It can be said that the most beautiful place in the ripe rice season in Ninh Binh is Tam Coc - Bich Dong, where golden rice fields stretch out on both sides of the Ngo Dong River, mixed with rolling mountains. Ninh Binh's ripe rice season is beautiful because it has both clear blue water, green mountains, and the passionate scent of rice in the Northern Delta season. That beauty is both perfect, seductive, and difficult to forget.

Tam Coc – Bich Dong is also known by many other names such as “Ha Long Bay on land”, “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong”, this is not only one of the famous tourist attractions in Ninh Binh, but It is also considered a key tourist area of ​​the country.

1. Where is Tam Coc – Bich Dong?

Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourist area is located in Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh and is about 7km from Ninh Binh city center, about 117km from Hanoi center. Tam Coc Bich Dong has an area of ​​up to 350.3 hectares, about 2km from National Highway 1A and 9km from Tam Diep.

Many tourists mistakenly call Tam Coc – Bich Dong thinking they are the same tourist destination, but in fact they are two different locations, Bich Dong Pagoda is about 4km from Tam Coc wharf. This is one of the famous scenic spots in Ninh Binh, known as “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong” meaning a beautiful cave in the South, second only to Huong Tich Cave in Hanoi.

2. When should you go to Tam Coc – Bich Dong?

January – February: the weather is cold and the Tet atmosphere permeates everywhere

March-April: this is the ideal time you can discover many famous big festivals in Ninh Binh, participate in the Truong Yen festival in Hoa Lu taking place on March 8 – March 10 of lunar calendar. calendar. The weather in Ninh Binh at this time is cool, the air is fresh, you can admire the natural scenery and participate in the festival, rowing boats around Ngo Dong river.

May – June: This is the time when Ninh Binh welcomes the largest number of tourists of the year. Ripe rice season – When golden rice flowers stretch across Tam Coc rice fields. Especially in early June, the “Tam Coc Yellow Color” festival is extremely bustling and unique. This is also the blooms lotus season.

July – September: Water lily season, the climate changes, the sun fades, the cold monsoon winds slowly come.

October: the weather is dry and cold enough, bringing with it the gentle breath of heaven and earth.

November – December: enjoy winter and the cold, covered with blooming reed fields, the lowest temperature sometimes drops to 5 – 7 degrees Celsius.

3. Means of transportation to Tam Coc – Ninh Binh:

If you depart from Hanoi, you can go by personal car, motorbike, bus, or train to Ninh Binh and then continue to rent a motorbike at the hotel or catch a “motorbike taxi” to go to Tam Coc.

– Limousine car: book tickets from Giap Bat station to Ninh Binh city center about 180,000 VND/ticket. The route is also quite fast and convenient because it is along National Highway 1A.

– Motorbike: Along old National Highway 1A and continue following the signs to reach Ninh Binh. Or the Nam Dinh – Thai Binh – Ninh Binh route if you have more time.

– Personal car: can move along the Phap Van – Cau Gie expressway, driving takes about 1 hour.

– By train: From Hanoi you can catch train lines SE1, SE3, SE5, SE7… of the North-South railway to Ninh Binh, travel time takes about 2 hours. However, it depends on the fixed time of the train.

Besides, the most convenient way is to buy a day tour departing from Hanoi, there will be a shuttle bus throughout the journey, including food, drinks, transportation, etc.

4. Accommodation/Where to stay?

Tam Coc Bich Dong is a famous scenic spot in Ninh Binh, thanks to the beauty of nature and the friendliness of the people of this land, contributing to the growing tourism. So there are many resorts, homestays, and hotels in the area around Tam Coc. Some famous names include The Banana Tree Hostel, Tam Coc Friendly Homestay, Tam Coc Bungalow.

In addition, you can rent a hotel or homestay right in the center of Ninh Binh city to combine the evening to visit the beautiful and bustling Ninh Binh old town.
5. Detailed schedule:

Departing from Hanoi at about 6 pm, the car takes about 2 hours to reach Ninh Binh city. I chose to stay overnight in the center of Ninh Binh city for convenient transportation. Check in homestay and rest.

