Tam Coc Ninh Binh 2026: Boat Trip, Tickets & Rice Season

Tam Coc (Tam Cốc, “Three Caves”) is a 2-hour rowing-boat trip along the Ngo Dong River through rice fields, karst peaks and three water caves in Ninh Binh, about 95 km south of Hanoi. Nicknamed “Ha Long Bay on land”, it is part of the UNESCO-listed Trang An Landscape Complex. A combined ticket with the boat costs about 250,000 VND per adult.

Status (checked October 2026): open daily as normal, roughly 7:00/7:30 – 17:00. The provincial price list sets about 250,000 VND per adult (120,000 VND for children 1–1.3 m) for the Tam Coc–Bich Dong route, boat included; the rice is harvested by mid-June, so autumn visitors see green or bare fields rather than gold.

Why Tam Coc is worth seeing:

Golden rice season: from late May to early June the river runs through ripe paddies.
Three water caves: Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba, the first about 127 m long.
Foot-rowing boatwomen: many local rowers use their feet on the oars.
Village base: Tam Coc village has the best choice of homestays and cafés in Ninh Binh.
Short and easy: about 2 hours, so it fits a day trip with Hoa Lu or Mua Cave.

Tam Coc at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Tam Cốc – Bích Động
Location	Tam Coc wharf, Van Lam village, Nam Hoa Lu Ward (formerly Ninh Hai commune), Ninh Binh province
Distance	About 15 minutes from central Ninh Binh; about 95 km (around 2 hours) from Hanoi
Known for	Boat trip through three caves and rice fields, Bich Dong Pagoda, Thai Vi Temple
Recognition	Part of the Trang An Landscape Complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site (2014)
Opening hours	About 7:00/7:30 – 17:00 daily
Entrance fee	About 250,000 VND (around US$9.60) per adult incl. boat; children 1–1.3 m 120,000 VND
Time needed	About 2 hours by boat; half a day with Bich Dong
Best time	Late May – early June (golden rice); early morning or late afternoon
Nearby	Bich Dong Pagoda, Thai Vi Temple, Mua Cave, Thung Nham, Thung Nang
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · UNESCO

Is Tam Coc Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially in rice season or if you are staying in Tam Coc village. The ride is shorter and simpler than Trang An, with only three caves, but the mix of river, paddies and peaks is one of the classic images of Vietnam. Outside late May and early June the fields are green, flooded or bare, and the trip is pleasant rather than spectacular.

Best for: rice-season visitors, couples, photographers and travellers with limited time.
Skip if: you have already done Trang An and visit outside rice season; try the quieter Thung Nang instead.
Short on time: take the boat early, then cycle 2 km to Bich Dong Pagoda.

History and Background of Tam Coc

The name Tam Coc means “three caves”, after the three water caves the Ngo Dong River flows through. The valley lies inside the Trang An–Tam Coc–Bich Dong scenic zone, one of the three protected areas that make up the Trang An Landscape Complex, inscribed by UNESCO in 2014.

The area has deep roots in Vietnamese history. In the 13th century the Tran kings set up a retreat here, and Thai Vi Temple, near the wharf, honours Kings Tran Thai Tong and Tran Thanh Tong, Tran Hung Dao and other figures of the dynasty. Nearby Bich Dong Pagoda is traditionally dated to 1428, at the start of the Later Le dynasty; its name, “Green Cave”, was given in 1773. Its old nickname, “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong”, calls it the second most beautiful cave in the south after Huong Tich.

Tam Coc is widely known as “Ha Long Bay on land”, and today the boats are rowed by villagers from the surrounding communes in turns.

What to See at Tam Coc

1. The Ngo Dong River and rice fields

The boat follows the Ngo Dong River from Van Lam wharf between rice paddies and steep limestone peaks. The first 15–20 minutes, before the caves, are the most photogenic, especially in golden rice season.

Rowing boat with visitors on the Ngo Dong River in Tam Coc, Ninh Binh — Local rowers take visitors along the Ngo Dong River to the three caves of Tam Coc. Photo: Anass Sedrati, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

2. Hang Ca (First Cave)

Hang Ca is the largest of the three, about 127 m long with a domed ceiling around 20 m high. Stalactites hang just above the boat, and the cool air is welcome in summer.

3. Hang Hai (Second Cave)

About 1 km further, Hang Hai is around 60 m long and lower than the first cave, with a quiet stretch of river between them.

4. Hang Ba (Third Cave)

Hang Ba, about 50 m long, has the lowest arch; you may need to duck. Beyond it the boats turn round at a wide pool where floating vendors sell drinks and snacks.

