Tam Coc - Bich Dong Landscape Complex

Tam Coc - Bich Dong Landscape Complex is a part of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, which is located in Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, approximately eight kilometers from the center of Ninh Binh City, the provincial capital.

UNESCO designated Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site in June 2014.

As visitors float down the Ngo Dong River, which winds through the ravines in the complex, the breathtaking terrain as well as beautiful yellow rice fields will gradually appear in the distance.

This location has also been featured in such blockbuster movies as 'Blood Letter,' 'Tam Cam: The Untold Story,' and 'Kong: Skull Island'.

Tam Coc Bich Dong has enchanting scenery

1. The general introduction of Tam Coc - Bich Dong

Located in Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province, 100 km south of Hanoi and 7 km away from Ninh Binh city, Tam Coc Bich Dong is a combination of limestone cave systems and tranquil landscapes. It also has a Bich Dong pagoda built in traditional architecture and historical relics related to the Vu Lam Palace of the Tran Dynasty in the 13th century. The area covers a total of 350 hectares, consisting of many sightseeing to explore by boating, walking and cycling.

2. The best time to visit  Tam Coc - Bich Dong

The best time to go to Tam Coc - Bich Dong in terms of weather is from February to April. During this period, the weather in Ninh Binh is relatively pleasant, cool and less rainy. You will fully enjoy your trip to explore Tam Coc - Bich Dong by both walking, cycling and walking.

Additionally, in the early days of the New Year, the Trang An landscape complex and Tam Coc Bich Dong organise spring festivals including the Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival. If you take a Ninh Binh excursion during that time, you'll be able to soak in the festival's lively atmosphere while feeling inherent solemnity.

For those who have the chance to visit Tam Coc - Bich Dong between late May and early June, you will surely be overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery of the golden rice paddies in full bloom all along the way. Sometimes the paddy fields on both sides of the river are a harmonious colour combination of green rice shoots and the bright yellow ripe rice. It is a lively picture of the river scene that makes everyone excited.

3. How to get to Tam Coc - Bich Dong?

The most convenient way to visit Tam Coc Bich Dong is booking a day or two-day excursion with pick up from your location in Hanoi.

If you self-arrange your trip, there are some ways to go. From Hanoi you book your transportation to Ninh Binh city or the nearest point to Tam Coc. Tam Coc - Bich Dong is located about 7 km from Ninh Binh city centre.

Discovering Ninh Binh by car, taxi or motorbike are generally suitable for tourists.

Although there is a North-South railway cross Ninh Binh, this is the least recommended way to transfer as it takes much effort to arrange timetables and move from train station to desired attractions.

4. Not-to-be-missed sightseeings in Tam Coc - Bich Dong

4.1. The scenic complex of three caves in Tam Coc

Tam Coc means three caves. Actually, it is a scenic complex with three natural caves, including Ca Cave (the longest cave), Hai Cave (the second longest cave) and Ba Cave (the third cave). All three caves were formed by the Ngo Dong river piercing through the mountain. In Tam Coc, you can take a boat trip rowing along the Ngo Dong River, passing through limestone cliffs, mysterious caves and lush fields. In each season, the background scenery changes, surprising visitors every time they get here.

Tam Coc with its system of three caves adjacent to each other

One peculiarity is that if you want to visit Tam Coc, the only way is by waterway. While taking a boat through different tourist routes, sometimes you should carefully put your head down if you don't want to hit the rock ceiling above.

4.2 Thai Vi temple – worshipping place of Tran dynasty's emperors and generals

In the past, the mountainous area of Trang An - Tam Coc was the place where the Tran Dynasty chose to build the Vu Lam Palace to consolidate military forces in the second war of resistance against the Yuan - Mongols. Today, the Thai Vi temple is the place of worship of Kings Tran Thai Tong, Tran Thanh Tong, Generals Tran Hung Dao, Tran Quang Khai and Queen Tran Thi Dung.

The unique thing about Thai Vi temple is that all the columns are made of tall, monolithic green stones, carved meticulously and completely by hand. The oldest relics still preserved here are incense burners, stone pillars, iron boxes, altars, bell, bell towers, which originated in 1689. 

The Thai Vi temple is a place worshipping of the Tran dynasty

4.3 Thien Huong cave

Situated peacefully in the middle of Dong Vo Mountain, Thien Huong Cave is one of the most popular sights in Ninh Binh. With a height of almost 60 m, the cave is 40 m long and 20 m wide, starting from the large arched entrance shaped like a bell.

The top of the cave is so large that locals often call it the Heaven Cave. Inside the cave is a shrine dedicated to Tran Thi Dung, the wife of King Ly Hue Tong. It was she who taught the people of Ninh Hai commune the art of embroidery, so the shrine was built to express the local people's gratitude to her..

Inside the Thien Huong cave

4.4 Bich Dong Pagoda

About 2 km from Tam Coc pier, Bich Dong is a picturesque dry cave located halfway up the mountain, opposite the wet cave of Xuyen Thuy. Bich Dong is the name given by Prime Minister Nguyen Khiem - the father of the great poet Nguyen Du in 1773. This place was favourably named Nam Thien De Nhi Dong (the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam) at that time, only ranked after Huong Tich Cave in the Perfume Pagoda area.

There is Bich Dong pagoda, an ancient pagoda established on the Truong Yen limestone mountain range from 1428. Today, the pagoda still retains a large bell made by the reign of King Le Thai To and the tombs of the monks who built the pagoda. During the reign of King Le Hien Tong, the pagoda was restored and enlarged with three separate pagodas, including the lower pagoda, middle pagoda and upper pagoda.

The Bich Dong pagoda is peacefully surrounded by stacked mountains

The shrine gate with layers of moss clinging to each stone

Inside Bich Dong Pagoda

4.5 Tien cave – Linh Coc pagoda

Belonging to the Tam Coc - Bich Dong complex, the Tien Cave (the Fairy Cave) consists of three large caves with hundred stalactites of all shapes and sizes, such as fairy trees, rice plants, fairies, elephants, lions, tigers, dragons, eagles, colourful clouds, etc.

No one knows when the Linh Coc pagoda was built in Trang An. It is said that the pagoda has existed since the reign of King Tran Thanh Tong. The pagoda is designed in three compartments, which is the place to worship. The construction behind is dedicated to the holy Vietnamese mothers including the holy mother of Mountain, the mother of Earth and the mother of Lieu Hanh. Situated peacefully in Moc Mountain, Linh Coc gives a view to the west, in front are the lush rice fields.

4.6 Co Vien Lau

Co Vien Lau is located in the buffer zone of Trang An landscape complex, the World Heritage Site. Floating on Ngo Dong River beside Tam Coc Wharf, the tourists will enter the land of ancient villages in the middle of Hoa Lu Capital.

Co Vien Lau consists of many ancient houses which were restored according to the miniature images of the villages in the North. During Ninh Binh tour, visitors will admire the ancient beauty of traditional houses preserved throughout the flow of time.

Each house was erected basing on the model of the house in the northern countryside. They are displayed on different themes to show the cultural value of each land and the convergence of Vietnamese cultural and historical values.

The total area of Co Vien Lau is about 20,000 square meters, including 20 to 22 ancient houses built under Nguyen Dynasty. Among them are the famous constructions such as Nong Cong ancient house (1874), Y Yen ancient house (1883), Tho Xuan ancient house (1802), Van Hai ancient house (1853), Khanh Hoa ancient house, Luu Phuong ancient house, Thanh Liem ancient commune house, Nghenh Tan Pavilion and model of old-fashioned countryside villages.

Cultural Heritages of Vietnamese Ancient Villages in Co Vien Lau