The next morning we departed at 7am. I rented a motorbike at the homestay so it was quite convenient for transportation.

After breakfast at Mien Luon 89 restaurant, stop by a pretty cafe in the center – May Cafe (2 Le Hong Phong, Dong Thanh, Ninh Binh City) to enjoy a cup of coffee to regain strength and then continue riding a motorbike to the station. Tam Coc ferry is 7km from Ninh Binh city center

TAM COC

After parking the motorbike in the parking lot right at Van Lam ferry station, buy sightseeing tickets for 120,000 VND/person/trip, then buy boat tickets for 150,000 VND/turn/boat for 4 Vietnamese guests and 150,000 VND/boat. One trip/boat with 2 foreign guests, free for children under 3 years old. At the wharf, the boat operators will arrange the boat for you.

Taking a boat along the Ngo Dong river, you will see rows of rice fields stretching peacefully on the cool, clear blue water and begin your journey of discovery. It takes about two or three hours to fully explore Tam Coc (including stopping to take photos).

Tam Coc means three caves including Ca cave, Hai cave and Ba cave. All three caves were created by the erosion of the river flow because the rocks in this area are limestone mountains.

• Hang Ca (One) is the largest and longest cave in Tam Coc’s cave system, with a length of 127m, passing through a large part of the mountain, and the cave entrance is over 20m wide. The climate in the cave is cool and humid and there are many stalactites hanging down in many shapes.
• Hang Hai (Two) is a small cave with only half the length of Hang Ca, about 60m and nearly 1km from Ca cave. The ceiling of the cave has many stalactites hanging down, as beautiful as Ca cave.
• Although Hang Ba (Three) is the smallest cave, only 50m long, it is considered the most beautiful cave compared to the other two caves. Here, you imagine it is like a stone arch favored by nature, skillfully honed with sophisticated details, creating a unique and wonderful beauty for Ba cave.

Advice for visitors to Tam Coc’s ripe rice season should arrange to go early or mid-week. Because at this time the number of tourists here is not too large, we can freely take the most sparkling and brilliant photos and the space to explore is also more perfect.

Tam Coc Field was formed from the reclamation process of people since the 10th century AD. Tam Coc rice fields are measured from Hang Ca to Khe Gioi, about 1.2km long, the widest point is only about 300m. The flooded rice fields located along both banks of the Ngo Dong River, winding like silk at the foot of the limestone mountain complex, more than 18 hectares wide, are ripening, heavy with flowers, winding to signal a bumper season.

Looking down from above, you will feel like you are lost in a sea of ​​rice fluttering in a proud golden color. In the distance, there are silhouettes of farmers harvesting rice, next to small boats also loaded with rice, signaling a bumper harvest.

To get beautiful photos, you should discuss with the boat driver in advance that you will stop at Khe Gioi, they will stop by the boat and wait for you. It took me quite a while to take photos, so I’ll send a little extra money as a gift to thank the boatman for waiting.

Here, people only grow one rice crop a year (the Khmer crop), which ripens at the end of April and early May of the lunar calendar, which means May and June of the solar calendar every year.

After visiting Tam Coc, it’s almost lunch time. You can dine right at the restaurant in Tam Coc tourist area or restaurants around Tam Coc tourist area such as Thach Bich restaurant or Anh Dung Garden restaurant, then Then rest and continue to explore Bich Dong Pagoda in the afternoon. Some famous specialties such as scorched rice, mountain goat, Yen Mac spring rolls are delicious dishes that you must definitely try.

After lunch, rest and then drive a few more kilometers to Bich Dong Pagoda

BICH DONG TEMPLE

Bich Dong Pagoda was built in 1428, at the beginning of the Later Le Dynasty, as a small temple on the top of the mountain. Bich Dong Pagoda was built in the style of “Three” Chinese characters, three buildings are not adjacent, three levels along the mountainside, based on the mountain position from low to high into three separate pagodas: Lower, Middle, and Upper. Under the mountain, there is Xuyen Thuy cave, 350m long, flowing vertically along the mountain, containing water in the bowels of the mountain.

