Ninh Binh among 12 “coolest movie filming locations” in Asia: US magazine

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the US$190-million film was shot in Trang An limestone complex, Van Long Lagoon and Tam Coc, where limestone karst mountains rise out of the waters.

Travel Leisure wrote: "The Ninh Binh area is known as the inland cousin of Ha Long Bay. Scenically similar, though significantly smaller, it has far fewer visitors. The Trang An area where scenes were shot is listed as part of a UNESCO World Heritage area, which has several unique Buddhist pagodas and temples."

Situated around two hours from Hanoi, Ninh Binh was home to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu during the reign of the Dinh Dynasty (968-980) and was overlooked by foreign tourists for years until "Kong: Skull Island" was filmed there, giving it a global reputation.

The other Asian filming locations worth a visit include Cambodia's Siem Reap, the Republic of Korea's Busan, India's Khempur, Thailand's Krabi province, Singapore, Indonesia's Bali, the Maldives, and Japan's Tokyo.