” including World Heritage sites, organized by Vietnam Airlines. This report is about the second day of the tour. I woke up in the morning at the Grand Mercure Hanoi, a five-star luxury hotel in downtown Hanoi, and had breakfast from 6:00 am. As one would expect from a five-star hotel, there was a full lineup of buffet-style dishes, fruits, breads, and other items. There were many Westerners using the hotel.
Ninh Binh, an enchanting place After checking out, we boarded the bus and set out for Ninh Binh, located in the Red River Delta region, for the day. Ninh Binh is about 90 km south of Hanoi. We arrived at Ninh Binh in about 2 hours. First, we went to the Van Long Nature Reserve for a rowing boat tour. Not many Japanese people visit Ninh Binh yet, and I felt it was highly recommended because of its proximity to Hanoi. The experience of seeing the towering limestone mountains and the rich nature along the river from a rowboat is enjoyable. It is a fascinating area known locally as “Halong Bay on land. The 60-minute tour included scenic views as we entered and turned back into the limestone caves. Whether you choose to take pictures or simply enjoy the scenery and forget the hustle and bustle of the city, it is sure to be a special experience.
To Hoa Lu, the first independent dynasty of Vietnam Hoa Lu is the pride of Ninh Binh, the ancient capital of Vietnam, which was the capital of the first independent dynasty of Vietnam between the 10th and 11th centuries, only a few decades before the capital was moved to Hanoi. After crossing the bridge and going through the gate that serves as the entrance, we found ourselves in a plaza. There were buffaloes and a very relaxed atmosphere. When you reach the end of the wide street, Dinh Tien Hoang Temple is on the left side. Dinh Tien Hoang, the founder of the Hoa Luu Ding Dynasty, is enshrined here. The ponds on either side of the straight approach to the main hall were picturesque. There are not many temples like this left in Vietnam as there are in Japan. In the sad history of war, many were bombed and destroyed. In that sense, temples such as Dinh Tien Hoang, which remind us of the history of those days, are very valuable. Ninh Binh was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2014 for its landscapes including the ruins of the ancient capital Hoa Lu, the scenic areas of Trang Anh & Tam Coc, and cave temples such as Bich Dong Temple.
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