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Some 2-3 km southeast of Trong Mái Islet lies Bo Nâu
Grotto or Pelican Grotto. This vaulted grotto covers 200 m2. The
floor of the grotto is wide and flat, but not deep, and its wall
features lots of stalactites and stalagmites.
At the entrance are three stones, looking like three fairies with
their heads close to one another. Two men appear to be playing chess,
with the third serving as a referee.
The name Bo Nâu or BoNông is associated with the fact
that pelicans often take shelter here. If Ðau Go Grotto lies
completely inside the island, Bo Nâu opens its mouth at the
side of the island. Stalactites fall down from the roof of the grotto
in different clusters. Meanwhile stalagmites grow up in different
shapes and layers. Is this that the life out there is so noisy that
the three fairies have to choose this tranquil place to play chess?
Turning southward, Bo Nâu Grotto enjoys cool wind. Standing
there, one can hear the murmur of the sea all year round. Bo Nâu
Grotto is one of the beauty grottoes in Ha Long Bay.
The grotto is on Dau Go( Driftwood) Island. Seen from afar, the
entrance to the grotto appears to be blue, and has a shape similar
to that of a jellyfish. After 90 steps up the island, the entrance
is reached. The ceiling of the grotto is about 25 m. Hundreds of
stalactites falling down from the roof of the grotto look like a
waterfall.
The name Driftwood Grotto came from a popular story of the resistance
war against the Yuan - Mongolian aggressors. In a decisive battle,
Trân Hung Ðao was given the order to prepare many ironwood
stakes here, to be driven on the bed of Bach Ðang River. The
remaining wooden pieces found in the grotto have given it its present
name.
And the name Giâu Gô is associated with the legend that
General Trân Hung Ðao (1226-1300) hid ironwood stakes
in preparation for the Bach Ðang battle against the Yuan-Mongolian
invaders.
The grotto is divided into three main parts.
The exterior is a room with a vault full of natural light. Many
forms may be seen in the rock formations of the chamber, depending
on the imagination of the visitor of course.
Crossing the first chamber, one enters the second chamber through
a narrow passage. The light here is mysterious, and new images appear
in the stone. It makes us having a fear and be inquisitive.
The third chamber of the grotto is widely opened. At the end of
the grotto is a well of clear water. Looking up in the dim light
we recognize that surrounded is the image of an ancient citadel
and a scuffle of elephants, horses, man with bristly sword and spear.
All are making a rush and be petrified suddenly.
In "Marvels of the World," published in France in 1938,
the author called the grotto "Grotte des merveilles" (a
site of many marvels). In 1917 the Vietnamese Emperor Khai Dinh
came to visit the grotto and amazed by the beauty of the place,
ordered the erection of an engraved stone stele singing the praises
of Halong Bay and the grotto. Today, it remains to the right –
hand side of the entrance.
Situated on Bo Hòn Island, 14 km south of Bãi Cháy
Beach is the Luon Grotto. In front of the grotto is Con Rùa
( Turtle) Islet, and the Sky Gate is on the right. Here the cliffs
stretch vertically out of the pure blue and smooth water. At the
water-level, an arched entrance leads to the grotto, just at the
base of the island. The cave is 90 m long and 3.5 m wide. Passing
through the pretty entrance, you come across a tranquil round lake,
surrounded by luxuriant trees and high dangerous stone walls. Monkeys
run to and fro in groups, Benjamin fig trees shade the landscape
and many orchids hang their sweet-scented flowers. In the lake,
many species abound: shrimp, fish, crab and cuttle-fish.
The cave is one of the rare caves in Halong Bay. You could discover
the cave and the peaceful lake just behind by kakyak or by bamboo
boat supported by tourist ships. The beauty of the site is the mingling
of a number of factors: the mountain's size and form, the color
of the water and the clouds.
Situated in the centre of the UNESCO-declared World Heritage area,
the Sung Sôt or Surprise Grotto is on Bo Hòn Island,
and is one of the finest and widest grottoes of HA Long Bay.
Ascending to the grotto, the way is covered by trees and foliage,
and consists of great paved stone blocks.
Inside, it is partitioned into two chambers; the first one being
similar to a wide theatre hall. Many stalactites hang from the high
ceiling, with numerous possible forms and shapes.
A narrow passage leads to the second rooms, where a flow of light
meets visitors. The chamber is so immense it could contain thousands
of people at one time.
At the deepest point of the grotto, a "royal garden" appears
with a clear pond and a seemingly fascinating landscape of mountains.
Many birds and plants (benjamin figs, cycads and centenary banyan
trees) live here. On nice days groups of monkeys might arrive in
search of fruit.
