Tam Coc boat tour belongs to Ninh Binh province far from Hanoi, only 90 km, is an ideal off-the-beaten-track in Ninh Binh Viet Nam, also called Halong Bay on the land. Attract a lot of visitors every day.
It's 7km only from Ninh Binh city, and you can rent by motorbike (about 200.000vnd/day). Then, explore more places around Tam Coc, or you can go by Grab or reliable Taxi: Mai Linh, Hoa Luu… it's about 15000vnd/km.
By bus: Visitors can catch the bus departure from Giap Bat bus station or Nuoc Ngam Bus station. It's departing every day from 5 am to 6 pm. It takes around 3 hours to get to Ninh Binh city, and the price is 90.000vnd/person.
Or you can book daily Ninh Binh Tours that include transportation. Then, you don't need to worry about how to go anymore. Please take a look at our Ninh Binh Tours to the most famous destinations in Ninh Binh.
By train: Visitors can go to Hanoi Train Station or Ninh Binh Train Station to buy tickets, it's about 100.000vnd. It's taking about 2, 5 hours.
This is the timetable for the train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh name:
SE 1: 19:30 – 22:00 SE 3: 22:00 – 00:20
SE 7: 06:00 – 08:30. SE 19 20:05 – 23:10
By private car or motorbike:
If you go by yourself, you can go from Giai Phong road to Giap Bat bus station, turn left to Phap Van – Cau Gie highway, following Phu Ly direction to Ninh Binh.
It's taking about 2 hours from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. If you want to rent a motorbike or private car, please feel free to contact us to get more information.
By limousine bus: This is a new option. They will pick up from Ninh Binh city and drop off at Hanoi Circus theatre. The price is 200.000vnd. Some brand name: Khanh An, Huy Phong…
Tam Coc boat tour
The price in 2024 is 250.000 vnd/person or 500.000/boat
Adults: 250,000 VND per person - Maximum 2 persons/ boat (foreigner) 4 Vietnamese people/ boat because foreigners often have higher weight than Vietnamese persons
Children: 100,000 VND per child: from 1 meter to 1.4 meters. Childless than 1 meter will be free.
A family enjoy Tam Coc tour
Time working from 8 am - 6 pm every day
If possible, visitors should in the morning (around 8:00 -10:30 am) when most of the touris
are on the way to come here from Hanoi or in the afternoon (3:30 – 5:00 pm), when tourists often finish their tour or do not visit in the festival time (Luna new year or others holidays in Vietnam)
Tam Coc means "three caves," including Hang Ca (first cave), Hang Hai (second cave), and Hang Ba (third cave). All three caves are starting from Ngo Dong rive stabbing through the mountain. Tam Coc is the first boat line to be explored in Tam Coc - Bich Dong tourist area.
First cave (Hang Ca): Longest cave with127 meters, through a big mountain, the cave gate is over 20 meters wide. The climate is very cool in the cave, and many stalactites are hanging down with various shapes look amazing.
Second cave (Hang Hai): After 1 km from the first cave, you will arrive second cave, 60 meters long. The ceiling of the cave has many strange hanging stalactites.
Third cave (Hang Ba): It's a shorter cave 50 meters long, with a ceiling also lower than two other caves.
Tam Coc – Bich Dong (Ninh Binh) is famous for destinations like "Ha Long Bay on land" and extraordinary experiences of riding a boat on foot, which makes tourists very excited.
The Insider newspaper recently posted a video about boatmen of Ninh Hai commune who are using their feet to make the boats move smoothly on Ngo Dong river with up to a million viewers.
Local riding a boat by foot
We MUST say Tam Coc is beautiful every season; each season has its unique beauty.
But the best time to visit Tam Coc is at the end of May and the beginning of June (around about 3 weeks). This is also harvest season, and all the scenery seems to be filled with golden yellow color. It's incredible scenery!!!
On occasion after Tet in (January and February) is an appropriate time to admire the lush green rice fields, full of life stretching on the winding stream of life like a soft silk strip, you will feel pure, fresh, immersed in the taste of earth, sky, water, and nature.
