Tam Coc means ‘Three Caves’ - namely Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba. Essentially every visitor to this vast nature reserve should include going through these low and cool ‘ passage ways’ beneath the limestone hills in a boat. The scenic spot ranks among the most impressive and extensive area of karst landscape surrounded by a network of waterways in the Ngo Dong River system. It can be considered similar to the limestone hills by the Li River in Guilin, China but more popularly, Vietnamese prefer to equate it to another wonder in Vietnam which is the beautiful seascape at Halong Bay.
The Ngo Dong waterways gently flows through padi fields, gardens of lotus and flowering weeds and hills of naturally sculptured rocks partially covered with lush greeneries.
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The ‘lake’ in the Ngo Dong River system, boats by the
wharf and the beautiful limestone hillocks. |
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Across lotus ‘gardens’, padi fields and also a small
cemetery of several tombs. |
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Vertical walls and lateral notch at the bottom
of hill side (on left). |
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Lateral undercutting by the waters create notches
giving rise to arches, caves and eventual slap
failures and rock falls over geological time. |
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| Serene waters and vegetated limestone hills. |
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| Sailing into one of the caves. |
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| Going through the cave. |
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The roof of the cave is naturally low having carved out by the
waters and this height will vary with the water level. |
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| Flowering water weeds. |
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The limestone forests were believed to be once
submerged in sea water millions of years ago
and eventually rose to its present height. |
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Naturally sculptured by water. It is said that the marks of
past water levels can still be seen on some rocks. |
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| A small pedestrian bridge and surrounding greens. |
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Wonderful ambience sailing through the padi
fields just after harvesting season. |