tam coc travel guide

Tam Coc: Ultimate Visiting Guide 2024

Tam Coc is one of my favourite places I visited during my month-long trip throughout Vietnam.

It’s popular amongst backpackers like me because it’s cheaper than the closeby Ninh Binh, but offers pretty much the same experience.

If you’re considering visiting or already have your trip booked, I’ve created a complete guide with everything you need to know before visiting.

Where Is Tam Coc?

Tam Coc is a small town in the north of Vietnam in the Ninh Binh province. You’ll see it written as Tam Cốc on signs in Vietnam.

It’s about 7km outside the city of Ninh Binh and it’s popular amongst budget travellers because it’s where most of the hostels are – that’s the reason I stayed there.

When you think of Ninh Binh, you imagine nature and peacefulness with those huge jungle-topped limestone landscapes. In reality, Ninh Binh itself is a city, but Tam Coc is a small town in and amongst all of that beautiful nature.

Tam Coc is often nicknamed the “inland Halong Bay” and having visited both, I agree. I even prefer it to Ha Long Bay – it’s much quieter and still has that sense of tranquillity you should get when you’re amongst nature, but is lost in so many places thanks to its popularity.

The town is part of the Trang An Landscape Complex UNESCO Site , which I think speaks to just how beautiful it really is.

How To Get To Tam Coc

The easiest way to get to Tam Coc is to make your way to Ninh Binh.

No matter where you are in Vietnam, you will always be able to get to Ninh Binh. The country is incredibly well-connected, and you can go anywhere from anywhere.

There are two main options, trains or buses . While I usually travelled by bus in Vietnam, I opted for a sleeper train since I was going overnight to Ninh Binh from Phong Nha (Dong Hoi).

The sleeper trains are an experience in themself and I would recommend trying one at least once during your trip.

Once you get to Ninh Binh, it’s just a short taxi ride of about 10 minutes to Tam Coc. It should cost around 100k dong, so try to meet people on the train to split the fare with like I did.

You could also get a Grab, which is the equivalent of Uber in Vietnam .

Is Tam Coc Worth Visiting?

Yes, Tam Coc is definitely worth visiting.

I travelled in Vietnam from south to north, so I had spent a lot of time doing lots of activities in Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hue and a few other places, so a place to relax was a really welcomed stop for me.

It’s hard to put into words the atmosphere in the area. It’s so peaceful and even though there are obvious signs of humans, it still has an “untouched” sense to it.

I really really liked Tam Coc and I would go back in a heartbeat. I love the outdoors and nature so if you’re like me, it’s the perfect place for you.

And I didn’t even visit when the weather was nice. It was February and cloudy all the time, and I still loved it – which I think is a testament of how beautiful it really is.

If someone asked me for my top 3 destinations in Vietnam , Tam Coc would be in the running for sure.

How Many Days In Tam Coc?

Tam Coc isn’t a place you want to rush. It’s a place to relax, take it slow and spend a few days resetting.

I stayed in the town for 4 days and I felt like that wasn’t really long enough. Sure, I got to do most things, but not everything, and I didn’t have as much time to just chill as I wanted.

Honestly, if you can afford it time-wise, I would stay here for a week and just take it easy . If not, then like me, 4 days is enough time to see most things.

It’s hard to beat waking up with views worthy of a postcard each morning, having the opportunity to go for a walk through the rice fields and have a smoothie bowl in a garden to start the day.

Where To Stay In Tam Coc

When I visited Tam Coc, I stayed in Tam Coc Riverside Homestay and I would highly recommend it. As the name suggests, it’s a small homestay by the river in Tam Coc.

It has just one dorm room and a few private room options and I really enjoyed my stay. The free breakfast was tasty, I booked my bus to Cat Ba from the hostel, and I met some nice people – it has all the characteristics of a good hostel.

There’s something that my favourite hostel in Thailand and my favourite hostel in Vietnam have in common and that’s an owner that goes above and beyond.

The owner of the hostel, Nam, gives you a map and he annotates it with you, giving you all of the best things to do and their distance from the hostel.

I rented a bicycle every day to explore, but you can also rent a motorbike if you feel confident enough.

Book your stay at Tam Coc Riverside Homestay

Things To Do In Tam Coc

There are so many things to do in Tam Coc, and it would be impossible to list all of them. But to give you a rough idea, here are some of the best things to do.

1. Take a boat tour

It would be impossible to visit anywhere in the Ninh Binh region without taking a boat ride. It’s a must-do , no doubt about it.

I opted for the Trang An Boat Tour because I visited at a time of year when the rice paddies weren’t growing, but if you visit when they are green, then Tam Coc Boat Tour is the recommended route.

The boat rides last for a few hours and they take you through all of the limestone cliffs along the gorgeous turquoise-emerald water. It’s such a peaceful thing to do – and it will really leave you feeling like it is the inland Ha Long Bay.

I also saw lots of temples along the way as there were lots of stops throughout the ride, and we went through some really long caves too which was cool.

2. Hike up Mua Cave

Another must-do when in the area is to hike up Mua Cave.

I have a personal grudge against this place because I had my expensive camera set up on a tripod and a gust of wind knocked it over, breaking one of my lenses, but even with this grudge, I can’t deny how incredible the views are.

The cave itself is pretty underwhelming, but the view from the top is one of the best in Vietnam no doubt about it, even on a foggy day like I got.

The climb to the top doesn’t take too long either which is always nice. I went at sunrise and I had the place to myself for about 20 minutes which was a pinch-myself moment to say the least.

3. Visit Bich Dong Pagoda

Bich Dong Pagoda is a really cool and unique pagoda, one of the most unique I saw during my month in Vietnam.

It’s nestled into a limestone cliff and you go inside caves in the cliff as part of the pagoda. It also has free entry which is a bonus.

Make sure you are always dressed respectfully (shoulders and knees covered as a minimum).

4. Cycle through the countryside

What I love about Tam Coc is that everywhere is so picturesque. Past the attractions, past the famous views, past everything, it’s still so beautiful.

And one of the best ways to explore the area is on a bicycle. I hired a bicycle every day and I never planned to go anywhere, I just cycled wherever I felt like it.

It’s impossible to find a bad view here – everywhere looks like it could be a shot for a postcard, like this photo I took below.

5. Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries , so if you’re a history lover like me, it’s a place you can’t miss.

It felt kind of similar to Hue to me but also very different at the same time. It’s a bit of a journey from Tam Coc, but it’s so worth it.

There are lots of old buildings, temples, pagodas, bridges , etc. to see here. And if nothing else, the rice fields and limestone mountains are as pretty as always.

6. Walk through the rice fields

Anywhere in the countryside in Vietnam is filled with rice field paddies . It’s likely what you picture when you imagine Vietnam.

They’re so much nicer to look at than the fields we have back home in the UK, even when they’re out of season like when I visited in February.

The best time to see them is between March and June , which is when they’ll be growing and look even more scenic.

7. Go birdwatching

Thung Nham Bird Valley is a hidden gem in Tam Coc. Most people won’t visit, but it’s a great way to spend a few hours.

It’s a nature reserve with an opportunity to see hundreds of bird s and many different species. The entry price is 150k dong, so it’s pretty expensive by Vietnam’s prices, but it’s worth it.

On top of the wildlife-spotting opportunities, I really liked the landscapes here. There are pretty lakes and forests, and of course, limestone karsts.

8. Take a cooking class

When backpacking in Vietnam , I wanted to try and experience lots of new things and dive head-first into new cultures , as many backpackers do. I found one of the best ways to do this was through food.

Vietnam’s cuisine is delicious, there are so many amazing meals to try. And one of the best ways to learn more about the cuisine is to learn how to make the meals yourself.

My cooking class included learning how to make a Vietnamese pancake, spring rolls, chicken papaya salad and a fish dish. The best bit is I got to eat everything I made afterwards!

9. Hike in Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong National Park is a good bit away from Tam Coc, but it’s worth making your way there because it’s the largest nature reserve in Vietnam and the very first national park . I think this says enough about how incredible the area is.

If you liked the birdwatching, you will love this national park. It’s huge and you can see so many different types of wildlife here, as well as lots of different plants and greenery.

I really enjoy hiking, and there are lots of opportunities here, but I would recommend doing it with a guide so you see the best parts because the park is so big that it would take weeks to explore all of it.

10. Explore Ninh Binh City

While the main reason to visit Tam Coc is the nature, you should also spend a few hours in the city of Ninh Binh.

To be honest, there aren’t tons of things to do or a lot to see, but it’s still a nice place to walk around and see what you can find.

If nothing else, there’s a big massive supermarket named Go! which has really cheap snacks for a fraction of the price that they normally cost. I definitely stocked up for a week’s worth!

Below are some questions related to Tam Coc along with my answers to each question.

Tam Coc and Trang An are very similar and very close by. In fact, Tam Coc is considered part of the UNESCO Site of Trang An. When the rice fields are green, Tam Coc offers a better boat ride. At other times of the year, Trang An is better. But it’s always best to stay in Tam Coc town.

Between March and June is the best time to visit Tam Coc. The weather will be dry and warm and the rice paddies will be beginning to grow which is when they are most beautiful. It’s also not the busiest time of year so it will be affordable.

Tam Coc is known for its stunning landscapes like serene rivers surrounded by towering limestone karsts and of course, lush rice paddies. It’s often nicknamed the “Halong Bay on Land”.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, a complete guide to visiting Tam Coc.

As I said, it’s one of my favourite places in Vietnam and I love it there – I can’t wait to go back on my next trip.

It’s the perfect place to relax and reset, which is important to do especially if you’re travelling long term to avoid burnout.

Speaking of travelling long-term, there are plenty of other places I recommend visiting as part of the Banana Pancake Trail . Where will you go next?

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Josh Band is the founder of A Backpacker's World. He is a full-time traveller currently on a mission to visit every country in the world. As a full-time traveller, Josh knows exactly how to make the most of any trip and shares these tips with his readers. Josh mostly travels as a backpacker on a budget, so he is also an expert when it comes to getting the most of your money while travelling.

Tam Coc travel guide – boat tour & 6 highlights

Tam Coc (Tam Coc – Bich Dong) in Ninh Binh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in northern Vietnam. It is after Trang An the most popular attraction in the province. The most popular attraction here is a boat tour on the Tam Coc river, but you can also explore this beautiful area by bike.

Tam Coc boat tour

Things to do in tam coc.

• Best time visit Tam Coc
• How do you get there?

Getting around

Accommodation in tam coc.

With limestone mountains, vast rice fields and small rivers that run between them, Tam Coc can best be experienced with a quiet rowing boat trip. The boats are rowed by women and men who often use their legs and feet to row. They taught themselves this technique because they spend long days rowing and this way they can rest their arms. A boat trip takes you past rice fields and between huge limestone mountains with three small caves (Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba) that you sail through.

Unfortunately you have to be prepared for a number of persistent sellers. The boys you photograph ask for money for photos, and overpriced drinks and snacks are sold during and especially at the end of the river. Bring some water and food yourself and say clearly and politely “no” and show that you are not interested.

Location : Van Lam, Tam Coc, Ninh Binh ( Google Maps ) Tam Coc boat tour price : You can buy tickets at the port of Van Lam at the main entrance. You have two costs: entrance per person plus the costs for the boat.

• By boat : 150,000 VND
• Adults : 120,000 VND per person.
• Children (up to 1.40 meters): 60,000 VND per child. Children up to 3 years old are free.

Duration : 1.5 – 2 hours Opening hours : 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Number of people per boat : Maximum two people per boat. What to bring : Drinks and snacks. Protect yourself well against the weather. Take something with you on sunny days to protect yourself against the sun and something against the rain on rainy days.

Tam Coc is more than just a boat trip on the river. There are a host of other places of interest nearby or rent a bike to explore the area with high limestone mountains and rice fields.

1. Tam Coc boat tour

The biggest highlight is the Tam Coc boat tour, as mentioned before. Enjoy being paddled between the rice fields and the impressive karst mountains. Make sure to read the best time to visit Tam Coc , if you want to see the rice fields here on their best, with bright yellow or green colors.

2. Mua Cave

Mua Cave is no longer a hidden place, but now a tourist highlight. Nevertheless it is still of the best things to do in Ninh Binh and this viewpoint is definitely worth a visit, because the views you have here are amazing! Mua Cave is approximately 4 km from where the boats leave form the Tam Coc boat tour.

3. Bich Dong Pagoda

About 2 km from the port you will find the Bich Dong Pagoda . Through the iconic bridge you enter the small complex with a number of temples and a cave that you can visit. Admission is free but you pay a small fee to park your motorcycle or bicycle.

4. Thung Nham Bird Park

The Thung Nham Bird Garden is about 7 km from Tam Coc harbor. In this park you will find limestone mountains, many valleys and you can visit a number of caves, but the real highlight is the storks that fly back to their nests in the late afternoon.

5. Thai Vi Temple

Thai Vi Temple is an ancient temple from the 13th century and is located directly in the same village as the harbor for the boat trip (Van Lam).

6. Cycling in Tam Coc

Cycling in Ninh Binh is great, because the roads are flat, the scenery stunning and the traffic is low. Some of the best scenery for cycling can be found in Tam Coc. Enjoy biking through the rice fields with views of the impressive mountains in the background. Go more off the beaten track to discover the more rural countryside life of Vietnam. If you don’t like to bike around, you can also choose to rent a scooter.

7. Staying overnight in Tam Coc

Tam Coc is one of the best areas to look for an accommodation in Ninh Binh. Inside the Tam Coc village are some cozy accommodation, which is a lot better then the accommodation you will find in the main town, Ninh Binh City. But if you really are looking for something special, you should check the accommodation right on the countryside of Tam Coc. Here you can enjoy stunning views from your place on the rice fields, lotus lakes and impressive mountains.

8. Visit some of the attractions around Tam Coc

Tam Coc is also a great base to visit some of the other attractions in Ninh Binh. The Trang An boat tour is just 10 km from the Tam Coc boat tour port. The road between the two places is flat through the villages and along the coutnryside without much traffic. This makes it perfect for cycling or driving it by scooter. Also Hoa Lu , the ancient capital of Vietnam is located in that area. You can visit here some old temples in a beautiful location.

Van Long Nature reserve (25 km), a scenic wetland area full of births and Bai Dinh Pagoda (22 km), the biggest temple in Vietnam , can be visiting a bit further from Tam Coc.

Best time to vsit Tam Coc

The best time to visit Tam Coc is from mid-April to early June, during the rice harvest season. In April the rice fields are green and from the end of May to the beginning of June they turn yellow as they mature. But you can visit Tam Coc all year round and it is always impressive, but try to avoid September because there may be typhoons.

How to get there?

There are various 1-day and multi-day tours from Hanoi to Tam Coc. You will be picked up at your hotel in the old center of Hanoi and via a new highway you will be in Ninh Binh in 1.5 hours. You can also travel to Tam Coc yourself. With a tourist bus to Ninh Binh from Hanoi, Phong Nha or Halong Bay (Cat Ba), transportation is usually included to your accommodation in Ninh Binh city or Tam Coc. Ninh Binh also has a train station with connections to Hanoi, Dong Hoi (Phong Nha), Hue and Da Nang.

From Ninh Binh

If you travel with a local bus or train to Ninh Binh you have to travel from the city to Tam Coc. From Ninh Binh city to Tam Coc is about 7 km and it is best to take a taxi for this. When you stay in Ninh Binh city or somewhere in the countryside you can also visit Tam Coc by bike or scooter.

The landscape here is flat, so cycling through the rice fields is very nice. Drive at your leisure while enjoying the breathtaking view and the lush green colors. Bicycles can often be borrowed for free at your homestay or hotel and otherwise very cheap to rent. You can also rent a scooter or motorcycle to visit different places. Renting a scooter costs around 5 to 6 euros per day. The most comfortable option, especially if you want to travel a little further than Tam Coc, is to rent a car with driver for a day or go by taxi to the different sights in Tam Coc and beyond.

The accommodations in Tam Coc have been greatly improved in recent years to cater to tourists. You have a choice of regular hotels, homestays, bungalows and dreamy resorts among the rice fields with a great view. Tips for best accommodation in Tam Coc are:

• Tam Coc Rice Fields Homestay – From $ 14
• Tam Coc Westlake Homestay – From $ 19
• Tam Coc Melody Homestay – From $ 13
• Tam Coc Craft Homestay – From $ 15
• Tam Coc Tropical Homestay – From $ 16
• Gia Bao homestay – From $ 13
• Tam Coc Sunshine Homestay – From $ 19
• Tam Coc Nature – From $ 40
• Tam Coc Horizon Bungalow – From $ 40
• Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort – From $ 80

Alternatively you can also find a hotel or homestay in Ninh Binh city, Trang An or in the countryside between the rice fields.

Tam Coc tour

Interested to visit some of these highlights in this area of to do the Tam Coc boat tour? Check our combination tours, where you can visit Tam Coc with some of the other great sights you can find in Ninh Binh. There are also options to combine Tam Coc with Halong Bay or Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

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Local tip! You might like these experiences

Ninh Binh 2 day experience: Hoa Lu, Mua Cave, Tam Coc, cooking class & local market

• Learn more about the local culture and history at Hoa Lu and Bich Dong Pagoda.
• Enjoy a boat trip between rice fields and impressive mountains
• Visit a local market and join a cooking class
• Walk to the top for the best viewpoint in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh experience: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc boat trip & biking day tour from Hanoi

• Visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam
• Explore the rice fields and caves on a sampan boat through Tam Coc
• Discover the countryside of Ninh Binh by bike

Ninh Binh discover: Hoa Lu, Mua cave, Tam Coc & cycling day tour from Hanoi

• Learn more about the ancient history of Vietnam at Hoa Lu.
• Visit the best viewpoint of Ninh Binh at Mua Cave
• Enjoy a calm boat trip in Tam Coc with beautiful rice fields and impressive mountains
• Day trip from Hanoi by comfortable limousine van
• Destination: Ninh Binh
• By: Marnick Schoonderwoerd
• September 23, 2019
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Tam Coc: The Ultimate Guide to Vietnam’s Amazing Scenery

Tam Coc is a hidden gem in the northern province of Ninh Binh, where nature lovers and photographers can find their paradise. This spectacular destination offers a unique escape from the hustle and bustle of Vietnam’s major city. With its breathtaking rice paddies, soaring limestone cliffs and serene waterways, Tam Coc will enchant you with its beauty and elegance. Here are things you may know about Tam Coc - one of the best Vietnam tourist places!

Table of Contents:

Best time to visit Tam Coc

• Take a boat tour on Ngo Dong River

Visit Bich Dong Pagoda

Climb mua cave (hang mua), what to eat in tam coc.

Tam Coc, around 100km South of Hanoi, located in Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh province of Vietnam, is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. This is also a part of Trang An landscape complex- the UNESCO World Heritage. This charming landscape is characterized by towering limestone cliffs, peaceful waterways, and the most stunning rice paddies in Vietnam. The name "Tam Coc" means "three caves," which refers to the three natural caves that can be explored by boat, giving you an awe-inspiring experience.

The dry season in Tam Coc lasts from November to April. The weather during this period is chiller and drier. The rice paddies are also lush and green, giving a wonderful backdrop for visitors. All of these make dry season become the ideal time to visit this beautiful spot. Besides it, rainy season starts in May and lasts until October. Due to the high rainfall, outdoor activities like hiking and cycling may be more challenging due to muddy and slippery terrain. Although, in this season, there are fewer tourists and prices for accommodation and activities can be lower, making it more affordable to visit Tam Coc.