The best time at the end of May
Bich Dong pagoda was built in the 15th century. This pagoda is unique (because it is built inside the mountain) and included Chua Ha, Chua Trung, and Chua Thuong (it is mean Low, Middle, and Up pagoda)
The view is gorgeous
Thai Vi Temple is located in Van Lam Hamlet, Ninh Hai commune (Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh), which is the place to worship commanders of the Tran dynasty. In front of the temple, there is a well-built pearl bluestone. Behind the temple is the Cam Son rocky mountain range. Outside of Nghi Mon, there are two monolithic green horses.
You can walk or cycle to Thai Vi Temple from Tam Coc wharf, only 2km, and the scenery is beautiful.
On the way to Thai Vi, you can stop by Thien Huong grottos, and it's a light and dried grottos. The exciting thing about Thien Huong is behind the grottos, there is a small path to the mountain's peak. Climbing to the peak, you can enjoy the spectacular view and peaceful, dreamy Ngo Dong river with the ripened paddy field from far away.
Tien Cave is one of the most beautiful dry caves of Tam Coc tourist area, about 1km from Bich Dong pagoda. The cave ceiling is favored by decoration decorated with many stone patterns, stalactites hanging down to look sparkling as many colors as giant roots.
There are still bats and birds on the cave ceiling, so you should also pay attention if you do not want the bats to fly down at you when you come here.
If you visit Bich Dong pagoda, we advise you to stop at Lich Coc pagoda, far from 500m Bich Dong. Visitors to the pagoda will see vast paddy fields under the valley. The pagoda yard is expansive at the foot of the mountain.
Vietnam's ancient village, also known as Co Vien Lau, is one of the most famous in this area. Co Vien Lau was built on about 20,000 m², displaying 22 old houses in many villages in the Red River Delta.
What To Eat
This is the most famous and unique food in Ninh Binh. Goat meat is nutritious and delicious, served with many precious fine herbs which are very good for people's health.
Goat meat - must eat in Ninh Binh
It is one of the most well-known specialties of Ninh Binh. Many tourists enjoyed it, and they buy to bring home as a souvenir.
The scorched rice has light yellow, even rice seed, crispy, greasy, but tastes very yummy.
Burned rice
Only visitors who come to Ninh Binh can try this specialty food. Snails are living on Limestone Mountains. They are cooked with many different ingredients: Lemon glass, chili sauce, etc. Very delicious.
Mountain snails
Besides that, you also can try many different food and drinks in Ninh Binh, such as Local wine (ruoi can), Fermented pork, rice noodle with Moc.
Most tourists will depart from Hanoi and combine with famous attractions such as Hoa Lu ancient capital or Mua cave (Dancing cave), and cycling to visit the life of indigenous people. This is a great choice - All in one day.
By the way, you can check out more Ninh Binh Tours with the best price and guaranteed services. Get a full refund if you do not feel happy with our services.
There are many sellers on the river
There are many options for you in Tam Coc from the hostel, homestay, bungalow, and hotel.
Here are some suitable options
Budget: The Long hostel, Tuan Ngoc Hotel - great location, near the harbor, comfortable room, clean.
Mid-budget: Hang Mua Ecolodge (Near Mua cave) or Chez Loan - great location with pool, near Bich Dong pagoda, spacious room, breakfast included.
Luxury: Emeralda Ninh Binh Resort & Spa, Tam Coc Garden Resort - luxurious rooms, beautiful view, perfect services.
Don't forget to bring umbrellas, sunscreen, and hats to protect you from the sun or rain.
Don't forget to wear your life jacket during your trip
Don't forget to give the boatman a little tip.
Try rolling a boat
Bring water/ beer and snacks as the boat ride takes about 3 hours.
To avoid the busy, you may go in the morning.
One more thing is about taking photographs. When you are rowing on the river may be some local people who offer you to take pictures. If you are interested in this, you can ask them to choose an excellent view for excellent photos, but please remember to negotiate the price and photographs. Otherwise, you can say "Không - Cảm ơn" (No - thank you) and refuse if you are not interested.
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Go Viet Trip hope that this article will help you understand more about Tam Coc boat tour if you need more help. Please feel free to contact us: Email: Goviettrip@gmail.com or hotline +84968667589. We are guarantee about quality and prices. Get a full refund if you do not feel happy with our services.
Author Hoan Nguyen
Photos: Go Viet Trip & Internet
Hoan Nguyen has over 10 years of experience working in the tourism sector and operator. He has traveled to many places in Vietnam and around the world.
