Famous for the title 'The Second Nicest Cave in the Southern Sky,' Tam Coc Bich Dong boasts the tranquil countryside scenery and an impressive system of limestone mountain caves. As part of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Tam Coc Bich Dong is a perfect destination for those who want to fully explore the beauty of rivers and mountains. Today, let's take a virtual tour with MIA.vn around Tam Coc Bich Dong.

Accurate coordinates of Tam Coc Bich Dong
As part of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Tam Coc Bich Dong in Ninh Binh is located in Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province, approximately 100km south of Hanoi. Covering an expansive area of 350.3 hectares, the scenic spot is a combination of limestone mountain cave systems and peaceful countryside landscapes. Additionally, this tourist area is home to the Bich Dong Pagoda, characterized by traditional architecture, and historical relics related to the Vũ Lâm procession of the ancient Tran dynasty.

The ideal time to visit Tam Coc Bich Dong
According to MIA.vn's independent travel experience in Ninh Binh, the best time to visit Tam Coc Bich Dong is from January to March in the lunar calendar. During this period, the weather in Ninh Binh is relatively pleasant, cool, and less rainy, making it suitable for fully enjoying the journey to explore Tam Coc Bich Dong.

Moreover, during the early days of the lunar new year, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, in general, and Tam Coc Bich Dong, in particular, host interesting spring festivals, such as the Bai Dinh Pagoda festival. Exploring Ninh Binh during this time allows you to immerse yourself in the lively festival atmosphere while maintaining the inherent solemnity.

Especially, if you have the opportunity to visit Tam Coc Bich Dong in late May or early June, you will undoubtedly be mesmerized by the vibrant scenery of rippling rice fields throughout the journey. At this time, the fields on both sides of the river harmoniously combine the lush green of young rice plants with the brilliant yellow of ripening rice, creating a perfect picture of the natural landscape that captivates everyone.

Main transportation to Tam Coc Bich Dong
Located only about 7km from the center of Ninh Binh city, there are various ways to reach Tam Coc Bich Dong. The most common methods are motorbikes, buses, and trains. If traveling by motorbike, you can follow the route from Hanoi – QL 1A (old) – Ninh Binh. Note that you should take the direction to Ninh Binh Thanh Hoa, avoiding mistakenly heading towards Nam Dinh – Thai Binh.
Alternatively, you can choose to travel to Ninh Binh from Hanoi or Saigon by train if you have sufficient time. From Hanoi, you can take trains such as SE1, SE3, SE5, SE7, or SE19. From Saigon, train SE8 will take you to the ancient capital.

Interesting attractions at Tam Coc Bich Dong that you should not miss
4.1 Tam Coc with the scenic complex of three caves
Tam Coc is a scenic complex with three natural caves, namely Ca Cave, Hai Cave, and Ba Cave. All three caves are formed by the flow of the Ngo Dong River, passing directly through the mountains. When visiting Tam Coc, you will travel by boat along the Ngo Dong River, meandering through the mountains, water caves, and rice fields before stopping at the entrance of Ca Cave.

4.2 Thai Vi Temple – A place of worship for kings and generals of the Tran dynasty at Tam Coc Bich Dong
In the past, the Trang An – Tam Coc mountainous region was chosen by the Tran dynasty kings to build the Vũ Lâm Procession to strengthen the forces in the second resistance against the Mongol invaders. Today, Thai Vi Temple has become a place of worship for kings Tran Thai Tong, Tran Thanh Tong, as well as generals Tran Hung Dao, Tran Quang Khai, and Queen Tran Thi Dung.

4.3 Thien Huong Cave
Peacefully nestled in the foothills of Dong Vo mountain, Thien Huong Cave is one of the favorite attractions in Ninh Binh. With a height of nearly 60m, a length of 40m, and a width of 20m, the cave's vault resembles a large bell.

Thien Huong Cave has a broad top, hence people often refer to it as the Sky Cave. Today, if you have the chance to visit Thien Huong Cave, you will see inside the cave a shrine dedicated to Queen Tran Thi Dung, the wife of King Ly Hue Tong in the past. She is the one who passed on the craft of lace embroidery to the people of Ninh Hai commune, so they built a shrine, offering incense year-round to express their gratitude.

4.4 Bich Dong – Bich Dong Pagoda
Situated about 2km from Tam Coc dock, Bich Dong is a dry cave perched on the hillside, with Xuyen Thuy Cave in front – a water cave running through the heart of the mountain. Bich Dong was named by the Prime Minister Nguyen Khiem, the father of the famous poet Nguyen Du, in 1773. This place has been affectionately named 'The Second Nicest Cave in the Southern Sky,' ranking only behind Hương Tích Cave in the Hương Sơn region.

Located about 2km from Tam Coc dock, Bich Dong was named by Prime Minister Nguyen Khiem, the father of the famous poet Nguyen Du, during his visit in 1773. In the past, Bich Dong has always been favorably named 'The Second Nicest Cave in the Southern Sky,' meaning the second most beautiful cave in the Southern Sky, only after Hương Tích Cave in the Hương Sơn region.

Part of the Tam Coc Bich Dong complex, Bich Dong Pagoda is an ancient temple built on the Truong Yen limestone range since 1428 during the early years of the Later Le dynasty. Today, the pagoda still houses a large bell cast during the reign of King Le Thai To, as well as the tombs of the venerable monks who contributed to the construction of the pagoda. During the reign of King Le Hien Tong, the pagoda underwent renovations and expansions with three separate temples – Lower Temple, Middle Temple, and Upper Temple – spreading across the three levels of the mountain.

4.5 Tien Cave – Linh Coc Pagoda
As part of the Tam Coc Bich Dong complex, Tien Cave is a system of three large caves with a diverse system of stalactites, such as fairies, sheaves of wheat, male and female fairies, elephants, lions, unicorns, dragons, eagles, and multicolored clouds.

No one knows exactly when Linh Coc Pagoda appeared in the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex; people often say that the pagoda has been there since the time of King Tran Thanh Tong. Serenely situated in the Moc mountain range, Linh Coc Pagoda faces west, with water fields in front.

The pagoda is designed in a three-room style, where the statue of the venerable A Nan Da and the Western Ancestor are enshrined, with high noses, coiled hair, and beards resembling Indian people. The rear hall of the pagoda is dedicated to worshiping the Three Holy Mothers, including Thượng Ngàn Mother, Thoải Mother, and Liễu Hạnh Mother.

4.6 Co Vien Lau
As one of the attractions in the buffer zone of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Co Vien Lau is an area of ancient houses with many houses collected mainly from Ninh Binh and the Northern Delta region. Inside these houses, various utensils are displayed, such as weaving looms, wooden beds, tea cabinets, etc. Most of the houses were built from the Nguyen dynasty onwards but still clearly reflect the ancient architectural style.

Tam Coc Bich Dong, with its limestone cave system and worship structures, has always been a preferred destination for many. In your journey to explore Ninh Binh, do you want to immerse yourself once in the charming natural scenery here?

Source: https://mia.vn/cam-nang-du-lich/tam-coc-bich-dong-canh-sac-tho-mong-xung-danh-nam-thien-de-nhi-dong-2948
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