Located in Ninh Binh province 100 km southeast of Hanoi, Hoa Lu and Tam Coc are two of the most picturesque spots in all of the north. For 41 years, from 968 to 1009 CE, Hoa Lu was the ancient capital of Vietnam. Nearby Tam Coc is often referred to as “Ha Long among the rice paddies.” Visitors are conveyed by rowboat along the peaceful Tam Coc stream past green fields and the feet of mountains into the mouths of caves, where they encounter new surprises, like stalactites and stalagmites that shimmer like gemstones just inches from the water.
Tour Overview
| Tour Code | NBI.005 |
| Departure from | Hanoi |
| Departure Time | Daily |
| Travel Time | One Day |
| Transport | Seater Bus |
| Attractions | Hoa Lu Ancient Capital – Tam Coc – Mua Cave |
| Tour Guide | Vietnamese-speaking and English-speaking professional tour guide |
| Contact | +84 961 004 709 |
Highlights
- Explore the ancient capital of Hoa Lu: Visit the ancient capital of Vietnam from the 10th century, including the temples of King Dinh and King Le, and the historical excavation site in Truong Yen.
- Conquer the peak of Hang Mua: Climb 500 stone steps to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the Hoa Lu region, where serene and majestic landscapes come together in harmony.
- Picturesque Sen Pond: Stop by the Sen Pond area nestled between limestone mountains, offering a serene and traditional setting. Visitors can rent traditional costumes for memorable photos.
- Tam Coc boat journey: Explore three mystical caves — Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba — on a tranquil river trip, while also visiting Thai Vi Temple and other spiritual sites.
- Stunning golden rice season: If you join the tour in late May or early June, you’ll be captivated by the golden rice fields along the Tam Coc River, creating a perfect natural masterpiece.
Itinerary
07h45 – 08h30: We pick you up at your hotel in Old Quarter, departure for Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Mua Cave, enjoying the beautiful sceneries of the rural areas on the way.
10h30: After arriving in Ninh Binh province, the guide takes you to visit Hoa Lu – the Ancient Royal capital of VietNam.
We will visit Dinh king temple and Le king temple, in the 10th century, finding out the heroic histories of these two Kings in the Chinese Wars.
After that, we went to Tam Coc (10 km far from Hoa Lu).
11h30: The next destination is Mua Cave. Visitors trek through winding paths covered with lush greenery and beautiful bonsai-like rock formations, then conquer the 500 stone steps to the summit of Mua Mountain.
From the top, you can see the vast land of Hoa Lu with its peaceful yet majestic scenery, resembling a watercolor painting that often stirs emotions.
On the way back, you will pass through the Lotus Pond area, nestled amidst limestone mountains, creating an extremely poetic and ancient scene. Visitors can rent traditional costumes for photoshoots here.
12h30: Have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you will get on a bamboo boat – rowed by the local people – in Hoang Long river to visit Tam Coc (three caves) on the way.
You pass through three enormous caves that provide a brief respite from the intense summer sun.
It takes approximately two hours to go up and down the river and along the way, you witness local fisherfolk, village life along the river and, of course, the striking limestone karst formations that Tam Coc is famous for.
17h00: Get on bus and go back to Ha Noi.
19h30: We arrival in Hanoi and finish the tour. See you next time.
