The excursion to the old capital’s temples is average…not remarkable, but entirely original. The boat excursion down the Ngo Dong River to see Tam Coc – The Three Caves – is worthwhile. The view is breathtaking, but at the turnaround point, there are some floating stores that urge you buy drinks for the rower. Having an extra bottle of water/beer and chocolate/biscuits tends to negate the attempted forced purchase. Our rower also presented his own box of goodies for purchase! And they insist on a tip… It’s all pretty tiring.
Beautiful tour
We enjoyed the city because it is a fantastic base for exploring the surrounding area. Day travels from Hanoi are not worth it. You may visit Tam Coc, Bich Dong, Hoa Lu Temple, and Bai Dinh, the largest complex of Buddhist temple.
This is a good tour, well-organised, with a guide who speaks reasonable English. Travelling in comfort. I would suggest.
It was a fun and relaxing trip down the river. For nearly an hour, I enjoyed the lovely view while watching our boat conductor foot paddle. Until the photographers showed up. After the boat ride, I was tracked down to buy the images this person shot.