Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda — Southeast Asia's largest pagoda complex

Visit Cuc Phuong National Park — Vietnam's oldest national park (primates, caves, ancient trees)

Explore Hoa Lu — the 10th-century capital of Vietnam with two ancient temples

Trang An boat tour — a larger complex with more caves and routes, UNESCO listed (~$6–8)

Try goat meat — the local specialty of Ninh Binh