Ninh Binh has the pace of a large country town – a welcome respite if you`ve just escaped the bustle of Hanoi.

 Apart from the scrum of guesthouse owners greeting the trains, and the charming chorus of `Hello, how are you` from the local children, you`ll largely be left alone as you wander the quiet streets.

The surrounding countryside is gorgeous, confirming all the postcard fantasies of what Vietnam has to offer – water buffalos, golden-green rice paddies, majestic limestone for­mations and more. There are plenty of sights in the vicinity to justify a stay of several days. The only place of interest in the town itself is a large modern east-meets-west Cathedral (Ð Hoang Hoa Tham) near the train station.

The best of backpacker culture can be experienced here. While not a difficult place to visit, Ninh Binh seems to attract interesting travellers with a zest for new experiences. It`s a great place to make travel buddies.