5. Thai Vi Temple

About 2 km from the wharf, this stone temple of the Tran dynasty sits in a quiet valley. Visit by bicycle or on the side route offered with some tickets.

6. Bich Dong Pagoda

Bich Dong Pagoda is a three-level pagoda built into a cliff about 2 km from the wharf. Lower, middle and upper pagodas are linked by stone steps and a cave, with views over the rice fields.

7. Tam Coc village and the rice paddies by bike

The lanes around Van Lam, Thai Vi and Bich Dong are flat and quiet. Cycling them early in the morning, with herons in the fields, is one of the best free experiences in Ninh Binh.

Tam Coc Tickets and Opening Hours (2026)

Item	Details
Adults	About 250,000 VND per person, boat included
Children 1 – 1.3 m	About 120,000 VND
Ticket with electric-car transfers	About 350,000 VND (adult), 190,000 VND (child)
Boat	Small rowing boat; usually 2 foreign or up to 4 Vietnamese passengers
Opening hours	About 7:00/7:30 – 17:00 daily; arrive before 16:30
Tip for the rower	Not included; voluntary, 50,000–100,000 VND per boat is common

Prices follow the latest list published on the Ninh Binh tourism portal and may change; confirm at the ticket office by the wharf.

How to Do the Tam Coc Boat Trip, Step by Step

Buy your ticket at the office by Van Lam wharf in Tam Coc village.
Wait for your boat number, put on the life jacket and board.
Enjoy the outward ride through the rice fields and Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba.
At the turning point, politely decline floating vendors if you do not want to buy.
Return by the same river (about 2 hours in total) and tip the rower if you wish.
Continue by bicycle to Thai Vi Temple and Bich Dong Pagoda.

How to Get to Tam Coc

From	How	Time
Hanoi	Private car, limousine van or day tour	About 2 hours
Hanoi	Train or bus to Ninh Binh, then taxi	About 2 – 2.5 hours plus 15 minutes
Ninh Binh centre	Taxi, Grab or motorbike	About 15 minutes
Trang An wharf	Taxi or motorbike	About 15 – 25 minutes
Mua Cave	Bicycle or motorbike	About 10 minutes

More options are in our Ninh Binh transport guide.

Best Time to Visit Tam Coc

When	What to expect
Late May – early June	Golden rice, the peak season; book rooms early
February – April	Young green rice, mild weather, spring festivals
June – August	Harvested or flooded fields, hot with storms
September – November	Settled, pleasant weather; fields green or harvested
December – January	Cool, misty and quiet
Time of day	Before 9:00 or after 15:00 for softer light and fewer boats

Local Expert Tips for Tam Coc

These tips come from years of arranging Ninh Binh tours for international travellers.

Bring a hat or umbrella; the boats have no shade.
Agree on nothing extra at the start: the ticket covers the boat, and buying from vendors is optional.
If you buy a drink for your rower, it is a kind gesture, but never feel obliged.
Rent a bicycle in Tam Coc village and combine the boat, Bich Dong and Mua Cave in one day.
For the best stays, see our Ninh Binh hotel guide.
Try goat meat and crispy rice in the village; our Ninh Binh food guide lists the dishes.

Tam Coc vs Trang An

	Tam Coc	Trang An
Duration	About 2 hours	2.5 – 4 hours
Caves	3	Up to about 9 per route
Scenery	River through rice fields	Enclosed valleys, caves and temples
Ticket (adult)	About 250,000 VND, boat included	300,000 VND, boat included
Best season	Late May – early June	All year

Our view: in rice season Tam Coc is unbeatable; the rest of the year we usually recommend the Trang An boat trip for a first visit and Tam Coc as your base.

Nearby Attractions

Bich Dong Pagoda: three cliff-side pagodas, about 2 km away.
Mua Cave: climb about 500 steps for the classic view over Tam Coc.
Thung Nham Bird Park: watch thousands of birds return at dusk.
Thung Nang: a short, quiet boat trip close to Bich Dong.
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital: temples of Vietnam’s 10th-century kings.
Bai Dinh Pagoda and Van Long: easy half-day additions by car.

Sightseeing in Ninh Binh for First-Time Visitors: Where Tam Coc Fits

One day? Start at Hoa Lu, take the Tam Coc boat around midday, and climb Mua Cave for sunset. Two days? Add Trang An and Bai Dinh, and spend the evenings in Tam Coc village. Our Ninh Binh travel tips help you plan money, weather and packing.

Plan your trip with our Ninh Binh travel guide and Ninh Binh tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.