Tam Coc (Ninh Binh) - Cuc Phuong / 3 Days

Tam Coc, which means Three Caves, is a beautiful area of green grass along riversides that are a haven for the goats local people breed and can be seen practically everywhere around the place! Tam Coc is so full of surprises that you may also see monkeys sitting high on tree branches or swinging playfully, if you are lucky enough! It is unquestionably a river trip worth taking, especially if you are a photo enthusiast, and the best time to shoot some great pictures is during harvest (or even seedling), when locals collect the seeds of their fruits (in this case the water rice) all along the river. Tam Coc is often compared to China’s Guilin or the limestone islets found in the Halong Bay, in the Tonkin Gulf, mostly due to the geological resemblances these places bear.

This day on the Vietnam motorcycle tour finds us visiting the stone-and-wood-built Phat Dien church, with an impressive Euro-Vietnamese architecture that took 24 years to complete building. Then, we ride all the way to Cuc Phuong National Park, a favourite tourist attraction in Vietnam and home to a diversity of plant and wild life.

Day 1 – Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc (145 km)

As we leave Hanoi at 8A.M., On this Vietnam motorcycle tour we intentionally avoid the A1 highway and ride the winding back roads that are not traffic-packed. We will stop for a quick visit to the village of Sam Xuyen, where you can taste some tea offered by the friendly locals, as you admire the rich, rice paddies, and the astonishing 500-year old bonsai tree that stands proudly and beautifully.

Then, we head south and just before reaching our next destination, Hoa Lu, we stop at a local restaurant, to taste some local cuisine for lunch, before we get back to riding the back roads. On the way, we visit the ancient Hoa Lu remains (the temples dedicated to the legendary10th-century King Le and King Dinh, who chose Hoa Lu to build their capital’s fortress). We’ll be happy to offer more background on these heroes of Vietnamese history.

For the nest 25 km until we reach Tam Coc, we will be riding past steep limestone mountainous areas, narrow valleys, and igneous rock formations that compose a picture-like scenery. Then, we get some rest as local boatmen take us along the Hoang Long River that runs several kilometers in Tam Coc.

We will stay overnight at a local hotel.

Day 2 – Tam Coc – Phat Diem – Cuc Phuong (120 km)

Today on our Flamingo motorcycle tour we leave Tam Coc at around 8:30 A.M. we ride the back empty roads for 27 km that will bring us to Phat Diem. All the way, we can admire the marvelous rice paddies if we happen to be riding during harvest. At Phat Diem, we will take some time to taste some local coffee and visit sights such as a magnificent, late 1800’s Sino-Vietnamese cathedral, a fine demonstration of the application of European architecture.

Our great adventure takes us to Cuc Phuong, where a local barbecue lunch awaits, namely Sen Thinh. Cuc Phuong is a great pole of attraction for those interested in places with significant cultural heritage, and a perfect combination of wildlife and breath-taking scenery. As soon as we arrive there, we stop at the Primate Rescue Centre for a while, before we get back to riding another 20km, through thick vegetation, until we finally reach the Park Centre. On the way to the Park Centre, we can visit prehistoric caves where people of that era used to live in. The cave’s exit has a welcoming surprise for you. It is the best spot to view the gorgeous surrounding jungle as it sprawls in Limestone Mountains and completes a mesmerizing scenery with smooth transitions between green rice terraces and lush forests and jungles.

We stay overnight at a local hotel.

Day 3 – Cuc Phuong – Hanoi (150 km)

We depart on this day at 9:00 A.M.Today’s tour includes a 2-hour trail through the jungle. Somewhere in the middle of the 3-kilometer trek, we can take a break and stop for a bit to see the 1,000-year-old Sequoia tree (Tetrameles Nudiflora) that measures D: 5.5m and H: 45m. As we head back to Hanoi, we will pass a number of villages and see happy children filling the air with their joyful hellos, welcoming visitors into their land! Again, the scenery is full with evergreen mountains and rice paddies, carefully concealing a historically relevant cave that used to be an ammunitions and food storage place during the war and is now only used as a sacred place of prayer.

Lunchtime will find us in a well-liked local restaurant, where we can taste traditional Vietnamese cuisine and their barbecue goat specialty! Right after we finish our lunch, we join the Ho Chi Minh train back to Hanoi, through a traffic-free easy road.

The final section of our Flamingo Travel tour will take us through amazing limestone mountains. There, a small one-kilometer off-road track can take us to another cave, which used to be a hideaway for Generals and soldiers alike, during the French War. The cave’s interior is impressive, and an excellent view of the surrounding farmland will be seen after an easy climb up.

After this final adventure, our trip culminates in Hanoi just in time for dinner.

May your journey through the enchanting landscapes of NorthEastern Vietnam with Flamingo Travel linger in your memories as an unforgettable adventure. Until we meet again, may your path be filled with epic tales and extraordinary discoveries. Safe travels, and we eagerly await your return to embark on more grand odysseys together!

Tour Includes

• 01 motorbike per person
• All petrol (gasoline)
• Rain gear, helmets
• Motorbike jacket
• 01 night at local homestay
• 01 night at hotel in twin share room
• Local English Speaking guide
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: 2 Breakfasts (B) 3 Lunches (L) 2 Dinners (D)
• Boat trip in Tam Coc
• All entrance fees

Tour Excludes

• Visa to Vietnam
• Any other transportations are not mentioned in the itinerary
• Insurance
• Drinks
• Meals are not mentioned in the itinerary
• Tip for guide
• Other personal expenses

What to bring

• Passport
• Good sunglasses
• Good shoes for walking
• Other personal needs and some cash for drinks or souvenirs.

Prices are quoted in US Dollar/ per person in group of:

Note: To make a reservation you are required to pay a 30% reservation deposit. we accept credit/debit card payments via Onepay our secure online payment system. We also accept a Western Union or a bank transfer. However, we recommend you pay via Onepay, as it’s quick, convenient, it’s simple to use and is the cheapest way of making a payment. You can pay the remaining balance in our office by credit/debit or cash before you depart on your tour.

Note: Prices include – Twin shared rooms. Single room supplement is available for people who prefer to have their own room. An additional fee is required and must be booked in advance.

Note: Motorbike damage Insurance This comprehensive insurance policy covers lost, theft or any damage to the motorbike caused by an accident. The policy excludes any, personal medical insurance, liability to other vehicles or injury caused to another party. For full policy underwriting please click here.