VIETNAM Dec 2023 Day 2

Day 2

11 Dec 23

Tam Coc

Tam Coc is located in Northern Vietnam and it has become a major tourist attraction because of its natural beauty. The areas has large karst mountains with caves, lakes, rivers as well as vast tract of padi field. It's sometimes refer to as Halong Bay on land.

I have the pleasure to be the first boat out of Tam Coc this morning and lucky to have the boat to myself. It was row by a friendly elderly woman.

Tam Coc means "three caves", Ca, Hai and Ba created by Ngo Dong River. We sailed through all 3 caves. 

The landscape are spectacularly beautiful, formed by limestone rocks surrounded by calm water, which give the mirror reflection of the scenery. This time of the year is end of the wet season. The heavy rainfall inundated most of the rice field, which had been harvested recently,  will turn golden.

The flooding make this place looked like a massive lake. In the morning, the blossoming of pink water lillies and purple lotus flowers make this landscape even more so scenic. In a few months time, the rice planting season will start  and the water will be replaced by the lush green field of rice and turning golden yellow in late April before the harvesting

The Tam Coc-Bich Dong Boat Tour was really awesome with breathtaking views. It was a delight to watch this elderly woman, skillfully paddling the oars with both her legs . It look so graceful and effortless. The morning mist and overcast sky over the calm water give that feeling of serenity during the 2 hours ride..

She offered to take some photos for me.

During the boat ride. I noticed a dog barking in distress and was struggling in the water. It must had fallen into river, frantically clinging on to some submerged branches. The boat woman yelled for the owner attention. It was saved in time from drowning.

The boat tour ticket also include a tour of Bich Gong Pagoda. This ancient Buddhist temple was built in a cave and on the mountain side.

View near the Pagoda 

I took a walk in the vicinity of the Pagoda, the serene rural village with the rice field surrounded by karst mountains are just as scenic. 

Light drizzle came in the afternoon and there was not much to do other than taking a rest in the motel. When the rain stopped, I rented a bicycle and cycled around Tam Coc. The sceneries are the same, karst mountains,, rivers, ponds and padi fields. 

Visit a Taoist Temple, Thai Vi Temple. A priest was conducting some religious rituals and making offerings.

Went to another scenic point. Thung Sen

At night, Tam Coc was very lively and crowded. There are so many eateries offering a wide selections of food.