Things to do in Tam Coc

Take a boat tour on ngo dong river.

One of the must-try activities in Tam Coc is taking a boat tour along the Ngo Dong River, which allows visitors to explore the stunning karst formations and natural caves of Tam Coc. The boat tour typically lasts around two hours and includes a visit to the three main breathtaking caves called Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba. The views from the river are truly spectacular and come up with a unique perspective on the natural beauty of Tam Coc.

One more must-visit attraction in Tam Coc is Bich Dong Pagoda, which is located at the foot of a mountain and surrounded by surreal scenery. The pagoda consists of three levels, with the top level offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. You can also explore the nearby caves and take a leisurely stroll through the peaceful garden. Don’t miss out on this historical place when you visit Vietnam !

For those who are looking for a bit of adventure, climbing Mua Cave (Hang Mua) is an exciting option. The climb to the top of the mountain is challenging but rewarding, as visitors are greeted with breathtaking views of Tam Coc from the peak. There are also several viewpoints along the way, making the climb a great opportunity for photographers.

When you come to Tam Coc, do not miss the dish called “De nui’ which means Moutain goat. This famous dish has a variety of ways to make and you will find the best way to enjoy it. Com chay which means burned rice is also a must-try!

Tam Coc is a picturesque destination that should be on every travel lover’s list when exploring Vietnam. This beautiful spot will give you an unforgettable experience with its natural beauty, unique attractions and delicious cuisine!

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With limestone outcrops amid serene rice paddies, Tam Coc is best appreciated on a languorous rowing-boat ride, with the soundtrack of the river lapping against the oars.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real Tam Coc. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Bich Dong Pagoda

This charming sequence of cave temples is a couple of kilometres west of Ninh Hai village. The Lower Pagoda is located at the base, from which 100 steps…

Near the entrance to Tam Coc, Van Lan is famous for its embroidery. Local artisans make napkins, tablecloths, pillowcases and T-shirts. Bargain hard.

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Get to the heart of Tam Coc with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

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The ultimate Tam Coc travel guide

With limestone outcrops amid serene rice paddies, Tam Coc is best appreciated on a languorous rowing-boat ride, with the soundtrack of the river lapping against the oars. This is our super Tam Coc travel guide (Tamcoc Travel Guide, Tam Coc Ninh Binh Travel Guide) from how to get, best time to visit, what to do, where to stay.

Journey to Vietnam’s breathtaking historic countryside on this unforgettable adventure from Hanoi

Tam Coc is well – known for its poetic, peaceful but equally breathtaking scenes that easily captivate people’s hearts. Tam Coc has also some famous names such as “Ha Long Bay on land” or “Nam Thiên Đệ Nhị Động” (the second most beautiful cave in VietNam).

Take in the magical landscapes and caves of Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and more as you cruise down Tam Coc river

Tam Coc – Bich Dong currently has a total area of 350.3 ha, located 7km away from Ninh Binh and about 100 km away from Ha Noi. The whole area is a complex including limestone caves and historic relics that have been retained from the Tran dynasty of Vietnam. It’s location is in Ninh Hai, Hoa Lu and Ninh Binh province. Tam Coc – Bich Dong consists of approximately 20 spectacular sightseeings with exciting activities like yachting, cycling and walking.

Tam Coc, which means “three caves”, consists of Cả cave (the First cave), Hai cave (the Second cave), and Ba cave (the Third cave). All three are created by the Ngo Dong (Ngô Đồng) river that pierces through the mountain. The “Cả” cave is 127m in length, passing through a big mountain with many limestones in various forms; the mouth of cave’s width is over 20m. The second one is nearly 1km away from Ca cave with the length of 60m; and the ceiling of the cave has many strange stalactites. The third is 50m, being quite close to second cave; the ceiling is like a stone arch, and lower than the other two caves.

Enjoy a fun bicycle ride around Hoa Lu and see this historic location like a true local

If you want to see the golden color of ripe-rice fields, you should visit between lately May to early June. At that time, the scenery of rice field is so wonderful with lively colors. Besides, the best travel time is from January to March of the lunar calendar. Since the weather is good for sitting on a boat, visiting Tam Coc and enjoying the spring breeze. There are also many festivals taking place here so that you can combine with travelling or praying in New Year’s Eve.

When Is The Best Time To Travel To Tam Coc?

Must say Tam Coc every season is beautiful, each season brings its own beauty. But if you want to admire the lush, vibrant green rice fields that stretch across the stream, winding like a soft silk strip, giving you a fresh, immersed in the taste of The sky, the river, the nature, the occasion after Tet in January and February is the appropriate time.

If you want to admire a beautiful picture of nature with the mixed touches of yellow ripe rice, blending with the mountain green and far away from the torus by light-drifting boats, then dreamily The range of late May and early June – when the summer season is back is the right occasion to enjoy the beauty of Tam Coc.

Navigate through Tam Coc during a thrilling boat ride!

What Do You Need To Prepare Before Visiting Tam Coc?

A tourist experience in Tam Coc is that you can visit in the day from Hanoi. If you want to save time – start from the early morning and get the early morning air, just have a complete trip. Because Tam Coc is only 110 km away from the center of Hanoi. So it is only a few simple things to bring with you. Such as a thin coat when you go on a boat to a low temperature cave with steam. causes a cold feeling.

You can also bring extra boxes to use while sitting on the river. In addition, it is best to wear flat shoes to facilitate the movement and sightseeing comfort.

Visit Ninh Binh Province in Vietnam and witness the beauty of Tam Coc and Hoa Lu!

How Can You Go To Tam Coc?

The town of Ninh Binh is located about 60 miles south of Hanoi. There are three options to get to Ninh Binh – take a train, a bus, or hire a private driver. Or, of course, you can rent a motorbike and drive yourself (although driving in Vietnam is not for the faint of heart).

Tourist Bus

Tourist buses depart from Hanoi around 8:00am and will pick you up from your hotel if you stay in the Old Quarter. Tickets are typically around 160,000 – 250,000 VND ($7-11) per person depending on how luxurious a bus you want. The bus usually takes around 3 hours and makes one 20 minute stop to grab a snack and use the toilet.

We recommend booking bus tickets through Bookaway – there you can see all the bus and train options along with ratings and reviews.

If you’re feeling adventurous, local buses also depart regularly from Hanoi’s southern bus terminal, Giap Bat, but note that you may end up with less space and more stops than you planned for. If you take a local bus and want to visit Tam Coc, you’ll have to take a taxi from the station in Ninh Binh. (The aforementioned tourist buses stop in Tam Coc so you’ll avoid the extra taxi fare.)

There are 3 trains departing daily from Hanoi Station and include the SE5, SE7, and SE19. The trip takes about 2.5 hours, but keep in mind that trains in Vietnam are often late so don’t be surprised if you have to wait a bit once you arrive at the station.

Be transported from one point to another in a comfortable bus limousine!

What To Eat In Tam Coc

Tam Coc is famous for many specialties. Such as mountain goats, fried rice, eel vermicelli, Yen Mac spring rolls, sour tilapia soup, … If you have come here, you should enjoy those delicious dishes and at the same time can understand more about regions, about diversity in food culture.

A Few Other Small Notes When Traveling To Tam Coc

To admire and immerse yourself in the beauty of Tam Coc. You only have one option to do boat trip. And if you are a person who likes taking photos, wanting to retain memorable moments, lovely scenes, then talk and ask the help of boatmen. Their experience and mastery of terrain will help you to record commemorative photos.

Another note is that you should take the time to complete the trip. Because the boat time when traveling to Tam Coc also accounts for nearly 3 hours, avoiding having to sit in the boat at noon when there is a big sun, or too late at night when the sun has set.

And surely it would be great if you find an ideal seat to watch the sun set here, the sunset filled the fields, the rivers like the story, will divide by self course with the people here. Coming to Tam Coc you will definitely have wonderful and memorable moments of relaxation.

Enjoy a bike adventure through the scenic rice fields and villages

Currency in Vietnam

The currency of Vietnam is the Dong (VND) and at the time of writing, the exchange rate was approximately 23,215 VND to $1 USD. So if we say that something costs 50,000 VND, that’s just about $2.

There are several ATMs around but they are outside of the main area of Tam Coc. Several markets in Tam Coc advertise ATMs but they will simply charge your card, add a 3% fee, and then give you cash. The closest ATM to Tam Coc is on the left hand side of the road when you head east on DT491C.

Getting Around Tam Coc and Ninh Binh

Most of the homestays in Tam Coc have bicycles and motorbikes available to rent. While it’s nice to cruise around on a bicycle, a few of the highlights are outside of town so you’ll have a long ride ahead of you. A motorbike will run you about 120,000 – 150,000 VND/day but you’ll have to fill up the gas tank (~80,000 VND for a full tank).

Explore the outskirts of Vietnam through a bicycle ride for a truly local experience

For many visitors to Ninh Binh and Tam Coc, a favorite activity is simply roaming around the back roads on a bicycle or motorbike soaking in the beautiful landscape and views of daily life in rural Vietnam.

If you are staying in Tam Coc and are only interested in visiting Bich Dong Pagoda and taking a Tam Coc boat ride you will be fine with just a bicycle. However, if you want to visit any of the other sites (such as Hang Mu, Trang An, or Hoa Lu) you’ll be much happier on a motorbike as these sites are several miles away from each other.

Bich Dong Pagoda

It’s also rather easy to get lost on the winding back roads of Tam Coc. We always recommend buying a Vietnamese SIM card as soon as you land in the country. Having internet on your cell phone allows you to utilize Google Maps to help with navigation. If you don’t have a local SIM card you can download an offline map of Ninh Binh and Tam Coc in Google Maps.

Where to Eat in Tam Coc

Hoa Luan Restaurant has a large menu filled with Vietnamese classics and a few dishes that you probably haven’t seen before. The fresh spring rolls are delicious and unique – the vegetables inside are cooked and seasoned to perfection!

If you’re tired of eating so much Vietnamese food, how about a little Indian cuisine? Aroma Ninh Binh has a large menu of delectable Indian favorites at reasonable prices. Be sure to try the Aroma Special Naan!

Bamboo Bar and Restaurant and Hai Linh Restaurant are two good choices in Tam Coc proper that offer delicious and affordable Vietnamese fare. Both have outstanding papaya salads and savory meat options including the region specialty, goat.

End the day with great food, drinks, and company during a fun sunset party

Things to do in Tam Coc

Boat rides on traditional sampans are the highlight in Tam Coc, meandering through dumpling-shaped karst hills in a flooded landscape where the river and rice paddies merge serenely into one; keep an eye open for mountain goats high on the cliffs, and bright, darting kingfishers. Journey’s end is Tam Coc, three long, dark tunnel-caves (Hang Ca, Hang Giua and Hang Cuoi) eroded through the limestone hills with barely sufficient clearance for the sampan after heavy rains. On the way back, you can ask to stop at Thai Vi Temple, a short walk from the river. Dating from the thirteenth century and dedicated to the founder of the Tran Dynasty, it’s a peaceful, atmospheric spot.

Take a relaxing sampan boat ride to see picturesque caves, villages, and more

Be mindful when choosing your boat to stay clear of those with boxes, as these usually mean that your rower will haggle you endlessly until you have purchased something from them – it can ruin your relaxing ride if you do not wish to buy something. Also be aware that hawkers will sometimes convince you to buy a drink for your guide/rower, however, your oarsmen or women will quickly sell this back to them for half the price once you have left.

Hire a Bike

The landscape here is flat so bike riding through the rice fields is recommended and makes you feel like you are in a movie scene. Ride at ease whilst taking in the breathtaking views and lush green colours.

If you have time after the boat trip, follow the road leading southwest from the boat dock for about 2km to visit the cave-pagoda of Bich Dong, or “Jade Grotto”. Stone-cut steps, entangled by the thick roots of banyan trees, lead up a cliff face peppered with shrines to the cave entrance, believed to have been discovered by two monks in the early fifteenth century. On the rock face above, two giant characters declare “Bich Dong”. The story goes that they were engraved in the eighteenth century by the father of Nguyen Du (author of the classic Tale of Kieu), who was entrusted with the construction of the complex. The cave walls are now scrawled with graffiti but the three Buddhas sit unperturbed on their lotus thrones beside a head-shaped rock which purportedly bestows longevity if touched. Walk through the cave to emerge higher up the cliff, from where steps continue to the third and final temple and viewpoint over the waterlogged scene.

Should you Stay in Ninh Binh or Tam Coc?

There are several small towns in the Ninh Binh region of Vietnam so don’t feel like you need to stay in Ninh Binh town proper. Tam Coc is the most popular town as there are plenty of comfy homestays and many delicious restaurants. Trang An is another area that has a few homestays but less dining options. If you stay in the heart of Ninh Binh town you’ll probably find it to be a bit underwhelming.

We would recommend staying in Tam Coc where you’ll be surrounded by the beautiful countryside but still have plenty of eating and drinking venues right nearby.

If you are looking for Tam Coc Accommodation, Tam Coc Homestay, Tam Coc Hotel, Tam Coc Hostel, plz refer to:

Little Tam Coc – Leisure Villa & Vietnamese Cuisine

Address: Tam Coc Road, Ninh Hai Commune, Ninh Binh Tel: +84-965-622-888 Email: [email protected] Url: littletamcoc.com Instagram: @littletamcoc_ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3PWtVkcRBkJfrm6tPkZuog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littletamcoc/

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Your Travel Guide to Tam Coc, Vietnam

When you think of Vietnam, what comes to mind? Could it be the images of Sapa’s rice fields, traditional conical hats, and tasty pho? How about those emerald colored waters dotted with limestone karsts in Halong Bay? Vietnam, despite its small size, is a natural wonderland! While many people are familiar with Hoi An, Halong Bay, and Sa Pa, I have created this travel guide to highlight a lesser known natural site in Vietnam: Tam Coc.

Why Visit Tam Coc

In recent years, Tam Coc has become a top tourist attraction in Vietnam. Some of that can be attributed to the beautiful filming locations of Kong: Skull Island and Indochine . Other times, Tam Coc is the go-to choice for Vietnam visitors who seek a less-crowded alternative to Halong Bay.

I heard about Tam Coc through word of mouth. A colleague of mine had recently gone to Vietnam and traveled all over the country. In addition to visiting Halong Bay, he mentioned his visit to a place that’s commonly referred to as “ Halong Bay on land” . Like many others, he advised that Tam Coc should not be missed, and in fact, Tam Coc is the preferred choice over the crowded Halong Bay.

I researched it as soon as I got to a computer, and instantly was in awe by the limestone karst and green landscape. I was starting to believe the hype!

Tam Coc is located in northern Vietnam – 200km from Halong Bay and 100km from Hanoi. This central location makes Tam Coc easy to get to from either base!

Top things to do in Tam Coc

There are several activities to occupy your time in Tam Coc . One of the main attractions is taking a rowboat tour through Tam Coc.

Tam Coc means three caves in Vietnam. The Ngo Dong river flows through Tam Coc and is so surrounded by rice fields, that it’s commonly known as the Green Sea. The caves have been eroded over time and now have openings large enough for boats to row through.

After you pay the 195,000VND entrance fee at the Tam Coc wharf, you’ll be provided a life jacket to board the rowboat. Prepare to enjoy a two hour boat ride on the Ngo Dong river!

As you prepare to row through the caves, watch your head to be sure as not to hit it against the cave.

I found the boat ride to be very peaceful. You’re rowing up and down the river for a little under 2 hours, rice fields on either side of you.

If you pay special attention, you can even see goats looking for food on the sides of the mountains. I recommend you sit back, relax, and take in the beautiful landscape you can only find here in Tam Coc!

View this post on Instagram No amount of clouds can hide its beauty 🙌🏾 • • • #tbtcollective #swtliving #travelbloggerlife #trawellogist #travelbloggers #travelblogging #globelletravels #girlsjustwannatravel #workhardtravelwell #natgeotravel #soultravel #femaletravelbloggers #theglobewanderer #thetravelblogs #thetravelnova #wanderlusting #wanderlusttribe #nomadlife #blackvoyageurs #blacktraveljourney #travelholic #travelhabesha #blackgirlstraveltoo #vietnamcharm #nomadnesstribe #pursuehappiness #pursuitofhappiness #visitvietnam #ninhbinh A post shared by Travel Inspo & Tips w/ Selam (@swtliving) on Feb 17, 2018 at 6:18am PST

Best Time to Visit Tam Coc

The best time to visit Tam Coc is between March and June. The weather is warming up, but more importantly, this is when the rice fields start showing their true colors. Harvest season is approaching and the rice fields start with a deep green hue and transform to bright yellows by May and June.

May and June also welcome the start of Tam Coc’s humid and rainy season, and lasts until about September. The hot and wet climate can make it quite difficult to enjoy your time in the outdoors.

November – February is Tam Coc’s dry, winter season. It’s quite chilly in northern Vietnam with the highest temperatures falling below 20 degrees Celsius. This is the time of year when rice is planted, so the rice paddies will be muddy and wet. This time of year is relatively low season for tourism. You will also find less cloud and fog which makes for beautiful photos.

View this post on Instagram “I couldn’t say why, I couldn’t say how, but somehow, as I stood there, I felt not just on the ‘rooftop of the world’ mentioned in all the brochures, but on the rooftop of my being – some clearer, stronger state of mind I didn’t recognise.” – Pico Iyer • • • #visitvietnam #tamcoc #vietnamcharm #northvietnam #ninhbinh #limestone #travelphotos #globelletravels #theculturetrip #girlsjustwannatravel #workhardtravelwell #natgeotravel #soultravel #naturephotographer #femaletravelbloggers #theglobewanderer #thetravelblogs #wanderlusting #wanderlusttribe #blackvoyageurs #blacktraveljourney #travelholic #blackgirlstraveltoo #nomadnesstribe #pursuehappiness #pursuitofhappiness #mindfulness #picoiyer #sonymirrorless #tbtcollective A post shared by Travel Inspo & Tips w/ Selam (@swtliving) on Mar 14, 2018 at 3:14pm PDT

How to get to Tam Coc

Hanoi is a great hub to explore north Vietnam. Just 100km from Hanoi, there are many modes of transportation to go to Ninh Binh and Tam Coc. Most public transportation options go directly to Ninh Binh, which is located 5km from Tam Coc.

If you end up booking transportation to Ninh Binh, take a taxi to Tam Coc.

This is one of the cheapest ways to travel to Tam Coc.

Buses from Hanoi to Tam Coc and Ninh Binh run daily and take 2-3 hours . A bus ticket on a local bus to Ninh Binh can cost you anywhere from 5-10 USD.

Vietnam Local Bus offers one bus per hour from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter to Tam Coc. The journey lasts 3 hours and costs about 15 USD. They also offer one bus per hour from Tam Coc to Hanoi at the same price. All you have to do is book 48 hours in advance.

Cat Ba Express allows you to book a bus online from Hanoi to Ninh Binh for 10 USD. After arriving in Ninh Binh, you can take a short taxi to Tam Coc.

You can also find tourist buses to go from Hanoi to Tam Coc. These buses have one departure in the morning, usually around 8:00am. Booking in advance, especially during high season, is recommended. You can find tourist buses as part of a packaged tour with a tour operator such as Viator or even by just walking around in Hanoi. Hanoi’s streets are filled with travel vendors selling packaged tours.

