The friendliness of Vietnamese hoteliers is downright supernatural, I don't know how they do it. But among the dozen places I stayed this trip, I liked the staff at Ngoc Anh the best. Extremely friendly, helpful, and informed. I travel for a living and know a well run hotel when I see one. And for a useful bonus they spoke probably the best English of any hotel I encountered. Breakfast was generous, room was clean, location was in actual Ninh Binh, not out in the tourist colony by Tam Coc. I highly recommend Ngoc Anh and will stay there again if I go back.