As it seems when one travels one has to wake up early to catch a bus, a train, a boat, or a plane. Today yet again we were up early to catch a bus this time southbound to the picturesque town of Tam Coc. This area features another UNESCO world heritage area known as Na Trang. Simply put the same islands that are found in Ha Long bay are found land locked only slightly above sea level in this area.
After settling in at our homestay and enjoying a cup of tea with our very hospitable hosts we hopped on bicycles and road a few kilometers to check out the Bich Dong pagoda that is set into the side of a cliff. The temple was relatively simple but featured a staircase through a cave leading to a another smaller temple and a lookout over a small valley. We took in the view for a few minutes before returning down and following an adjacent path into another valley.
Returning to our bikes we peddled a few more kilometers to a weird resort/nature park known as Bird Valley. This odd place was well manicured but contained very few people. Our assumptions is that it has been setup to try and attract money from the many Chinese tourists that holiday in Vietnam. We biked throughout this park and saw the "1000 year old" tree or at least legend says it is that old. Continuing past a couple orchards and a small terraced rice island we found the trail into Bird Valley. The hike was mostly flat until a small hike up to the lookout featuring a pretty view and many birds.
Eventually we tired of watching the birds and cycled back to the homestay where we enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Tori was appalled that Scott ordered the goat after seeing a few innocent goats on the hike only a couple hours earlier. We cannot recommend enough to stay at the anh huong tam coc homestay. The property was clean, the bungalows quaint and comfortable, and the hospitality was the best.
A short walk into town followed dinner where drinks were had with a very nice Puerto Rican couple we had met on the bus ride that morning.
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| 1000 year old tree |
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| birds in bird valley |
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| dinner |
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| dinner |
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| lunch |
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