Ninh Bình wins world tourist honour

US travel site Insider has named Việt Nam’s northern province of Ninh Bình as one of the 50 best spots to visit in 2018.

The honour reflects the province’s mesmerising mix of rivers, limestone cliffs and paddy fields

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

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

Insider suggests visitors try the full experience by gliding along the river that runs between paddy fields in a traditional boat, explore caves in Cúc Phương National Park, and visit ancient temples and palaces in the area.

The Insider’s 2018 list spans Europe and includes some of the world’s biggest cities, such as Buenos Aires, Chicago, London, Mexico, New Orleans and New York. In Asia, it recommends Singapore, Sichuan in mainland China, Indonesia’s Raja Ampat Islands and Taipei