Boat ride along Ngô Đồng River amidst these karst mountains provides some seriously stunning views
Dates visited: December 29, 2014
Tam Cốc, 62 miles south of Hà Nội, is one of the most picturesque location in Vietnam because of the karst topography. Basically, the landscape here is formed due to the dissolution of limestone giving rise to caves, towering mountains and sharp valleys. We visited this area as a part of a day tour combining it with Hoa Lư—both of which are a part of Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Our original plan was to see the karst mountains in Hạ Long Bay (another UNESCO World Heritage Site) that is 91 miles east of Hà Nội, but this time of the year, the bay is cold and misty with poor visibility. So we settled for Tam Cốc which is also referred to as “Hạ Long Bay on Land”!
Tam Cốc stands for “three caves” in Vietnamese. That’s what the boating tour is about… …as you boat down the meandering Ngô Đồng River, amidst the karst mountains and stunning views, you actually go through three natural caves (Hang Cả, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba). Some caves are pretty tight with just about 6 feet of clearance! The landscape shows years and years of weathering at work, and the texture and patterns on the rocks just leave you mesmerized at the natural beauty.
We got into the boat at the Tam Cốc wharf. There were several boats lined up and I wasn’t even sure what system they had in place to guide tourists to the boats, but there was a guy who seemed to know what he was doing! So we waited patiently, and as he motioned to us, we made our way to our boat. The boat rowers here have a unique rowing skill; they row with their hands as well as with their feet! No kidding!! I was just amazed at their versatility and the ease with which they would sit back, relax and use their feet to push the oars.
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- At Tam Cốc wharf… …waiting for our turn
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- Not sure who’s more relaxed… …Prachi and Rohan, or our rower who’s sitting back and rowing with his feet!
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- Karst topography—formed due to the dissolution of limestone giving rise to caves, towering mountains and sharp valleys
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- These limestone karst mountains just jut out of the river
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- Rowing with your feet takes some serious prehensility
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- Every few 100 meters, we were treated to one magnificent view after another
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- About to enter Hang Cả… …the first of the three natural caves
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- Nirvana for your eyes… …
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- Lonely protruding limestone karst… …perfectly positioned for a perfect picture!
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- The Ngô Đồng river cuts sharply into these limestone karst mountains
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- “Look Ma, no hands!”
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- Do the rowers ever get tired of this view?
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- Boating on Ngô Đồng River with limestone karst mountains for company
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- About to enter Hang Hai cave
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- The soluble nature of these limestone mountains leads to the formation of the natural caves
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- Karst topography—formed due to the dissolution of limestone giving rise to caves, towering mountains and sharp valleys
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- The boat’s on cruise control, but his feet are in ready position!
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- Entering Hang Ba cave
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- Inside Hang Ba cave… …I could touch the ceiling while seated in the boat!
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- Fruit/snack vendors who will pressurize you into buying a drink for your boat rower
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- Karst topography—formed due to the dissolution of limestone giving rise to caves, towering mountains and sharp valleys
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- When surrounded by such stunning views, every camera angle brings out a smile
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- A padded seat, an angled back rest, a place to hold… …evolves into using your feet for rowing!
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- Years and years of artistic weathering at work… …
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- Standing tall but with welcoming arms, this mountain just swallowed us as we entered the cave