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 If you like a countryside perspective as well as
taking a relaxed rowboat ride along a quiet stream running through lush green
paddy fields and limestone mountains, then you will definitely enjoy a leisurely
one-day excursion to Tam Coc in the Ninh Binh province, a 2-hours drive from
Hanoi.
Tam Coc, as the name suggests in Vietnamese,
refers to 3 caves namely (and for want of more exciting names), Cave No.1, Cave
No. 2 and Cave No. 3. The boat trip will
pass through the insides of all 3 caves revealing to the visitor the various
uniquely-shaped stalagmites formed over hundreds of years.
Be sure to look out for the skillful Vietnamese ladies competently
guiding the rowboats through the river stream, occasionally using their feet to
row so as to give their hands a rest from the tiring job. 
A stone’s throw away is Hoa Lu, the ancient
capital of Vietnam during the reign of Dinh and Le dynasty from 968 A.D. to 1009
A.D. This place is full of interesting
historical relics belonging to the royalty that ruled during that period before
the capital was shifted to Hanoi.
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