Drifting In Tam Coc-Bich Dong-The Second Nicest Grotto In Southern Sky

Ninh Binh is a famous tourist province in the north of Vietnam with a range of beautiful attractions for tourists to come and explore in Thailand and Vietnam tours. One of the must-visit destinations in Ninh Binh province tourists shouldn’t ignore Tam Coc-Bich Dong which is referred to as “the second nicest grotto in the southern sky.”

Tam Coc-Bich Dong in brief

Apart from the famous attractions in Ninh Binh province such as Trang An, and Bai Dinh, Tam Coc-Bich Dong is also a highlight in Ninh Binh tourism that tourists can't miss to visit when coming to this province. It is located in Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh province.

Tam Coc means "three grottos" in Vietnamese, and many people call it "Halong Bay inland" due to its beautiful and majestic views. Besides the natural beauty, Tam Coc-Bich Dong is also considered the center of Vietnam cultural relics with a lot of historical limestones and religious and cultural sites.

Tam Coc is a complex of grottos while Bich Dong is a famous historical pagoda, two of it make a mixed natural and cultural heritage as Trang An complex. Tam Coc is divided into the first cave, second cave and the third cave which are created by Ngo Dong river throughout the mountain.

To enjoy the beauty of Tam Coc-Bich Dong, tourists should take a boat along to the Ngo Dong river. Especially, if you come to this attraction in the ripen rice season from the end of May to the beginning of June, you will see the romantic beauty of the golden rice paddies along two sides of the river that blows your mind.

Tam Coc Bich Dong

Journey to explore Tam Coc-Bich Dong

Departure in Tam Coc Wharf

To begin a memorable day in Tam Coc-Bich Dong, tourists should go to Tam Coc Wharf early to stand in order at Tam Coc Wharf to take a boat to travel along rivers because the pier is very crowded from morning till afternoon. People coming here with the same pleasant feeling being eager to explore the nice pictures of Tam Coc-Bich Dong will be surprised by the familiar and specific landscape of Vietnam villages in this pier with the traditional communal house, old banyan tree, moss-grown well, and marble rock.

The mysterious beauty of Tam Coc grotto

Coming to Tam Coc grotto, tourists may feel like lost in a time machine to the imagining world in such a hidden fairy site. Tam Coc is only 3 kilometers from Tam Coc Wharf. So it is very convenient to take a boat from Tam Coc Wharf to reach the Tam Coc grotto, which consists of Ca cave, Hai cave, and Ba cave.

Three hours riding on the boat along the Ngo Dong river, it is enough for you to admire the charming beauty of the scenic landscape dominated by rice fields and karst cliffs. The largest grotto has a length of 125 m with its ceiling about 2 m high above the water level. When drifting in Ngo Dong river to enter the grotto, you can feel the different space with the clatter of paddles and cool air from karst mountains.

Tam Coc Grotto

After traveling through the whole grottos, you will have a chance to look out the vast landscape outside; you will be surprised to realize that the mountain and water here are dominating the beauty of this limitless land. Keeping sailing further 4 kilometers, you will catch the Fairy stream in eyes; the water is clear like a pure mirror that you can even see the bottom.

It is time for you to look down to contemplate flocks of fish swimming and looming in the moss layers. It is told that this stream is where the fairies used to land on to swim and play around, so people named it as “Fairy Stream.”

Back to Bich Dong pagoda

Bich Dong Pagoda

After visiting Tam Coc, turning your boat in the opposite, you will come to Bich Dong pagoda. This pagoda is situated at the sacred mountain of Ngu Nhac. The pagoda is divided into three levels: Ha pagoda (lower pagoda), Trung pagoda (middle pagoda), and Thuong pagoda (upper pagoda).

Climbing up on the top of the mountain, you will stand under the foot of the statue of a scholar Mandarin with the posture looking at the horizon, from here you can contemplate the spectacular landscapes of Tam Coc-Bich Dong and Hoa Lu. Entering into Bich Dong grotto, tourists will have the feeling like throwing back to the Post Le Dynasty when hearing the legends here.

You will have a chance to witness the most magnificent view of Bich Dong from Thuong pagoda; this is the most outstanding pagoda with the charming beauty in terms of architecture and history. This pagoda was built in 1428 after two monks once traveled here to be charmed by the romantic view of the river and the mountains.

Coming to Vietnam Thailand tour, you will have the chances to contemplate the top beautiful destinations in two countries. If you have any questions, come to us to disentangle your wonders.