Tam Coc looks like one of those experiences you get from theatres. There are vast rice fields and karstic rocks that surround the Ngo Dong River, and as you’re sailing through it, you can be assured of genuine goosebumps from living the dream of natural beauty and exploration. The locals refer to this town as “ Halong bay on land”., and once you get a tour of this fantastic land, you will surely understand and feel like you can relate to their definition.
Tam Coc is mostly appraised for its lazy-rowing boat rides that offer a relaxing scene with natural exploration, that is, aside from the limestone nodes that protrude between the rice fields. It is a land of wonder and joy. The name Tam Coc means the three caves including Hang Ca, Hang Hai & Hang Ba in Vietnamese and is situated only about 90 km from Hanoi. The town has grown into one of the best tourist attractions in Vietnam.
How to get there
If you are driving from Hanoi, it will take you about 2,5 hours down the road, so you better have the right mixtape to ensure that the road trip is as exciting as the tour will be. You can also consider an affordable tour in Halong Bay and take the public bus from the beautiful island of Cat Ba to Tam Coc or Ninh Binh.
Which is the best time to visit?
The most appropriate season of touring Tam Coc is summer time ( from the end of April to the beginning of May when the rice turns from green to golden colour).
What you can do in Tam Coc ?
👉 Tam Coc Boat Tour
Tam Coc offer us with pristine scenery of deserted limestone mountains along the rivers & impressive caves that you can view from a rowing boat.The lovelier your chances of experiencing the boat tours which are different from the ones in Halong Bay. The price of the 1,5-hour trip is about 200,000 VDN (around $9) which is definitely worth the spent money! Quiet, relaxed, pleasant & beautiful are the words that we normally hear from our customers about this place. Boat trip in Tam Coc offers you the view of rice fields & authentic farming activities along the river banks : fish catching, rice planting, ploughing with buffaloes or harvesting. You can see golden rice fields surrounded by limestone mountains very beautiful.
Don’t forget to buy a hat on a sunny day because it can get scorching once you’re on the river. And please take note: The tip is optional ( you tip them when you are satisfied with their service), but we suggest you should clients tipping them around 3-4usd/1 boat as a thank to them.When they are happy & so you are !
👉 Bich Dong Pagoda
After getting a taste of Tam Coc river, you shouldn’t dare miss the Pagoda nearby. Built in 1428 and situated on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain, it’s just a 10-minute pleasant drive with a motorbike. The unique of Bich Dong Pagoda is the perfect combination of ancient pagodas with cross-covered roofs, natural caves and majestic mountains, and so on, hidden in the green of tropical forests. All of them create the panoramic view of wonder called “Bich son bat canh” (An astonishing place gathers enough eight beauties of the country).
👉 Biking around Tam Coc
If you’re not a big fan of boats and maybe looking for something a little bit more special or physical, you can consider biking around the Bich Dong area thus assuring you of a better view and wide range of experiences. While driving a motorbike in Vietnam may be termed as dangerous, these areas are so quiet that you shouldn’t be stressed out on the matter!
Mua Cave
Mua Cave is lying at the foot of Mua mountain. The way leading to the cave formed by a long stone staircase zigzags through the karst, there are nearly 500 steps to a simple altar to Quan Am (the Goddess of Mercy). Standing on the top of Mua Mountain, visitors will admire the most magnificent scenery. In May and June, the entire landscape of paddy fields is minimized in your view.
