The Tam Coc Boat Trip and the Bich Dong Pagoda

We are in a homestay in Ninh Binh. Hai, the owner and his wife are very kind and helpful. We have the nicest room so far in Vietnam. Food is great as well.
We got here with a bus from Cat Ba. It took about 5 hours to reach the town.
The bus station we arrived in Ninh Binh knew our homestay, so they called him and they picked us up at the station.
They served us with most authentic Vietnamese home food for dinner.
Getting a car with a driver for 18 euros per day is definately worth it. Hai's cousin drives for us, takes us to places, pick us up, drives us home fo lunch, etc...

We visited Tam Coc this morning. We teamed up with a German tourist to share a boat. We were cruising for almost two hours on very calm waters. Because we arrived early we avoided the highlight tour groups that came from Hanoi. The landscape was spectacular. Lakes and fields all around and huge green mountains and gray rocks. The path went through caves. The local "driver" was controlling the boat with two pedals which he moved with his feet.

Then we drove to the Bich Dong Pagoda. The cave temple complex consists of three pagodas: on the lower, middle and upper level.