Ha Pagoda has 5 compartments built on a high foundation at the foot of the mountain. In the Buddhist temple, the temple architecture is in the Dinh style. The trusses, horizontal beams, and vertical beams are also made of ironwood. The pagoda’s roof is two curved roofs, consisting of 8 roofs. The stone columns in the lower pagoda are all made of one piece of stone and are over 4 meters high.

From Ha Pagoda, step up 120 steps along the S-shaped path to halfway up the Ngu Nhac mountain range to Trung Pagoda. Right in front are two words Bich Dong carved into the cliff. This is a very unique pagoda, few places have it, half is attached to a cave, half is open-air, the pagoda has 3 rooms to worship Buddha. From Trung Pagoda, climb about 6 meters to reach Dark Cave. This is the main cave, solemn, quiet, long, slightly to the east. Dark Cave is a long, wide space with electric lighting. Everything is like a petrified fairy world of creation.

To get to Thuong Pagoda, visitors have to walk up nearly 40 stone steps along the mountainside. Thuong Pagoda is also known as East Pagoda, the pagoda worships Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. This pagoda is located at the highest position, near the top of Bich Dong mountain. Looking far away from Thuong Pagoda, there are 5 independent mountains flanking Bich Dong Mountain, looking like 5 lotus petals, called Ngu Nhac Son.

Bich Dong Pagoda is a highly national cultural feature in village cultural life, occupying a quite special and important position in Hoa Lu cultural heritage, associated with pride in the village, hometown of Ninh Hai commune. It is also an ancient, dignified work of human art that integrates with the green, tranquil natural scenery, contributing to the perfect panorama of the Tam Coc and Bich Dong mountainous areas.

Leaving Bich Dong Pagoda in the late afternoon, I moved to Mua Cave to visit, take photos of the lotus pond and prepare to climb Ngoa Long Mountain to watch the sunset.

MUA CAVE LOTUS POND

Hang Mua tourist area is located in Khe Dau Ha village, Ninh Xuan commune, Hoa Lu district, about 7km from Ninh Binh city center. Tickets to visit Hang Mua Lotus Pond cost 100,000 VND/person

In the summer, from May to July is lotus season in Ninh Binh. In particular, the lotus pond in Mua Cave is in full bloom, with its pink color and faint scent of lotus making anyone fall in love.

Hang Mua lotus pond is about 1 hectare wide and is located right at the foot of Ngoa Long mountain, surrounded by golden rice fields and majestic mountains, so the scene is as poetic as in historical movies. So during the blooming season, you will see many girls coming here to take check-in photos.

Early morning from about 5am to 7am is the most suitable time to take photos because the sun is not yet hot, dew is still on the leaves, the flowers are also at their freshest and most beautiful, the air is fresh and cool. Especially there will be no tourists. The day I took photos was in the afternoon, it was raining lightly but still sunny, the flowers were still blooming, but quite crowded with tourists. Because I wanted to climb the mountain to watch the sunset, I chose to go to Mua Cave in the afternoon and combine taking photos of lotus flowers. Depending on your schedule, choose the appropriate time.

According to my understanding, the lotus variety grown at Hang Mua lotus pond is a Japanese lotus. When it opens its petals, it is brilliant and lasts a long time, so visitors can enjoy the flowering season longer.

After finishing taking photos at the lotus pond, you should refuel (drink water and have snacks at the stalls at the foot of the mountain because there will not be any shops along the climbing path) to have enough energy. Conquer Ngoa Long Mountain. Start the climbing journey around 4:30 pm when the sun is less intense.