You will have to take a train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh as there is no train station in Tam Coc. The ride takes 2.5 hours and will cost you between 7-12 USD. After arriving in Ninh Binh, just take a quick taxi to Tam Coc.

12go.asia is a site that lets you find bus and train tickets in one convenient place.

Private Car or Taxi

For a private car from Hanoi to Tam Coc, you can estimate that this will cost about 75 USD one-way and take 2-3 hours. This option is ideal for travelers who like the freedom of choosing their own schedule.

Rent a Motorbike

If you really want to be on your own, and you enjoy some thrill in your life then renting a motorbike is a great option! You will find that this alternative is quite cheap as it costs about 10 USD to rent a motorbike for the day. This is a great way to ride through Vietnam’s beautiful landscape. As you’ll be on your own, you can stop to take photographs as often as you’d like.

From Halong Bay – Cat Ba Island

How awesome would it be to go from visiting Halong Bay to the “Halong Bay on land”, Tam Coc? This is the route I took as I was exploring Vietnam in a short amount of time. After finishing your Halong Bay tour, make your way to Tam Coc for more breathtaking landscape!

Departing from Cat Ba island in Halong Bay, the bus to Ninh Binh takes 4-5 hours, which includes a slow ferry off the island to the mainland. I took the Cat Ba Express which cost 14 USD one way. The bus came equipped with reclining seats, USB plug, and spotty wi-fi. There is no bathroom on board so if you need to make a stop, you will have to notify the bus driver – most likely in Vietnamese.

If you’d like to do a reverse itinerary, you can always visit Tam Coc first, then take the Cat Ba Express to Cat Ba island to begin your Halong Bay tour. Whatever route, be prepared to be in a photographer’s dream!

Private Car

This is the more expensive option, but the fastest. This takes about 3-4 hours and costs roughly 70-80 USD. This option includes taking a high speed boat from Cat Ba island to the mainland.

If you are part of a tour in either Halong Bay or Tam Coc, you should also ask them if they can organize your transportation to Tam Coc.

Where to Stay in Tam Coc

Tam coc westlake homestay.

Tam Coc has a wide selection of places to stay. A common type of lodging found here is the homestay. Tam Coc Westlake Homestay is a very popular option. It’s family-run and their reviews suggest that you feel a very warm, welcoming atmosphere your whole stay. Plus, you’re perfectly positioned to visit the caves, pagodas, and temples nearby!

Tam Coc Garden Resort

If you’re looking for a quiet and peaceful stay in nature, then Tam Coc Garden Resort is for you. The resort has taken advantage of being surrounded by rice paddies and have themed the resort to fit the landscape. You’ll get to enjoy their pool, free bike rentals, and their on-site bar and restaurant. They are located about 5km from Tam Coc and 15km from Trang An Cave.

Vancouver Hotel

This family-run hotel is located in Ninh Binh city, and is a 15 minute drive to Tam Coc. The owner is super helpful if you need help planning your itinerary or if you need to find transportation to Hanoi. The hotel itself is very modern with comfortable beds, free toiletries and breakfast. The hotel is also conveniently located near restaurants and bars if you’re into spending time in the city.

How Long to Stay in Tam Coc

So as not to feel rushed, I recommend to stay in Tam Coc for 1 day and 1 night, at minimum. By starting your day early, you’re able to take your time and take in the gorgeous landscape.

If you can’t manage to stay the night in Tam Coc, don’t worry! It’s still very possible to visit Tam Coc as a day trip from Hanoi or Halong Bay.

If your schedule allows it, stay in Tam Coc for a few days so as to space out your activities and have some time to relax.

How to Get Around in Tam Coc

There are a few options in getting around in Tam Coc, which really depends on what kind of visit you’re looking to have.

The best method of transportation in Tam Coc is to rent a bicycle. If you’re staying in a hotel or homestay,  they will more than likely have bicycles for you to rent for the day – for FREE (or just about) ! This method is not only economical, but it will get you right there in the middle of the gorgeous landscape. You will be able to ride on the narrow paths in between rice fields, and witness the rice harvest up close.

Other methods of getting around in Tam Coc are possible. If you’re staying in Ninh Binh, your accommodation can help you set up a private transfer to Tam Coc, either by car or motorbike. If you’re interested, the private transfer will stay with you all day to take you to the different sites. A private tour by car from Ninh Binh to Tam Coc will cost you about 40USD.

Practical Tips When Visiting Tam Coc

Start your day.

…with the Tam Coc boat tour. It’s two hours and once you’ve gotten this out of the way, you can time the rest of your itinerary as you wish. The morning is also one of the less crowded times to go on the river.

Eat before the boat tour

…or bring snacks . While rowing through Tam Coc, you will come across several boats with people selling snacks. And yes, they will approach your boat! If you refuse, don’t be surprised when they pull out their biggest marketing play: asking you to buy a drink or snack for your sailor as a tip. Politely decline if you are not interested.

Spend at least one night in Tam Coc.

I know this is not always manageable, especially if you’re visiting Tam Coc on a day trip from Hanoi, but I do recommend it. It allows you to fully maximize a whole day in Tam Coc. For more options, neighboring Ninh Binh city has plenty of accommodation. I spent the night in Ninh Binh at the Vancouver Hotel , woke up the next day, and was out on the boat in Tam Coc by 9am!

Bring sneakers.

If you plan to bike your way around Tam Coc, or hike up the Bich Dong pagoda or Mua Cave , then I highly recommend having proper shoes.

Tam Coc is an underrated tourist destination in Vietnam, but I anticipate they will see an increase in tourism in the coming years, especially if visitors are looking for alternatives to the crowded Halong Bay. Have you heard of, or been to Tam Coc, Vietnam? What was your experience?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link(s). An affiliate link means I may receive a commission or referral fees if you click through and make a purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you.

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4 thoughts on “your travel guide to tam coc, vietnam”.

I am heading there later this year! This guide is so helpful! Thank you 🙂

I really hope you enjoy yourself! Let me know if you have questions.

Such a complete guide and beautiful, beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing your experience. It’ll be really helpful planning my trip to Vietnam.

Thank you so much! I’m happy you found this guide helpful 🙂

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Char's Footsteps

The 5 Best Things to do in Tam Coc, Ninh Binh

When people think of Vietnam, their minds usually go straight to the classic destinations; Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An ! However, the hidden gem of Tam Coc was probably one of my favourite places in Vietnam! It’s an ideal place to relax for a few days and unwind from the hectic, hussle & bustle of Hanoi.

Tam Coc is home to some of the most stunning sights Vietnam has to offer and is definitely worth visiting during your time in the north! Known as ‘Ha Long Bay on land’, Tam Coc is part of the Trang An complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although Ninh Binh is larger, with more amenities, the real charm of the area lies in Tam Coc.

This guide will not only cover the best things to do in Tam Coc, but also how to get there, where to stay, food recommendations and other important tips to keep in mind.

Best Things to do in Tam Coc

• Hang Mua (Mua Caves)

Bich Dong Pagoda

Trang an landscape complex.

• Tam Coc Boat Tour

Thai Vi Temple

If you’re short on time in Tam Coc, the Mua Caves and Trang An Landscape Complex are definite must dos!

Related post: Tam Coc or Ninh Binh to Hue on a Sleeper Train

Without doubt, Hang Mua (Mua Caves) was the highlight of my trip to this region. Climbing the 500 steps to Hang Mua Peak will give you breathtaking, 360 degree views of the stunning countryside and rice paddies.

The climb itself isn’t too challenging, however the heat and humidity make it tough. I went at midday (bad planning!) and it was hot! Take it slow and bring water. There are a few steep bits, but as someone who is terrified of heights, I was ok.

The caves themselves can be found at the bottom of the mountain. But they are less spectacular, so go straight for the hike!

The Hang Mua Peak actually consists of two peaks. I highly recommend leaving enough time to climb both, as they offer different views. Luckily you won’t have to climb each from ground level, as the divide for the two peaks is near the top. You’re only have 100 steps, or so, to get to the top.

The highest peak (which most people do) is home to a stone carved dragon, that watches over the valley. It plays an important role in Vietnamese culture, with locals believing it’s crucial for rain and agriculture. The views from here are incredible! I was fortunate that it was too busy when I went…probably as I chose the hottest time of day to go. But I heard from people who went early in the morning, or near sunset, that it was packed at this main peak.

The smaller of the two peaks provides just as breathtaking of a view. The bonus of this peak was it’s much quieter nature than the main one. However, there were sections of the steps that were very narrow. This made it challenging to go at a comfortable pace, if people behind were racing up. The Pagoda at the top of the smaller peak provides a great photo opportunity.

Getting to Hang Mua is easy. With it being 4-5km away from Tam Coc, you can easily cycle, scooter or grab a taxi there. Be careful of scammers here! Parking is right up the entrance gate and FREE. Ignore the guys trying to scam 20-50k per bike and ride past them to the entrance.

The entrance fee to Hang Mua is 100k vnd per person and free for children under 1m tall. Once you’re through the entrance you’ll find a lodge, where people stay to access the caves before the typical crowds arrive. Around here is also a restaurant and a few shops that sell drinks, snacks and souvenirs.

Hidden amongst mountains and natural caves, Bich Dong Pagoda is comprised of 3 ancient pagodas. Situated 2km west of Tam Coc, it’s easy to access via bicycle or scooter. You’ll be met with a grand entrance upon arrival (photo below), surrounded by lily-filled waters. Pass through the entrance and you’ll find the 3 pagodas up around 100 steps. Take your time exploring each one.

As with anything deemed as ’insta-worthy’, expect there to be queues of people taking photos in the entrance way. To avoid queues, and the midday heat, I’d recommend visiting early (6-8am) or during sunset. You’ll also benefit from the colourful skies overlooking the mountains during the evening!

It’s free to enter the Pagodas, however, expect to pay a small fee for parking.

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 for both cultural and natural values. Spanning 6,268ha, the complex covers jaw-dropping limestone mountains, tranquil rivers and an impressive collection of ancient pagodas and temples.

Exploring this complex is done via the river – with three routes to choose from! You hire a boat with a local rower and the tours take 2-3 hours. Google ’Trang An Grottoes Tour’ or ‘Trang An Departure Boat Ticket’ to find tickets and where the boats depart. Tickets cost 200,000vnd per person and you’ll have up to 4 people per boat.

This scenic trip will take you through caves, valleys and temples – a number of which can only be reached this way! As temples are sacred places in Vietnam, you must wear appropriate clothes that cover legs and shoulders.

A list of places you can expect to visit include the Trinh Temple, Tran Temple, Toi Cave (dark cave), Sang Cave (light cave), Nau Ruou Cave, Dia Linh Cave and Suoi Tien Temple. Trang An also happened to be a major filming site for the movie Kong: Skull Island. You can visit this film set during certain tours.

Tam Coc Boat Ride

Another boat trip worth doing is one from Tam Coc, around the NGO Dong River and through the limestone mountains. The trip is 3km long and you’ll pass through 3 limestone caves in the mountains. Although it’s not as impressive as the Trang An trip, the relaxing ride around the Ngo Dong River is worth doing.

Tam Coc translates to the ’three caves’ – Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba. You’ll visit these along the Ngo Dong River. The first cave is the longest – at 127m. Here you’ll be met with a cool climate and stalactites hanging from the ceiling! After finishing here, you’ll travel slowly 1km down the river to the second cave. It’s smaller at 60m but still has many stalactites to admire. The third, and last cave, is much shorter (50ish m) and is much lower.

The entry fee is divided into two tickets – one to visit the landscape (120,000vnd) and one for the boat ride (75,000vnd). Child tickets were 100,000vnd. The boats are quite small, and it ended up being just two of us on my ride.

Some tips for the day: You’ll be sat for quite a while, often in the direct sunlight, so come equipped with sun protection (cream/hats etc). There was a chance to buy drinks at the return point, but we were glad to have brought water with us given the heat. We stopped halfway round to be shown a series of bags and hand embroidered table clothes. We were made to wait here a while until they gave up trying to sell to us.

Be sure to tip the rower too as they’re peddling for hours with their feet in the heat! Our guide was very knowledgable and gave us a great experience.

Covid update: I did this ride pre-covid. However, there are reports of ‘surcharges’ if you want more than two adults and two children in the boat.

Thai Vi Temple is an ancient temple dating back to the 13th century. Here you’ll be able to get an understanding of the Tran Dynasty; with some of it’s architecture and artefacts. It’s fairly small, so it won’t take long to see. Afterwards, you can enjoy a cycle or walk around the surrounding areas of rice paddies, peaceful fields and limestone mountains

It’s located less than 1.5km from Tam Coc, making it walkable from the town centre. If you’re planning to do a Trang An boat tour, you can visit Thai vi on the way!

Make sure to cover your knees and shoulders out of respect when visiting the temple. There is no entrance fee, but if you plan to cycle, you’ll need to bring some change for the parking.

How to get to Tam Coc

Located in North Vietnam, Tam Coc is approximately 90km south of Hanoi. There are several ways to get to Tam Coc including shuttle bus, train, taxi and motorbike.

As my month in Vietnam started in Hanoi, I took a 2 hour shuttle from my hostel in the Old Quarter straight to Tam Coc. I organised it through a agency near my hostel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, but most accommodations and local agencies can help with this. They seem to offer similar services and prices. The shuttle was spacious, comfortable, with capacity for 10 and free water was provided. Shuttles go to both Tam Coc and Ninh Binh.

There are bus and train options. For the latest information, check out this Hanoi to Ninh Binh schedule. Factor in the extra cost and time to travel from Ninh Binh to Tam Coc.

Given how easily accessible it is from Hanoi and Ninh Binh, expect to see frequent day tours here. The evenings are typically quieter, usually only occupied by the travellers staying in the area.

Vans and shuttles will likely drop you at a taxi point, central to town. As they’re too big to drive down the winding path along the river, be prepared to walk with your bags if you’re staying somewhere there. It’s an easy, short walk to the other side (10 minutes max) – but it’s an added journey in the heat with backpacks. Surprisingly a car was able to get down the narrow path to collect me for my train to Hue.

Getting around Tam Coc

During my stay, I hired a bicycle from my homestay. If your accommodation doesn’t provide this option, there are shops along the main strip that rent bicycles. Bicycle helmets often weren’t provided, unless you hired a scooter.

Hiring a scooter is another great way to explore the area easily. Given how quiet the area is, it’s much safer than riding in any of the Vietnamese cities.

An alternative would be to hire a taxi for the day and be driven around all the main sights. This doesn’t quite give you the same flexibility as bicycles or scooters, but is convenient and takes the stress out of map reading!

The Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Tam Coc would be during spring or autumn – where temperatures aren’t too high and conditions are drier. North Vietnam has defined summers and winters. Winter months are between November and April, with temperates ranging from 17-22°C and limited rainfall. Summer months fall between May and October, bringing very hot and humid weather. The wettest months are between July and September.

Places to stay in Tam Coc

There are numerous hotels and hostels dotted around, but the real heart of Tam Coc can be found in the many homestays! After many recommendations in Hanoi from people arriving from Tam Coc, I decided to cancel my hostel reservation and go for my first homestay in Vietnam.

I booked at the Tam Coc Lake View . Although the accommodation was very basic, I loved being able to stay with a local family. They were fantastic at recommending local things to do and they loaned bicycles cheaply to explore more far afield places. I did find it harder to meet other travellers though, so I would suggest solo backpackers to take this into consideration when booking.

Where to eat in Tam Coc

For such a small town, Tam Coc does have a generous number of restaurants and bars. During my short stay, I loved Vinteca Bar and Chookies Beer Garden for drinks! Both offered great vibes and were reasonably priced.

If you’re at a homestay, it’s worth seeing if the hosts are organising anything in the evening. Although my homestay didn’t, I met a few people who had hosts organise a large dinner for all guests for a small fee. I would imagine this is a great way to meet other backpackers whilst getting to know more about the local area.

Otherwise I would recommend strolling on the ‘main strip’ where the majority of bars and restaurants are. Most seating is out at the front of the restaurant so you can gauge a vibe of each place and what food they have to offer. One of my favourite places to eat along here was at Ngoc Ninh – great food, lovely owners and a free beer during happy hour!

Other things to note

Bring ample supplies of anti-mosquito spray ! As you’re around a lake, the mosquitos are rife! After a brief 8-10 minute walk to my homestay from dinner one night, I found many dead mosquitos stuck to my leg from basically walking into them. So gross!! Dengue fever is present in Vietnam; peaking between April and October in the North, and June through to December in the south. There isn’t a widely available vaccination for this, and the one that does exist, is typically only given to people who previously had dengue. So I was very aware of that and went through bottles of heavy duty DEET to protect myself.

If possible, bring a mosquito net . Every hostel, homestay and hotel I stayed at throughout my time in Vietnam provided mosquito nets. However some were quite worn and I didn’t feel protected. If you have one that’s easy to pack, there’s no harm having extra protection.

Make sure to bring plenty of cash . There are ATMs, but they’re outside the main part of Tam Coc. This might not be an issue if you have a scooter to get round easily. But they’re not always easy to access and I wouldn’t want to rely on the one ATM in the area. Hanoi has plenty of ATMs, banks and cash converter stalls so make sure to stock up before you go.

Related Post: Vietnam Visa: How to Apply for a Vietnam Visa

After my incredible few days in Tam Coc, I made the long journey to from Ninh Binh to Hue on overnight train. I was quite nervous about this journey but it was brilliant AND I saved a full day of travel and money on a hostel.

Happy travels xx

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Ultimate Guide to a Tam Coc Boat Tour in Ninh Binh, Vietnam

From Sapa trekking with the Vietnam hill-tribes to the world-famous Halong Bay, Northern Vietnam is a jackpot of some of Vietnam’s most stunning  natural sights. The amazing sights in Northern Vietnam go well past Halong Bay, however. The undulating limestone cliffs surrounding the city of Ninh Binh , about 2 hours south of Hanoi, have been nicknamed “the inland Halong Bay” —and for magnificent reason. A visit to perhaps the most famous wetlands of the region, Tam Coc , will quickly show how the area has earned the honorable nickname. If you’re wondering what to do in Ninh Binh, look no further! A  glorious Tam Coc boat tour into the rice paddy wetlands framed with daggering limestone formations is well-worth the ride on the train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.

To help you in your journey, we’ve compiled the ultimate Tam Coc guide, with all the essential details of the Tam Coc boat tour, directions to Tam Coc, Vietnam, tips to having the best experience and the best views, and suggestions for alternative boat tours in the area of Ninh Binh.

Here’s our ultimate guide to Tam Coc, Vietnam!

Tam Coc Guide: Halong Bay on Land

Essential things to know about a tam coc boat tour, what to bring on your tam coc boat tour, bus from hanoi to ninh binh, train from hanoi to ninh binh, mua caves: a stunning view of tam coc, vietnam, van long nature reserve: a tam coc alternative, like this post, you might also appreciate…, share this:.

With its name meaning three caves , Tam Coc, Vietnam forms an area on the Ngo Dong River through serene rice paddies and towering limestone karsts. A 3 km Tam Coc boat tour up the mellow river takes you through three low-ceiling caves and calm green water.

