Tam Coc
Tam Cốc is a boat route through three limestone caves in Ninh Bình, northern Vietnam, set among rice fields.
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Tam Cốc is an area in Ninh Bình province, northern Vietnam, about 7 km from Hoa Lư city centre. People come for the boat ride through Hang Cả, Hang Hai and Hang Ba, three caves cut through by the Ngô Đồng River. The round trip from the Văn Lâm wharf takes about two hours and passes limestone hills and paddy fields. The area is part of the Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and locals sometimes call it an inland Ha Long Bay.
Bích Động, about 2 km from the Tam Cốc wharf, has three temples on mountain levels, and the guided climb ends with a view from the top. The rice fields look green, golden or silver depending on the season, so the month you visit changes the scenery. Hotels cluster near the wharf and along the road to Bích Động, which keeps a village base close to the boats.
Tam Coc in five
- Buy the boat ticket at Van Lam pierThe Tam Coc route usually passes the three caves Ca, Hai and Ba, and the guide tells you how many people share each boat. Plan about two hours round trip and carry water.Ninh Binh travel guide
- Time the paddies, not just the dateThe tourism board points to late May and early June for golden paddies around Tam Coc, with the wider harvest in October. In other months, go for mist and green fields, and wait out the haze.
- Cycle to Bich Dong PagodaA flat bicycle ride links Tam Coc to the 15th-century pagoda, with a stone bridge over a lotus pond that blooms in summer. Park the bike at the gate and walk up.
- Climb Hang Mua before the heatThe stairs at the Mua Cave viewpoint give a view of the whole valley, and a ticket is needed. Start early in summer, or climb late for dusk light and a cooler descent.
- Book the homestay, not just a bedHomestays near Tam Coc put you among the paddies a short cycle from the city. Ask about bicycle loans, breakfast times and whether the host can arrange a boat.
Need to know
- Airport
- None; fly into Hanoi (HAN) and travel south
- Getting there
- Bus or van from Hanoi, or train to Ninh Binh, then a short ride
- Getting around
- Bicycle first; motorbike tour or taxi for farther sights
- Best base
- A homestay in Tam Coc village
- Time needed
- 1 night; 2 if you add Trang An
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Cool, bare fieldsJanuaryCloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, bare fields
- FebruaryCloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Drizzle, mistFebruaryCloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drizzle, mist
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Mild, greenMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Warm, greenAprilRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- MayRain18 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Late rice goldMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 201 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Late rice gold
- JuneRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low28°Hot, early goldJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 28°
- Precipitation
- 218 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, early gold
- JulyRain20 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low27°Hot, stormsJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 340 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- AugustRain24 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low27°StormsAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 448 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storms
- SeptemberRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Warm, greenSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 388 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Harvest goldOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 221 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Harvest gold
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Dry, clearNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Cool, dryDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
Average daily high and low in Tam Coc, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Tam Coc
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 96%
Tam Coc
03:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°23°96%Tuesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Wed31°23°75%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Thu31°24°97%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Fri29°23°90%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Sat31°22°82%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Sun29°22°98%Sunday: Rain. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 98%.
Updated 01:27 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- Apr–MayGiong FestivalHanoi, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Trang An boat toursabout 20 minutes from Tam CocLonger boat routes through caves, temples and film locations.Read the guide
- Hoa Lu ancient capitalabout 20 minutes by car from Trang AnTemples and relics from the 10th and 11th centuries.
- Cuc Phuong National Parkabout 1 hour from Ninh Binh cityOld trees, trails and rescue centers.Read the guide
Before you go to Tam Coc
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Tam Coc, checked
- Wear the life jacket on Tam Coc and Trang An boats and follow the boat guide's safety rules, according to the tourism board's boat tour guide.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Bich Dong Pagoda has a dress code: cover shoulders and knees. The climb to the upper temples is on stairs, so wear sturdy shoes.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Tam Coc
Trang An, Hoa Lu and the day trip decision
Read the guideNinh Binh ProvinceVan Long, Bai Dinh and the wider province
Read the guideCuc Phuong National ParkForest trails an hour away
Read the guideHanoi travel guideBuses, vans and trains start here
Read the guideBest time to visit VietnamWeather by region and month
Read the guideGetting around VietnamTrains, buses and flights
Read the guideAll of VietnamEntry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideTam Coc FAQ
What does Tam Coc mean?
Tam Coc means three caves. The boat ride from Van Lam pier typically passes the caves called Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba, and the route is rowed by boat guides, often with their feet.
How do you get from Hanoi to Tam Coc?
By bus or luxury van, which the tourism board says run daily and can include a transfer to Tam Coc, by private car, or by train to Ninh Binh and then a short ride. Road time is roughly two hours.
Where do you buy tickets for the Tam Coc boats?
At Van Lam pier, according to the tourism board, where the boat guide tells you how many people share each boat. Weekends and the Tet period are crowded, so arrive early.
Do you need to sleep in Tam Coc village to see the boats?
No. The boat pier at Van Lam is reached by a short ride from Ninh Binh city, so day visitors manage it easily. A homestay in the village gives you the paddies at dawn and a quieter evening, which is the real reason to stay.
When is Tam Coc most beautiful?
Late May and early June for golden paddies, and October for the broader harvest views. March to May and September to November are the comfortable months. July and August bring heat and storms.