03/09/2026
‘Beneath the Dragon’
Ascending the 500 stone steps to the limestone peak of Lying Dragon Mountain in Ninh Binh, Vietnam rewards visitors with a breathtaking view of Tam Coc valley and Mua Cave. It was late morning in July, the temperature had climbed past 30 degrees and the air was heavy. Reaching the top I paused to catch my breath and capture the natural beauty & scale of a majestic place where time slows down. Every shot slow, considered, intentional. One roll of CineStill Film 400D and 12 opportunities with my Holga 120, the perfect lightweight travel companion.
My family and I were booked on a cruise around Halong Bay, but the weather gods had other plans in mind with a typhoon expected to hit the area overnight. With some help from the lovely staff at our Hanoi hotel, and our Lonely Planet guidebook, we changed plans last minute and made our way to beautiful Ninh Binh. Arriving to expansive rice paddies, rivers and remote villages at the feet of evergreen mountains is enough to take your breath away. Our stay here at the incredible Nham Village Resort was so special, and the highlight of an unforgettable trip🌿