Lushy green rice paddy fields ripe and turn lucratively into fields of golden yellow every year in May in Ninh Binh, Vietnam. Nicknamed the ‘Ha Long Bay on Land,’ Ninh Binh is absolutely breathtaking. The province stretches across the mountainous valley 90 kilometers south of Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi.

Ninh Binh is a Vietnamese secret and boasts some of the most majestic views in the country.  Home to thousands of limestone formations and meandering rivers through rice paddy fields, globe trotters consider it the most picturesque province in the country, topping Ha Long Bay and the country’s beach scenery in the south. There are temples, lakes, caves and authentic towns to visit with hiking treks, bamboo boat ride and bike rides around the region to offer its visitors a glimpse into the ever-dynamic landscapes and the rural lifestyle of this countryside.

At the northern tip of Ninh Binh province, is Hoa Lu, the last reminisce of Vietnam’s ancient capital. The village is marked by a row of orange rooftops along the river and ruined relics from the past. Rugged temple architecture lays in the foreground with grottoes in the back. The valley celebrated its 1050^th birthday at the end of April with its Hoa Lu Festival, a water possession festival where locals dance on the streets in traditional clothing and perform a series of unicorn dance. Besides visiting Ninh Binh during its famous festivals, the best way to experience Vietnamese religious culture is a visit to Trang An, famous for a central temple built on an island in an emerald color lake. The site is deemed as one of the best UNESCO sites in Vietnam, best explored by boats across its serene water.

Twenty minutes drive, south of Trang An, down a sleepy and resting path between the rice paddies, is the famous Mua Cave. The cave seems merely just another hilly walk until you reach its top. Landmarked by a 6-storey pagoda, the mountain top offers a panoramic view of Ninh Binh and an impressive birds-eye-view of the gold, ripening rice paddy fields. Dragons which encircle the mountain, will guide you to the peak through its caves and limestone overhangs.

The province hosts more landmarks between the rugged mountains and calm rivers. Bich Dong Pagoda is secretively hidden among the rain-forest on a rocky island with tall mountains captured in the background. The Thung Nham Bird Garden and the Van Long Nature Reserve is a painted canvas where wildlife is found among a green space of trees, wetlands and reflective lakes. The exotic scenery is a harmonious combination between the natural world and ancient architecture.  One thousand and fifty years ago when Ninh Binh was discovered, the waters were still. One thousand and fifty years from now, Ninh Binh’s panorama will still be poetic as it always has been.