One of the best things to do in Tam Coc , Vietnam is watching the unique method of rowing used on the Tam Coc bout tours. Able to row with not only their arms but their feet as well, the Tam Coc boat tour rowers make for perfect photo opportunities against the natural landscape in the background.

As a spot with stunning scenery, it’s no surprise that many people visit Tam Coc, and as such can get very busy at times. The best way to experience and appreciate Tam Coc’s beauty is of course with as little crowd as possible. Even at peak times, you can avoid the crowds if you go in the early morning (dock opens at 7:00) or possibly the late afternoon after the tour groups have left.

We usually make it a point to try and go to places as early as possible to beat the crowds and the heat. On our Tam Coc trip, we arrived on a local minibus from Hanoi around 8 AM, finding it much less crowded than when we arrived back at the dock at 10 AM.

Being such a popular attraction, Tam Coc has its fair share of vendors, who can create a hassle and take away from the experience. Keep an eye out for the men with cameras who try to take your picture, as they will expect payment for the photo. Also, at the boat turn-around point, you will surely be approached by vendors who try to sell you overpriced food and drinks. You might be pressured to buy something for your rower, but they might sell it back to vendor for half the price.

You can avoid this prevalent scam by bringing a snack and water for your rower.

Tam Coc Boat Tour Tips

It’s quite simple to get a Tam Coc boat tour in Ninh Binh without pre-arranging a tour in advance. You can simply show up to the ticket office at start of Tam Coc where the boats wait and buy your tickets upon arrival.

• Prices are fixed at 150,000 VND ($6.60) per boat, and 120,000 VND ($5.30) per passenger with a maximum of two passengers per boat.
• In total, a boat trip at Tam Coc for two passengers costs about $17 for a two-hour tour.
• Your rower will also expect a tip at the end.
• Come prepared with a snack and bottle of water for your rower to avoid pressure to buy overpriced snacks for them from floating vendors.
• Avoid having your photographs taken by men with cameras, who will expect payment from you.
• As in many places around the world, it’s much cheaper to arrange this yourself than by paying for a Tam Coc boat tour in advance.
• To avoid the crowds, begin your Tam Coc boat tour as early as possible!

• Water and snacks for yourself and your rower
• Small bills to tip your rower

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How to Get to Tam Coc, Ninh Binh

Visiting Tam Coc and the Ninh Binh area can be done as a day trip from Hanoi. If you have the time, it’s worth staying in Ninh Binh a night or two to explore the surrounding areas. 

Tam Coc, Vietnam is 6 km from Ninh Binh and is easily accessible from the city, whether you rent a motorbike ($5-10 a day + ~70,00 VND for 3 liters of fuel) or take a taxi.

While renting a car in Vietnam is possible, it can be hectic and we advise against it unless you’re experienced in driving in other countries. Instead, we recommend reaching Ninh Binh for your Tam Coc boat tour by train or bus. Luckily, Ninh Binh is easily accessible by train or bus from many major cities in Vietnam, including Hanoi.

Buses from Hanoi’s Giap Bat terminal leave every 15 minutes or whenever full and cost around 70-90,000 dong (more with luggage). The 90km journey takes around 3 hours, depending on traffic.

You can also take the Reunification Express train to the Ninh Binh train station, with trains leaving from Hanoi at 06:00, 09:00, 13:10, 19:30, 20:10, and 22:10. The train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh will take about 2-3 hours as well. You can bypass paying more for a train ticket through a travel agency and use the Vietnam Railways website yourself , which offers seat selection and e-ticket service. A one-way ticket in the soft-seat, air-conditioned cabins costs 89,000 VND per person , with hard and non-AC seats costing correspondingly less.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Tam Coc boat tour, mostly because we came early to beat the crowds and the heat. But something we enjoyed as much, if not even more, than the Tam Coc boat tour was the view of the landscape from the nearby Mua Caves.

The View of Tam Coc, Vietnam from Mua Caves

The caves themselves pale in comparison to other magnificent caves throughout Vietnam. Rather, the real treat you’ll find at the site of the Mua Caves is the view from the small mountain on top of the caves. Take in the view over not only Tam Coc, Vietnam, but over the rice paddy fields of the Red River Delta and range upon range of spectacular limestone karst mountains in the distance.

The climb up to the viewpoint requires a 15-minute climb up 500 steps, with absolutely no shade. Yet another reason to go early and beat the heat!  There is at least a small pagoda on top where you can take shelter from the sun or rain while you enjoy the view.

If concerns of tourism and overdevelopment might deter you from a Tam Coc boat tour, the nearby Van Long Nature Reserve is a perfect alternative in Ninh Binh, Vietnam, with similar scenery and as-of-yet undeveloped feeling. While Trang An is another valid alternative, some find that it also can be quite touristy.

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Benjamin Juster

2014 Jeopardy College Championship contestant fond of Mexican food, hiking, learning new languages and obscure history, Ben has temporarily settled on Jeju Island in Korea to teach English and travel.

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Wow amazing photos! When I was in Vietnam, I sadly had no time to see Ninh Binh or Tam Coc, just Sapa and Halong Bay. The nature in Vietnam is just awesome!

Visit Vietnam is only in my plans. Great shots! And thanks for the advice, I think they will come in handy.

I need to to thank you for this very good read!! I definitely loved every bit of it. I’ve got you saved as a favorite to look at new things you post…

Tam Coc and Ninh Binh: What to do in Vietnam's Hidden Gem – Wandering Wheatleys

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Often refered to as “Halong Bay on Land” due to the lush green rice paddies and towering limestone cliffs, Tam Coc and Ninh Binh are areas of Vietnam that are all too often overlooked by visitors. Just 2 hours south of the bustling city of Hanoi, we think that Tam Coc is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam.

Tam Coc and Ninh Binh are the perfect places to relax and unwind while soaking up the landscape and the culture of Vietnam. It’s the perfect retreat from hectic Hanoi and touristy Halong Bay. In fact, we highly recommend you add at least a couple of days in this beautiful region to your Vietnam itinerary.

Best time to visit

The temperature in Northern Vietnam is hot and humid from May to October and the chance of rainfall is high. This rainfall can spoil your ability to explore the region but it also makes for vivid green rice paddies. November to April tends to be a bit cooler and drier.

You can visit Ninh Binh or Tam Coc at any time of year but best to check the weather prior to departing since pretty much all of the attractions are outdoors.

Check the below table for the general idea of Tam Coc weather throughout the year.

Tam Coc’s current weather and 7-day forecast

Here are top things to do in Tam Coc:

1. Tam Coc Route: Boat Wharf - Ngo Dong River - Tam Coc (Three Caves) - Thai Vi Temple - Thien Huong Grotto

The trip starts from Tam Coc Wharf, takes you about 2 hours two-way.

If you take the Tam Coc Route, the boat will start at the eastern boat wharf and follow the waterway of Ngo Dong River. Actually, Tam Coc was known with the beauty of this part even more widely than the caves themselves. 

On both sides of the winding river are rice fields and limestone mountains which change their own appearance as seasons go by. If you love to experience the boat ride in this particular part, come to Tam Coc in harvest season to see the rice fields in golden color.

Hang Ca 

Hang Cả means 'First Cave', also the largest cave with 127m in length and an entrance 20m high. When the boat enters the cave, you'll a cool, refreshing atmosphere here and also can see beautiful karstic formations. 

Hang Hai is the Second Cave, also the second largest in size with just 60m long. The second cave is about 1 kilometer from the First Cave. The second cave is known for its gorgeous ceiling.

Lying just right next to Hang Hai, Hang Ba (Third Cave) is only 50m in length, much lower than the other two. The cave's ceiling looks like a little dome made of limestone.

Thai Vy Temple

Thai Vy is the worshiping place of King Tran Thai Tong, Generals Tran Hung Dao, Tran Quang Khai and Queen Tran Thi Dung. In the past, Ninh Binh was the place the Trans chose to build a military base (Hanh Cung Vu Lam) to fight the Mongols. During the boat ride, the rower will stop to let you walk trek up to the temple. 

Thien Huong Grotto

The grotto lies along the river-way to Thai Vi temple, so you can visit the grotto before the pagoda. The grotto is on middle of a small mountain (about 15m above ground), dry and bright, with height of 60m, depth 40m and width 20m. Inside the grotto is the shrine of Quen Tran Thi Dung who taught the locals here the craft of weaving. 

2. Bich Dong Route: Bich Dong - Xuyen Thuy Dong

The boat ride to Bich Dong is separated with Tam Coc boat ride, starting from a different wharf.

Bich Dong Grotto - Bich Dong Pagoda

Bich Dong is the place that was called 'The Second Nicest Grotto in Vietnam'. The beauty of Bich Dong was only behind Huong Tich Grotto. The grotto is a dry one, lying on the middle of the mountain. Bich Dong Pagodas are also located at this site. There are three pagodas on this mountain: Lower Pagoda, Middle Pagoda (Bich Dong Pagoda) and Upper Pagoda. Visitors often visit the first and the second ones, but if you can trek all the way up for the view.

The entrance to Bich Dong mountain is quite a famous spot to take photos, you shouldn't miss. 

Xuyen Thuy Grotto

The grotto is a river grotto going through Bich Dong mountain. It's darker and can be visited by boat. The grotto is 350m long, going from east to west with average width of 6m. The entrance to this grotto is on the opposite side of the pagoda's entrance. 

Dong Tien 

Dong Tien is a fair spot in the complex, located just 1km away from Bich Dong Pagoda. The grotto's ceiling has a gorgeous karst formations hanging down, sparkling under light. There are also bats and birds living inside the grotto.

Other sites near Tam Coc

Hang mua (mua caves).

Only 4km away from Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Mua Cave is the new rising tourist site in Ninh Binh. Most highlighted features in Mua Cave is the trek to Lying Dragon Mountain and Mua Cave Viewpoint.

Van Lam Village

Belonged to Ninh Hai commune, Van Lam village is 6km from Tam Coc Bich Dong. This is a great place to discover the local handicraft of embroidery and enjoy bicycling in the countryside. The remote rice fields with limestone mountains dotting create such a nostalgic yet refreshing feeling. If you're seeking a unique experience in Ninh Binh, don't miss this out.

There are several small towns in the Ninh Binh region of Vietnam so don’t feel like you need to stay in Ninh Binh town proper. Tam Coc is the most popular town as there are plenty of comfy homestays and many delicious restaurants. Trang An is another area that has a few homestays but less dining options. If you stay in the heart of Ninh Binh town you’ll probably find it to be a bit underwhelming.

We would recommend staying in Tam Coc where you’ll be surrounded by the beautiful countryside but still have plenty of eating and drinking venues right nearby.

Tam Coc Sunshine Homestay

Tam Coc Sunshine Homestay is truly a home away from home. The darling little bungalows are situated right at the base of a massive limestone cliff and lush, green rice paddies are outside of your front door. Rooms have air conditioning, hot water, extremely comfortable beds, and are stocked with coffee and an electric pot. The complimentary breakfast is superb. You’ll love the views from your private front stoop!

Tam Coc Horizon Bungalow

Tam Coc Horizon Bungalow is another amazing choice in a picturesque setting! The owners offer sweet touches like fresh fruit upon arrival, a relaxing foot bath at the end of the day, and they send you off with treats for your upcoming bus ride! Plus the property is partially inside of a cave so the outside showers are truly unique.

Trang An Valley Bungalow

If you’d prefer to stay in Trang An over Tam Coc, then book a room at Trang An Valley Bungalow. Not only do they have a stunning location that is extremely peaceful and relaxing, but also a beautiful pool! It’s the perfect place to unwind after a day spent exploring the region.

Hoa Luan Restaurant has a large menu filled with Vietnamese classics and a few dishes that you probably haven’t seen before. The fresh spring rolls are delicious and unique – the vegetables inside are cooked and seasoned to perfection! If you’re tired of eating so much Vietnamese food, how about a little Indian cuisine? Aroma Ninh Binh has a large menu of delectable Indian favorites at reasonable prices. Be sure to try the Aroma Special Naan!

Bamboo Bar and Restaurant and Hai Linh Restaurant are two good choices in Tam Coc proper that offer delicious and affordable Vietnamese fare. Both have outstanding papaya salads and savory meat options including the region specialty, goat.  

Getting to Tam Coc and Ninh Binh

The town of Ninh Binh is located about 60 miles south of Hanoi. There are three options to get to Ninh Binh – take a train, a bus, or hire a private driver. Or, of course, you can rent a motorbike and drive yourself (although driving in Vietnam is not for the faint of heart).

Tourist Bus

Tourist buses depart from Hanoi around 8:00am and will pick you up from your hotel if you stay in the Old Quarter. Tickets are typically around 160,000 – 250,000 VND ($7-11) per person depending on how luxurious a bus you want. The bus usually takes around 3 hours and makes one 20 minute stop to grab a snack and use the toilet.

We recommend booking bus tickets through Bookaway – there you can see all the bus and train options along with ratings and reviews.

If you’re feeling adventurous, local buses also depart regularly from Hanoi’s southern bus terminal, Giap Bat, but note that you may end up with less space and more stops than you planned for. If you take a local bus and want to visit Tam Coc, you’ll have to take a taxi from the station in Ninh Binh. (The aforementioned tourist buses stop in Tam Coc so you’ll avoid the extra taxi fare.)

We recommend you check the latest bus schedule and price via rome2rio.com

There are 3 trains departing daily from Hanoi Station and include the SE5, SE7, and SE19. The trip takes about 2.5 hours, but keep in mind that trains in Vietnam are often late so don’t be surprised if you have to wait a bit once you arrive at the station.

You can purchase the train tickets online through the Vietnam Railway site directly or through Bookaway (for some reason it is actually cheaper to buy the ticket through Bookaway).

Getting Around Tam Coc and Ninh Binh

Most of the homestays in Tam Coc have bicycles and motorbikes available to rent. While it’s nice to cruise around on a bicycle, a few of the highlights are outside of town so you’ll have a long ride ahead of you. A motorbike will run you about 120,000 – 150,000 VND/day but you’ll have to fill up the gas tank (~80,000 VND for a full tank).

For many visitors to Ninh Binh and Tam Coc, a favorite activity is simply roaming around the back roads on a bicycle or motorbike soaking in the beautiful landscape and views of daily life in rural Vietnam.

If you are staying in Tam Coc and are only interested in visiting Bich Dong Pagoda and taking a Tam Coc boat ride you will be fine with just a bicycle. However, if you want to visit any of the other sites (such as Hang Mu, Trang An, or Hoa Lu) you’ll be much happier on a motorbike as these sites are several miles away from each other.

It’s also rather easy to get lost on the winding back roads of Tam Coc. We always recommend buying a Vietnamese SIM card as soon as you land in the country. Having internet on your cell phone allows you to utilize Google Maps to help with navigation. If you don’t have a local SIM card you can download an offline map of Ninh Binh and Tam Coc in Google Maps.

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Taking a cruise on the fascinating Mekong River offers a unique and memorable travel experience. The Mekong River, one of the longest rivers in Asia, flows through several countries, including China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Each destination along the river offers its own distinct cultural, historical, and natural attractions. In this article, we will go over what you can expect when cruising the Mekong River. 

Before being awarded a one-star rating by Michelin Guide for the first time, four Vietnamese restaurants - one in HCMC and three in Hanoi - were honored by international media and received applause from foreign diners.

"Should I visit Thailand or Vietnam?" is some of the most frequently asked questions that we have from our travelers

Well, Vietnam and Thailand are the most popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia. They are similar in climate and food, though obviously different in culture, lifestyle and travel experience.

Below we list 13 major differences between the two countries , to give you a quick overview and help you decide which to visit first. These are based on our own travel experiences, investigations, and partnerships with local operators.

How long to spend in Vietnam may seem like a ridiculous question to address, but if you have plenty of time and aren’t sure how much to dedicate, this blog will definitely help you out.

You can find here and there that you should spend 10 days, 2 weeks, 20 days, or 1 month to best explore Vietnam. So what is the best Vietnam tour duration for you?

Well, as long as you like! From 10 days to a month, there are various ways you can travel across Vietnam and uncover its secrets. Advising an ideal trip length for Vietnam is a bit of a complex challenge, as it depends on several factors such as the places you wish to visit, the activities you plan to join, or if you want to combine Vietnam with its neighbor countries. 

Stay tuned! We are going to sort all these things out including the step-by-step guide to create the best itinerary in Vietnam.

Vietnam would scrap the Covid-19 testing requirement for all arrivals starting Sunday, May 15th 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed.

In a document issued Friday, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to closely follow the coronavirus situation and provide proper guidance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should direct Vietnamese authorities outside the country to inform people who wish to enter Vietnam to follow appropriate disease prevention measures, he said.

The latest decision has been made as the number of Covid-19 infections and deaths drops both in Vietnam and around the world. Several countries have been taking steps to relax coronavirus restrictions, including scrapping testing before entry.

Current policies issued by the health ministry require entrants to have negative results from PCR tests done within the previous 72 hours, or a negative result from a rapid test done within the last 24 hours.

Those who don’t have a negative test result must refrain from making contact with others during the first 24 hours after entry. They will be able to move freely once they test negative after arrival.

Children under two don’t need to be tested.

Vietnam stopped requiring medical declarations from those arriving from abroad starting April 27, and for domestic travel starting April 30.

The “Colorful Hanoi” hot air balloon festival is one of the attractive activities within the framework of the program “Hanoi tourism welcomes 2022” taking place from March 25-27, 2022.

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🗓 Best Time To Visit: From November to April, avoiding the summer heat and monsoon rains.

⏰ Open Hours: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily.

🎒 Things To Do: Boat rides through the karst landscapes, visit Bich Dong Pagoda, explore Tam Coc Caves.

💰 Budget: Entrance fee is 120,000 VND per person. Boat ride costs around 150,000 VND.

🧳 Traveller Types: Nature lovers, adventure seekers, photographers.

🔍 Known For: Its stunning limestone karsts and serene rice fields, also known as 'Halong Bay on Land'.

📍 Distances: 100 km from Hanoi, 10 km from Ninh Binh railway station, 115 km from Noi Bai International Airport.

📸 Photo Ops: Tam Coc river, the three caves, and Bich Dong Pagoda.

🍽 Local Cuisine: Try the local dish 'Com Chay' - crispy rice served with soup.

👗 Dress Code: Comfortable clothing suitable for a boat ride and exploring caves. Hats and sunscreen recommended.

🎁 Souvenirs: Local handicrafts, ceramics, and silk products.

Imagine gliding on a wooden boat through a serene river, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs, lush green rice paddies, and mysterious caves. This is Tam Coc , a hidden gem in Vietnam that will take your breath away.

Tam Coc, which means "three caves" in Vietnamese, is a scenic area in Ninh Binh province, about 100 km south of Hanoi. It is part of the Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases the natural and cultural heritage of Vietnam.

Tam Coc is often called the "Halong Bay on land" , as it resembles the famous bay with its karst formations and waterways. However, Tam Coc has its own charm and beauty, with its rural and peaceful atmosphere, its rich history and culture, and its diverse attractions and activities.

In this guide, we will show you everything you need to know about Tam Coc, including how to get there, when to visit, what to see and do, where to stay and eat, and how to avoid the scams. Whether you are a solo traveler, a couple, a family, or a group of friends, you will find something to enjoy and remember in Tam Coc.

