Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Ninh Binh

Owning a famous tourist area with heart-touching scenery, therefore, "Which season to visit Ninh Binh?" is a question that many people are interested in.

The best time to visit Tam Coc - Bich Dong is from February to April. In this spring season, the weather in Ninh Binh is cool, less rainy, suitable for you to fully enjoy the journey of exploring Tam Coc - Bich Dong. This is also the time of Bai Dinh Pagoda festival, so you can combine this tour with visiting Bai Dinh complex for worship.

Moreover, visiting Tam Coc - Bich Dong in the late May to early June, you will surely be overwhelmed by the vibrant scenery of rice fields filled with golden hues. At this time, the rice fields on both sides of the river harmoniously blend the green of young seedlings and the bright yellow of ripe rice.

There are many ways to go to Ninh Binh from other provinces. Normally, travelers will use the bus, motorbikes or train if they have time.

When coming to Ninh Binh, if you do not have a personal vehicle, you may rent a motorbike at any hotel, homestay here. Or you may take a taxi at a reasonable price. However, Justfly recommends you to rent a motorbike to be proactive to drop on any destination on your way.

You can enjoy Tam Coc - Bich Dong with many ways of motorcycling, boating and walking through 20 tourist sites. Hereafter are the main tours.

Tam Coc means “three caves”, comprising Cave One, Cave Two and Cave Three. All of them are formed by the Ngo Dong river passing through mountains. Inside the caves, the climate is quite cool and there are numerous stalactites hanging-down in a multitude of shapes and sizes, looking very majestic and interesting.

Thai Vi Temple is the place worships King Tran Thai Tong, King Tran Thanh Tong, General Tran Hung Dao, General Tran Quang Khai and Queen Tran Thi Dung. In the past, Kings of Tran dynasty chose Tam Coc mountain to build Vu Lam Palace in the period of war against Nguyen Mong.

Located on the way from Ngo Dong river to Thai Vi Temple, Thien Huong Cave lies halfway up a mountain, 15m above the ground. It is dry and bright, 60m high, 40m deep and 20m wide.

Bich Dong means “Jade-color cave”, was named by Prime Minister Nguyen Nhiem in 1773 who was the father of Vietnamese Great Poet Nguyen Du. This is one of the most beautiful landscapes known as “Second Best Cave in the Southern Sky” (meaning Top 2 most beautiful caves in Vietnam). Coming here, you can admire the splendid beauty of nature.

Tien Cave is the most beautiful dry cave in Tam Coc - Bich Dong. On the ceiling of the cave are the hanging-down colorful and sparkling stalactites like the big roots. The cave seems like a magnificent castle from the outside looking. You can freely capture the virtual pictures that restore your unforgettable memories.

This is the exact place for who loves peace and nature. In the past, two monks found the wonderful landscape here then decided to settle here. They repaired the pagodas by themselves and asked donations from others to build 3 pagodas called Lower, Middle and Upper to lead a religious life.

Co Vien Lau is one of the tourist sites located in the complex of Trang An - Ninh Binh. This is an ideal place for visitors who love vintage and ancient beauty. The old houses in Co Vien Lau mainly are built since the Kings Nguyen dynasty, expressing the unique culture and construction features of Vietnamese ancient architecture.

Crossing a waterway with two sides of whispering rice fields, rolling mountains, passing Voi temple, you will see Thung Nang with a cloudy sky and mountains surrounding it. Boats take you through Thung Nang cave about 100m long then coming to Thung Nang temple. The temple was built in a quiet space. At the back of the temple leaning against the sacred mountain is the place to worship God.

Thung Nham Bird Park belongs to the big Trang An complex and is newer than Tam Coc. The Bird Park located in Hai Nham village, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, 5 km west of Bich Dong Pagoda. You should visit Vai Gioi Cave, Tien Ca Cave and Chim valley.

Thien Ha Cave (or Galaxy cave) lies in Tuong mountains at nearly 200m high from sea level. This is a part of nature wall covering and protecting the West of Hoa Lu capital in Century X.

