Tam Coc on a sunny day

The starting point for the journey down the Ngo Dong River

A girl named Nhien, who has been rowing boats in Tam Coc for more than 10 years, took us on a tour of the Ngo Dong River. Through Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba are towering limestone blocks. The space is strangely quiet, with only the sound of oars splashing water. “This place is known as Ha Long Bay on land thanks to the harmony between rivers, mountains, and rice fields. On days without rain, the scenery here is very beautiful, and when it rains, the space is like a fairyland...” - Ms. Nhien said.

There are more than 1,000 boats at the wharf, and it takes her 5-6 days to row a trip. Therefore, she cherishes each customer. Each round trip, although she only receives 200,000 VND, not much money, and has to wait a long time. On the boat, she brings hand-embroidered paintings that her family made to sell to tourists. "Some people buy, some don't, but everyone praises the beautiful paintings," Ms. Nhien added.

In the rain, Tam Coc appeared quiet, peaceful and poetic. The small boat carrying the 5 of us slowly drifted, gliding past cliffs covered with wild flowers and green rice fields. Each stroke of the oar was like a stroke of paint on a magical natural picture. Along the way, occasionally goats stood nestled on the mountainside, a few monkeys appeared and disappeared on the tree branches, or the sound of birds chirping echoed in the air, disturbing the peaceful scene.

The boat passed through Hang Ca, the widest and deepest cave, with a high ceiling and stalactites hanging down like magical reliefs. Inside was cool, the dim light made the scene mysterious. Entering Hang Hai, the light shone through the water, making the river surface sparkle like a mirror. Hang Ba, although the shortest, was strangely quiet, like a private world, with only the sound of water hitting the side of the boat.

On the river, there are also photographers for hire, weaving through the boats to capture moments for tourists. Despite rowing in the rain and against the wind, the boatmen still keep smiling, still chat and tell stories to the tourists. One thing that impressed us was the friendliness of everyone, tourists greeted each other like old friends, even though they had never met, no matter where they came from.

Leaving Tam Coc when the rain had just stopped, I carried with me an indescribable sense of peace, the people were simple and enthusiastic in telling everyone stories about Bich Dong Pagoda, about traditional festivals, or about the old life associated with the river. That is the difference, making Tam Coc not only beautiful to see, but also memorable.

NGUYEN XE

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/tam-coc-mot-ngay-khong-nang-a422029.html