NGOA LONG MOUNTAIN/MUA MOUNTAIN

Mua Mountain, also known as Ngoa Long Mountain, is a famous tourist destination not only for domestic tourists but also international tourists. This place once made the Korean travel world “excited” when it appeared on a famous TV show. The scenery standing on the top of Mua mountain is craggy and dangerous but completely worth it when you can narrow it down into your sight: “green mountains, blue water like a painting”

Ngoa Long Mountain is known as a miniature “Great Wall” of Ninh Binh because to conquer the top of this mountain you have to pass about 500 stone steps, the distance between steps is quite high. Over time, these paths also take on a quiet, mossy beauty. Along the two paths, you will see images of animals such as Nghe, eagles… bearing the mark of the spiritual architectural culture of the Vietnamese people. However, this beautiful stone staircase system is also the highlight of visitors’ journey to conquer Ngoa Long mountain peak.

The higher you go, the more you enjoy the sweeping views of magnificent nature. The golden rice fields in the distance, the winding Ngo Dong river, small boats glistening oars on the emerald green water. Zoom into the Hang Mua lotus pond with its pink color undulating in the wind. All create a “charming landscape” picture.

When arriving at the top of the mountain, visitors will be greeted by a long dragon statue below sight. This dragon statue is not only a symbol of Ngoa Long Mountain but also a symbol of strength and steadfast spirit.

Among all the impressive landscapes in Ninh Binh, Mua Cave still retains its unique beauty and attracts the attention of domestic and foreign tourists. The journey to conquer 500 steps does not seem too difficult, but when you experience it, you will see that this is not only a journey to conquer the top of Mua Mountain (Ngoa Long) but also to conquer your senses. After going down the mountain, it was completely dark. Around 7 o’clock, I ran back to the homestay to take a shower and then moved to Hoa Lu ancient town to have dinner, sightsee and walk around the city at night.

HOA LU ANCIENT TOWN

Address: no 1, Tran Hung Dao Street, Tan Thanh Ward, Ninh Binh city, Vietnam.

Hoa Lu Ancient Town is located on the campus of Unicorn Lake, which was inaugurated and put into operation in early 2022. With a location right in the city center, convenient transportation makes it easy for visitors to find and move there. . This work was inspired by the traditional culture of Dai Viet in the 10th century. It can be said that Hoa Lu Ancient Town is a picture that helps recreate and restore all the architectural beauty, social and cultural life and thousands of generations of unique customs and traditions of people in all parts of the country.

Hoa Lu Ninh Binh Ancient Town is divided into 2 areas: Product introduction products area and food area.

• Coming to the product introduction area, you will see traditional handicraft products of craft villages in the province and neighboring provinces such as Ninh Van fine arts stone village, Bo Bat pottery village, Van Lam embroidery village. , Bo De paintings, Dong Ho painting village, Y Yen lacquerware…
• The food area is rich with delicious specialties from all over the country such as: rice paper, sticky rice cake, molasses cake, shrimp cake,… presented eye-catchingly in the style of old traditional stalls.

Opening hours of Hoa Lu Ancient Town: Open all days of the week, including holidays from Monday to Sunday.

• Hoa Lu Ancient Town is open from 07:00 – 23:00
• Traditional stalls: 14:00 – 23:00.
• Folk games: 19:00 – 23:00.

Thanks to Hoa Lu Ancient Town, Ninh Binh city center becomes more vibrant, and is also a place that attracts nighttime tourists with many unique activities.

Currently, Hoa Lu Ancient Town is free to enter, so visitors to Hoa Lu Ancient Town can conveniently visit, sightsee, and check-in. However, if you want to travel to Unicorn (Ky Lan) Lake by boat, you will need to pay the boat ticket fee as follows:

• Sightseeing boat ticket (Maximum 5 people) Adults: 100,000 VND, Children (1m – 1m3): 80,000 VND..
• VIP boat ticket (with roof) Adults: 150,000 VND (Maximum 9 people), Children (1m – 1m3): 100,000 VND..

The day I arrived at the boat dock, it was too late so I still couldn’t experience riding a boat on Unircorn (Ky Lan) Lake.

Hoa Lu ancient town is designed according to the ancient cultural space architecture of Dai Co Viet country, brilliant during the day and sparkling at night.

End the one-day journey in Ninh Binh with an impressive and satisfying experience. Hopefully the above information can help you and your family have a complete and meaningful tri

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