Tam Coc is an awesome site of giant limestone karst formations jutting out of the rice paddies that surround the Ngo Dong River about 9km southwest of Ninh Binh, North Vietnam. It is often labelled "The Halong Bay of the rice paddies," in reference to similiar karst formations that rise out of the South China Sea at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. The name Tam Coc means "Three Caves." As you are rowed down the Ngo Dong River by the famous leg rowers of Tam Coc, you pass through three enormous caves that provide a brief respite from the intense summer sun. It takes approximately three hours to go up and down the river and along the way, you witness local fisherfolk, village life along the river and, of course, the striking limestone karst formations that Tam Coc is famous for. You can buy snacks and drinks from the local vendors who row their boats up to yours but if you are prepared (as we were), you can easily bring a couple of liters of Bia Hoi along with you for the journey.
Travellers Tip for Vietnam: Never, never go anywhere without your Bia Hoi.