How to Get to Tam Coc

The easiest and most convenient way to get to Tam Coc is from Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. You have several options to choose from, depending on your budget, time, and preference. Here are the main ways to reach Tam Coc from Hanoi:

- By bus: This is the cheapest and most popular option, as there are many buses that run daily from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, the nearest city to Tam Coc. The bus ride takes about 2 to 3 hours, and costs around 100,000 VND (4.3 USD) per person. You can book your bus ticket online or at the bus station. Once you arrive in Ninh Binh, you can take a taxi, a motorbike taxi, or a local bus to Tam Coc, which is about 7 km away. This will cost you another 50,000 to 100,000 VND (2.2 to 4.3 USD) per person.

- By train: This is a more comfortable and scenic option, as you can enjoy the views of the countryside along the way. There are several trains that run daily from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, and the train ride takes about 2 hours. The train ticket costs around 150,000 to 200,000 VND (6.5 to 8.6 USD) per person, depending on the class and the time. You can book your train ticket online or at the train station. Once you arrive in Ninh Binh, you can take a taxi, a motorbike taxi, or a local bus to Tam Coc, as mentioned above.

- By motorbike: This is a more adventurous and flexible option, as you can explore the area at your own pace and stop whenever you want. However, this option is only recommended for experienced and confident riders, as the roads can be busy and chaotic. You can rent a motorbike in Hanoi for about 150,000 to 200,000 VND (6.5 to 8.6 USD) per day, and the ride to Tam Coc will take about 3 to 4 hours. You will need to follow the highway 1A, and then turn to the road 10, following the signs to Ninh Binh and Tam Coc. You will also need to pay some tolls along the way, which will cost you about 50,000 VND (2.2 USD) in total.

- By car: This is the most expensive and luxurious option, as you can enjoy the comfort and convenience of a private vehicle with a driver. You can hire a car in Hanoi for about 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 VND (65 to 86 USD) per day, and the ride to Tam Coc will take about 2 hours. You can also book a car online or through your hotel. The driver will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at your destination. You will not have to worry about the traffic, the directions, or the parking.

- By tour: This is the most hassle-free and informative option, as you can join a guided tour that will take care of everything for you. You can book a tour online or through your hotel, and there are many options to choose from, depending on your budget, time, and interest. A typical tour will include transportation, entrance fees, lunch, and a guide, and will cost you around 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND (22 to 43 USD) per person. A tour will usually cover not only Tam Coc, but also other attractions in Ninh Binh, such as Hoa Lu, Bai Dinh, or Trang An.

When to Visit Tam Coc

Tam Coc has a tropical monsoon climate, which means that it has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The weather and temperature vary throughout the year, and so does the scenery and the crowd level. Here are some factors to consider when planning your visit to Tam Coc:

- Weather: The weather in Tam Coc can be unpredictable and changeable, so you should always check the forecast before you go. Generally speaking, the best weather is in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when it is warm, sunny, and dry, with an average temperature of 25°C (77°F). The worst weather is in summer (June to August) and winter (December to February), when it is hot, humid, and rainy, with an average temperature of 30°C (86°F) and 15°C (59°F), respectively. The summer is also the peak season for typhoons, which can cause floods and landslides.

- Rice harvest: The rice harvest is one of the main attractions of Tam Coc, as it transforms the landscape into a stunning spectacle of colors and shapes. The rice fields in Tam Coc are planted twice a year, and each harvest has its own beauty and charm. The first harvest is in May and June, when the rice fields are green and lush, creating a contrast with the blue sky and the brown cliffs. The second harvest is in September and October, when the rice fields are yellow and golden, creating a harmony with the warm sunlight and the green trees. The rice harvest is also the busiest time in Tam Coc, as many tourists flock to see and photograph this natural wonder.

- Crowd level: The crowd level in Tam Coc depends largely on the weather and the rice harvest, as well as the holidays and festivals. The busiest time in Tam Coc is in summer (June to August), especially during the first rice harvest, when it is also the school holiday and the peak season for domestic tourists. The quietest time in Tam Coc is in winter (December to February), especially during the Tet holiday (Vietnamese New Year), when it is also the low season for international tourists. The moderate time in Tam Coc is in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), especially during the second rice harvest, when it is also the shoulder season for both domestic and international tourists.

Based on these factors, the best time to visit Tam Coc is in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when you can enjoy the pleasant weather, the beautiful scenery, and the moderate crowd level. However, you can visit Tam Coc anytime of the year, as long as you are prepared and flexible, and you will still find something to appreciate and enjoy in this amazing place.

What to See and Do in Tam Coc

Tam Coc is not only a place to see, but also a place to do. There are many attractions and activities in Tam Coc that will keep you entertained and amazed, whether you are looking for nature, culture, history, or adventure. Here are some of the main things to see and do in Tam Coc:

- Boat tours: The boat tours are the highlight and the most popular activity in Tam Coc, as they allow you to explore the river, the caves, and the rice fields in a unique and relaxing way. There are three different routes to choose from, each with its own duration and highlights. The first route is the classic one, which takes you to the three caves that give Tam Coc its name: Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba. The second route is the alternative one, which takes you to the Thung Nham bird garden, where you can see thousands of birds nesting and flying. The third route is the new one, which takes you to the Thai Vi temple, where you can admire the architecture and the history. The boat tours cost around 150,000 to 200,000 VND (6.5 to 8.6 USD) per person, depending on the route and the season, and last for about 2 hours. The boats are rowed by local women, who use their feet instead of their hands, which is a remarkable skill and a cultural tradition.

- Caves: The caves are the main attraction and the namesake of Tam Coc, as they are the natural wonders that have been formed by the erosion of the river and the limestone over millions of years. There are three caves that you can visit by boat, each with its own size, shape, and features. The first cave is Hang Ca, which is the largest and the longest one, measuring 127 meters long and 20 meters wide. The second cave is Hang Hai, which is the smallest and the shortest one, measuring 60 meters long and 18 meters wide. The third cave is Hang Ba, which is the most beautiful and the most colorful one, measuring 50 meters long and 15 meters wide. The caves are dark and cool, and you can see the stalactites and stalagmites hanging from the ceiling and rising from the floor, creating various shapes and figures. The caves are also home to some bats, birds, and insects, so you may hear some noises and smells along the way.

- Temples: The temples are another attraction and a cultural heritage of Tam Coc, as they are the historical and religious sites that date back to the ancient times. There are several temples that you can visit by boat, bike, or foot, each with its own architecture, history, and significance. The most famous temple is the Thai Vi temple, which is located near the third boat route. It was built in the 13th century by the Tran dynasty, and it is dedicated to the four kings who ruled Vietnam during that period. The temple has a unique style, with stone pillars, dragon carvings, and bronze bells. The temple is also surrounded by a lotus pond, a bamboo forest, and a rice field, creating a tranquil and serene atmosphere. Another temple that you can visit is the Bich Dong temple, which is located near the second boat route. It was built in the 15th century by the Le dynasty, and it is composed of three pagodas: the lower, the middle, and the upper. The pagodas are built on the side of a mountain, and you have to climb some stairs to reach them. The pagodas have a traditional design, with wooden structures, tiled roofs, and Buddha statues. The pagodas also offer a panoramic view of the surrounding area, with the river, the caves, and the rice fields.

- Viewpoints: The viewpoints are another attraction and a natural beauty of Tam Coc, as they are the places where you can enjoy the stunning scenery and the breathtaking views of the area. There are several viewpoints that you can visit by bike or foot, each with its own difficulty, distance, and angle. The most famous viewpoint is the Mua cave viewpoint, which is located near the first boat route. It is also the most challenging one, as you have to climb 500 steps to reach the top of a hill, where the viewpoint is located. The viewpoint has a large stone dragon statue, and it overlooks the river, the caves, and the rice fields, giving you a bird's eye view of Tam Coc. Another viewpoint that you can visit is the Hang Mua viewpoint, which is located near the third boat route. It is also a challenging one, as you have to climb 450 steps to reach the top of another hill, where the viewpoint is located. The viewpoint has a small pagoda, and it faces the Thai Vi temple, the lotus pond, and the bamboo forest, giving you a different perspective of Tam Coc.

- Buying souvenirs: Some boat drivers may try to sell you some souvenirs during or after the boat tour, such as drinks, snacks, fruits, hats, or handicrafts. They may also stop at some shops or stalls along the way, and pressure you to buy something. They may also use some tricks to make you feel interested or obliged, such as offering you a free sample, a discount, or a gift. To avoid this, you should know that the souvenirs are usually overpriced and low-quality, and you can find them cheaper and better elsewhere. You should also know that the boat drivers get a commission from the sellers, and they do not care about your satisfaction or needs. You should also be firm and polite, and say no if you do not want to buy anything, or buy only what you like and can afford.

These are some of the scams and tricks that you may encounter in Tam Coc, but there are many more to be aware of, such as fake tickets, fake guides, fake reviews, etc. You should always be careful and vigilant, and do your research and planning before you go. You should also trust your instincts and common sense, and avoid anything that sounds too good to be true. You should also report any scam or trick that you experience or witness, to the authorities or the online platforms, to help other travelers and to improve the situation in Tam Coc.

Conclusion:

Tam Coc is a wonderful and safe place to visit, but like any other tourist destination, it has its share of scams and tricks that can ruin your experience and your budget. The most common scams and tricks in Tam Coc are related to the boat tours, as they are the main attraction and the main source of income for the locals.

Tam Coc is a hidden gem in Vietnam that will enchant you with its natural and cultural beauty. It is a place where you can enjoy the river, the caves, the temples, the rice fields, and the countryside, in a unique and relaxing way. It is also a place where you can learn about the history, the culture, and the people of Vietnam, in a rich and authentic way.

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We wanted to write and commend one of your tour guides - Nina, who has spent to days with us in Bangkok, staying along the river. Nina is the most professi...

It’s hard not to be won over by the mystical, watery beauty of the Tam Coc "three caves" region, which is effectively a miniature landlocked version of Ha Long Bay. The film Indochine helped to put it on the tourist map, and both good and bad have come of its burgeoning popularity – access roads have been improved, though some of the canal banks themselves have been lined with concrete. In addition, Tam Coc has become relentlessly commercial, with many travellers having a wonderful day spoiled by hard-sell antics at the end of their trip. Despite the over-zealous – occasionally aggressive – peddling of embroideries and soft drinks by the rowers, the two-hour sampan-ride is a definite highlight, especially as the men and women row with their feet and make it look easy.

Getting to Tam Coc

Accommodation in tam coc, things to do in tam coc, tailor-made travel itineraries for vietnam, created by local experts.

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Vietnam is full of surprises, seamlessly mixing both ancient and modern. See rice paddies, traditional villages, markets, temples and pagodas. Discover romantic cities, cruise around mystical Halong Bay, laze on pristine beaches and get out and about in exuberant Ho Chi Minh City.

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Southern Vietnam is home to modern Ho Chi Minh City, a vibrant southern capital full of historic attraction and old Saigonese charm. Soak up some café culture, enjoy authentic street food, and get a taste of the city’s thriving markets.

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If you are an independent traveller, you can take the bus from Giao Bat in Hanoi. It takes around 3 hours to arrive at Ninh Binh, where you will then need to get a taxi to Tam Coc Wharf. Alternatively, you can get a train from Hanoi. Both take about 3 hours with final stops in Ninh Binh.

The accommodation in Tam Coc has majorly improved to cater to tourists in recent years. Options include regular hotels, homestays in bungalows and dreamy resorts in the rice fields overlooking serene views and mountains and greenery.

Boat rides on traditional sampans are the highlight in Tam Coc, meandering through dumpling-shaped karst hills in a flooded landscape where the river and rice paddies merge serenely into one; keep an eye open for mountain goats high on the cliffs, and bright, darting kingfishers. Journey’s end is Tam Coc, three long, dark tunnel-caves (Hang Ca, Hang Giua and Hang Cuoi) eroded through the limestone hills with barely sufficient clearance for the sampan after heavy rains. On the way back, you can ask to stop at Thai Vi Temple, a short walk from the river. Dating from the thirteenth century and dedicated to the founder of the Tran Dynasty, it’s a peaceful, atmospheric spot.

Tam Coc © Efired / Shutterstock

Be mindful when choosing your boat to stay clear of those with boxes, as these usually mean that your rower will haggle you endlessly until you have purchased something from them - it can ruin your relaxing ride if you do not wish to buy something. Also be aware that hawkers will sometimes convince you to buy a drink for your guide/rower, however, your oarsmen or women will quickly sell this back to them for half the price once you have left.

Hire a Bike

The landscape here is flat so bike riding through the rice fields is recommended and makes you feel like you are in a movie scene. Ride at ease whilst taking in the breathtaking views and lush green colours.

If you have time after the boat trip, follow the road leading southwest from the boat dock for about 2km to visit the cave-pagoda of Bich Dong, or "Jade Grotto". Stone-cut steps, entangled by the thick roots of banyan trees, lead up a cliff face peppered with shrines to the cave entrance, believed to have been discovered by two monks in the early fifteenth century. On the rock face above, two giant characters declare "Bich Dong". The story goes that they were engraved in the eighteenth century by the father of Nguyen Du (author of the classic Tale of Kieu ), who was entrusted with the construction of the complex. The cave walls are now scrawled with graffiti but the three Buddhas sit unperturbed on their lotus thrones beside a head-shaped rock which purportedly bestows longevity if touched. Walk through the cave to emerge higher up the cliff, from where steps continue to the third and final temple and viewpoint over the waterlogged scene.

Featured Image, Tam Coc © John Bill / Shutterstock

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Tam Coc Travel Guide and Best Things To Do In 2024

The ultimate tam coc (ninh binh) travel guide in 2024.

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Hope you’re are ready to visit one of the best places in Vietnam. After an overnight, 7-hour no sleep roller-coaster of a coach ride. We arrived at 4am in a rainy and deserted Ninh Binh. We had no 3G to see where our home-stay was, however, the offline booking.com app said it was 400 metres away so we decided to walk in the rain. We arrived at the directed app’s destination wet and cold, it was the wrong place. Technology. No-one around and no internet service we was like “what now?”. This was a great start to our adventure on the Tam Coc travel guide.  And the  best things to do in Tam Coc Bich Dong (Ninh Binh).

One of the best things to do is the Tam Coc boat ride .  On here you will be taking through the breathtaking mountains of Ninh Binh by a cool unique Vietnamese rowboat.

Then we embraced the sweetest smell of fresh bread being baked, the bakery was open with one lady attending to the old tattered ovens. We asked for help, then another lady appears out of the night on a bicycle, we showed her our home-stay name and she makes a call. She tells us we are being picked up. Relief, our saviour has got us there. We arrived at the homestay and make for the bed instantly, before getting up to begin are Tam Coc 2 day visit.

We did some research before arriving and created a little itinerary of the  best things to do in Ninh Binh.  But we soon found out there were more things there to be discovered just by exploring this hidden gem in Vietnam.  Tam Coc is such a cool place with so much to offer to visitors.  Tam Coc Bich Dong is a top place for backpackers to visit. It offers cheap accommodation, cheap food and plenty of cool things to do.

Is Tam Coc Bich Dong in Ninh Bin Worth Visiting?

Yes! Throughout our chosen journey of Vietnam, we had met other backpackers of whom all rated Tam Coc very highly, saying it is a “ top place to visit in Vietnam ”. As a result, we made it a top place to visit before making a way to Hanoi for a 2 night cruise Halong bay .  

Tam Coc is a top tourist destination and is part of the heritage Ninh Binh province , Tam Coc is also known as the area of 3 caves . Tam Coc is not a vast place compared to some of the other previous Vietnam destinations. Therefore, you can make use of a classic cycle to enjoy the unbelievable scenery that surrounds a true gem of Vietnam.  

Tam Coc Bich Dong has a small central area consisting of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and plenty of backpackers. However, the centre is not very busy and you get a sense of a warm-welcoming-atmosphere around the place.  

Leave the centre with a 5-minute walk and be astounded by the unbelievable formation of Jurassic Park style mountains and rice fields. This really is an unforgettable place to visit.

I have discovered Ninh Binh’s Tam Coc will become a lot more popular over the next few years. It had breathtaking scenery similar to Halong Bay but receives nowhere near the public attention Halong Bay seems to have. Therefore, as Halong Bay starts to become too touristic, people will start to head towards Vietnam’s hidden gem – Tam Coc.  

The Tam Coc Travel Guide of where to stay  

One of the best places to stay in Ninh Binh is the awesome Tam Coc garden resort. This is one of the most popular luxury places to stay. Offering amazing services for all guests and having some of the most epic views of Tam Coc you will get to see. You have travelled all this way to Tam Coc, you want an epic place to stay, right?

The Tam Coc Garden Resort and this is definitely one of the most popular places to stay in Ninh Binh. It is not the cheapest, but it’s one of the most romantic and sweetest accommodations.

You can check out my review here on the Tam Coc Garden Resort or you can book a room at the Tam Coc resort here 🙂

• In Tam Coc we stayed at the amazing   Cozy Son Hotel in Ninh Binh and loved it- The Vietnamese authentic, cute and amazing staffed homestay situated just an easy 10 minute walk from the central area of Tam  Coc. Which in my eyes is perfect for anyone looking to visit Tam CocBich Dong. Let’s look at the reasons why.  
• As I mentioned at the start of this post, one of the lovely accommodation staff picked us up at 4am. From that moment on the service just kept getting better.  
• They had a room prepared for us at the crazy early time of 4am, where every other accommodation had made us wait till 2pm. The joy of getting into a bed after no sleep on that wild coach. Furthermore, the rooms decor and air conditioning was amazing and we couldn’t believe it was just $11 a night for 2 people including breakfast.  
• This leads me on to the breakfast, which is by far the best we have had. We got pancakes, omelette, tasty French baguette, tea and a smoothie. All this included in the price. We also dined here for our evening meal as there was a good variety of food on the menu and also at a very low cost. We didn’t regret our decision, the food was great.  
• In addition to the already sublime service we had got, the rooms was very quite so you couldn’t hear a peep at night and the bed was mega comfy. Compared to some of the previous ironing-board mattresses we have slept on. Furthermore, the location is perfect with just a 5/10 minute walk to the centre and a 15 minute walk to the must see Bich Dong Pagoda.    The homestay also provides;  Scooter rental: (150,000 a day) Bicycle rental: (50,000 a day) and laundry service.

Other great places to stay in Ninh Binh

• Book Room for this cool hotel:  Trang An Valley Bungalow
• Book Room:  Lam Garden
• Are you backpacking in Tam Cox? You to Book a Room here:  Trang An Central Homestay
• Book Room:  Tam Coc Golden Rice

How to get from Ninh Binh to Hanoi

They also book tours for you and they booked our coach from Ninh Binh To Hanoi .  

The are plenty of places of to stay in Tam Coc and I’m sure there are a lot of good stays for cheap. However, for all the above-mentioned services and just a warm atmosphere, I don’t think you will find anywhere better to stay at than the Cosy Son at its very low prices.  

You may like the  Cheapest things to do in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Looking for the best honeymoon or backpacking destinations in the world? Check out my Bali blog and Thailand blog travel guides.

Best Things To Do Tam Coc Bich Dong?

Okay, before I start with the best things to do in Tam Coc. I am going to be completely honest with you, there isn’t a lot of things for you to do. However, the few things that you can do are the reason you must visit Tam Coc.

Tam Coc is blessed with amazing scenery. Therefore, you must take advantage of all of the inspirational sights with the amazing days out in Tam Coc.

