Ninh Binh - a necessary evil for most, the perfect stopover for us....
November 6th 2012 That Ninh Binh is not a destination in itself was no suprise, as it is the attractions around it, like Hoa Lu, Chua Bai Dihn and Tam Coc that draw tourists here. But we were mostly just excited (after the super-touristy Halong Bay) to finally be making our own way, and to be on the road on a local bus. Local buses in Vietnam (as in much of the developing world), always have room for one more passe
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The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forc... ... read more 
