Ninh Binh has been named among the best destinations where to book for an off-beat trip next year, according to a list released by Woman and Home, a monthly lifestyle magazine for women.

Ninh Binh 

According to Woman and Home,a little-visited but truly spectacular area in northern Vietnam, Ninh Binh is on the up. Its azure river has karst rock formations, scattered with caves and topped with lush green foliage, and is a serene place for a slow cruise in a small boat. Summertime sees the landscape turn golden as the rice fields change color in the burning sun.

Nanterre in France tops the list, followed by Oslob in Philippines, Ninh Binh in Vietnam, Nitra in Slovakia, Kaikoura in New Zealand.

Earlier, Vietnam’s northern province of Ninh Binh has been listed at the first position in the 50 best spots to visit in 2018 by US travel site Insider. Insider suggests visitors try the full experience by gliding along the river that runs between paddy fields in a traditional boat, explore caves in Cuc Phuong National Park, and visit ancient temples and palaces in the area.

Located 90km to the south of Hanoi, Ninh Binh is often overlooked by tourists. It is sometimes referred to as “Ha Long Bay on land”, given the green mountains that rise out of its paddy fields.

Ninh Binh was one of the three locations for the movie Kong: Skull Island, one of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters of 2017.

Ninh Binh province has received more than 7 million visitors in 2017, earning a turnover of nearly VND2.5 trillion (US$110 million), according to Ninh Binh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The growth of tourist arrivals to Ninh Binh in 2012 – 2017 averaged at 14% per year and the turnover rose 27% on average, according to Tong Quang Thin, vice chairman of the Ninh Binh People’s Committee.

Ninh Binh is drafting a tourism master plan until 2025 with vision to 2030. Under the plan, tourism will become a key economic sector of the province by 2025. The province aims to receive 7.6 million visitors by 2020.

Hanoitimes