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| Tourists take a cruise along Ngo Dong River to Tam Coc tourist area in Ninh Binh Province |
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We bought a ticket priced at VND50,000 for the journey, so cheap for a magical trip of a lifetime. The sailor told us he had had a long wait to get his chance to take his boat down to the tourist attraction, as when he enquired he was told 1,300 boats were taking tourists to the popular spot. “I have waited ten days to get my turn,” said Chu Anh Khanh, 32, our sailor.
Tam Coc (three caves) is a very well-known tourist area in Ninh Binh, located around 100 kilometers from Hanoi. The spectacular Ngo Dong River runs through limestone mountains, and makes its way into three caves including Ca, Hai and Ba. The landscape make tourists think of Halong Bay but with yellow rice fields on both sides of the river.
At Tram wharf, boats anchor on light waves as leaves lie under the sunlight in a peaceful spot. The stillness is also helped by the fact that people there do not use speedboats as they want to protect the natural environment. Also, the slow speeds of the wooden boats, the rustic image of paddles plopping into the cool water will help soothe tourists on the legendary river.
The images of farmers at work on the fields or having conversations with people on the river turns the scene into a picturesque mosaic full of vitality, beauty and human warmth.
On the way, there are many smaller boats selling instant food such as water, lotus, banana, pineapple, breads and many snacks.
The boat took us to three caves in which the stone seemed to be on our heads and water drops over our shoulder. In that cold space, we thought we had got a lost in a wonderland as the ancient caves topped off a trip we will never forget.
Khuê Việt Trường
(MONRE)