#1 Tam Coc River Boat ride ngo dong river

This will be one of the most memorable experiences you will encounter in Vietnam.   Be amazed of how your boat captain uses their legs to row around the river Sampson. Your Tam Coc boat ride  starts from the Van Lam pier, the river route is roughly three kilometres long and takes up to two hours. We enjoyed every minute of rowing through what I can describe as Jurassic Park, the mountains of rock and greenery stand tall at the sides of the river and there is a mystically mist that hugs these epic formations of rock.

Check out  Hanoi to Saigon Road Trip  for tips on amazing travel route through Vietnam

Through your river adventure, you will pass underneath 3 very cool caves and you can expect to get low in the boat to avoid catching your head on the low roofs of these unique mountain erosions.  

It also rained at one point, but this just added more of a cool effect to the historic river and mountains.

#2 Cycle around the stunning land of Tam Coc

Take in the views at your own pace, benefit your heart and just adventure around Tam Coc on a bicycle . Tam Coc is not very busy with traffic, so those who are not the most confident can still enjoy this great thing to do in Tam Coc.

Tam Coc  is very flat so enjoying a bike ride doesn’t have to be to strenuous and in just a few hours you can see all the views Tam Coc has to offer.  

Where to hire a bicycle?  cost 50,0000 – your homestay or hostel in Ninh Bin will most likely have bicycles available for rent. However, in the unlikely event, they don’t most cafes and shops rent them out.

#3 Visit some amazing temples

Take a visit to the cultural temples of Tam Coc  that can be found from hiking up hundreds of steps. My favourite was the Hang Mua, this epic climb rewards you with the best views I have seen in Vietnam (Halong Bay is the next stop so that maybe better). As well, be prepared to sweat as this is quite a climb but as I said the views are worth it. At the top you can see for miles and plenty of mountains, rice fields and architecture can be seen. At the peak of Hang Mua  there is a very unique dragon monument that is at least 15 foot long.

Another cool place to visit is the Bich Dong Pagoda . When you arrive here you will notice the stunning scenery at the base of the mountain, then when you make your way into the entrance you will notice the first small temple. There is a temple half way up and one at the top.

The mountain is not as much as a strenuous climb as the Hang Mua beast and offers a little more to see in regards to looking at temples.  

If you are travelling through Vietnam like I did and are visiting Nha Trang. You have got to visit the Vinpearl land as this was one of the best places in Vietnam that I visited.

One of the coolest places to visit is Sapa, check out  The ultimate guide to Sapa  in Vietnam

Things to know about the best Mountain hikes in Ninh Binh  

• Wear appropriate footwear. Not only will it help with the hiking but it’s also quite slippy in some areas. Furthermore, at the top of Hang Mua, there is a couple of rocks you can climb to get to the very peak and next to the Dragon. However, this is very dangerous and you DO NOT want to lose your footing here
• Hang Mua costs – 100,000 VDK per person
• Bich Dong costs – Free
• Have a lazy day with a dinner stroll Even with the amazing views, life-changing adventures and unforgettable people, backpacking can get tiring at times. Therefore, it’s important to have a rest at times and what better place to this than at Ninh Binh’s Tam Coc.
• Enjoy a lie-in, slowly rise today good morning to the world, enjoy breakfast with a freshly ground black coffee and then take life at your own pace with a stroll into Tam Coc’s centre. You could even get lost and take a stroll into one of the winding paths into the mountains of Tak Coc.
• After this, you could then enjoy dinner at one of the many cheap and tasty restaurants available in the centre of Tam Coc. Top Tip – walk out of the centre for a couple of minutes to find even cheaper prices with just the same quality of food.

Where to eat in Tam Coc  

I am now going to share with you the two most delicious places to eat in Tam Coc. Thinking of the food as I write this post makes my mouth water.

• Aroma Curry House Tam Coc  – You should have guessed by the name, this is a curry house and is the only one we could find in Tam Coc. We had been wanting a curry for a few weeks and decided this was the place we had to try.
• The prices are a little more expensive than local Vietnamese restaurant’s meals, but not that much more expensive. However, we was so please we decided to eat here.
• The food is absolutely amazing. You can taste each spice used to cook the fine curry and the chicken is so succulent and tender. The flavour of curry wrapped around the chicken was out of this world. The Naan bread was also unbelievable and every bite of naan and curry created pure delight. I can honestly say it is the best curry I have ever tried and it will probably be the best for a good while.
• Thuy Linh Restaurant – I named this the diamond in the dirt as we stumbled across this looking for somewhere to eat one afternoon. The first thing is a review of the menu before entering the restaurant and it looked real cheap. So, we though o well let’s just try it out as we are hungry.
• The food is incredible!

We had the best spring rolls I have ever been lucky enough to taste. The meals was absolutely incredible and bursting with flavour. We dined here for $5, that is for two people which included the starter and a main each.

Once we finished the mouth-watering food the waiter brought over some free fruit. We couldn’t believe how tasty, cheap and plentiful the food is at this amazing restaurant. Furthermore, the staff was also very friendly and never let a smile leave their face.  

My 3 best foods in Vietnam

• Spring rolls – The spring rolls will always be a favourite of mine. In all of Asia, Vietnam did the best spring rolls.
• Vietnamese street food – The streets food in Vietnam is amazing! If you’re looking for tasty food whilst travelling on a budget in Vietnam, then you need to try the street food.
• Vietnamese coffee – I know this is not a food, however the coffee in Vietnam is amazing. You have got try the egg coffee in Vietnam.

The Tam Coc guide on the local people;

• The local people of Tam Coc needed to be mentioned within this post, why? Because it creates such a more welcoming atmosphere when the locals share a warm smile and a hello.
• It makes the difference when a native local makes an effort to greet a stranger from a different county.
• The people of Tam Coc live a relaxed and peaceful life which shines through in their body language and personality.  

If you love amazing Vietnamese food, then you need to visit the Morning Glory Hoi An . One of the best restaurants in Hoi An and you can even do a cooking class here!

The Tam Coc travel guide conclusion  

I have created this epic  Tam Coc travel guide  as I wanted to share with you this amazing place to visit in Vietnam.  If you’re a backpacker visiting Ninh Binh, then you will have a mega experience. As I mentioned Ninh Binh as a very cheap but epic place to visit. Your money will stretch out very far here and there is plenty of  things to do in Ninh Binh.

You may only need a couple of days to see everything there is to do in in Tam Coc, but you will see a completely different side to Vietnam in just a couple of days.  The hikes and  viewpoints in Ninh Binh  are absolutely amazing.

If you’re backpacking in Vietnam, then I would highly recomend this book below. It will give you a good insight into the country and the best places to visit in Vietnam. It’s cheap enough for our backpacking budget;

Places to see next in Tam Coc

• The Tam Coc Garden Resort
• Tam Coc boat ride  
• Vietnam’s Marble Mountain Travel guide  
• Hang Mua Dragon Mountain in Ninh Binh

5 thoughts on “Tam Coc Travel Guide and Best Things To Do In 2024”

Now that’s where I want to go – beautiful

Hey Mark, it’s an amazing place. Hope you get to visit. Let me know if you want anymore information 🙂

Great blog! what month did you visit ninh bihn? 🙂

Thank you Ella 🙂 it was in July-August.. Have you been? Ninh Binh is one of the best destinations in Vietnam

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Bich Dong Pagoda in Tam Coc: The Ultimate Guide

 In Ninh Binh, also called the “Halong bay on land”, the breathtakingly beautiful Bich Dong Pagoda is situated among rice paddies and karst formations, in stunning natural decor. Located an hour south of Hanoi and a short bike trip from Tam Coc, this centuries-old relic is a captivating part of Vietnam’s spiritual and cultural heritage, a place that has drawn travelers for centuries. In this post, we’ll explore the history, beauty, and culture of the Bich Dong Pagoda in Vietnam!

where is the Bich Dong Pagoda in Vietnam

The entrance of the Bich dong Pagoda in Tam Coc

The Bich Dong Pagoda, sometimes also referred to as “Tam Cốc Bích động”, and not to be confused with the nearby Bai Dinh Pagoda is a beautiful three-tiered pagoda complex built in the Ngu Nhac mountains near the tourist town of Tam Coc . 

It is next to the Trang An Scenic Landscape complex boat tour and the Mua caves and viewpoint one of the top attractions in the area around Tam Coc. The pagoda complex itself is serene and wonderfully located, with nice views over the surrounding area from the top.

However, this has also become a very popular Instagram location so you’ll probably have to share it with a lot of other travelers! It’s especially hard to take a photo of the lovely gat, where people are practically standing in line to have their picture taken. 

Aside from that, the Bich Dong Pagoda is absolutely worth a visit!

Bich dong Pagoda history

Bich Dong Pagoda, Tam Coc

The first mention in history of the Bich Dong Pagoda dates back hundreds of years ago. There’s a large amount of contradictory information online about when the first layer of the pagoda was actually built. Some sources stick very persistently to the year 1428 but let’s say it was built around 600 years ago.

A few hundred years later, in the 18th century, two monks, Tri Kien and Tri Khe, found the hidden temple and decided to renovate and expand it to the three tiers that it is today. 

The three tiers of the bich dong pagoda

As mentioned before, the pagoda consists of three tiers. The first one was built around 600 years ago while the middle tier and the top tier have been built in the 18th century. the three tiers are named Ha pagoda (Lower pagoda), Trung Pagoda (Middle pagoda) and Thuong Pagoda (Upper pagoda).

tam coc-bich dong

The Ha Pagoda is the first pagoda you’ll see after walking over the lovely bridge and through the entrance gate. Take a short walk to reach a peaceful courtyard that is surrounded by a few buildings and an outdoor seating area. You can find the pagoda perched against the rocks by taking a few steps up.

This wood and stone-built pagoda has five chambers and a two-story roof and is shaped like the Chinese word “Dinh” (工). Inside you can find several buddha statues and a lot of burning incense. 

Trung Pagoda

After you have finished exploring Ha pagoda, look for a stone 120-step staircase to your left which will lead you to the second level Trung Pagoda. This was my favorite level of the Bich Dong Pagoda because it boasts some scenic views over the surrounding area.

Bich Dong Pagoda – second level

The Trung Pagoda is also somewhat special because it is divided into two areas. One section of the pagoda is located outside and the other section is located inside a cave. Just like Ha pagoda, it is built out of stone and wood. Inside the cave, you can see a three centuries old bronze bell. 

Thuong Pagoda

When you walk through the cave and take the stone steps up, you’ll arrive at the top pagoda, called Thuong Pagoda. The pagoda located here on the top is really small. Next to it is also a small shrine with a Buddha statue. 

To my surprise, there was a security guy here, overlooking the premises. My boyfriend and I were trying to make a little joke about stealing the money that was donated to the Buddha statue but he couldn’t laugh about it and looked really offended. The Vietnamese can be really humorous people, but apparently not inside a pagoda! 

What you need to know before visiting the bich dong pagoda

Cave inside the Bich dong Pagoda

Aside from the regular things like taking enough water , and wearing sunscreen and a hat when it’s 30 degrees Celsius outside, here are two important things to know before visiting the Bich Dong Pagoda.

parking your vehicle

Scamming with parking is a well-known thing in Vietnam and it is no different here at the Bich Dong Pagoda. When you arrive with your motorbike or bicycle you’ll probably be directed to a parking space on the right-hand side from the stone bridge that leads to the entrance of the Bich Dong Pagoda.

They will give you a ticket and charge you for parking your vehicle, but there isn’t any fixed price on the ticket. This is already alarming and indicated that this is no official parking space because an official parking space would surely mention the price on the ticket. 

I and my boyfriend refrained from parking our bicycles in the parking space and drove back to the street where a few restaurants are located and parked our bikes there and chained them up with our locks. Why would we pay for a parking space that we don’t actually need?

However, the guy got really upset and was making eyes at our bicycles when we entered the pagoda. After five minutes inside, we got so scared that he would tamper with our bicycles that we went out again to check if they were still okay. 

They were, but, if you want my advice: don’t drive your bicycle or motorbike all the way to the entrance gate but park them near the restaurants and walk from there. 

Also, if you are offered free bikes at your guesthouse, ask them for locks. That way, you don’t need to park them is a so-called “secured” space. 

Pagodas are sacred places and therefore, as a conscious traveler , you must dress accordingly. Wear a T-shirt or scarf that covers your shoulders and make sure your skirt or pants are long enough to cover your knees. This is a common rule throughout Asia when you visit sacred places.

Tam Coc-Bich Dong

Often, when entering sacred places in South-East Asia, there are scarfs for rent or that can be used for free at the entrance. Unfortunately, this is not the case at the Bich Dong Pagoda so make sure you are dressed properly.

THE BEST TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR VIETNAM

Here are the websites I personally use whenever I travel to Vietnam:

ACCOMMODATION

Booking.com : For the best cheap guesthouses, homestays or small hotels

Hostelworld : To find the best hostels located in the cities

Homestay : For unique immersive homestays in the cities as well as in the Vietnamese countryside

12GO and Bookaway : The best transport websites for long-distance buses and train travel in Vietnam

GRAB : for taxi rides in cities and nearby attractions

Skyscanner : For affordable flights to Vietnam

Eatwith : Dine with locals inside their home for an immersive foodie experience

Withlocals : Experience cities in Vietnam with local people that show you around. This is a good idea if you want to stray off the beaten path!

Viator and Get Your Guide : For (vegan) food tours, street food tours, and tours in general

Get your Visa for Vietnam online through the Evisa website

If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is without a doubt Heymondo ! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!

Get access to mobile data straight away when entering the country with a Vietnam E-sim or an Asialink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries.

Bich dong Pagoda opening hours and entrance fee

At first glance, it seems that the Bich Dong Pagoda can be accessed day and night because it’s very easy to cross the bridge and walk toward the gate. They do however lock it up at night. 

Bich dong pagoda opening hours

There are no fixed opening hours for the Bich Dong Pagoda which is quite frustrating. Reading reviews, I’ve noticed that people who wanted to visit after 5 P.M. found the gate already closed. Other visitors mentioned that they visited at 9 A.M. and had the place to themselves. 

It’s safe to say that going between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. is a good choice. Too bad however that this means that the temple is not accessible to watch sunrise and sunset. 

Bich Dong Pagoda entrance fee

The entrance fee to visit the Bich Dong Pagoda is completely free. Do be aware that, aside from the parking scammers, there will also be individuals hanging around that will try to sell you fake entrance tickets. Don’t fall into that trap!

best time to visit the Bich Dong pagoda

I visited the Bich Dong Pagoda in late December. The temperature during the winter months is nice during the day, hovering around 20 degrees Celsius. It’s great weather to cycle around in the area but the only downside is that it stays very cloudy most days.

It is not advised to visit the area around Tam Coc during the summer months. During summer, there is a lot of rainfall and it’s the peak season for Vietnamese tourists so the pagoda will be packed with domestic travelers.

The best time to visit is probably March and April or October and November when it’s still sunny and relatively dry weather. 

Where to stay to visit the bich dong pagoda

Tam Coc, Ninh Binh province

The Bich Dong Pagoda is a part of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex and is close to Tam Coc, Trang An, and Ninh Binh City. The padoga can also easily be visited on a day trip from Hanoi but there are so many other attractions in the area like the Mua Caves, Trang An, and Van Long that it is absolutely worth it to stay in the area for a few days.

I spent two weeks in Trang An and Tam Coc and had a lovely time slow traveling in the area. Where you stay however is completely up to you. Here are some suggestions!

From Hanoi, you can choose to visit the Bich Dong Pagoda independently on a day trip or by taking an organized full-day tour that includes Bich Dong. 

If you want to visit the area independently, you’ll first have to take a train or bus to Ninh Binh city and take a taxi from there. You find and book buses and trains easily on the website of 12GoAsia .

If you check carefully, you will even see that there are a few buses that go all the way to the center of Tam Coc and drop you off near the lake. That is convenient because, from there, you can walk to the Bich Dong Pagoda in a little over half an hour.  

If you have little time on your hand, taking an organized tour might be a good idea. Here is the one I would suggest:

This tour includes a visit to the Bich Dong Pagoda but also a boat tour of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex.

This is a good choice because most tours that leave from Hanoi stop for a boat tour in Tam Coc. The Tam Coc boat tours however are a complete tourist trap in which you will be forced to buy overpriced drinks and food in the middle of your tour and you will be asked for huge tips from the boatmen before even arriving back at the dock. Don’t do this.

On the other hand, the boat tours at Trang An are run by a professional organization. It’s a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site and the official site to visit to experience the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. 

Tam Coc is the best place to stay in the area to visit the Bich Dong Pagoda. It’s only a little over half an hour’s walk from the center of Tam Coc to the pagoda and Tam Coc has a nice variety of tourist facilities and lovely restaurants. 

Trang is another village in the vicinity of the Bich Dong pagoda. It is closer located to the Trang An boat wharf than Tam Coc and also a more convenient location if you want to visit sights that are further afield like the Van Long Wetland Reserve.

There is a decent amount of guesthouses and homestays in Trang An but don’t expect to find a lively atmosphere during the evening. There also aren’t that many actual restaurants. Most restaurants you’ll find are the restaurants of some guesthouses and homestays. 

A lot of travelers think that staying in the city of Ninh Binh is a better option and that there will be more facilities there for tourists. Having visited Ninh Binh, I can say for sure that there aren’t more tourist facilities there, neither better restaurant options nor a more lively vibe than in the countryside.

It is a pretty dusty city that completely lacks charm and it’s also further away from all the sights and attractions in the area. Staying in Trang An or Tam Coc is definitely the better option here. 

How to get to the bich dong pagoda

Cycling is the best way to get around the area

Getting to the Bich Dong pagoda is relatively easy no matter if you’re staying in Tam Coc, Trang An or Ninh Binh.

Cycling is the most convenient and also the most eco-friendly option to get around the area. In between the beautiful karst mountains, the whole terrain is flat so you won’t have to work up your sweat.

A lot of the guesthouses and homestays in Trang An and Tam Coc rent out bicycles for free or for a very small fee (50 000 VND).

While it’s too far to walk to the Bich Dong Pagoda from Trang An and Ninh Binh, it’s perfectly doable to just use your feet to get there. The trip is 2,8 kilometers and it takes you a little over half an hour to get there on foot. 

Renting a motorbike is another way to get around the area. It’s convenient but remember that riding a bicycle is a better choice ecologically.

Tam Coc is peaceful in itself but I found that the throngs of tourists driving motorbikes up and down the street in Tam Coc took that serenity away, especially on the main street. 

If you want to rent a motorbike for the day, this should cost you around 150 000 VND.

If you don’t feel comfortable driving a bicycle or a motorbike you can opt to visit the Bich Dong Pagoda by taxi. Based on previous taxi experiences in South-East Asia, I wouldn’t recommend hailing a taxi on the street but rather arranging one through your accommodation so you will get a correct price. 

A lot of taxi scams happen in Sout-East Asia in which Western tourists get overcharged dramatically, so be careful. 

If you hire a private driver, it might be a good idea to visit a few other attractions in the area as well. When I was staying in Tam Coc I arranged a private driver to visit nearby Cuc Phuong National Park and the Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary and the price for this private tour was 900 000 VND. 

Cuc Phuong is 45 kilometers away from Tam Coc so I assume that doing a private tour, incorporating sights in the more direct area in Tam Coc, will probably come a bit cheaper.

