A Day Trip to Ninh Bình - Tam Coc River & Mua Caves, VIETNAM - iTASTE

#itaste #ninhbinh #vietnam A Day Trip to Ninh Bình - Tam Coc River & Mua Caves, VIETNAM - iTASTE Tam Coc River https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tam+Coc+-+Bich+Dong/@20.216648,105.9172788,15z/data=!4m10!1m2!2m1!1stam+coc+river!3m6!1s0x31367a597a9869a5:0x151f502fd648df0a!8m2!3d20.2163242!4d105.9374664!15sCg10YW0gY29jIHJpdmVyWg8iDXRhbSBjb2Mgcml2ZXKSAQtzY2VuaWNfc3BvdJoBI0NoWkRTVWhOTUc5blMwVkpRMEZuU1VONGRrMTVUR1JSRUFF4AEA-gEECBgQMA!16s%2Fg%2F11ckqrc1zx?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Mua Caves https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hang+M%C3%BAa+(Mua+Caves)/@20.2305111,105.9376011,17z/data=!4m17!1m10!3m9!1s0x31367b1afb63cf07:0x1d92c80e49b2d6a3!2sHang+M%C3%BAa+(Mua+Caves)!8m2!3d20.2305111!4d105.9376011!10e5!14m1!1BCgIgAQ!16s%2Fg%2F11kjjtn70r!3m5!1s0x31367b1afb63cf07:0x1d92c80e49b2d6a3!8m2!3d20.2305111!4d105.9376011!16s%2Fg%2F11kjjtn70r?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D A Day Trip to Ninh Binh: A Fun and Scenic Adventure If you’re in Hanoi and have a day to spare, Ninh Binh is the perfect getaway. It’s like stepping into a postcard with its green fields, majestic mountains, and peaceful rivers. Here’s how my day went: I booked this trip through a travel agent (TripAdvisor or Booking.com—I can’t remember exactly, but I blame my bad memory). They picked us up from our hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter at 7:30 AM in a comfy van, collecting a few more sleepy faces along the way. The Snack Stop Our first stop? Breakfast, of course! I tried a tuna banh mi and coconut coffee. Let me tell you, coconut coffee is a game-changer. Stop #1: Hoa Lu Ancient Temples We visited the Hoa Lu temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties. It was a crash course on Vietnamese kings and temples. History, check!

Lunch Like a King Next, we hit Ninh Binh town for a buffet lunch. Veg, non-veg, desserts—you name it, they had it. Let’s say I left the table very happy. Stop #2: Tam Coc Boat Ride After lunch, it was time for our boat ride in the Tam Coc River. With 2 people per boat, the ride was slow-moving through the lush green scenery of agricultural fields, mountains, and caves. The view was just amazing and it just mesmerized me !!!! The ride was for 1 to 1.5 hours and I truly loved it. The boar riders expect a tip of about 100,000 vnd ( Vietnam dong) you could go with 50,000 to 100,000 vnd for 1 person. So I gave 200,000 vnd since our boat rider was an old lady.

                                        
Stop #3: Mua Caves and the Big Climb The van took us to Mua Caves. If you’re feeling adventurous, climb 500 steps to reach the top for jaw-dropping views of the Tam Coc River. The climb is no joke—some steps are slippery, and the peak near the dragon is a bit risky, especially when it’s crowded. Not into climbing? No problem. There’s a massive lily pond and water-filled caves to explore too.

Heading Back We had a quick snack break on the way back and reached Hanoi by 7:30 or 8 PM. Cost and Tips The entire day cost just ₹3,500 (~$41), covering travel, sightseeing tickets, and lunch. Tips for the boat rower and van driver aren’t included. Pro Tip If you have more time, consider staying in Ninh Binh. There are lovely hotels near the Tam Coc River and Mua Caves. In short: If you’re in Hanoi, don’t miss this trip! It’s a day full of fun, food, and fabulous views. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------