Ninh Binh, the ancient capital with picturesque landscapes, is always an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists. When mentioning Ninh Binh, Trang An and Tam Coc immediately come to mind, two famous scenic spots with majestic limestone mountains, winding rivers, and mysterious cave systems. However, many visitors are still unsure whether to choose Trang An or Tam Coc for their trip. This article by “Du lịch khắp thế gian” (Travel the World) will help you compare the beauty and experiences of these two locations in detail, so you can make the most suitable decision.
What Makes Tam Coc Special?
Tam Coc, also known as “Three Caves,” has long been famous for its “Halong Bay on land” beauty. It impresses visitors with its pristine, majestic natural scenery of overlapping limestone mountains reflecting on the romantic Ngo Dong River. A special feature of Tam Coc is that visitors can sit on a sampan boat, weaving through lush green or golden rice paddies (depending on the season) and explore the unique natural cave system.
Unique and Stunning Natural Scenery
The beauty of Tam Coc comes from the harmonious combination of mountains, rivers, and endless rice fields. Sitting on a boat, visitors will feel the peace and tranquility of the Vietnamese countryside, immerse themselves in fresh nature, and watch white storks soaring in the sky. The scenery of Tam Coc changes with the seasons, each season bringing its own beauty, but perhaps the most beautiful is during the rice harvest season (late May, early June) when the entire delta is filled with brilliant golden color.
Sitting on a boat down Tam Coc River admiring the green rice fields and overlapping limestone mountains
Explore the Mysterious Cave System
Tam Coc includes three main caves: Hang Ca (First Cave), Hang Hai (Second Cave), and Hang Ba (Third Cave), formed by the Ngo Dong River flowing through the mountains. Each cave has its own unique beauty with magical stalactites and stalagmites created over millions of years. Visitors will experience the thrill of the boat entering the caves, admiring the unique shapes of the stalactites, and enjoying the cool, quiet atmosphere inside the caves.
In addition to the cave system, Tam Coc is also a spiritual tourism destination with many famous historical and cultural relics such as Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Bich Dong Pagoda, Thai Vi Temple, Thien Huong Cave, and more. Visitors can combine visiting Tam Coc with these locations for a more complete Ninh Binh exploration journey.
Ideal Time to Visit Tam Coc
Tam Coc is beautiful all year round, each season with its own charm.
- After Tet (February – March): The weather is cool and pleasant, the rice paddies begin to turn lush green, suitable for those who want to see young rice plants and participate in spring festivals.
- Late May – early June: The rice harvest season is golden and brilliant, the weather is sunny and beautiful, ideal for admiring the stunning countryside picture and capturing memorable moments.
- Summer (June – August): The weather is hot, but this is also the season when lotuses bloom, creating a romantic and poetic scene. However, it is necessary to prepare sunscreen if traveling during this season.
- Autumn (September – November): The weather is cool and pleasant, suitable for sightseeing and exploration activities.
Tam Coc Entrance Fees:
- Sightseeing ticket: 120,000 VND/adult, 60,000 VND/child (under 1.4m).
- Boat ticket: 150,000 VND/boat (maximum 4 Vietnamese visitors or 2 foreign visitors).
What Makes Trang An Attractive?
Trang An is a large scenic complex, recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. It is not only famous for the majestic beauty of mountains, rivers, and caves but also rich in historical and cultural values. Compared to Tam Coc, Trang An is larger in scale and offers a wider variety of sightseeing and experiences.
Majestic and Magnificent Natural Beauty
Trang An is formed from a limestone mountain system hundreds of millions of years old, which has undergone weathering and transformation to create a uniquely beautiful landscape. Coming to Trang An, visitors will be overwhelmed by the towering limestone mountains, deep valleys, clear blue lakes, and diverse primeval forests. The beauty of Trang An is both pristine and mysterious, majestic and magnificent, reminiscent of a giant ink painting.
Majestic natural scenery of Trang An with overlapping mountains and clear blue rivers
Explore a Diverse Cave System
Trang An boasts the most abundant and diverse cave system in Ninh Binh, with over 48 large and small caves, many of which are kilometers long. Each cave in Trang An has its own name and unique beauty, associated with fascinating legends and historical stories. Some famous caves in Trang An include Sang Cave (Bright Cave), Toi Cave (Dark Cave), Nau Ruou Cave (Wine Cooking Cave), Dia Linh Cave, Tran Cave, and more. Exploring Trang An caves is an exciting, adventurous, and surprising experience, taking visitors to a different world beneath the mountains.
Crystal-Clear Winding River
One of the highlights of Trang An is its system of rivers and canals, winding around the cliffs. The water in Trang An River is crystal clear, you can see the bottom, reflecting the mountains, sky, and trees, creating a vivid and captivating natural picture. Sitting on a boat on Trang An River, visitors will feel relaxed, peaceful, and fully enjoy the beauty of this land. Especially in autumn, Trang An is also adorned with the pink and purple colors of water lilies and lotuses blooming on the water, creating an extremely romantic scene.
