Discover Tam Coc (Three Caves) in Ninh Binh

Tam Coc is also called Xuyen Thuy Dong (meaning as the caves through water) is located in Ninh Hai Commune (in Hoa Lu District - Ninh Binh Province). A long time ago, this area is the sea; the surf over the centuries has worn cliffs to create the strange shapes. Tourists visit Tam Coc required at a single waterway. The time for visitors going in and out is about 3 hours. Here, it is common to use boats, which are rowed by hand with the low speed. And it's enough good for the visitors are immersed in the green of the rice fields spread along the sides of Ngo Dong River to the high mountains.

The water way to Tam Coc with the sides are the fields

The water-way to Tam Coc Cave

The Big Cave (the first cave) is the largest and also the most beautiful cave in Xuyen Thuy Dong (the cave system). It has a length is 127m and located under a big mountain, which is across other two mountains on both sides of Ngo Dong River. When the boats come into the cave, visitors will feel cool and very amazed at the range of stone falls... The boats will take visitors out of the cave and continue the journey across the water visited the second and third cave. It is nearly the same as in the first cave, but these two caves are short and lower. When the first boat comes here, and the water has been the oars brandishing, visitors look down the river, the water will reflect the images as the beautiful ice clouds. Guests have the feeling that there are only completely water and clouds in the cave.

The boat in the first cave

For tourists love adventure, they can lead the boats to continue moving on the river more than 2km to visit Fairy Stream. This stream has the clear water, which can be seen the shoals of fish are swimming in the moss layer at the bottom. According to legend, a very long time ago, there are many beautiful fairies usually swam in this place, so it is called Fairy Spring.

On the out-way, the boat will take travelers to Saint Ferry. Visitors must walk about 50m to reach Thien Huong Cave, which has a height is 60m. Behind this cave, there is a straight path up to top of the mountain. It is often referred to as the way to heaven. If visitors walk more 50m, this is Thai Vy Temple, which was built in the 13th century. This is the place to worship the Tran Thai Tong king (the first king of Tran Dynasty). Thai Vy Temple was built by an ancient architectural style. In front of the temples, there is a Gieng Ngoc (meaning is Pearl Well), which was built by the blue stones. Behind the temple, that is Cam Son Mountain with almost the stones. Thai Vy Temple is considered to be a human’s art with the integration with the masterpiece of nature.

Bich Dong Pagoda

After that, visitors leave the Dinh Cac ferry nearly three kilometers further, Bich Dong Pagoda will appear. This is one of the famous landmarks, which is known as "Nam Thien II". Bich Dong Pagoda is an ancient structure with the roof shape is curves. It is built on the high slopes and shapes based on the mountain. Guests will be guided to visit the dark cave, but it is very solemn and quiet. Nature has gone through many centuries to create a lot of stone statues. Far from Bich Dong Pagoda, that is Fairy Cave, which is beautiful and located on the side of a grandeur mountain. It continues to surprise for guests. There are the images as the mountains, caves and pagodas here have created a harmony; it makes the strange attraction to each visitor. Bich Dong is really a perfect and eternal beauty.