Top 5 things to do in Tam Coc/Ninh Binh, Vietnam

lorisolan
Feb 19, 2018
5 min read

Ninh Binh is located approx. 100kms south of Hanoi and is one of my favourite places in the country. It is similar to Phong Nha in the sense that it is still a much less travelled destination for a lot of tourists and backpackers, therefore giving it a more unique and authentic Vietnamese feel. 2 days spent here will leave you with a deep sense of appreciation for just how natural and beautiful this country is.

It has been said that Ninh Binh is the land version of Ha Long Bay and that this small province contains all of the quintessence of the whole of Vietnam in it's relatively small size. See below for my top 5 things to do here.

1. Mua Cave

Mua Cave was one of my favourite things to do in Tam Coc. The cave itself is nothing special however the climb to the top and the 360 degree views are spectacular. We decided to walk from Tam Coc instead of cycle or motorbike as most people do. It was an 8km return and took approx 3.5 hours total including the ascent. The walk there was so peaceful once you were off the main road. You venture through a small village and then down a sleepy road with paddy fields either side of you and then arrived at the base of the mountain. The steps are quite steep up and there are around 500 of them so wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water. In summer time, the views are meant to be even more outstanding due to the vibrant green colouring of the paddy fields that was lacking on our visit.

Entrance Fee: 100,000VND ($4.50USD) per person

2. Boat Cave Tour

The boat tours are one of the most popular things to do in Tam Coc/Ninh Binh. There are a few options depending on where you are staying. I have taken two different tours and my most enjoyable trip was the tour from Tam Coc itself. We got there early, around 9.30am, it was the perfect time as it was quiet and not many other boats on the water. The tour lasts 1.5 hours and you get to visit three different caves along the 3km stretch taking in sights of many limestone mountains. There are lots of locals out and about along the river, either fishing or planting vegetables or rice. It is a lovely way to spend then morning.

It is best to be prepared and know that the boat driver will stop on the way back at what I call 'the boat shop ambush' where there is a whole host of women trying to sell you coffee, tea etc. They will insist on the driver getting something too and this in turn ends up being a small scam as the driver will then sell the goods back to the vendor at half price. It is very hard to say no so work on your strategy if you don't want to buy something before you get there! At the end of the trip, depending on the person who rowed the boat, they will ask for a tip. Whilst the boat cost itself is quite expensive, it is nice to give something small as a sign of appreciation for their efforts.

Boat tour fee:

Boat (seats 2) - 150,000VND ($6.70USD)

Price per person - 120,000VND ($5.30USD)

3. Bai Dinh Pagoda

After our boat tour we hired a motorbike from our homestay - Tam Coc River View Homestay. It cost 80,000VND ($3.50USD) for the day. We drove to Bai Dinh Pagoda which is located in the Gia Viễn District approx. 25km from Tam Coc and is considered to be Vietnam's largest complex of Buddhist temples. The complex consists of the original old temple and the newly built larger temple. The largest structure in the new complex is the Tam Thế Hall which rises to 34m high and 59m in length.

The temple is set in an extremely relaxed and peaceful environment, you can easily spend 2-3 hours strolling around taking in all the intricate details and astounding architecture. Aside from all of the beauty the Bai Dinh Temple has to offer, there are also 500 individually carved Buddha statues that line the right hand side of the Phap Chu Temple. Don'r forget to give the black spots a good rub for luck. I am at a loss as to why many people don't hear about this temple when they come to Ninh Binh as it is one of the highlights.

Entrance fee: entry is free however to access the temple, you will need to get an electric car from the ground level. It takes 5 minutes and costs 30,000VND ($1.30USD) each way.

4. Cycle through the villages

There are so many things to see when you cycle around the small side streets and quieter areas around Tam Coc and Ninh Binh. Cycle past lakes with backdrops of limestone mountains and greenery as you navigate through bumpy off road paths, experience the buzz of kids finishing school for the day, find random places to eat in what looks like someones home kitchen, observe the local men playing a midday game of Chinese checkers or just park up and watch the sunset over the river in Tam Coc. Motorbikes are a great, fast way to get around however there is something so pleasant about the speed of a bicycle. It seems like you never miss a moment and get to take everything in. Most homestays will have bicycles that they give complimentary or rent out for a small fee. Just hop on and see where it takes you.

5. Eat at Bamboo Bar & Restaurant

There are not too many restaurants in Tam Coc however there are some good ones. My favourite was Bamboo Bar and Restaurant. It is located at the very end of the strip of bars, shops and restaurants as if you were heading towards Ninh Binh city. We were there during their cold season so they had heated fans blowing which was a nice touch and rare to find. The food itself was deliciously fresh, tasty and well priced (220,000VND/$10USD for a starter, 2 main meals and 2 beers). Not to mention the Huda beer for 20,000VND (0.90c). Goat is a local specialty so if you are willing to try they have lots of dishes incorporating this meat.

Recommended place to stay - Tam Coc River View Homestay. This is a newly built family homestay. The location is amazing, adjacent to the river and the rooms are fantastic each a separate bungalow type building with their own sun terrace and seating area. They have motorbikes and bicycles for rent. They offer a laundry service charging just $1USD per kg.

Price per night for a double room including breakfast - $10USD (225,000VND)