Tam Coc: The Ha Long Bay that Nobody Knows

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Tam Coc, an idyllic village in the Ninh Binh region about 2 hours from Hanoi, is famous for its limestone mountains, green rice fields, and rivers. Often referred to as “Ha Long Bay on land,” Tam Coc offers the same breathtaking scenery, just with far fewer tourists. The name literally refers to “three caves” that you can explore by boat.

In this article, I’ll give you the best tips for visiting this gem in the Vietnamese countryside. The best time to visit is from April to June, when the rice fields are beautifully green (rainy season: July to September).

Do breathtaking boat tours

From Tam Coc, there are two nearby boat tours that are definitely worth your time. Locals will take you in their boats, which they often row with their feet!

You can take the Tam Coc boat tour directly from the village itself, it lasts about 1.5 hours and takes you past magnificent rice fields and limestone mountains. The route brings you to a viewpoint, and then you return along the same path, without any stops.

The second option is a boat tour on the Trang An River, which lasts about 3-4 hours and, in my opinion, is even more spectacular. You can choose between different itineraries. I took one that included many caves and temples, and they let you get out of the boat a few times to explore. A boat fits four people, so you’ll need to find others to join, or pay extra.

For buses, trains and ferries in this region, I always use 12Go.

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Discover the countryside by bike or motorcycle

Since the landscape is quite flat (except for the limestone mountains), the area around Tam Coc is perfect to explore by bike!

I used a bike to get to the Trang An River from Tam Coc, since it’s a bit further away. It was a great way to see the surroundings and stop for a nice lunch or coffee. I also rented a motorcycle for a day, which was a great way to visit some of the more distant sights. Many hotels offer bicycles and motorcycles for rent.

Climb the Hang Mua viewpoint (The Lying Dragon)

After climbing 500 stairs, you’ll be rewarded with a magical view over Tam Coc and its surroundings. Make sure to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

A tip: when I arrived to park my motorcycle, some locals told me I had to pay. But when I went a bit further, I found free parking, so keep that in mind.

If you want to book a tour or an activity without any hassle, Get Your Guide is honestly one of the easiest platforms I use, with a huge range of experiences, flexible cancellation on most bookings, and you can even get 5% off with my code HORIZONHUGO5.

Watch The Video

If you prefer beautiful landscapes and listening instead of reading, I’ve also made a YouTube video about this place. Hit play, relax, and let me show you what it really looks like on the ground.

Where to eat & drink

Napoli’s Pizza Bar: the best pizzas I’ve had in Southeast Asia.
Family Restaurant: simple, affordable local dishes.
An Tam Coc: good local food with a nice balcony upstairs.
NGON Vegan Restaurant: tasty, healthy food including falafel; perfect if you want a break from Asian cuisine.
Rustic Garden: beautiful garden, Western food, and good cocktails.

Where to stay

Banana Tree Hostel: large hostel with a great pool and bar, right in the center of Tam Coc.
Tam Coc River View Homestay: charming and affordable, right next to the Tam Coc river.
Tam Coc Mountain Lake Homestay: a more luxurious hotel with beautiful views of the rice fields and limestone cliffs. ****
Tam Coc Horizon Bungalow: stunning bungalows at the foot of the limestone karsts. More expensive, but definitely worth it!

Whenever I want to book a hotel, I always check both Booking.com and Agoda first, since they usually have the same options but sometimes one has a better price than the other, so it’s worth comparing both, but if I’m looking for something cheaper and I also want to meet other travelers, I go with Hostelworld instead.

Explore Beyond Tam Coc

Vietnam is truly incredible, and Tam Coc is a place you’ll fall in love with. But don’t stop there, if you’re already exploring Southeast Asia, chances are you’ll also want to visit Thailand and its amazing regions, and explore Indonesia and its incredible variety of islands, two equally amazing countries that deserve just as much of your time and attention.

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I'm Hugo, a traveler driven by curiosity and a passion for discovering the world's hidden corners. After exploring over 30 countries across Latin America and Southeast Asia, I've learned that every adventure shapes who we become. I'm here to share those lessons and inspire your next great journey.

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