Life Of Local People In Ninh Binh. 

Ninh Binh is a Vietnamese tourist destination that is quickly gaining popularity for its breathtaking natural landscapes and rich cultural sights. Located just about 2 hours south of Hanoi, we can offer an easy Ninh Binh day tour from the capital city, Hanoi. From the riverboat in Tam Coc to trekking through Hoa Lu’s ancient dynastic capital, Ninh Binh satisfies any traveler’s sense of adventure. It’s undeniable to say that Ninh Binh is a must-visit destination when we travel to Vietnam, especially the local people here. We have to appreciate their work that fully makes all the wonderful things in Ninh Binh. Because of them, we have a beautiful landscape that we can experience in an authentic way.

Population

Ninh Binh is a small town in Vietnam with moderately less population than major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The province, based on the latest estimates, has a population of 970,000 people in 8 districts and cities. While the province is largely rural, there are a number of urban centers which have developed over the past decade. The most significantly developed city is Ninh Binh city where a lot of tourists visit and help the economy thrive nowadays. 

In addition, while metropolitan areas are being taken over by richest sectors of trade and services, agriculture still remains essential in rural life (having its main weight on both economy and way of living for population rings surrounding those cities). 

Ethnic groups in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is the homeland of various ethnic groups, though it is primarily dominated by the Kinh people, who occupied more than 98% of the population. This ethnic has been shaping the cultural and social norms of the region. As well as the Kinh, there are several smaller groups such as the Muong, Tay,.. who also contribute to the diversity of the province. 

In particular, the Muong maintains traditional practice in agriculture and forestry. Their presence is the most significant in the more remote mountainous regions. The Muong is well-noticed when they have preserved unique languages, customs and festivals in Ninh Binh, enhancing the richness of its local culture and diversity. 

Character of local people (friendly and welcoming)

When mentioning the beauty of the local people in Ninh Binh, we will probably be impressed by their warmth, friendliness and hospitality. Tourists coming to this land are welcomed by the warmth of the local people. Ninh Binh people welcome guests extremely openly and generously, and you will not be able to resist the attraction of people in the countryside who have a slow pace of life but are extremely relaxing and comfortable. 

The people in Ninh Binh totally respect spiritual values. They often live in a crowded neighborhood and they are all extended families. Therefore, sometimes when holidays or important occasions take place, they will gather the whole neighborhood together to enjoy local meals and celebrate the holiday. As a tourist, if you visit their residence, you will also be invited by them to attend as well as share about their normal life in Ninh Binh.

Although it is located close to the capital Hanoi, Ninh Binh is still a province that maintains rural beauty. The people here are deeply connected to their land, and pass it on to future generations to develop agricultural traditions. This connection is the biggest reason affecting their outlook in life, which often associates them with simplicity, hard work and respect for the surrounding environment. 

Living costs, daily meals, income (how to earn money)

In fact, Ninh Binh offers a low cost of living compared to many larger cities in Vietnam even though its tourism industry has been developed due to the majority of tourists. As you can see, daily expenses for local people here are affordable, especially in rural areas where the families are able to grow their own farms and provide supplies by themselves. They do not usually depend on markets for essentials because of that. The average cost of housing, food and traffic is significantly lower than urbanization, making their lives more sustainable that they can rely on agriculture and small-scale trade. 

For the incomes, it varies greatly between cities and rural areas. Farming is the most important source of income for local people. Rice is the dominant crop and most of them have a tradition of growing rice for generations. They provide rice not only for their families but also for local markets to make ends meet. In recent years, there has also been an increase of fruits and vegetables, as well as livestock such as pigs, chickens. All of these have been enlarging their income. 

Besides, for last decades, tourism industry has been thriving due to several gorges destinations such as Tam Coc, Bai Dinh Pagoda and Trang An, so Ninh Binh’s local people have already found work as tour guides, homestay operators, or some small businesses like restaurant, boat riding,…which has provided a boost to their incomes.

Normal meals of local people

For daily meals, like all Vietnamese people, rice is their staple food. They often eat rice with a variety of vegetables, meats and fish. If you come to any house of local people, you can see that they all have a typical meal which might include steamed rice, green vegetables, grilled or fried meats and fish depending on their flavor on that day. They usually eat pork due to its affordable price, sometimes they have chicken and perhaps they eat beef when they have guests. Actually, local people are often served simple meals with fresh ingredients provided by themselves and interestingly, food can be given by their neighbors. 

Despite being simple, meals are important for Ninh Binh’s local people. It’s time for families to gather and connect after a long day of hard work, especially in the evening. For Vietnamese, in general, dinner is not only a way to nourish the body but also maintain the valuable connection between each generation. Therefore, they appreciate everything on the meals and always have time to dine with their families.

Let’s book your flight and join our trip in Ninh Binh with Trang An Ecorest Resort and explore all aspects in the life of local people here.

Hoài Linh

Image (internet)