A terrestrial Ha Long Bay

“A terrestrial Ha Long Bay” in Ninh Binh, Tam Coc- Bich Dong

This is Vietnam’s second nicest grotto, after the Huong Tich Grotto in Ha Tay province”, Kinh Le Canh Hung said. Another name of Tam Coc- Bich Dong “A terrestrial Ha Long Bay” is also called. Today, lots of tourists in Vietnam travel have been being attracted to this place because of its marvelous landscapes and considerate services.

In 1773, Mr. Nguyen Nghiem (the father of the great writer Nguyen Du) visited this cave. After viewing the whole scenery of the mountains, waterways, fields, and sky covered in green mist, he gave the cave a very beautiful and romantic name, Bich Dong (which literally means "Green Pearl Grotto"). Bich Grotto is said to be the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam, after Huong Tich grotto in Ha Tay province (currently part of Hanoi). The Bich Dong Pagoda was built near the cave in the Le Dynasty.

Built on Ngu Nhac Son Mountain, in Dam Khe Village, Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province, Bich Dong Pagoda is divided into three levels: Ha Pagoda (lower pagoda), Trung Pagoda (middle pagoda), and Thuong Pagoda (upper pagoda). On the mountain peak stands the statue of a scholar Mandarin looking at the horizon in hope of viewing the spectacular landscapes of Hoa Lu.

Tourists in Vietnam travel have the most magnificent view of Bich Dong from the upper pagoda, which is romantically charming in terms of architecture and history. The location for this pagoda was chosen in 1428 after two monks were charmed by the view of the river and the mountains. Later, King Le Canh Hung who said that Bich Dong Pagoda was the second nicest pagoda in Vietnam, after the Huong Pagoda (also called Perfume Pagoda) in Ha Tay Province wrote a poem in honour of the beautiful pagoda and landscape.

If one who has ever visited Binh Dong Pagoda cannot ignore Tam Coc Grotto, about 3km from Van Lam Wharf. It is located approximately 2km from the pagoda.

To reach the Tam Coc Grotto consisting of the Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba grottoes, tourists inVietnam tourism need to take a boat from Van Lam Wharf. These caves are adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colours that sparkle like gemstones.

Mysterious Caves at Trang An

Discovering Mysterious Caves at Trang An Eco-tourism Complex

With the total area of 1,961 hectares, Trang An Eco-tourism complex boasts 48 grottoes and caves, 31 valleys and the hallowed cultural area of Bai Dinh Pagoda. Cruising around the area, tourists in Vietnam travel will get a chance to use the mountains as walls, the rivers as roads and the caves as palaces.

In Vietnam tourism, visitors coming to Ninh Binh province can make a tour around Trang An in order to visit nine grottoes and three temples, Trinh, Tran and Phu Khong. About a kilometer from the wharf, tourists joining tours in Vietnam will get to the complex’s longest cave called Dark Cave  with the length of 315m, and then to Bright Cave which has four gates opening to mountains walls.

These caves are home to many wild creatures and plants and each cave has its own beauty with many stalactites in a profusion of color. Trang An is truly a land of myth and fantasy making it easy to forget the troubles of daily life. Rowing through Trang An Grotto in the quiet, fresh air of the highlands, with only the sound of the birds and the oars stirring the clear water and surrounded by magnificent forested mountains upon which graze white goats, visitors enjoy a heaven on earth.
Tourists in Vietnam travel not only sit on a boat and cruise through the caves but also climb mountains to visit temples associated with historical relics from the dynasties of Dinh, Le, Ly and Tran from the eleventh to fifteenth centuries.
Tourists can contemplate bronze statues, bells and 500 stone arhat statues at Bai Dinh Pagoda.
As other sites in flooded areas, the entrance and the exit for an excursion to Trang An is a wharf. However, after finishing the tour, tourists will not come back to the entrance wharf but will move on to another wharf to have food in a restaurant.

When drifting on the rivers, discovering the mysteries of the caves and breathing the incense smoke from the temples, tourists’ soul will feel peaceful and comfortable.

Cuc Phuong national park

 

Trang An