Vietnam (Post Covid-19 Overseas Visit No 3 - My 20 days in Hanoi, Sapa, Lao Cai, Haiphong, Tam Coc, Hue, Danang & Hoi An, Vietnam) Day 12 Thursday Feb 16 2023 - Tam Coc Day 1

Travel itinerary: Haiphong > Tam Coc 

Total expenses incurred (3 days): Rm381 (US$87) per pax

• Hotel (2 nights): Rm62 per pax twin sharing)
• Bus (Haiphong > Tam Coc): 300,000 dong (Rm58)
• Package tour (Ninh Binh): 990,000dong (Rm193)
• Food: 310,000 dong (Rm62)
• Taxi: 30,000 (Rm6)

Day 12 Thursday Feb 16 2023

Bus ride from Haiphong > Tam Coc (300,000 dong = Rm58.50, 166km)

Haiphong > Tam Coc (166km)

1) Morning breakfast in a local noodle stall near our hotel in Haiphong, pork noodle soup 30,000 dong (Rm5.85) 

2) After the breakfast, a morning stroll with my wife in a morning market in one of the small lanes off a main street in Haiphong city centre. 

3) Waiting for a Long Travel tour bus pick up at the Dinh Vu Plaza (off a main trunk road), Haiphong for a bus ride to Tam Coc, Ninh Binh. 

4) A brief stop at a mini market in a small town for toilet runs as well as buying of fruit, packaged food & snacks etc !  

5) Long Travel bus arriving at The Long Hotel & Travel office in Tam Coc 

Translated as "Three Caves", Tam Coc is often referred to as "Halong Bay on Land" due to its incredibly scenic landscape of limestone cliffs rising from the rice paddies. My 1st visit to Tam Coc!

6) After the hotel check-in, my wife & myself took a late afternoon stroll near the Tam Coc boat station, interesting to see rows of boats (close of business) parked along the riverside, very scenic to look at !

8) Tam Coc Bus Bar / Karaoke & Bus - Pub Little Monkey Tam Coc - happy hours & have fun if you enjoy drinking beer / liquors & entertained by loud music after the nightfall in these colorful decorated neon light vehicles parked near the Tam Coc Boat Station ! 

9) A 200m walk from The Long Hotel > Thanh Dat Homestay, Tam Coc; my 2 nights homestay in Tam Coc, room tariff Rm62 per night (twin sharing) inclusive of a breakfast, owner & wife can speak mandarin & very hospitable!  

10) Dinner with my wife in Father Cooking, Tam Coc town; ordered a plate of stir fried pork with mushrooms  & fried tofu with vegetables + 2 white rice = 142,000 dong (Rm28) 

Thompson's Delight
Fried Spring Rolls

KM's Delight- Stir Fried Pork
with Mushrooms
& Fried Tofu with Vegetables
120,000 dong (Rm23)