Tam Cốc – Bích Động - Ninh Bình, Việt Nam

Bich Dong Pagoda is a serene and captivating site nestled among limestone mountains and lush greenery. The walk up to the pagoda is peaceful, with stunning views that get better as you climb. The pagoda itself is built into the mountainside, creating a unique and tranquil atmosphere that feels both spiritual and connected to nature. Each level offers something special, from ancient altars to breathtaking vistas. It’s not overly crowded, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. A must-visit if you’re exploring the Ninh Binh area and want a quiet escape steeped in history and beauty.

Tam Coc, often called the "Ha Long Bay on land," is one of the most breathtaking places in Vietnam. Located in Ninh Binh, it offers stunning limestone karsts, lush rice fields, and peaceful waterways that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a postcard. The highlight of Tam Coc is the boat ride along the Ngo Dong River. A friendly local rows the boat—sometimes with their feet!—as you float through three magical caves surrounded by towering cliffs and endless greenery. The scenery is so peaceful and beautiful that you won’t want the ride to end. Apart from the boat tour, Tam Coc has so much to offer. You can explore the ancient Bich Dong Pagoda, which is built into a mountain, or rent a bicycle and ride through the golden rice fields. The local food is also amazing, with fresh goat meat and crispy rice being must-tries. Tam Coc is perfect for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone looking to escape the busy city life. Whether you're exploring caves, riding bikes, or just enjoying the peaceful views, this place will leave you in awe. It’s truly a hidden gem of Vietnam!

It’s a great experience on the river passing through the 3 caves. Tam(3) and Coc (caves). You are in a small rowboat, a local lady or men row with their legs

A very cool experience! It’s quite serene and unique - going with the row boat through the river, through a cave and then into an open space, surrounded by mountains. The ladies rowing the boat are farmers I am told and after their work, they do this as an additional hustle. They row with their feet which is a sight to see, they’re quite experienced. Be warned! And be ready for them to hard sell you trinkets and souvenirs when they reach the end of the river (before turning back). We didn’t bring any money but we felt almost hijacked when she wouldn’t move the boat until she was truly convinced we couldn’t buy anything. The other boats did the same thing, stopped the boat for about 10 minutes until someone bought something (or couldn’t). It detracted from the overall good experience from the row boat ride. We tipped her generously at the end when we were done and back in land where the money was available but we shouldn’t have been held “hostage” for quite a bit of time with the rower giving us a disapproving and unhappy, sour look because we couldn’t buy her trinkets.

The view, cave, rock and river themselves are naturally beautiful. This place is unique during the rice ripening season. Recommend to go early to beat the crowd. Sadly nature outweighs the messy service and rude, greedy, narrow-minded attitude of the vast majority of boatmen here. You can’t enjoy the boat on your own but need to fill the group of at least 4 people. The boat woman seems friendly and responded to your questions, but stopped only at Khe Gioi ravine for photos. She was impatient and wanted us to leave early. She described her poor family situation and persuaded us to buy embroidered frames. She also asked for tip by the end and sold the embroidered things double the price. Don’t believe their words, their acting and don’t buy anything. Actually the local people themselves are ruining the experience. I’ll never come back because of their attitude. Just enjoy nature if you love it.

We took the Tam Coc boat tour with the feet padding. Our guide was great. I read about the guides hassling passengers for tips, but ours was so nice and polite. We only had one vendor asking us to buy anything. (Photo) We went midweek and later at 4:30. So maybe that’s why. We don’t tip because 1) generally Vietnamese tourists don’t tip (be like the locals) and 2) it’s a terrible practice that allows businesses to profit by paying workers less.

I had an amazing experience exploring the area. The boat ride through the limestone mountains and expansive rice fields was incredibly peaceful, and the scenery was breathtaking at every turn. The guides were friendly, helpful, and informative, which made the visit feel personal and engaging. Even though it was a popular spot, it never felt overcrowded, making the experience truly memorable.

A must visit destination in Northern Vietnam. The natural scenery is breathtaking boating on the river surrounded by rice fields and water lilies, all encircled by limestone mountains. Truly a masterpiece of nature.