The Tam Coc – Bich Dong

Tam Coc – Bich Dong is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Ninh Binh. After millions of years of creation, this place still retains many pristine and natural features, with many caves and famous historical and cultural relics.

Tam Coc–Bich Dong is located in the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, in Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, 7km from Ninh Binh City. This is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Ninh Binh. After millions of years of creation, this place still retains many pristine and natural features, with many caves and famous historical and cultural relics inside Vietnam and world-wide, such as Tam Coc, Bich Dong pagoda, Thai Vi Temple, Tien Cave, Linh Coc pagoda, Nang valley, and Thung Nham bird garden.

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Coming to the Tam Coc, visitors can take a boat on the Ngo Dong River and immerse themselves in the mysterious beauty of "Nam Thien De Nhi Dong", discovering the mystery of nature. The special thing about coming to Tam Coc in each different season is that it brings its own beauty. In spring, the two sides of the river are green with rice fields. In the 4th lunar month, the rice fields turn yellow again. In the summer, visitors can enjoy the fragrant lotus scent in the middle of the green water.

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Tam Coc means three caves: Ca cave, Hai cave and Ba cave. All three caves are formed by the Ngo Dong River crashing through the mountain. Each cave has a large flooded valley in the shadow of majestic mountains. Ca Cave is 127m long, through a large mountain. The cave entrance is over 20m wide; In the cave, the climate is cool and there are many stalactites hanging down in various shapes. Hai Cave, nearly 1km from Ca cave, 60m long, the ceiling of the cave has many strange hanging stalactites. Ba Cave, near Hai Cave, is 50m long. The ceiling of the cave is like a stone arch, lower than that of Ca Cave and Hai Cave. The caves are connected by the winding Ngo Dong river. Along the two sides of the river are ripe golden rice fields. Boats glide down the Ngo Dong River, creating a vivid picture that inspires many tourists, especially photographers.

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Back to Tam Coc wharf, 2km away is Bich Dong. Bich Dong is located in the Ngu Nhac Son mountain range in the territory of Dam Khe village, Ninh Hai commune. The beautiful scenery of Bich Dong is known as "Nam Thien De Nhi Dong" (the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam). In 1773, Nguyen Nghiem (the father of the great poet Nguyen Du, world cultural celebrity) visited the cave. Looking at the panoramic view of mountains, caves, rivers, fields, and the sky here are all covered with an overwhelming blue, so he gave the cave a very beautiful and dreamy name "Bich Dong" (meaning Green Cave).

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Bich Dong Pagoda is considered the most beautiful landscape in Ninh Binh province. The small stone bridge over the lotus lake leads the entrance to the quiet, sacred space of the temple in the middle of a mountainous region. The pagoda was built according to the layout of "Tam Toa" at the foot of the mountain, and Ha Pagoda was built in the style of "Dinh" with five compartments and two opposite architectural lines with bold Asian characteristics. Bich Dong is surrounded by 5 mountains, called Ngu Nhac Son. Only one temple bell rings; there will be 5 temple bells from Ngu Nhac Son echoing back.

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After worshiping Buddha at Bich Dong Pagoda, visitors step up 21 stone steps to reach Dark Cave. In Dark Cave, there are natural stalactites shaped like a male fairy, a female fairy, a little monk, a dragon gliding, a swimming turtle... To get to Thuong Pagoda, visitors also have to step up to nearly 40 stone steps along the mountainside. This is the temple located in the highest position, near the top of Bich Dong mountain, which is the place to worship Quan Am Buddha. The courtyard of Thuong Pagoda is the most ideal place to enjoy the scenery around Bich Dong. In the distance, interspersed between the mountains, are small, gentle, winding rivers, creating a charming painting.

In the midst of immense rivers and majestic mountains in Tam Coc–Bich Dong, people seem to be small. Coming here, every visitor feels like being immersed in nature, enjoying the fresh air and relaxing their soul. Not only is it a scenic spot, but Tam Coc-Bich Dong is also a unique spiritual tourist destination in Ninh Binh.

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