GROTTO
Dau Go (Driftwood) Grotto: Dau Go Grotto is found on Driftwood Island, formerly known as Canh
Doc Island. The name Driftwood Grotto comes from the popular story
of the resistance war against the Nguyen Mong aggressors. In a
decisive battle, Tran Hung Dao was given an order to prepare many
ironwood stakes to be planted on the riverbed of the Bach Dang
River. The remaining wooden pieces were found in the grotto and,
as a result, the grotto was given its present name. The entrance
is reached via 90 steps up the island. The grotto is divided into
three main parts. In the first chamber, many forms can be seen in
the rock, depending on the imagination of the observer. In the
middle of the chamber, on the top of the pillar, there appears to
be a monk draped in a long, dark cloak, with his right hand
clasping a cane. Moving into the second chamber, visitors pass
through a narrow "door", naturally formed through
erosion. The light here is mysterious, and new images appear in
the stone. At the end of the grotto is a well of clear water
surrounded by four ancient walls.
In this grotto, there remains an engraved stone stele singing
the praises of Halong Bay ordered by Emperor Khai Dinh when he
came to visit the grotto in 1917. Dau Go is 40 minutes from Bai
Chay.
Trinh Nu (Virgin) Grotto-Trong (Male) Grotto: The Virgin Grotto is situated in the island range of Bo Hon, in
the system comprised of the Surprise Grotto, Dong Tien Lake, and
Luon Grotto. The grotto is 15 km south of Bai Chay Beach. For some
fishermen, the Virgin Grotto is home, while for young lovers it is
a popular romantic rendezvous site.
According to legend, there once was a beautiful fisherman's
daughter, whose family was so poor that they were in service of
the rich administrator of the fishing zone, who forced the family
to give him their daughter as a concubine. However, the
fisherman's daughter already had a lover and refused to marry the
administrator. The administrator got angry and exiled her to a
wild island where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. One
frightful night she turned to stone. On this same night, her
lover, knowing of her danger, rowed his boat in search of her.
However, a tempest destroyed his boat, and he floated to a nearby
island. In a flash of lightening, he saw his lover in the
distance, but his calls were driven away by the wind. In his final
exhaustion, he also turned to stone (today's Male Grotto).
When visiting the Virgin Grotto, you can still see the
petrified girl with her long hair hanging down and eyes looking
towards the mainland. Opposite the Virgin Grotto, the Male Grotto
is still home to the lover whose his face is turned towards his
mate. At times, his passionate calls and blows against the walls
of the grotto can still be heard.
Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) Grotto:
This recently discovered grotto is one of the most beautiful in
Halong Bay. Thien Cung is situated on the southwest side of the
bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Halong City. It is located in
a small range of islands that resemble a throne embracing two
superb grottoes at its core. The way to Thien Cung is perilous,
covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow
gate, the magnificent, 130 m long grotto opens up.
In the center, there are four large pillars supporting the
"roof of heaven". From the base to the top, many strange
images seem to exist in the stone, including birds, fish, flowers
and even scenes of human life. On the north wall of the grotto, a
group of fairies seems to be singing and dancing in honor of the
wedding. Under the immeasurably high roof, stalactites form a
natural stone curtain. There is also the sound of a beating drum
made by the wind blowing through the stone.
In the last chamber of the grotto, a natural gushing stream of
water babbles throughout the year. Here there are three small
ponds of clear water. One path meanders out of the grotto.
Quang Hanh Grotto:
Located 9 km west of Cam Pha, Quang Hanh Grotto is the longest
grotto in Halong Bay. It is 1,300 m long, and stretches throughout
the stone mountain of Quang Hanh. The French named it "Le
Tunnel," or Tunnel Grotto.
Quang Hanh Grotto is accessible by either boat or car, but the
entrance only appears when the tide is out. Ba Co Shrine (shrine
of three girls) is in the grotto beside a smooth stone block.
Legend tells that three girls, who were once journeying on the
sea, came to the grotto to take shelter from the rain. They were
so engrossed with the beauty of the grotto, that they did not
notice the rising tide. They drowned, only to become water
goddesses.
Quang Hanh Grotto is extremely beautiful. A small boat will
take you through the stone passageway by flashlight, casting
magical colors on the hanging stalactites.
BEACH
& ISLAND
Bai Chay:
Bai Chay is a resort located along the coast of Halong Bay. This
is a windward ocean resort which has a year round average
temperature of 20oC (68oF).
Bai Chay is a low gently sloping range of hills that runs along
the sea for more than 2 kilometers. Blended in among the pine
trees are large hotels and small villas with their distinguished
architectural styles. Traveling down the asphalt road along the
coast, visitors see long white stretches of sand and green rows of
casuarina trees, tucked under which are small family-run
restaurants. After swimming at the beach, tourists can enjoy cold
drinks and cool off in the breeze that sweeps in from the sea.
Bai Tho Mountain (Poem Mountain):
Bai Tho Mountain is 106 meters high. It runs along the coast, half
on land and half in the sea. Sailing in the bay, one or two
hundred meters from the mountain, one can see a poem carved on a
flat stone cliff.
In 1468, Emperor Le Thanh Tong, who was also a poet, made an
inspection tour of the North-East region. He stopped at the foot
of the mountain, and inspired by the magnificent beauty of his
surroundings, he wrote a poem. Later, he had the poem engraved on
the wall of the mountain. It is very interesting to climb the
mountain and enjoy the panoramic view of the bay.
Tuan Chau Islet:
Situated 3 km west of Dao Go Islet, Tuan Chau Islet has an area of
300 ha. On the islet, there is a very simple bamboo house built by
the inhabitants of Quang Ninh for Uncle Ho to rest after visiting
Halong Bay. The house is now carefully preserved by the locals.
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