Tam Coc Boat Tour – Best Way To Explore Tam Coc

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

Introduction

Tam Coc belongs to the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a famous tourist destination in Ninh Binh, and has been recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage. And to explore Tam Coc, there is no better way than rowing a boat. This is not a new form, but it is never outdated. Every tourist who visits this place chooses the Tam Coc Boat Tour to explore its entire beauty. If you are looking to explore Tam Coc by boat, come to Ninh Binh Private Car to support you with the necessary information.

Where Is Tam Coc?

Tam Coc is a tourist destination about 7 km from Ninh Binh city, in Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. In 2014, UNESCO officially recognized Tam Coc as a world cultural site. In addition, the Vietnamese government also ranks this monument as a special national monument.

With a large area of ​​up to 350.3 hectares, Tam Coc is a unique complex of cave systems and limestone mountains. The scenery here is as beautiful as the peaceful villages of Vietnam. In addition, the tourist area also includes Bich Dong Pagoda with traditional architecture and many other historical relics. 

Coming to Tam Coc, visitors will experience more than 2 hours of sitting on a small boat gliding on the Ngo Dong River. The boat will take you through green rice fields, and limestone cliffs, and admire the beauty of caves.

How To Get To Tam Coc From Hanoi?

As you all know, Ninh Binh and Hanoi are not too far, so there are many ways to get there. You can visit How To Get From Hanoi To Ninh Binh to know more; below are some examples.

Bus: Tourists can catch a bus from Giap Bat bus station or My Dinh bus station (Hanoi) with buses to Tam Coc Ninh Binh. Travel time is about 2 hours. After arriving in Ninh Binh, you can rent a taxi or motorbike to get to Tam Coc. View details at Ninh Binh Bus Station.

Motorbike or personal car: From Hanoi, you travel along National Highway 1A towards Ninh Binh. After arriving in Ninh Binh City, you continue to follow Trang An-Hoa Lu Road about 7 km more to reach Tam Coc.

Train: Visitors can buy train tickets from Hanoi station to Ninh Binh station. From Ninh Binh station, you can rent a taxi or motorbike to continue your journey to Tam Coc-Bich Dong. View details at Ninh Binh Railway Station.

No matter which method you use, the cost of the trip is relatively low, only between 200,000 and 500,000 VND, depending on your choice. In addition, if you want to have the best experience, you can use our Hanoi to Ninh Binh private car service. We will pick you up and take you anywhere in Ninh Binh at the best price. In addition, we also provide many other transfer services such as:

Ninh Binh To Hai Phong Luxury Car – from 100 USD per Limousine car

Ninh Binh To Cat Ba Island Private Car – from 106 USD per Sedan car

What Is In Tam Coc Boat Tour?

Stunning Rice Fields

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

Rice fields in Tam Coc are located on both sides of the Ngo Dong River, surrounded by limestone mountains. The rice fields here stretch like a brilliant yellow silk strip, winding around the Ngo Dong River, creating an attractive and magical beauty. And this is the first scene you witness in the Tam Coc Boat Tour.

To see the entire Tam Coc rice fields in the most beautiful season of the year, the top of Ca Cave is the best place. From the mountaintop view, you will see the entire golden color of Ninh Binh’s ripe rice season.

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

In addition to the colorful nature, visitors will also be impressed with the sight of people rowing boats to harvest rice. Each small boat is filled with bundles of rice that have just been harvested; it is a scene containing the beauty of the labor of the Vietnamese people. It will not be easy for a tourist to see that image, so do not hesitate to take a photo as a souvenir.

Visit Three Caves of Tam Coc Boat Tour

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

The next place on the Tam Coc Boat Tour will be to explore a trio of famous caves. Tam Coc also means “three caves,” and those three caves are Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba, respectively. The strong flow of the Ngo Dong River passes through the limestone mountains to form these three majestic and beautiful caves. Each cave will have its own beauty that visitors will never forget every time they visit.

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

First, Hang Ca is also the largest cave, according to the name of the cave. The cave is up to 20m high and more than 127m long with many stalactites and stalagmites creating unique shapes. According to the story, in Ca Cave there was once an immortal sage with white hair sitting fishing. Even today, from afar, you can still see that Hang Ca looks like a fairy’s house. The cool space in the cave and beautiful stalactites captivate visitors.

