Chinese poet Tao Qian, also known as Tao Yuanming, composed an extraordinary essay describing an oriental utopia with delicate descriptions. The essay < Peach Blossom Spring > depicts an ethereal place in his imagination. Prince Anpyeong in the early Joseon dynasty had a dream about going to Peach Blossom Land, and had court painter An Gyeon draw the dream. It’s the famous ‘Mongyudowondo.’ It’s not just Tao Qian or Prince Anpyeong that wishes to have an idyllic life in paradise. People all have their own paradise dreams inside of them. In Vietnam, there’s an actual place for these people. It is Ninh Binh province.

Ninh Binh is located 93km to the south of the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. It is considered to be one of the best tourist destinations near Hanoi due to the fact that a two-hour drive from the capital will take you there. With the Trang An Landscape Complex in the Red River Delta, dubbed ‘Inland Halong Bay,’ Hang Mua Peak offering a stunning view of the mysterious land, and Hoa Lu full of remnants of an ancient Vietnamese capital, Ninh Binh is indeed a treasure island where multicolored jewels and gems give off endless sparkles over the bountiful nature and historic sites.

The rowing boat tour exploring karst grottoes of odd shapes along the river surrounded with towering limestone peaks is a highly recommended activity in Ninh Binh. You can come across a wide variety of flora and fauna because biodiversity in this region is well-preserved. Karst grottoes offer a chance to observe traces of natural history from a close distance. Some grottoes are just tall enough for a boat to pass. Trang An and Tam Coc are both beautiful and full of amazing sights, but Trang An is bigger and has a longer boat route. Tam Coc requires an hour or so while Trang An takes two to three hours for the boat ride. The Trang An Landscape Complex was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

Looking down from high up, Ninh Binh presents an unrivaled scenery. Green rice patches and the winding river interwoven with the karst terrain made over thousands of years inspire deep awe. Faced with the grandeur of nature and perseverance of time, people finally put down their woes and try to find peace. The moment of profound comfort in the arms of Hang Mua is how nature gives us a pat on the back for having traveled a long distance despite our daily struggles and anguish and probably why we continue to travel.

The best way to travel around Hoa Lu is by walking slowly and taking time to explore the historic sites. Walking through the arched gate and red-brick courtyard with caution, you can imagine what it would have been like a thousand years ago. Perhaps the old climbing plants covering the surface are the only clue to your imagination. You can also visit a temple built in honor of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, Emperor Le Dai Hanh, and Empress Duong Van Nga. If you are not sure about walking or if you’re getting tired from the walk, you can use a motorbike tour service that can be easily spotted near tourist attractions.

Ao Giai Lake has an ever-changing beauty fitting for its reputation of ‘a secret oasis’ cut off from the outside world due to the soaring walls of mountains. When the sun rises above the horizon, the green moss covering the bottom of the lake makes Ao Giai appear jade green. In the early morning and on a humid day, a white fog wraps around the air, giving a dreamy effect. In summer big, voluminous water lilies cover the lake. You will find a pagoda and a cave while strolling along the lake. Am Tien Pagoda, featuring 200 steps to the entrance, is a cave pagoda, where religious rituals were held including Buddhist ceremonies since the time of Hoa Lu ancient capital. Empress Duong Van Nga turned to religion in her later years and spent the rest of her life practicing Buddhism.

A speckless blue sky, crisp green forest, clear lake with a power to wash away every worldly concern, innocent chirping of birds, and quiet yet resilient flowers under the fog. Walking in Ninh Binh and letting the wind gently sway you, you can say goodbye to your complicated thoughts as you would blow away dandelion puffs.