07:30 – 08:30 Get picked up by our tour guide and bus then depart for Ninh Binh province (90 km south of Hanoi). Have a break 20 minutes half way to relax and experience Vietnamese handicraft products such as lacquer wares, paintings, embroideries…
10:30 Arrive at Hoa Lu, which is once depicted the ancient capital of Viet Nam, settled up in the 10th century.
11:00 Visit temples of two dynasties of Dinh and Le with a very unique architectures in the old time.
11:30 Visit the excavation area beside the Le Dai Hanh temple. You experience the vestiges of Royal Palaces ground dated back 10th century. Go back to the bus and drive toTam Coc.
CYCLING RIDE (optional): Those who love to explore real countryside images of Vietnam can proceed a 40 minute cycling ride along country lane (from Tam Coc to Bich Dong Pagoda, estimated time 40 minutes for 5km cycling 2 ways), experiencing the beautiful scenery of lush paddy fields. Finish the cycling ride at Tam Coc dock in time for a buffet lunch in restaurant.
14:00 Board the sampan boats (2 people share a boat) in Tam Coc dock to drift down the river among the villages, mountains and lush rice fields. Passing through 3 caves “Hang Ca – First cave, Hang Hai -Second cave, Hang Ba – Third cave” to get a strange feeling. Boat returns to the dock for bus drive back to Hanoi.
18:00 Arrive in Hanoi. Tour ends.
Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc (1 Day)
Ninh Binh bike tour takes you to the richest local village in the north of Vietnam. You will see a lot of farmers working hard in the vivid field. And then taking a boat trip brings you to the riverside with great mulberry fields like nowhere else in Vietnam. Ninh Binh is home of Buddhism, some of the oldest and the most famous pagodas is Bich Dong (interesting Pagoda was built into the caves).
Hoa Lu is the legendary ancient capital of Vietnam. The old capital was built more than 10 centuries ago under the reign of Dinh Dynasty and Le Dynasty. It was its capital for just 41 years (968-1009). The capital then was moved to Thang Long under the Ly Dynasty (1010). With the size of 3000ha, Hoa Lu is protected by a natural wall with surrounding Trang An limestone mountains and Hoang Long river. The combination between mountains and rivers make Hoa Lu surroundings very picturesque. Hoa Lu is famous for the number of palaces, pagodas, tombs and pavilions that were built by different dynasties. Bao Thien Tue Palace that was plated with gold and silver is very popular with its architecture. There were also two famous temples that were built in the 11th century to dedicate King Dinh Tien Hoang and his successor Le Dai Hanh.
Tam Coc is known to travelers as Vietnam`s Halong Bay without water. Halong Bay on the rice paddies (a striking resemblance to Guilin and Yangshuo in China). Tam Coc has huge rock formation jutting out of rice fields. Tam Coc means “three caves”.
Bich Dong is the most second beautiful pagoda of Vietnam, after Perfume Pagoda. It is a couple of kilometres north of Tam Coc. The Lower Pagoda is located at the foot of the outcrop, from which it’s a climb of about 100 steps to the Middle Pagoda, then a shorter but still steep ascent to the upper Pagoda. Inside each cave temple, looming statues and the smoke of burning incense create an otherworldly atmosphere. Outside the reverse couldn’t be more true: there are some incredible views of the countryside.
Tour inclusions:
– Pick up and drop off at your hotel by modern air-conditioned bus or van.
– Experienced and enthusiastic driver
– Professional English speaking guide
– Buffet lunch. Entrance fee and boat fee
Tour exclusions:
- Drinks, Travel insurance, Personal expenses.
Children rates:
+ Free of charge for children under 4 years
+ 75% rate of adult for children (5-9 years)
+ From 10 years is adult’s rate
Notes:
– Special request (diet or vegetarian,…) should be sent before your departure date.
– The itinerary can be changed due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions.
Tour Booking: blvietnamtravel@gmail.com
