Hanoi Hoa Lu Tam Coc Ninh Binh tours

Hoa Lu - Tam Coc caves
Hoa Lu used to be one of the many old capitals of Vietnam before Thang Long - presently Hanoi take its historical role. From an exciting town and centre of cultural and military activities of the Dai Co Viet Kingdom in 10^th century, the area now is more wellknown for its landscape since almost relics of the urban excitement had been collapsed, except in the Temples of King Dinh and King Le.

- Length of the trip
: 1 days
- Trip Starts from
: Hanoi city
- Trip Ends in
: Hanoi city
- Required booking time
: 15 hours for individuals and 5 days for group in advance
- Rates per person
: 22$ - detail price
- Rates are valid from 1 Janualy 2008

Details of Tour:

08h00: Car and guide pick you up at your hotel at 7.30 and depart to Ninh Binh. On the way to Hoa Lu, you have good chances to view the landscapes along the road. Arrive in Ninh Binh province at 10.30, and then the guide takes you to visit Hoa Lu, the Ancient Royal capital of Viet Nam.

PM: At 12.10, the guide takes you to a luxurious restaurant near Tam Coc for lunch. After lunch, take small boats to visit Tam Coc, which is literally known "three Caves", First Cave is the longest one which is considered a real rainbow in the water in the morning time stretching on both sides of the Ngo Dong River. The quiet movements of the oars create a sort of musical rhythm inside the cave. As the boat leave the cave, you can see what seems to be an old man with a white beard fishing, fairy flying in the clouds, peasants collecting fuel and a group of white goats grazing on the hills. After that the guide takes you to the Second Cave and the Third Cave. At 5.00 back to Ha Noi. End of services

Tour price:

Price
Group
Private
Booking
Standard
22$
1 pax
2-3pax
4-6pax
over 7pax
BOOK
158$
96$
72$
62$

The trip includes

The car with air-condition
English speaking tour guide
Rowing boat in Ninh Binh
Vietnamese lunch
Mineral water and towel
All entrance, permission and visiting fees

The trip excludes

Visa to Vietnam
Departure airport tax
Meals which are not included in the program
Personal travel & medical insurance
International flights to and from Vietnam
All personal & daily expenses
All gratuities and tips to drivers and guides

Note:

Surcharges for peak seasons, Christmas and New Year Holidays, lunar New Year Festival, extras for room, air tickets upgrades shall be applied

General information about Hanoi:

most remarkable sights of Ninh Binh Province

Hoa Lu used to be one of the many old capitals of Vietnam before Thang Long - presently Hanoi - take its historical role. From an exciting town and centre of cultural and military activities of the Dai Co Viet Kingdom in 10^th century, the area now is more wellknown for its landscape since almost relics of the urban excitement had been collapsed, except in the Temples of King Dinh and King Le. A trip to Hoa Lu should be started from Tam Coc ("three caves"), which takes more than two hours driving from Hanoi, and visitors may say that distance is not a matter after seating in a boat rowed by one or two local persons in Hoang Long river and see the first limestone mountains, which will run along their riverway for several kilometers. The boat will run, sorry, will be rowed, through three caves on the river, all created by wind and water from a legend time, while the sea had occupied this area. The tide-mark is still on the rock about 2m above the water, and in higher mountainwall the erosion have carved some strange shapes that now filled of green grass, delicious foods of the goats that local people breed everywhere. If you are lucky, sometimes you can see mischievous monkeys. The river trip is wonderful for photo hunters, especially when local people come to harvest the water rice planted along the river, or when they transplant some seedling for the next crops. The tourists often compare the place with Guilin - China, or more closely, to the limestone islets of Halong Bay in the Tonkin Gulf for their similar geological structures and shapes. Thus Tam Coc is also called Halong-Bay-On-Land.
From the wharf of Tam Coc you can go further till reaching Bich Dong Pagoda, a combination of three pagodas on the Lower, Middle and Upper levels of a pretty mountain. You will need to climb a little bit till you get to the top of the Upper pagoda and your eyes catch the overall panorama of the paddy fields between Truong Yen mountain. All the pagodas, or lean upon a cliff, or simply have some statues inside a large grotto, deserve the name "Bich Dong" (emerald-like grotto). A scene of the popular French movie "Indochine" had been completed here in 1991, remarking a rush of the French-speaking tourists to Vietnam, who usually do not skip Halong Bay and Tam Coc-Bich Dong where the leading actress Catherine Deneuve left her footprints.

On the way back from Tam Coc - Bich Dong to Hanoi you can pay a visit to the last relics of the ancient capital Hoa Lu - the Temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the two heroes who lived in 10^th century and chose Hoa Lu to build the citadel of the capital city. From time to time, archaeologists have excavated buried parts of this citadel with rusty weapons and ceramics. The temples are said to be built on the old foundation of their original palaces in 11-12^th centuries and restored in 17^th century. Though the temples are not maintained entirely some precious antiques are still preserved well like the whole-stone dragon thrones, wooden bas-relieves and lacquered statues of King Dinh, Kinh Le, Queen Duong Van Nga who in turn got married both of the kings, and the princes of the two dynasties.