[Travel] Unexplored Regions with Kids: Ninh Binh Edition - How to get there from Hanoi/Hidden Gems/Spectacular Views/Goat Meat, etc.
This is a continuation of the Hanoi edition.
We are heading from Hanoi to the next city, Ninh Binh.
1. Why Ninh Binh?
As I wrote in the previous article, because our flight to Luang Prabang was canceled, we had one extra day in Vietnam. While I was researching what to do, I learned about a wonderful city called "Ninh Binh," which is about a 2 to 3-hour drive from Hanoi.
Ninh Binh is called the "Ha Long Bay on Land" and is said to be a city where natural beauty and cultural heritage blend together. We parents love places that feel like unexplored regions, so we were intrigued, and
since it's a distance we can travel by car from Hanoi, we thought the kids could rest in the car, so we decided on Ninh Binh!
(Initially, we considered traveling by the Vietnam Reunification Express train, but
it shakes quite a bit, so we thought it might be a burden on the children and decided against it. Also, we had quite a bit of luggage, so the burden of moving that was another reason.
That said, I am interested in it, so I want to ride it someday!!)
2. Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh can be reached in 2 to 3 hours by car from the center of Hanoi.
We used the shuttle service of the hotel where we stayed in Ninh Binh.
The round trip between Hanoi (hotel) and Ninh Binh (hotel, and then to the airport the next day)
was quite reasonable.
The kids slept for most of the car ride, and we were able to fully enjoy the scenery during the trip. We recorded that experience in a video and summarized it in our Instagram highlight "🇻🇳", so please take a look if you'd like!
https://www.instagram.com/megn_9/
3. The hotel we stayed at in Ninh Binh
The hotel we stayed at for one night in Ninh Binh this time is
"La Lua Resort Ninh Binh".
The deciding factors for this hotel were the "room size, price, and atmosphere."
Room size...
It's the same as our hotel selection in Hanoi, but this one also had a queen-size bed and a spacious room.
*35㎡ with a queen bed. It was very spacious and comfortable.
Price...
2 adults, 1 child, 1 night with breakfast included: 16,074 yen (Japanese yen).
I feel that this price including breakfast was quite a bargain now that I think about it!
(Though I think it is considered high-end by Vietnamese price standards.)
Atmosphere...
It is far from the city center, but since we were only there for one day,
we prioritized an atmosphere where we could relax.
In conclusion, I am really glad we stayed here.
The staff were truly kind; they would hold our child and soothe them whenever we passed by.
Also, this is just a personal preference, but the room was very simple and beautiful, and the stone floor was cool, which felt very pleasant and comfortable. The plants in the garden were also beautiful...
2. Ninh Binh Sightseeing (Stroller/Food Issues)
You might not need a stroller
We didn't need one for our sightseeing.
Since our hotel was far from the city, we mainly traveled by car.
Also, we went hiking, and a stroller is definitely not needed there.
In fact, a baby carrier was essential.
However, I can't say for sure if you're heading to the center of Ninh Binh.
We only passed through the center by car, but I didn't see many strollers, and I don't think the roads were that well-maintained.
The issue of children's meals
Ninh Binh had restaurants of various genres.
Ninh Binh cuisine/Vietnamese cuisine/pizza/curry, etc.
Our child is 1 year old, and they ate the Vietnamese food that we adults were eating. (We avoided spicy and raw foods.)
However, I think whether they eat or not depends on the individual, so just in case, I think it's better to bring the items I wrote about in the previous article. (Retort pouches, etc.)
④ Ninh Binh Sightseeing (Goat meat/Mountain climbing and spectacular views/Delicious restaurants, etc.)
From here on, I will roughly summarize some of the places we visited in Ninh Binh!
Dũng Phố Núi (Ninh Binh specialty goat meat)
A popular restaurant where you can eat Ninh Binh's specialty, goat meat.
The atmosphere is also quite something.
And then the goat meat arrived!
The goat meat had a bit of a unique flavor and felt wild. lol
It might be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing.
I don't love it or hate it, but if I had to choose, I might lean towards hating it. lol
My husband liked it.
Also, the traditional dish called Com Chay, which is crispy fried scorched rice topped with a starchy sauce of goat meat and vegetables, was very delicious!
I didn't eat the fruit, but it looked like a fig.
Still, it's all about the goat.
Hang Múa(Mountain climbing, etc.)
Speaking of Ninh Binh, Tam Coc and Trang An are famous, but since the boats seemed difficult for children, I looked for places that children could go to and had good scenery, and this is the place I found.
At first, I carried the child, but I reached my limit and switched with my husband.
Actually, it seemed like you could climb even higher, but the footing was bad and I judged it to be quite dangerous while carrying a child, so we stopped here, but we were able to see a very beautiful view.
Also, besides the mountain,
there are many highlights such as the sight of lotus flowers spreading all over, and I think people with children can enjoy that part.
*Please climb the mountain with children at your own risk. It was quite hard even for adults, and there are no handrails, so please be careful.
I was drenched in sweat from climbing the mountain, so I went back to the hotel to take a shower,
and after that, I took advantage of the hotel's complimentary afternoon tea.
This Vietnamese coffee was so rich and delicious.
Thảo Béo Restaurant(Ninh Binh Vietnamese Cuisine)
The restaurant we went to for dinner.
You can also enjoy Ninh Binh specialties and Vietnamese dishes at this restaurant.
The inside was spacious and open, and it seemed like it was mostly tourists.
Also, the shrimp in coconut cream was rich and flavorful. It goes great with rice.
The female staff member was very warm, the food was delicious,
and I would love to visit again when I come back to Ninh Binh ^^
After that, we relaxed at the hotel, and the next morning we headed to the Ninh Binh airport by car.
Extra Edition (Honest Thoughts)
To be honest, one night was not enough! lol
And since I also wanted to go to Tam Coc and Trang An, I thought I'd like to go again when the kids are a little older.
However, it has good access from Hanoi,
and it was a wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and refresh in the greenery!
Well then, next up is the Laos/Luang Prabang edition.