There are a dozen of tour agencies in the center of Tam Coc that arrange bus tickets and motorbikes but also local tours. You can book a tour at the agency directly or ask your accommodation if they work together with a local agent to arrange a tour. 

Where to stay near Tam Coc Bich dong

As said before, the best area to stay to visit the Bich Dong Pagoda is Tam Coc or Trang An. Trang An is the better option if you like a more local vibe. Tam Coc is the best choice if you like to have a lot of restaurant options and tourist facilities.

Here are my recommendations for staying in Trang An and Tam Coc:

• Trang An Moon Garden Homestay : this is the location where I stayed in Trang An. It’s a cute, compact homestay with a small pool that takes up most of the backyard garden. The room was very comfy, with one of the nicest bathrooms I’ve seen in Vietnam in this price category. There’s a kettle in the room to make tea and coffee which is always a nice bonus if you travel long-term. Breakfast is included but I found the pancakes to be a bit icky. 
• Ninh Binh Valley Montana Homestay : This is another homestay located in Trang An. I didn’t stay here but it was my favorite place to eat in Trang An. The outdoor area by the water is a great place to have dinner in the evening and the staff at Montana Valle is incredibly kind. They even gave us treats on Christmas day. The rooms look good too and they get some raving reviews on Booking . 
• Ninh Binh Valley Homestay : If you fancy sleeping at a spectacular remote location in between the limestone cliffs then the bungalows of this homestay are a perfect choice!
• Tam Coc Memories Homestay : This is the perfect place for young backpackers who like to play pool and have a beer by the beautifully designed pool with water that flows into a limestone cliff. The rooms at this homestay are immaculately clean and the beds are super comfy. I stayed here for a few nights but decided to look for a place with a calmer vibe a little further out of the center. 
• Mom’s homestay : Mom’s homestay can also be found online as Tuan Ngoc Hotel which is a little confusing. Nevertheless, this was my favorite place to stay in Tam Coc. This family-run hotel/homestay has a very nice pool and the family running the hotel is genuinely kind en incredibly helpful. The included breakfast is a la carte and they have motorbikes and bicycles on site for hire. 
• Tam Coc Ngo Dong homestay and vegan restaurant : This little homestay has the best vegan restaurant in Tam Coc. While there are a few plant-based eateries in Tam Coc, the floor at this homestay is the best we had in Tam Coc. Do be aware that the portions of some of the dishes can be quite small. The rooms were very clean and the fact that they looked out onto a wall didn’t seem to bother the guests.

More sights to visit near the Bich Dong Pagoda

Tam Coc and its surroundings is a wonderful region to explore and there are many more sights and attractions to explore in the area. I’ll list a few of them below but, for a more comprehensive guide, read my post about the 15 best things to do in Tam Coc . 

Mua viewpoint

Mua caves viewpoint, Ninh Binh, Vietnam

While the actual name of Mua Viewpoint is Mua Caves, the reason why people visit this attraction is not because of the caves. Visitors come here to climb the steep stairs to two amazing viewpoints from which you have a breathtaking panoramic view over Tam Coc and Ninh Binh.

Read my comprehensive guide to Hang Mua Viewpoint to find out everything you need to know about this attraction. 

Trang An Boat tour

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex

As said before, don’t let yourself get scammed at the Tam Coc boat wharf but make your way to Trang An to discover the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. 

I’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know about taking a boat tour in Trang An . 

Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve

Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve boosts the same scenic mountains and lunch vegetation as Trang An but is much more quieter. It’s located 17 kilometers from Trang An and is a great place to spot wildlife, especially the critically endangered Delacour’s langur.

You can read everything you need to know to visit Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve on the blog. 

Bear Sanctuary Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary

A lot of travelers are not aware of this, but on the way to Cuc Phuong National Park, lies the Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary. This Sanctuary operates as a center that rescues Asiatic Black Bears and Moon Bears from Bear bile farming, a horrendous practice that unfortunately still exists in Vietnam.

Read my full guide to the Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary and learn how you can help to give the bears the forever home they deserve. 

What not to visit

As said before, The Tam Coc boat rides are a tourist trap and don’t visit the actual official UNESCO -protected World Heritage Site of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. 

Aside from that, I was also very disappointed in visiting Thung Nham Bird Park. This park is advertised as an ecotourism destination and one of the best places in Vietnam to see birds. The entrance fee is high for Vietnamese standards and costs 150 000 VND/per person.  

I was willing to pay that because it is an eco-tourism area but when I entered the park I was shocked by what I found. This is not an eco-tourism destination that is focused on the wellness of the birds that live here, but an amusement park with a hotel and restaurants, and noisy tourist boats that go up and down the lakes. 

Bich Dong Pagoda: Final thoughts

There you go! I hope you enjoyed this Bich Dong Pagoda review. As you can see is the Bich Dong Pagoda absolutely worth a visit when you are traveling through the north of Vietnam.

I hope you enjoyed this guide! If you have any more questions, please leave them in the comments below or drop me a message through my contact page !

Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!

Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Fancy more Vietnam travel advice? Check out these Vietnam travel guides!

• Pu Luong, Vietnam: Things to Do, Where to Stay, and How to Get There
• Mai Chau, Vietnam: Everything You Need to Know
• A Traveler’s Guide to Vegan Food in Vietnam
• Cat Ba National Park: Everything You Need to Know
• 12 Excellent Vegan Restaurants in Hanoi
• Is Hanoi Safe to Visit? Things to Know!

• November 4, 2023

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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and  yourself!

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Tam Coc Bich Dong is a large landscaped area, featuring limestone caves. It’s beautiful village scenery and Bich Dong ancient pagoda. Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourist area is located in Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province, about 100 km south of Hanoi. Tam Coc Bich Dong is part of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. Also a dual world heritage recognized by UNESCO for its cultural and natural values.

How Tam Coc is unique?

The name Tam Coc originates from the three caves here: Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba. Tam Coc is also known for its magical landscape of the river with rice fields on both sides. Especially surrounded by majestic limestone peaks.

Exploring Tam Coc Ninh Binh has 2 ways: You can ride a bicycle to enjoy the peaceful scenery of the rice fields and learn about the rustic life of the local people. Another very interesting option is to sit on a wooden boat, and take a boat trip along Ngo Dong river to see the beautiful scenery with green mountains.

The journey on a wooden boat from Van Lam village will take you through caves:

This is the longest of the three caves in Tam Coc tourist area. Ca Cave is about 127 meters long with a width of about 20 meters. Legend has it that this used to be the place to fish for a fairy with white hair like a cloud, and up to now, from the outside, Hang Ca still has the shape of a fairy he relaxes fishing.

2: Hang Hai (Second cave)

After Ca Cave is Hang cave. Sitting on a boat going through the cave is more than 60 meters long, you can watch the sparkling stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the cave.

3: (Hang Ba) Third Cave

Located not far from Hang Hai is Hang Ba. This cave is quite different with a lower ceiling compared to Hang Ca and Hang Hai. After sailing through a series of caves through the mountains. Tha you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of clouds and water in Tam Coc area.

Compared to Trang An eco-tourism area, Tam Coc tourist area has fewer caves, and the distance traveled on the river is also shorter. It takes about 1.30 hour for visitors to complete the journey to discover Tam Coc.

Tam Coc Ninh Binh – Bich Dong Pagoda

Bich Dong Pagoda is located about 3 km from Tam Coc. The pagoda was built in 1428 on the Truong Yen limestone mountain range. Bich Dong means Green Cave. Bich Dong has been dubbed “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong” (the second most beautiful cave in the South Sky). On both sides of the small path leading to the temple gate are thousands of water lilies blooming on the river. Bich Dong Pagoda consists of 3 separate pagodas: Ha Pagoda, Trung Pagoda and Thuong Pagoda.

Ha Pagoda – Bich Dong

The Lower Pagoda has a Buddhist altar and a place to remember the masters who built the pagoda. Ha Pagoda has 5 compartments built on a high foundation at the foot of the mountain, the pagoda architecture is in the style of Dinh. Trusses, crossbars, and vertical beams are also made of ironwood. The roof of the pagoda is two tiers of curved roofs, including 8 roofs. The stone pillars in the lower pagoda are all made of stone in one block, without joints, more than 4m high, making such stone pillars is a feat. At Ha Pagoda, a Chinese character in the middle has the words “Ancient Tranquility” – to show that the main heart of the pagoda is purity from the past to the present. At the top is the triangle.

Trung Pagoda

From Ha Pagoda, going up about 120 steps to the middle of Ngu Nhac mountain range is Trung Pagoda. Right in front are two words Bich Dong carved into the cliff. This is a very unique pagoda: half attached to the cave, half open-air, the pagoda has 3 rooms to worship Buddha. Right in front of the cave door, there is an ancient bronze bell with very delicate carvings. Looking outside is the Giai Oan bridge. Most of the visitors here often “request” three bells to ring as if to “clear the blame” for their souls in the place where the Buddha’s door is at peace.

Travel from Trung Pagoda up about 6m high is to Dark Cave. This is the main movement, profound, quiet. The way to Dark Cave is almost vertical, go under the bridge to clear the blame, because the cave door is shaped like a rainbow. Dark Cave is a long, wide space with electric lighting. All like a petrified fairy world of creation.

Thuong Pagoda

Thuong Pagoda is also known as the Eastern Pagoda, the pagoda worshiping Quan Am Bodhisattva. This is the temple located at the highest position, near the top of Bich Dong mountain. From Thuong Pagoda looking out into the distance, there are 5 independent mountains adoring Bich Dong mountain, which looks like 5 lotus petals, called Ngu Nhac Son, including Tam Sang mountain, Gia Dinh mountain, Con Lon mountain, Dau Cau mountain and Dau Cau mountain. Hang Based Mountain. Bich Dong is a unique temple in Vietnam, nowhere near such land and mountains.

Thuong Pagoda has two shrines on both sides: the right side is dedicated to Tho Dia, the left side is dedicated to Duc Son Than. Next to the pagoda there is a water tank called “Cam Lo water tank” of Quan Am Bodhisattva. In front is the field of Ngu Mon. Standing on Thuong Pagoda, you can zoom in on the whole beautiful scene of Bich Dong Pagoda. It’s not only beautiful in charming scenery, but also in cultural art – architecture. But also in the meaning of a beautiful place, historical sites of Ninh Binh province.

How to travel to Tam Coc Bich Dong?

Depending on your personal preferences, you can start the Tam Coc Bich Dong tour on your own or go on a tour with a travel company. Also you can also travel by bus or limousine. Tam Coc – Bich Dong is 7km from Ninh Binh city center, so there are many options for you.

Traveling Tam Coc Bich Dong Ninh Binh by Road

1: public transport.

Bus routes to Ninh Binh from Hanoi start from Giap Bat bus station and end at Ninh Binh central bus station. In addition, if the location of your accommodation is convenient on the roads of Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Ha Tinh provinces, etc., you can also board these cars to go through Ninh Binh, these routes are numerous and run quite continuously.

2: Traveling Tam Coc Bich Dong Ninh Binh by Private Vehicle

If using a car, from Hanoi you can follow the Phap Van – Cau Gie – Ninh Binh highway, with a distance of about 90km. It only takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, and you will reach the city center. Ninh Binh. But if using motorbikes, from Hanoi you follow the old National Highway 1A through Ha Nam and then go in the direction of Ninh Binh – Thanh Hoa. Pay attention to the signposts to avoid going in the wrong direction in the direction of Nam Dinh – Thai Binh.

3: Traveling Tam Coc Bich Dong Ninh Binh by Railway

Ninh Binh has the Tam Diep – Ninh Binh urban axis located on the North-South railway line. In the province, there are Ninh Binh stations, Cau Yen stations, Ghenh stations and Dong Giao stations. Therefore, whether you are in the South or outside the North, you can easily come to Ninh Binh by the Thong Nhat train. From Hanoi, there are SE1 trains (19:30) to Ninh Binh at 21:46, SE3 train (22:00) to Ninh Binh at 0:10, SE5 train (9:00) to Ninh Binh at 11:21, SE7 train (6:00) to Ninh Binh at 8:22 and SE19 train (20:05) arrives in Ninh Binh at about 23h. If departing from Saigon, the trains arrive in Ninh Binh most of the time quite late, the only suitable train that you should take is SE8, which departs from Saigon station at 6:00 and arrives in Ninh Binh at 13:15 day after.

4: Traveling Tam Coc Bich Dong Ninh Binh by Air

Direct flights from cities with airports to Ninh Binh are not available, so if you are far away like Ho Chi Minh City or oversea countries, you can fly to Noi Bai airport and take a car or train to Ninh Binh.

Hotel, Homestay, Villa in Ninh Binh near Tam Coc Bich Dong

The trip to the land of Hoa Lu – Ninh Binh to admire the wonderful beauty of Tam Coc Bich Dong will be extremely complete when visitors choose the ideal destination. If you want your trip to be without any shortcomings, let’s take a look at these addresses located near Tam Coc Bich Dong as below:

Tam Coc Mountain View Homestay

• Tam Coc Bungalow
• La Belle Vie Tam Coc Homestay
• Tam Coc River View Homestay
• Tam Coc Friendly Homestay
• Sunshine Homestay
• Tam Coc Westlake Homestay

Sightseeing routes in Tam Coc Bich Dong Ninh Binh

1: thach bich – thung nang route.

From Dinh Cac wharf (Tam Coc), travelling about more than 500m by road to Thach Bich wharf to go to Thung Nang. Sitting on a boat, crossing a waterway with yellow rice fields on both sides, rolling mountains, passing Voi temple is coming to Thung Nang. Thung Nang is a magnificent landscape, with a cloudy sky and mountains surrounding. The journey of sitting on a sightseeing boat lasts about 3 km on the waterway, you will come to many legends. Such as Ba Doi mountain, Coc mountain, Mang mountain, Vang mountain… Pass Thung Nang cave about 100m to reach Thung Nang temple. The temple was built in a quiet space, the back of the temple leaning against the sacred mountain is the place to worship the God of Heaven. After visiting Thung Nang, on the way back to Cay Gao wharf, you will have a chance to visit Voi temple. Voi Temple, hundreds of years ago, was built of stone, with elaborately carved stone altars. Voi Temple dates back to the Le Dynasty to worship Mr. Ly Dong Hai, an official of the mountain range.

2: Chua Cave – Hang Go – But Cave route

With this cruise route, visitors will take a boat to explore the mysterious beautiful trans-water caves of Tam Coc Bich Dong Ninh Binh.

2.1: Thai Vi Temple

Thai Vi Temple is the place to worship Kings Tran Thai Tong, Tran Thanh Tong, Generals Tran Hung Dao, Tran Quang Khai and Queen Tran Thi Dung. In the past, the mountains of Trang An – Tam Coc was the place where kings of the Tran Dynasty came to set up the Vu Lam palace in the resistance war against the Nguyen Mong (Mongolian). To get to Thai Vi temple, visitors can stop on the journey from Tam Coc or walk 2km from Tam Coc boat station.

2.2: Thien Huong Cave

Thien Huong Cave is located on the road from Ngo Dong River to Thai Vi Temple. It is a dry and bright cave located halfway up the mountain with an altitude of about 15 m above the ground. The cave is about 60 m high, 40 m deep, and 20 m wide.

2.3: Xuyen Thuy Dong

Xuyen Thuy Cave is a dark and flooded cave located along the length of Bich Dong massif. Xuyen Thuy is like a semicircular stone pipe about 350 m long winding from the east to the west. The average width of Xuyen Thuy Cave is about 6m, the widest place is 15m. The ceiling and walls of the cave are usually flat, creating like a large stone slab arranged into a dome, a semicircle with various shapes. The entrance to Xuyen Thuy Cave is at the back of the mountain, opposite the road to Bich Dong Pagoda. At the end of the journey through the cave, visitors can climb the mountain to reach the cave and Bich Dong pagoda.

2.4: Fairy Cave

Tien cave is a beautiful dry cave of Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourist area. The cave is located nearly 1 km from Bich Dong Pagoda. The dynamic range includes large, wide and high caves. The ceiling of the cave has many stone veins, stalactites drooping with colorful sparkles that look like big tree roots. There are many bats and birds on the ceiling. From the outside, the cave looks like a magnificent castle.

2.5: Linh Coc Pagoda

Linh Coc pagoda is located in Moc pagoda mountain. The pagoda faces west, in front is a water field. According to the epitaph placed in the temple, Linh Coc dates from the reign of King Tran Thanh Tong. The temple yard is large at the foot of the mountain, on both sides of the yard there is an ancestral center.

Which season is the most beautiful to visit Tam Coc – Bich Dong?

When should you go to Tam Coc Bich Dong tourist area? With two basic seasons: rainy season and dry season. Tam Coc – Bich Dong has a rainy season that starts from May and lasts until October, while the dry season lasts from November to April. The best time to visit Tam Coc – Bich Dong is from May to mid-June. Because this is the golden rice season in Tam Coc , with the rice fields gradually turning from green to bright yellow. But ff you want to attend the festivals of Ninh Binh such as Trang An festival , Bai Dinh pagoda spring opening festival. Especially the temple associated with many world records, then you should go in January to April of the lunar calendar.

What to eat when traveling to Tam Coc Bich Dong Ninh Binh?

Obviously, when traveling, what we want to discover is the local specialties. Therefore, when traveling to Tam Coc you should not miss: Dishes of goat meat, Ninh Binh burnt rice, Mountain snails, Fish salad & Bun Cha.

It’s great for

• The solo traveler to Ninh Binh and Photographer hunter

Frequently Asked Questions About Tam Coc – Bich Dong

What are the most amazing things to do in tam coc bich dong.

The most amazing things to do Tam Coc Bich Dong are: 7 Days Private Guided Tour Discover North Vietnam Tam Coc Tour Packages Tam Coc Boat Tour

Which Place Is Must See In Tam Coc – Bich Dong?

These places must see in Tam Coc & around: Van Lam Embroidery Village Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Trang An Eco Tourism Complex

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Tam Coc Bich Dong in Ninh Binh Offers A Spectacular Scenery

Why should you choose Tam Coc Ninh Binh is one of your top destinations in the north of Viet Nam? Because you should know one thing that this wonderful landscape never makes you disappointed with the scenic beauty is complemented by it’s pristine nature

Table of Contents

Tam Coc Ninh Binh short introduction

Tam Coc or Tam Coc river, Tam Coc cave is considered as the most attractive tourist destination in Ninh Binh, known for its famous name like “Halong bay on land” and is a part of the Trang An scenic landscape complex, the World Heritage site (UNESCO). It is located in Ninh Binh province, near the Tam Coc village

Tam Coc is a combination of two distinct attractions: Tam Coc, a flooded cave karst system and Bich Dong, a series of mountain pagodas.

Here below are details for 2 attractions in Tam Coc Ninh Binh

Tam Coc boat tour

Starting your day by exploring limestone caves during a boat tour on Tam Coc river is one of the most unforgettable experiences for you.

In Tam Coc people arrange and manage all boats very well. There are about 1500 boats lying on the Ngo river at Tam Coc wharf. The boats belong to about 1500 households with different numbers. Therefore each month each house hold just takes at least 1 tour or 2 tours.

In Tam Coc boat tour you’ll be over whelmed by the natural mountainous terrain in various shapes and the limestone caves lying on the Ngo river crossing peacefully.

