These beautiful spots are located in a range of Truong Yen mountain in Ninh Binh province. Sitting on a small boat visiting Bich Dong, we can see the sky reflected in the water.
Bich Dong ranks second after Huong Tich cave in Huong pagoda.
In front of it there are large rice fields and a branch of Hoang Long river goes round and through it. The mountain is green with plants, looming in the distance are parts of roof of the old Bich Dong pagoda. It was built at the beginning of Le dynasty. In the pagoda there is still a big Bell casted in Le Thai To dynasty (1428 – 1433) and graves of bonze superiors who contributed to its building. In Canh Hung (Le Hien Tong) time (1740-1786) the pagoda was repaired and enlarged. Combining Ha (Low), Trung (Middle) and Thuong (High) pagoda, stretching up 3 mountain levels. If you wish to enter Ha pagoda, you have to pass a 3-span bridge, this pagoda was made of stone. The Trung is next to the cave door on the mountains wall the word “Bich Dong” in Chinese was graved. On the left side standed “Bich Son pagoda stela". Which was built in Le Du Tong time (1705-1729), on the right side was a stela of Canh Hung time, on the mountain side. From Trung pagoda, climb 22 steps up to Toi (Dark) cave which has an ancient Bell. Then comes the Thuong pagoda. It stood high near the top of the mountain, collapsed, only some stone pillars are left lonely among big trees. Standing on the floor of Thuong pagoda you can see the overview of Bich Dong, which looks like a landscape picture.
Next to Bich Dong is Tam Coc water cave, Thai Vi temple and Hanh Cung – Vu Lam area of Tran dynasty (an area for the King to rest when he went out for a visit (Hanh Cung) and a place for him to go hunting (Vu Lam). Despite the near distance between Bich Dong and Tam Coc, there’s only waterway. A small transparent river leads the way to Kieu mountain where it met bottleneck. You have to go through 3 caves: First cave, second cave and third cave.
The air in the caves is cool. King Tran Nhan Tong (1255-1258) had said: “When you come here you will know the fairy beauty; You will free from the earth”.
The King had built a small temple near Ca (fish) cave to lead a religious life. Today, there’s still an area of about forty seventh of a hectare, one meter higher than the field surface and not be flooded. It's called Am garden. Though First cave is beautiful, it is hidden and not convenient for traffic. Therefore, the King left move to Vu Lam which were surrounded by mountains and river and easy for transport. It’s about 100km Thang Long, 10km from Tam Diep Co. It’s not only suitable to lead a religious life also suitable for defence. We should never forget the fact that King Tran Thai Tong though lead a religious life then but was still a good strategist. He had lead people to defeat the Mongolian in their first attact. The King built Thai Vi temple here, recruited people to reclaim waste land, build roads, villages, prepare for defence. After a short time, this place had become a conference room. Many important meetings had been held here under the leadership of King Tran Thai Tong. In the resistance against the Mongotian, this area had become a stable base.
Stretching over a large area, the Hanh Cung – Vu Lam relics, encompasses many communes of Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. It has many historial boundaries such as Cua Quan (Quan gate). Hang Cung, Cong Rong (Dragon sewer), Tuan Cao, Vuon Kho …The Thai Am Relic that is left today is an area of 29 hectare, surrounded by soil frontier, centred by a temple in rememberance of King Tran Thai Tong, Tran Thanh Tong and his mother Hoang Thai Hau.
Thanks to its convenient location, Tam Coc – Bich Dong had been a base for revolution before 1945. In the resistance against the French colony and the U.S, many caves here have become the foundation for our army.
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