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

Next will be Hang Hai, located right behind Ca Cave. Hang Hai has a length of more than 60m, only half the length of Ca Cave. Although smaller than Ca Cave, the experience of sitting on a boat through the cave and admiring the sparkling stalactites will not disappoint you.

Finally, there will be Hang Ba; although smaller than the other two caves, it has a very charming beauty. Hang Ba Only 6m high, there are points where visitors can touch the stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the cave. This is something that only Ba Cave can do.

Bich Dong Pagoda – Xuyen Thuy Dong

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

Bich Dong Pagoda is one of the landmarks associated with Tam Coc, and when we visit Tam Coc Boat Tour, we can also visit Bich Dong Pagoda. The pagoda is located on the back of the Truong Yen mountain range and has existed for many centuries.

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

Bich Dong Pagoda consists of three pagodas: Lower Pagoda, Middle Pagoda, and Upper Pagoda, each pagoda will have extremely interesting and different features. There are also two caves: Toi Cave, a dry cave located at Trung Pagoda, and Xuyen Thuy Dong, a water cave located at the foot of the mountain.

Tien Cave – Linh Coc Pagoda

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

Continuing our journey to explore the Tam Coc Boat Tour, we will come to the next destination, which is Tien Cave and Linh Coc Pagoda.
Move another 1 km from Bich Dong Pagoda, we will come to Tien Cave. On the ceiling of these caves, you will see many rocks with different color patterns, creating a unique image. Over thousands of years of construction, the shape of the stalactites has also changed. Visitors can see many different shapes, such as lions, monitor lizards, tigers, rice plants, and many other interesting shapes.

Linh Coc Pagoda was built during the reign of King Tran Thanh Tong, facing west, with the front being surrounded by a spacious field. Right at the foot of the mountain is a large temple yard, with ancestral churches on both sides.

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

The pagoda has three shrines facing northwest; the main worship statues are Ānanda and Bodhidharma. The left part of the house consists of five rooms facing southeast. Holy Mother Place faces southwest and has its back to the mountainside, designed in the shape of the letter “Tam.”

Tam Coc Boat Tour Price Ticket

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

Previously, the price of boat tickets and return tickets to visit locations would be different, but in November 2023, the two tickets will be combined into one. Visitors only need to pay once, and there are no additional costs incurred during the trip. So Tam Coc Boat Tour Ticket Price 2025 will be as follows:

  • Adults: 250,000 VND/person
  • Elderly people: 120,000 VND/person
  • Children from 1m to 1.3m: 120,000 VND/person
  • Children under 1m: Free

After paying for the ticket, go to the ferry station, where you will begin your journey to explore Tam Coc by boat. The trip will last about two hours. Once completed, the boat driver will take you back to the wharf.

When Should You Go to Tam Coc?

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

No matter what season of the year Tam Coc is, it has its unique beauty, but when is the best time to do the Tam Coc Boat Tour? It would be during the dry season. If you want to see the fresh green rice fields, choose the time after Tet (from February to March). This is the period when rice fields bloom in lush green.

If you want to see Tam Coc filled with the yellow color of ripe rice, plan to come in late May or early June. The most suitable time for tourists who love to participate in interesting festivals and experience local culture is January to March of the lunar calendar every year.

Notes When Using Tam Coc Boat Tour

Tam Coc Boat Tour - Ninh Binh Private Car

  • The best time of day to visit the Tam Coc Boat Tour will be early in the morning. Because it is a deserted time and the weather is cool, especially in summer.
  • During the boat trip, prepare a hat to protect yourself from the sun. 
  • Choose clothes that are comfortable and suitable for you, or you can rent them for an average price of 150,000 VND/set.
  • Always wear a life jacket, for your safety.
  • Finally, don’t forget to bring sunscreen and sunglasses when going in the summer.

Conclusion

Tam Coc Boat Tour is an activity that takes place all year round and has been around for a long time. But until now, this activity still attracts a large number of tourists. Every person who comes to Tam Coc-Bich Dong chooses to sit on a boat and admire the beauty of the beautiful nature here. Float down the cool water of the Ngo Dong River, and go through caves under the limestone mountains of Tam Coc. In addition, visitors can visit Bich Dong Pagoda, to enjoy the ancient architectural style. Exploring Tam Coc by boat is an indispensable activity if you have the opportunity to visit this place. The article has shown you what you need to know about this place. Ninh Binh Private Car wishes you an enjoyable trip to Tam Coc Ninh Binh.