Ninh Binh

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Picture the scene … on a boat going down the river at Hoa Lu-Ninh Xuan rowed by an elderly Vietnamese man … darkness was beginning to fall and the boat stopped a few times and we both had the same thought … is there a defib… how do we perform cpr on a very unstable boat in murky water … oh no need he’s getting out a feedback form ..🤣🤣😂which was passed down the boat to be completed and demanding ‘10’s. Unsure at this point in the pitch black whether this was a hostage demand and if we didn’t would we ever get back to land !! We did eventually … The rest of the day fades into insignificance after this adventure but we did go through some amazing caves on the river , glad our guide had mentioned on the coach some caves would need us to duck .. good job because I am not sure the boatman would have said …

Today I remembered why group tours are frustrating … why talk loudly when the tour guide is trying to explain things and why are you exempt from coming back to the coach time allocated to everyone else !!

Hence the boat trip in the dark ! Thank you !! Ggrrr

Started the day by almost dying walking up 500 steps up … omg the view were good at the top but me oh my 34 floors climbed…, uneven steps but hey we did it ! At Hoa Lu- Ninh Xuan

Next a buffet lunch , had better but some nice prawn crackers …

The Trang ang pagodas were incredible , the huge Buddha and lady Buddha simply stunning and a bell you can hear from 10km away when rung for New Year .

A night in the Trang Ang bungalow homestay made a peaceful evening unfortunately the food wasn’t great but lovely accommodation

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