The historical province of Ninh Binh comprises of three different types of landscape - wetlands, coastal delta and uplands - and is endowed with many places of interest for tourists such as Tam Coc-Bich Dong Grotto, Cuc Phuong National Park and Van Long Nature Reserve.

Central Vietnam has another world heritage site to add to its list, and the tourism payoffs are already obvious. Visitor numbers to the Phong Nha Grotto are up just two weeks after being listed by UNESCO and there are signs things will only get better. All this is welcome news for Quang Binh, home to the grotto and one of the region’s poorest provinces. Ngoc Son reports on how, once again, developing a viable and well-supported tourism industry can change the fortunes and the lives of local people.