Tam Coc - Thai Vi temple - Bich Dong - Mua cave - Hoa Lu

Tam Coc is known to travelers as Viet Nam`s Ha Long Bay without water. Ha Long 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.

Thai Vi Temple is located in a big valley of Van Lam hamlet, Ninh Hai Commune. The temple was built to worship 4 kings of Tran Dynasty and Queen Thuan Thien.

The temple was built in “Noi Cong Ngoai Quoc” (Internal attack with outside support) style. There are 3 houses of Bai Duong, Trung Duong and Chinh Tam (Main Bedroom), all of them were made of ironwood and monolithic blue stone pillars that were skillfully and artistically carved.

Bich Dong is the most second beautiful pagoda of Viet Nam , 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.

Mua Cave

Bich Dong Pagoda

Mua Cave ( Cave of Dance ) is very impressive with small grove of trees, but the main attraction is a 500-step trek to the pagoda at the top where there`s a simple altar to Quan Âm ( Goddess of Mercy ). Really spectacular views including Tam Coc cave ( see where the tour boats go! )

Hoa Lu has an interesting historical twist. Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam during the Dinh (968-980) and early Le (980-1009) dynasties. Atmosphere in the temple is evocative of the heyday of the royal citadel with palaces; pavilions and temples which existed thousands of years ago. It is a remaining evidence of the golden age of the land that three feudal dynasties of Vietnam.