I had a one-day stopover in Vietnam where the preparations for Tet were visible, even  in small shops.

i decided to take a trip to Hoal Lu/ Ninh Binh the site of the ancient capital of Vietnam under the Dinh and Le dynasties

The valley of Hoa Lu is a rather narrow plain set among karst limestone mountains. Access is through a picturesque road which meanders among high hills and rivers. The strategic assets of the site are obvious. Nowadays, the plain is dominated by the two temples to the Dinh and Le kings.

The temple to the Dinh kings, mainly to Dinh Bo Linh who set up the capital on this site, is the more elaborate of the two. It is a complex of courtyards where traditional festivities are still held

Dinh Bo Linh is revered for unifying the country after the civil war period known as the time of the Twelve Warlords. The present complex dates from the 18th century but has been extensively renovated

A glimpse of the temple of the Le Dynasty (Le Dai Hanh) 

Not too far from Hoa Lu, near Ninh Binh City are the famous Three Caves (Tam Coc)

Known as the inland Ha Long, visitors can discover this fantastic landscape by taking a small boat which will take you on a river trip through the three caves

And then back to Hanoi to the Hoa Binh Hotel, a colonial era hotel near Ho Guom.