Besides the marvelous scenery of the limestone karsts, this is a chance for you to enjoy interesting services and activities through Tam Coc village by learning about the idyllic life in Ninh Binh, admiring yellow and green fields of each season…it will be a great experience for your holiday.

In May or June bright-yellow Tam Coc rice fields are spreading on both sides of the river

Within an hour on the boat, local boat riders will orderly take you to visit three Tam Coc caves: Hang Ca (the first grotto), Hang Hai (the second grotto) and Hang Ba (the third grotto), finally passing a floating market if you want to buy something, local women normally attempt to sell embroidered goods to passengers.

• The first grotto: 127 m in length and the width of entrance is 20 m, Hang Ca is crossing under a big mountain. Entering the grotto you can feel a very cool and fresher weather and see many stalactitescreating different images
• The second grotto: Away from Hang Ca about 1 km, 60 m in length. Inside the grotto, there are some weird stalactites
• The third grotto: Near Hang Hai, 5m in length. The height is shorter than the other grottos

To take a view of all caves in Tam Coc with a beautiful sightseeing tour it takes you about 2-3 hours Note that you shouldn’t join in this boat tour at noon or in the early afternoon due to high temperatures in summer. Be sure to bring your umbrella, sunglass and hat in case of the hot weather

Sightseeing ticket : 150.000 VND /adult and 120.000 VND/children

Rowing boat fee : 150.000d /boat (for 2 people)

• Read More :  Travel guideline in Tam Coc Ninh Binh . To know Best Things To Do in Tam Coc you shouldn’t miss and The Best Way to get there from Hanoi

Bich Dong pagoda in Ninh Binh

After the end of the tour on Tam Coc river, it’s time for you to visit Bich Dong Pagoda, a series of atmospheric caves filled with ancient shrines.

The pagoda surrounded by many limestone mountains was very ancient and famous. It is about 2 km far from Tam Coc wharf.

There are three destinations: the lower, middle and upper pagoda are main ways to visit Bich Dong pagoda in ascending order.

Going upstairs to explore the historical points or you can also take a boat riding around Bich Dong, it will take an additional 3 hours.

Entrance ticket: Free

How to get to Tam Coc – Bich Dong pagoda

From ninh binh.

• It is easy to catch a taxi in Ninh Binh or Tam Coc. The price will depend on your departing point and the type of taxi you catch. But the average price is not higher than 15,000 VND/km
• If you are in Tam Coc, the recommended transportation for you to go to Bich Dong pagoda is the bike. The bike rental is easy in your accommodation. If not, you should ask at a few hotels. If you are a little bit further, you can take the motorbike rental for about 150,000 VND per day. Nothing is greater than making a few stops along the stunning road from Tam Coc to Bich Dong pagoda to see the beautiful views of the great mountains and rice fields.
• If you are not familiar with the Vietnamese road, you can book an organized tour to explore the Bich Dong pagoda. However, there is no tour that takes you to this pagoda only. At the moment, all tours will take you to more attractions besides Bich Dong pagoda.

Tam Coc Bich Dong is about 90km far from Hanoi centre.

• If you depart from Hanoi, heading on the high way 1A you can move to Ninh Binh City. Then continue a distance of 25km further you’ll see Tam Coc Bich Dong. You can use a local bus to reach  Tam Coc or by taxi, car or motorbike.
• Alternatively, there is Ninh Binh Railway Station in Ninh Binh province if you want to take the train from Hanoi or anywhere in Vietnam.

Here are some suggestions for you about transportation to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. Read here

For other activities in Tam Coc Ninh Binh, you can also try other boat tours and some activities as below: Other boat tours:

Boat tours from Van Lam wharf, Thach Bich, Thung Nang, ThungNham – bird gardens, Dong Thien Ha ( galaxy cave)..

Destinations on land

Hiking and biking around Bich Dong mountain and pagoda, discover Tien cave, Mua cave, learn the culture of Co Vien Lau ancient house…

For the beautiful and famous Tam Coc nature in Ninh Binh, Viet Nam we highly recommend you spend some days free in Ha Noi to get out and explore Tam Coc Ninh Binh !

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Change of Plans

Following our last minute flight from Hue to Hanoi to try to get out of Typhoon Doksuri’s path, we landed in Vietnam’s capital hoping for some sunshine but instead, we were greeted by more heavy rain. On the plus side, we met two lovely ladies from England that were in the same situation as we were. We decided to check in to the hostel they were staying at (our first Asian hostel experience!).

It was a chilled two nights at Flipside Hostel and would really recommend this spot if you’re looking for great low-budget accommodation (we paid 11 USD/night for a double bed in a dorm including breakfast for 2). We especially loved the atmosphere, staff, location and rooftop area. Of course with all the rain during our 36 hours in Hanoi we didn’t really get to visit the city as much as we’d have liked. We get back to the capital for a few days before we fly out of Vietnam so hopefully we have better conditions.

Getting to Tam Coc:

Tam Coc is a quick and easy bus ride south-east of Hanoi. We were very excited about our this next destination. This small town is commonly referred to as “the inland Ha Long Bay” by locals and tourists a like. It’s definitely worth spending a few days here if you’re coming form or going to Hanoi. From the endless rice fields to the majestic limestone mountains, we were amazed by the landscapes no matter which direction we turned.

What to do:

• Bich Dong Pagoda   : Three temples built in caves way back in 1428. These pagodas are definitely worth a visit when you’re in the area. Walk up to the top and admire beautiful views of the surrounding areas. The visit is free but expect to pay 10 000 VND for parking.
• Tam Coc  : The easier boat tour to get to as it leaves from the center of town. We have heard mixed reviews about this tour. Pros: beautiful views, easier access. Cons: being pressured into buying food/drinks for your rower and begged for tip, overcrowded, shorter than the Trang An tour for the same price.
• Trang An   : This boat tour is a little outside of the city. It is a really great option if you rented a motorbike as it is about a 15-20 minute ride away. We arrived around 9 am and were pleasantly surprised to see that there weren’t many people there, however if you’re looking to take great pictures, we would definitely recommend going right before sunset as the light was very harsh in the late morning.
• Mua Caves  : Catching sunset at the top of Mua was the highlight of our time in Tam Coc. It does get quite busy but the view is so worth it! Climb the 500 steps to the top and get ready for one of the best views in all Vietnam! We stayed until the last light and ended up being completely alone as everyone had already made their way back down, what an unreal experience and a photographer’s dream! Don’t forget comfortable shoes and lots of water. You can find parking for 5 000 VND on the street leading up to the entrance and admission will set you back 100 000 VND.
• Explore the rice fields :  An awesome activity that’s completely free (once you get your hands on a scooter of course!) is diving through the small unpaved roads that cut through the limestone peaks around Tam Coc. The combination of the lush green rice with this landscape makes for some great pictures. Just follow the main road out of the center of town towards the Bich Dong Pagoda’s and turn off onto as many as you wish! Make sure to drive carefully though as the potholes can come up on you quite fast, especially as it gets dark.
• Bird Park  :  We ran out of time and didn’t get to visit the bird forest but heard really good comments from people that made the trip so we would suggest you check it out for yourself!

Where to eat:

• We were kind of disappointed by the food in Tam Coc. Of course after coming from bigger cities where the food options are endless and prices are so cheap, our expectations may have been too high.
• Chookie’s Beer Garden . Although it is not authentic Vietnamese food, our meal at Chookie’s was the best food we had in Tam Coc. We tried two different burgers which were both excellent and we especially loved the location, chilled atmosphere and views.

Where to sleep:

• Tam Coc Family Hotel : As the name suggests, a family run homestay with a very convenient central location. They were extremely kind and helped us with everything we needed. A private room (which was very good size) cost us about 250 000 VND per night. The only downside was the complimentary breakfast that was far from the quality we had gotten from similar priced accommodation in Vietnam.

Getting around:

• Rent a motorbike : We paid around 120 000 VND per day by renting our motorbike directly from our homestay. You’ll find many options for rentals on the main road, close to the Tam Coc boat tour departures. We think motorbikes are essential if you want to see as much as you can during your stay as many of the top sights are spread out a few kilometers appart.

Getting out of Tam Coc:

• Bus to Hanoi:  The easiest and most popular option. Prices range from 200,000 – 250,000 VND. We suggest to just take a bus back to Hanoi and then head out to Ha Long Bay from there. For those that want to head to Ha Long bay directly, our experience follows.
• Bus to Cat Ba :  We travelled with the Long Bus Company from Tam Coc to Cat Ba. It was unfortunately a subpar experience. The bus turned out to be a large van into which they crammed as many people as they possibly could. Talking with a few people during the journey, we all realised we had paid varying amounts for the same service. We heard almost every price between 270 000 – 450 000 VND depending on where you had stayed in Tam Coc. There doesn’t seem to be many companies in Tam Coc offering this route. Most of the hotels and guesthouses in the area do business with the Long Company. Therefore if you do need to take this route we highly recommend shopping around for the best price.

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Tam Coc – Bich Dong: A Quick Guide

Beside Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Tam Coc – Bich Dong are the most well-known tourist sites in Ninh Binh Province and named locally as “Halong Bay on land” for its similar poetic, awe-inspiring views and inspirational natural scenery. Popular day trips or stopover tours often include Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, another famous historical relic, in their Ninh Binh travel itinerary. Below is a quick guide to Tam Coc – Bich Dong by Vietnam Travel’s tour experts.

Tam Coc – Bich Dong in Ninh Binh are named locally as “Halong Bay on land” for its similar poetic, awe-inspiring views and inspirational natural scenery

Bich Dong Pagoda is a three-tiered ancient pagoda on the nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain dated to 1428 under the Ly Dynasty, comprising Lower – Middle – Upper Pagodas in ascending order. Bich Dong literally means “Green Pearl Grotto” because it’s surrounded by magnificent scenery of mountains, waterways, fields and sky covered by green mist. This picturesque landscape is added by charming and mysterious Tam Coc site. In English, Tam Coc means “Three Caves”, including First Cave (Hang Ca) – Middle Cave (Hang Giua) – Last Cave (Hang Cuoi).

Table of Contents

Location and transportation to Tam Coc – Bich Dong

Best time to visit, take the rowing boat ride along ngo dong river, explore bich dong pagoda & cave, thai vi temple (đền thái vi), mua cave (hang múa), hoa lu ancient citadel, suggested restaurants in tam coc – bich dong, budget options, mid-budget options, luxury options.

Tam Coc – Bich Dong is situated at Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province . To access this tourist site from Hanoi, you could travel by train, by motorbike or by private car/van to Ninh Binh City, which is about 100km south of Hanoi or almost 2-hour drive. Tam Coc – Bich Dong is 11 km from Ninh Binh City and can be approached by motorbike or private car/van, except train.

The most convenient way to travel from Hanoi to Tam Coc – Bich Dong Complex is taking 2-hour private transportation

You could choose any type of above transportation, depending on your travel interest and budget. But if you want to relax and enjoy most of the drive to Ninh Binh, the best option is taking private car and a local guide who could provide abundant source of information and local knowledge for your short valuable holiday.

Travelling by bus or train is the most economical way but a bit time-consuming as you have to follow bus/train schedule. And from the bus/train drop off point in Ninh Binh, passengers have to take a taxi transfer to Tam Coc – Bich Dong site.

Riding motorbike or driving yourselves to Ninh Binh is not a bad idea, but traffic in Vietnam is bit different to the rest of the world and most of visitors would not choose that.

There is no exact answer for the question: “ When is the best time to visit Tam Coc – Bich Dong? ” because it remains the unique beauty all year round. The answer depends on each person’s expectation and travel interest.

Spectacular aerial view of Tam Coc landscape captured from the mountain top

* January to April is suitable for those who like cool weather and festival activities. This is also the time to see green rice fields along two banks of Ngo Dong River when you visit Tam Coc. During Tet holiday (late January or early February), locals organize a lot of festivals so the vibe is really great.

Tam Coc shimmers in the golden color of ripened rice paddies and summer sunlight

* May to June is when the weather is hot, humid with rainfalls but tourists will have chance to witness magical scene created by mother nature. The floating rice fields on the two sides of the Ngo Dong River will turn into golden color, while the lagoon right at the entrance gate to Bich Dong Grotto is highlighted with blossom lotus flowers.

Things to do

Boating along Ngo Dong River

Known as “Halong Bay on land”, Tam Coc is a must-see place for first time visitors in Ninh Binh. The 2-hour boat ride in Tam Coc will start from Van Lam Pier, run along Ngo Dong River, beautiful rice paddies, unique limestone karsts and pass underneath three caves. Just remember to keep your head low in the boat to avoid hitting on the low ceilings of these unique mountain erosions. With 127m in length and 20m in width, Hang Ca (First Cave) is regarded as the longest one and contains most fascinating natural arts deep inside. You may feel amazed of how your boat captain uses their legs to row the wooden paddles. Don’t forget to turn on your camera to record these beautiful moments. Here, you may feel like disappearing from the real world and getting lost in such a hidden fairy site.

Entrance fee : 120,000 VND/ visitor Boat fee : 150,000 VND/ boat (4 Vietnamese per boat/ 2 foreigners per boat). Visiting time : About 2 hours.

Irresistible fairytale beauty of Bich Dong Pagoda in the lotus blooming season

No Ninh Binh itinerary would be perfected without a visit to Bich Dong, which is located 2 km from Tam Coc. Much like its name as “Green Pearl Grotto”, Bich Dong nestles in the jungle of mountains, rivers, water, rice fields around in green . To come deeply into the chambers of Bich Dong – the “second most beautiful grotto in Vietnam”, tourists will walk on a stone bridge over a lotus pond and pass through the entrance gate. Situated at the grandiose Ngu Nhac mountain, Bich Dong Pagoda’s ornate gate itself is one of the most iconic sights in Ninh Binh. Not as a usual pagoda, Bich Dong consists of 3 separate layered pagodas which are Lower (Ha), Middle (Trung) and Upper (Thuong) Pagoda on different levels. Inside each cave pagoda, looming statues and the smoke of burning incense create an otherworldly atmosphere. It will take about 2 hours to reach the Upper Pagoda to enjoy the magnificent view of Tam Coc region from above but it is definitely worth the effort!

Visitors can take leisure biking from Tam Coc to Bich Dong to enjoy the beautiful and peaceful countryside landscape along the way.

Entrance fee : Free. Visiting time : About 2 hours.

Attractions near Tam Coc – Bich Dong

Thai Vi Temple dated 13th century and worships Kings and Generals of Tran dynasty

Thai Vi Temple is about 1.5 km away from the main Tam Coc tourist pier, so worth doing a quick detour. If you not in the rush, you are highly recommended to take a walk or bike ride along small village path from Tam Coc boat pier to this peaceful and atmospheric temple. The surrounding limestone karsts and rice fields are stunning. The temple distinguishes itself from others with unique features of worship and typical Vietnamese culture . Thai Vi Temple dated 13th century and worships Kings and Generals of Tran dynasty. Its architecture style followed the concept of “Internal attack with outside support” (Nội Công Ngoại Quốc in Vietnamese). In addition, main parts of the temple were built from stone, as well as the altar and worshiping items, which make tourists admire the stone carving art of Ninh Binh’s sculptors. If luck, you may have an opportunity to witness a ceremony, to meet an old shaman (custodian) or a monk and get interesting stories and legends about the temple.

Mua Cave is situated 3 kilometers from Tam Coc. After finishing the boat ride in Tam Coc, the leisure stroll to Thai Vi Temple, tourists will continue the journey to Mua Cave in the later of the day to enjoy the cool air and the stalactites which are formed in many shapes and sizes. It is also considered as a miniature version of the Chinese Great Wall. To reach on the top with the magnificent panoramic 360-degree views of Tam Coc with rice fields on Ngo Dong River, visitors must prepare good physical conditions to finish 500 stone stair-steps.

Mua Cave Viewpoint – a miniature version of the Chinese Great Wall

If you can embark on higher climb, make your way up to the top of the mountain to see the Lying Dragon statue sits. From this peak, you’ll marvel at the patchwork quilt of green rice fields below, the snaking rivers weaving in, out, and around the ancient karsts. The panoramic view is best enjoyed in sunset, when the sun slowly hides its glowing vanilla beams under the jungle-covered tops of limestone mountains. Also, make sure you wear proper shoes, especially in the rainy season as the steps can become slippery.

Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel – the economic and political centre of Dai Co Viet, the kingdom which predates Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries

Hoa Lu was the economic and political centre of Dai Co Viet, the kingdom which predates Vietnam, in the 10th and 11th centuries. Most of what you’ll see today at Hoa Luu Citadel is a reconstruction that was built in the 17th century. It contains several temples and statues that stand in beautifully created parks. Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel is worth investing in a guided tour of Ninh Binh as hearing beautiful piece of Vietnamese history and stories will really bring the experience to life.

Your trip to Tam Coc – Bich Dong may not be completed without tasting some local dishes. The most signature specialties here are fried rice crust (cơm cháy) served with goat meat (thịt dê). Fried rice crust is made from steamed rice, then being soaked into hot oil pan until it turns yellow and crispy. It is eaten as a delicious snack when being dipped in warm sauce. The goat meat has a gamey flavor and it is cooked into many dishes such as fermented goat meat, steamed goat meat, grilled goat meat, rare goat meat.

Goat meat – the most signature specialty in Ninh Binh, can be cooked into many dishes such as fermented goat meat, steamed goat meat, grilled goat meat, rare goat meat

Good restaurants below are recommended for tourists to try those specialties with price range from 10 USD per person. • Anh Dzung Garden Restaurant – Tam Coc Village, Van Lam Commune, Ninh Binh District). • Minh Toan Restaurant Father Cooking – Tam Coc Village, Van Lam Commune, Ninh Binh. • Golden Rice Restaurant (fine dining option) – Ninh Binh Hiddem Charm Hotel, No. 9, Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourist center, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh.

Places to stay

A lotus flower pond with a heart-shaped bridge within the Mua Cave Complex

Tam Coc – Bich Dong is one of the most popular tourist sites in Ninh Binh with many choices for overnight accommodations from budget to luxury category. Within the scope of this article, we will provide the best options for every budget, depending on good reviews from our fellow clients.

•Tam Coc Paradise Homestay – great location, great chance to communicate to local family, tasty meals cooked by hospitable hosts.

Tam Coc Paradise Homestay

•Tam Coc Rice Fields Resort – great value for money, swimming pool with amazing view to surrounded limestone karsts.

Tam Coc Rice Fields Resort

Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort

Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort – amazing pool with a view, good location, spacious rooms, breakfast included.

Aravinda Resort

Aravinda Resort – amazing location near the limestone mountains, luxurious rooms, super-friendly staff, excellent breakfast.

Conclusions

Whether you take day trip or longer journey to Tam Coc – Bich Dong, the most comfortable and convenient means of transportation is taking private car with escorted English speaking guide. We are always available for pick up and drop off service from your hotel in Hanoi by private car being suitable with the number of people in your group, together with arrange your trip to Tam Coc – Bich Dong and surrounding areas. It will dispel your worries about having to drive yourself in Vietnam’s chaotic and complicated traffic, about the road map, as well as having a completely private space on the car without sharing with strangers.

Two of our Ninh Binh’s best-selling day tours and excursions are Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (day trip) and Ninh Binh Excursion (2 days/ 1 night). We also add many other Ninh Binh’s itineraries into our tour packages, contact our Vietnam Travel’s consultants for more details.

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