At a few hours drive south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, you will find a mysterious place with an intoxicating landscape: Tam Coc, also known as Vietnam’s earthly Halong Bay. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the earthly version of the famous Halong Bay, one of the pearls of Vietnam. It has the same karst peaks that Halong Bay is famous for. Tam Coc Bay has only the sea to envy since its charm is just as authentic. This Vietnamese village takes place in the heart of a natural region between karst peaks, rice fields and rivers.
It is possible to visit Tam Coc throughout the year. Nevertheless, the weather changes according to the season. The climate will be mild in October and November and cooler from December to March. Between June and October is the best season to observe the rice fields in their best days with their golden colour, it will be very hot but it is also the time when we encounter the most rain.
The activities in the Tam Coc region are varied. The most essential is the boat trip in the middle of the karstic peaks and rice fields. You can leave from the Tam Coc pier or go for a walk in Sun Valley or Trang An, different walks are offered to you. Do you know the particularity of these walks on the water? The women on board their boat row, alternating with their feet and hands. An original technique but very well mastered!
“Tam Coc” is translated in French as “three caves” which refers to the three caves in the mountains on the banks of the Ngo Dong River. These are the Ca, Hai and Ba caves that can be crossed during a boat trip from the Tam Coc pier.
You can also discover this region on your bikes. A walk along the water, with a view of the rice fields of Tam Coc and the mountains in the background, is worth the detour. You will follow the paths that are away from the main road to immerse yourself, at your own pace, in an authentic region with a unique charm. This is the ideal opportunity to meet the local people and learn more about their way of life. Don’t hesitate to exchange with them, the locals will welcome you with a warm smile. The Vietnamese mainly work in the heart of the rice fields of Tam Coc and live from rice cultivation. There are between three and four rice harvests per year.
Other attractions are to be discovered in the earthly Halong Bay region. You can go to Dragon Hill, you will have to climb nearly 500 steps to reach the top. After the effort, the comfort coms in the form of a breathtaking view of the valley and Ngo Dong River and rice fields that awaits you at the top. Also visit the Bich Dong pagoda with its atypical style during your escapade in Tam Coc.
If you want to go on a tour in the North of Vietnam and add Tam Coc and its earthly Halong Bay to your itinerary, talk to your Travel Designer.