If Halong Bay is known to tourists by thousands of limestone mountains in the middle of the sea ands natural caves, Tam Coc - Bich Dong is known as "Halong on land".
Tam Coc - Bich Dong, a harmonious architectural ensemble has long attracted numerous tourists. Its beauty is wonderfully harmonious combination between the stunning caves, the charming waterways and the talent of the human, forming an inseparable unity.
Overview of Tam Coc - Bich Dong
 |
| Tam Coc - View from Mua Cave |
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.
 |
| Tam Coc, Ninh Binh - Photo by Vietnam Typical Tours |
Depending on the individual plan, you can choose the time to travel Tam Coc Bich Dong accordingly, but there are a few timelines as follows you can refer to:
It is possible to go to Tam Coc Bich Dong about April, the weather is relatively dry now, there is no hot and humid, uncomfortable, less rainy weather so 2 hours of boat ride will not be something too uncomfortable.
From March 1-3 lunar year is Bai Dinh pagoda festival, you can combine the ceremony and explore Tam Coc Bich Dong on this occasion.
If you want to go to Hoa Lu, remember the 8th day of the 3rd lunar month every year, this is the time of the Truong Yen festival.
At the end of May and early June, there was a ripe rice crop on Tam Coc Bich Dong field, when the image of green rice fields mixed with golden rice fields created a picture with beautiful colors.
 |
| Photo by Vietnam Typical Tours |
What to do in Tam Coc Bich Dong?
Like Trang An, to see the most impressive sceneries of Tam Coc Bich Dong, you'll have to hire a boat. However, there're plenty of places nearby you can explore on foot or by bicycling.
Boat Routes:
- Boat Wharf - Ngo Dong River - Tam Coc (3 caves)
- Linh Coc Wharf - River Cave to Bich Dong
- Thach Bich - Thung Nang Wetlands
- Thung Nham Bird Garden Route
We will introduce you to the 2 most basic routes 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 the 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 Ca 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: 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.
Hang Ba: 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.
 |
Photo by Vietnam Typical Tours
|
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.
 |
| Photo by Vietnam Typical Tours |
What to eat when traveling Tam Coc Bich Dong?
Goat meat
Goat meat is less fat and flavored. The feature of the mountainous land provides a variety of grasses and vegetables, which are suitable to become food for goats. When enjoying goat meat, you can combine with Kim Son wine, Nho Quan wine and Ninh Binh burned rice.
Burned rice
Burned rice is not a traditional dish of Ninh Binh people but it is created by preserved by Ninh Binh residents. It is simple but reflects the carefulness of people. This dish is preserved in many thousand years, becoming a specialty of the capital.
Snails
This type of mountainous snail is very rare as they only live in the rocky caves. From April to August, they get out of their shelters to find food and give birth. Snails are in all regions of Ninh Binh but concentrate most in limestone areas like Tam Diep, Yen Mo and Nho Quan, Hoa Lu. The meat is tough, brittle and flavored. Snails can be made into various dishes, namely roasted snails, fried snails and boiled snails.
Ninh Binh tour from Hanoi Itinerary sugestion
One day:
- Hanoi - Hoa Lu - Tam Coc
- Hanoi - Hoa Lu - Mua Cave - Tam Coc
Two day: Ha Noi - Hoa Lu - Mua Cave - Tam Coc - Bai Dinh - Trang An - Ha Noi
With attractive natural landscape, Ninh Binh is one of the most fascinating destinations in the North of Vietnam. Just try it! Don’t waste the opportunity to explore the hidden charming of Ninh Binh.
