Day Trip from Hanoi: Tam Coc

Tam Coc is a great place for a day trip from Hanoi. From my hotel, I organized a day tour for $40, which included transportation, entrance fees, and lunch.

Your bus will typically pick you up around 8:00 and the first stop is the old capital of Hoa Lu, a 2.5 hour drive from Hanoi. Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th century and today it is one of the most popular destinations in the Ninh Binh province.

Hao Lu is rather boring (sorry for that disrespect Hoa Lu). You’ll stay here for an hour and continue by bus for another 30 minutes until you reach Tam Coc.

Upon arrival you’ll have lunch at a buffet. Right after, there is an amazing boat ride along the river, which lasts around an hour. This is the highlight of Tam Coc.

Following the ride, you’ll have anywhere from 1-2 hours of free time. If you like, you can rent a bike for free and cruise around the area with a guide or alone. This is great opportunity to take photos as the views are spectacular. I rode about 15 kilometers with a friend I made on the trip. Riding along this small town with the limestone rocks in the background was actually just as exciting as the boat ride.

You’ll head back in the late afternoon, reaching Hanoi in the evening. The ride back will be slightly longer due to the traffic.

I highly recommend this tour if you’re looking to escape from Hanoi for the day.