Booking intercity buses

Vexere.com is a really great website/app for this. The services are extensive, cheap, and reasonably seamless if you’re willing to dive into the fine print a bit. Always read the policies to check if bicycles are allowed. Some companies also offer door to door pick up & drop off for a very low extra fee (like an extra $2-$3 NZD)

Accommodation

For almost all our accommodation we found that we could just rock up and ask if there were rooms, although we did do a bit of filtering for reviews, free breakfasts, and pools on Google Maps and Booking.com first. Everywhere in the Ninh Binh province was cycle friendly, being very used to cycle tourers; although storage often meant just unlocked alongside the dozen other rented bicycles and motorbikes lining the courtyard.

• Hanoi: Lake View Backpackers (mostly 18yo British lads on tour, rooftop pool is of questionable sanitation), Dream Cental Hotel & Spa (yes this is how it’s spelt, the location is indeed very central everything else is decidedly tired & average, but affordable)
• Trang An: I can’t find the place on Google Maps anymore! Perhaps Michelle will remember. But this was the most magical, fabulous place. It had an incredible view of the karsts across a field (river?) of lotus flowers, warm friendly guests.
• Cúc Phương: Hotel Mebi, the main drawcard was the pool, and while it was otherwise nothing to write home about, it was slim pickings in this area and it felt welcoming and friendly.
• Tam Cốc: Moon An Bungalow & Cafe, another delightful family-run place, with an excellent honeymoon suite.

Other vendors

• Ninh Binh Bike Rental: This guy was great! It was 100,000 VND (around $6.50) per bike per day for a hard tail and that included helmet, top tube bag, lock (flimsy but adequate/unnecessary for this region which seems to have virtually no bike theft as locals just leave them around anywhere). My gears were a bit clunky but did the job, and Michelle's rear gears didn't at all so we went back and he fixed it immediately.