Belonging to Khe Ha village, Ninh Xuan commune, Mua Cave is an artificial tourist area with interesting activities like climbing, resting at weekends, and festivals. This is a destination that has attracted so many youths recently.

Ninh Binh goat meat is characterized by its firmness, low fat ingredients and fragrance. Moreover, weather and watery limestone here help growing many types of herbs matching with foods made from goat meat like sawtooth herb, stemona tuberosa, or cooperpod, etc., all to create the perfect savor of goat meat dishes.

This snail is rare because they only live in limestone caves. We can catch them only in the rainy season from April to August. They crawl outside the cave to look for food and lovers. Snail meat is tough, crunchy, sweet, and fragrant with traditional medicine. Mountain snails can be processed into many dishes such as grilled, fried with tamarind, steamed with ginger and lemongrass, mixed with onion salad, etc. all very attractive.

Swamp eels are relatives of eels, but live in saltwater and brackish water. Swamp eel salad is used with many vegetables and fragrant herbs like fig leaves, ming aralia leaves, freshwater mangrove leaves, apricot leaves, sour starfruit, and creek premna leaves. Rolling leaves to form a funnel, then putting swamp eel meat, spreading sauce, adding some salt ices, fried onion and chili, then wrapping and eating all.

Just made from vermicelli and eel, Ninh Binh eel vermicelli is very famous for its speciality in dense broth from eel bone and eel meat. Eel meat is simmered and fried in a special recipe to make fragrant, sweet and fat dishes without a fishy smell.

This dish features the traditional savor that you can not forget this food when leaving Ninh Binh land. You will find the crispy crabs combining with the fragrance of guise leaves and spicy pepper.

Address: Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province

• Opening time: 7.00 am - 10.00 pm
• Reference price: 50,000 - 400,000 VND per dish
• Recommended dishes: Goat meat, scorched rice with goat meat, goat meat hot pot, etc.

The restaurant was built in a peaceful and natural land. You can enjoy not only the specialities of Ninh Binh land but also immerse into the relaxing green fields and poetry gardens.

Address: Trang An, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province

• Opening time: 24/24
• Reference price: 50,000 - 300,000 VND per dish
• Recommended dishes: Steamed goat meat with perilla, stewed goat, simmered goat with minced chives

With airy and large space, harmonizing with nature, Xuan Thang restaurant is designed to have 2 separate stilt houses, suitable for parties for family, office staff group, etc. who want a homely, quiet, fresh space.

Address: Khe Thuong Village, Ninh Xuan Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province

• Opening time: 8.00 am - 9.30 pm
• Reference price: 100,000 - 1,000,000 VND
• Recommended dishes: Stuffed snails, goat meat incubated with rice husk, scorched rice, etc.

Xuan Vinh restaurant is a good choice for those who love peaceful space, beautiful view, delicious foods and professional services. Don't hesitate to get here with your mates to enjoy Ninh Binh cuisine specialities.

Traditional Ninh Binh scorched rice is normally eaten with stir-fried goat meat, combined with onions, carrots, kohlrabi and sauce. Dipping a piece of scorched rice into the sauce, you will feel the rich, savory flavor of goat meat mixed with the delicious, crispy taste of burnt rice.

This wine is the most famous alcohol of Ninh Binh land. Kim Son wine has a featured savor that is created by distilling it with 36 different types of traditional medicinal herbs. If you have tried the wine once, you’ll surely remember its striking and unforgettable aroma that has captivated many visitors.

Shrimp paste is a familiar dish and is favored by many visitors when they travel to Gia Vien - Ninh Binh. To create delicious shrimp paste, the locals in Ninh Binh select mature, plump shrimp and combine them with distinctive ingredients to produce a rich, flavorful dish that pairs excellently with hot rice.

This fermented pork roll is processed carefully from the ingredients, seasoning, and fermentation. The pork must be ground, fresh and firm. Then the chef will mix pork with guava leaves and featured ingredients to create a wonderful fragrance which can stimulate our taste when we smell the roll and try the first.

Thank you for reading the article. Justfly hope you will have a perfect and memorable tour in Tam Coc - Bich Dong with your family and your mates.