It is situated in the central tourism centre of the bay, as well
as Ti Top Beach, Bô Nâu Grotto, Mê Cung Grotto
and Luon Grotto. French named it "grotte des surprises"
(grotto of surprise)
From the wharf, you climb 50 steep stone stairs to the mouth of
the grotto, which lies 25 m above the sea level. Going down some
10 stone stairs, you reach the mouth of a grotto. The grotto covers
some 10,000 m2. Inside the grotto there have thousands of stalactites
and stalagmites along the 500-meter paved passage. Light posts line
the passage and serve as signposts and ornaments. The lighting system
with elegant styles adds more charm to the beauty of the grotto.
Up in the 30-meter roof of the grotto, one can figure out small,
soft and even concave spots, which look like patterns in the ceiling
of a theater. A huge piece of stone stands up to the ceiling by
the grotto’s mouth. This evidences one of the typical karst-style
grottoes with high scientific values.
At the side of the entrance, the rock seems to form the shape of
a horse with a long sword. Legend has it, that after having defeated
the Ân aggressors, Thánh Gióng (the Saint Gióng)
helped the population to chase away evil spirits and demons. After
this feat, Saint Gióng flew to heaven, leaving a stone horse
and sword to continue to keep the demons away.
It is situated on the south-west side the bay, 4 km from the wharf
outside of Ha Long City. The way to Thiên Cung is a perilous
one, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow
gate, the grotto’s 130-meter-long girth opens up. Getting
in we are more astonished in front of the very animated and splendid
beauty which is made from stalactite. On the east wall of the grotto,
there is a grandiose and imposing picture with characters of tales.
Going out of the Thiên Cung Grotto, we have a sensation of
just watching a unique, meticulous, interesting fine-art museum
which is made by nature, get out of the imagine, ability and intellect
of man.
This grotto is discovered in 1993, one of the most beautiful grottoes
in Ha Long Bay.
Legend has it, that beautiful young lady named Mây (cloud),
caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her.
They were betrothed, and their wedding lasted seven days and seven
nights in the very centre of the grotto. In honour of the wedding,
small dragons flew about through the stalactites and stalagmites,
elephants danced together happily, snakes twined themselves around
trees and two stone lions danced with their manes flowing in the
wind. A large elephant, smartly dressed, waited for the bride and
the groom. The genies of the south and north stars also came to
attend the banquet, and the atmosphere was definitely animated and
lively. All these scenes have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto.
In the centre are four large pillars supporting the "roof of
heaven.” From the base to the top, many strange images seem
to live in the stone: birds, fish, flowers and even scenes of human
life. On the north wall of the grotto a group of fairies seem to
dance and sing in honour of the wedding. Under the immeasurably
high roof, stalactites make a natural stone curtain. Somewhere there
is the sound of a drum beating, but it is actually just the noise
made by the wind blowing through stone.
Arriving at the last partition of the grotto, a natural gushing
stream of water babbles throughout the year. Here are three small
ponds of clear water. Legend has it, that this was where Mây
bathed her 100 children, bringing them up wisely and happily into
adolescence. One path meanders out of the grotto; it was the way
Mây, together with 50 of her children, took to harvest new
lands. The 50 remaining children, together with their father, were
left to build the native land. Left behind by the mother was the
natural stream described above.
Hang Hanh is one of the longest grottoes in Ha Long Bay, lying 9
km west of Cam Pha Town and 20 km from Bãi Cháy Beach.
It is 1,300 m long, and stretches throughout the stone mountain
of Quang Hanh. That is why it was named “ Le tunnel”
or Tunnel grotto.
Hang Hanh Grotto is extremely beautiful. The small boat will take
you through the stone passageway by lamp-light, casting magical
colors on the hanging stalactites.
One should visit the grotto at low tide and has to go by small boat
to pass through, as this is the time the mouth of the grotto appears,
then you should ask the boatmen what time the tide is up in order
to get out of the grotto.
To get there, tourists can hire canoes in Ðoan wharf (Hòn
Gai, Ha Long City) or take a coach to Cam Pha. At the Cam Pha wharf,
one can also hire boats or canoes to go to the grotto. It takes
about one hour to visit the grotto. Hanh Grotto seems suitable for
adventures.
In front of the present-day mouth stands Ba Cô (Three Girls)
shrine in a towering piece of stone. Legend has it that: “Once
upon a time there were three girls who often went to the sea together.
One day, they caught a pouring rain and took shelter in a grotto.
They found the scenery so captivating that they forgot the time
of rising tide. Locked up in the grotto, they passed away and became
Water God.”
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