The Bananas Tree

That 10am tour with Dat was such a good day. The views were unbelievable, the climb up for sunset was amazing, and the boat ride through the caves was lovely. Lunch was great too. Dat's a legend, and we'll miss him. I beat him at pool, though, and he wasn't pleased 😂

I was surprised to find a Tam Coc restaurant where you can sit, have a drink, and look out over the whole river. With a view like that, especially in Ninh Binh, I thought the prices were incredibly cheap and very reasonable compared with Hanoi and other places I've visited. The food tastes properly Western, too. Staff said the chefs had been sent abroad to train in European cuisine, which explains how good it was. People from abroad who call it expensive may not realize what the owner pays each month for such a prime spot in Tam Coc. I stayed opposite, where a room with the same view was 3millions per night. I'll definitely return and bring more friends when I travel from Hanoi to Tam Coc.

The motorbike tour around ninh binh was amazing, and our guide Dat made it even better. He was fun, knew so much, and took time to get to know everyone, which made the experience feel personal and meaningful. You can tell how much he loves his country and wants to share it. I'm grateful he got to share it with our group 🫶. Fantastic tours and accommodation.

My favourite hostel by far across south east Asia. The food was incredible, though there weren't Vietnamese options, and the staff were so, so friendly. The rooms were clean and laid out nicely, with a good bathroom, all at a great price. There's a sociable common area, an outdoor pool, and a lively bar.