Ninh Binh is known for an area called Tam Coc, where limestone karsts that surround the banks of the river. This resort offers accommodations in a magical, colorful setting.

From the resort, you'll leave to take boating tours of the Trang An or Tam Coc rivers. Tam Coc is a popular destination, and you can check out the nearby Trang An for similar scenery with fewer crowds. Trang An also has a network of caves and a few interesting temples. You’ll climb aboard a boat with a seasoned rower — they often maneuver the paddles with their feet instead of their hands. Along the way, you'll see grazing livestock and misty cemeteries and pass through caves. Be sure to plan a stop by nearby Bich Dong Pagoda, which is built into the side of a limestone formation.

Exposed beams and claw-foot tubs make the accommodations here feel like luxurious cabins. All of the rooms come outfitted with LCD cable TVs and Wi-Fi. Help yourself to the minibar. Rooms at Emeralda have upscale bathrooms, which are equipped with hair dryers and bathtubs.

There is a poolside bar with a thatched roof and a wine bar indoors. Visitors can choose from the hotel’s two restaurants — one specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, and the other has French and Western options. The fitness room gets plenty of natural light with its floor-to-ceiling windows and overlooks the pool. Head to the spa for a massage or a skin treatment. In addition to treatment rooms, the spa area has a sauna, a steam room, and a salon.

On-site entertainment includes mini golf and a karaoke room. Guests can also rent bikes and do a little self-guided exploration of the surrounding grounds — take yourself on a pleasant ride to the rustic fish pond. Guests can spend some spare time splashing in the hotel’s two pools. Both pools are quite long, and the indoor pool is heated in the wintertime. Traveling with youngsters? Introduce them to the hotel’s fun play area.

Business travelers can choose from three spacious event rooms. There’s a ballroom as well as two meeting rooms.