NINH BINH – In June, the rice fields on the Ngo Dong and Tam Coc rivers turned yellow, and people were busy harvesting.
The golden season in Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district usually starts from mid-May. But this year due to the weather, the rice won’t be ripe until June. Ripe rice fields are located between two majestic limestone mountains, in the middle is the Ngo Dong River, attracting thousands of visitors.
From above the fields stretch like silk, beside the mountains.
The beauty of this place is not only favored by nature but also formed from the process of reclamation and labor of the people since the 10th century AD. Up to now, people still embankment on the alluvial soil of the river to plant seedlings, so the foot of the rice plant is completely submerged in water.
The name Tam Coc here means 3 caves (tam is 3, coc is a cave). From the marina, visitors buy entrance tickets, priced at 120,000 VND for adults and 60,000 VND for children. The boats carrying tourists here all have oarsmen, no motor boats. The service price is 150,000 VND per trip, carrying a maximum of 4 adults. In 2 hours, the boat takes visitors through Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba in turn. The photo above was taken from the mountain viewing point in Hang Hai.
The flag “Golden color of Tam Coc” is shaped on rice to welcome visitors.
The author of the photo series, Mr. Hoang Duong, shared that he will spend the first three days of June coming here to relax and take pictures of the rice season. He used to come to Tam Coc in 2018-2019 during the ripe rice season, but this year is more impressive because of its peaceful and rustic look.
Mr. Duong also shared that he had to wake up at 4am to watch the sunrise at Hang Hai. When the sun is high, the rice fields are more golden, and passenger boats dotted on the river create a poetic picture.
On the river, visitors will hear the boatman give a presentation, see the rice fields in sight, breathe in the fresh air, and faintly smell the fragrant rice.
In particular, you have the experience of checking-in with rice fields right on the water.
The ripe golden rice fields are gradually being harvested, forming alternating plots. Because there is no road, people completely travel by boat.
The boats are loaded with ripe rice. After reaping, and tying up bundles, they rowed through the caves to their home again. The harvest time, which lasts about two weeks, is the busiest time of the year, when boats are busy carrying passengers and carrying rice.
Photo: Hoang Duong