4 / 5 - One review
How to get there
30km by bus from Ninh Binh
When to go
From November to April (note: it's never very hot)
Minimum stay
One day
Birthplace of Vietnamese Catholicism, Phat Diem greets the visitor with a colonial air. The town suprised me, with its blend of Buddhist and Catholic architecture. All in all, this was one of the most beautiful regions I visited in Northern Vietnam!
Phat Diem's surroundings will charm you. Surrounded by countryside, you'll be plunged into rural Vietnam, a million miles away from the frenzy of its big towns.
You'll only need a few hours to tour the town... But add a couple of days more, so you can explore its surrounds. I spent two days in the region and slept at Ninh Binh, which is a practical base for local activities and has a good selection of places to stay.