Boating on the clear Trang An River admiring the natural scenery
Ideal Time to Visit Trang An
Trang An is most beautiful in spring and early summer.
- Early year (January – March Lunar Calendar): The weather is cool and pleasant, suitable for spring travel, sightseeing, and praying for good luck. However, this is also the peak tourist season, with a large number of visitors, you may have to wait when buying tickets and boarding boats.
- April – May: The weather is cool and pleasant, fewer tourists, suitable for those who want to enjoy a peaceful, quiet space and take landscape photos.
- Summer (June – August): The weather is hot, but in return, visitors can combine visiting Trang An with swimming at nearby beaches or participating in water sports activities.
- Autumn (September – November): The weather is cool and romantic, suitable for relaxing trips and admiring water lilies and lotuses.
Trang An Entrance Fees:
- Sightseeing ticket: 250,000 VND/adult, 120,000 VND/child.
- Kayak rental: 250,000 – 400,000 VND/boat (depending on boat type and rental time).
Unique Kayaking Experience
In addition to traditional boat tours, Trang An also offers a kayaking service, bringing visitors a new and exciting experience. Self-driving a kayak, weaving through caves, and exploring the hidden corners of Trang An is a memorable and challenging experience. However, to ensure safety, visitors need to comply with the regulations of the tourist area and be in good health.
Experiencing kayaking to explore the beauty of Trang An
Comparing Tam Coc and Trang An – Which Destination to Choose?
Tam Coc and Trang An are both attractive destinations in Ninh Binh tourism, each with its own beauty and experiences. Choosing Tam Coc or Trang An depends on each person’s preferences, needs, and time.
| Criteria | Tam Coc | Trang An |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | Smaller | Larger |
| Type of sightseeing | Mainly sampan boat, cave exploration, rice fields | Boating, kayaking, spiritual tourism, ancient Vietnamese village |
| Landscape | Countryside, peaceful, poetic | Majestic, magnificent, diverse terrain |
| Cave system | 3 main caves, simpler | Over 48 caves, complex, diverse |
| Visit duration | Shorter (about 2 hours) | Longer (about 2.5 – 3 hours) |
| Ticket price | Cheaper | More expensive |
| Other activities | Near Bich Dong Pagoda, Thung Nham Bird Park | Near Bai Dinh Pagoda, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Mua Cave |
| Suitable for | People who like peace, romance, and saving money | People who like to explore, diverse experiences, and don’t mind costs |
Advice:
- If you have limited time and want to save money: Tam Coc is a suitable choice. You can still experience the picturesque beauty of Ninh Binh with lower costs and shorter time.
- If you have more time and want to explore and have diverse experiences: Trang An is an ideal choice. You will admire the majestic and magnificent beauty of nature, explore the mysterious cave system, and participate in many other interesting activities.
- If you like peace and romance: Both Tam Coc and Trang An can satisfy you. However, Tam Coc brings a closer, more peaceful feeling with the countryside scenery and gentle river.
- If you like majesty and magnificence: Trang An will be a better choice with towering limestone mountains and vast space.
Comparing the beauty of Tam Coc and Trang An, two famous tourist destinations in Ninh Binh
Suggested Itinerary for Tam Coc – Trang An Trip
To help you have a complete Ninh Binh trip and explore both Tam Coc and Trang An, “Du lịch khắp thế gian” (Travel the World) suggests a 2-day 1-night itinerary as follows:
Day 1: Hanoi – Hoa Lu Ancient Capital – Mua Cave – Tam Coc
- Morning: Depart from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (about 2 hours). Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, the first capital of Vietnam, and temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le.
- Noon: Have lunch at a restaurant in Ninh Binh, enjoying mountain goat meat and burnt rice specialties.
- Afternoon: Visit Mua Cave, conquer the peak of Mua Mountain to admire the panoramic view of Tam Coc from above. Then, take a boat trip to visit Tam Coc, explore Hang Ca, Hang Hai, Hang Ba, and Thai Vi Temple.
- Evening: Check in to a hotel in Ninh Binh, have dinner, and freely explore the city at night.
Day 2: Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An – Hanoi
- Morning: Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia with many Buddhist records.
- Noon: Have lunch at a restaurant near Bai Dinh Pagoda.
- Afternoon: Take a boat trip to visit Trang An eco-tourism area, explore the cave routes and beautiful natural landscapes.
- Evening: Depart back to Hanoi, ending the trip.
You can refer to the detailed Ninh Binh 2-day 1-night tour or other Ninh Binh tours for more suitable options for your time and budget.
Hopefully, with the detailed information above, you have been able to decide whether to go to Tam Coc or Trang An for your upcoming Ninh Binh trip. Whichever destination you choose, “Du lịch khắp thế gian” (Travel the World) believes that you will have wonderful and memorable experiences in this beautiful ancient capital. Pack your bags and explore Ninh Binh right away!