Ha Long - Bay of the Descending Dragon Vietnam travel
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How to get here: Quang Ninh is 55km form Haiphong and 160km
from Hanoi.
Air - You can get here by helicopter every Saturday from Hanoi.
Road - It takes about 3 hours by car from Hanoi to Halong.
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Halong Bay is located in the Northeast of Vietnam, belonging to QuangNinh
Province. It is in the coastal area stretching from 1060 56’ to 1070 37’ east
longitude and 200 43’ to 210 09’ north latitude. To the west and northwest,
Halong Bay stretches from Yen Hung District, and includes the large urban areas
of Halong City and Cam Pha Town, as well as Van Don Island District. To the
south and southeast, it is adjacent to the western Tonkin Gulf and to the west
and southwest lies Cat Ba Island in the province of Hai Phong. On the world
map, Ha Long Bay borders to China in the north and in the east it is adjacent to
the East Sea.
In 1962, the Ministry of Culture
and Information classified Halong Bay as a National Landscape Site, covering an
area of 1,553 km2 with 1,969 islands. Halong Bay has been recognized twice by
UNESCO as a World Heritage Area for its universal values of landscape, geology
and geomorphology, respectively in 1994 and 2000, an area of 434 sq. km.
including 775 islands.
The area inscribed by UNESCO
(the Protected Area I - the Core Zone) is bound by Dau Go Island in the east, Ba
Ham Lake in the south and Cong Tay Island in the east. The Protected Area II -
the Buffer Zone is identified by the shore of the Bay running along the National
Highway No. 18A, from the Gasoline Warehouse B12 in Cai Dam Precinct to the
km.11 marker in Quang Hanh Precinct, Cam Pha Town. The Protected Area III - the
Hinterland Zone is the sea or mainland area surrounding the buffer zone,
including the area adjacent to the Cat Ba National Park of Hai Phong City.
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Hang Dau Go (Wooden Stakes Cave)
Hang Dau Go is one of the most beautiful cave at
Ha Long. The name, Dau Go or Giau Go, has direct ties to the history of Vietnam.
According to the locals, while preparing for the Mongolian attacks in 1288,
general Tran Hung Dao, sent a convoy to this area to cut wood from this region.
Wooden stakes were then fashioned from the wood and hidden in Dau Go cave. The
stakes were embedded in Bach Dang river to form a barrier against the attacking
Mongols. According to legend, general Tran Hung Dao dealt a great blow to the
Kublai Khan when he tricked the Mongolian army into chasing him deep up Bach
Dang's channel. When the tide were down the enemies were stuck in these wooden
stakes driven into the river bed. Dau Go was also the site where general Tran
Khan Du hid his force while waiting for the Mongols led by Truong Van Ho in
1287.
Dau Go is located on a limestone islet 8 km south of Bai Chay. The islet itself
stands 187 m above sea level. Upon arriving visitors must hike the 90 rocky
steps that lead to the cave's entrance. There are three chambers with the outer
one having the most spectacular stalagmites and stalactites. Some are as tall as
20 m in height. The locals claim that these giant formations resemble human
forms and are the keepers or guardians of Dau Go cave. The outer chamber is also
the largest with capacity for three to four thousand people. The cave's floor is
approximately 6 m lower than the entrance and the distance from floor to ceiling
is approximately 25 m.
The middle chamber is accessible through a narrow passage approximately 1.4 m
wide. There is a round crystal like structure on the path. When struck by light,
this structure emits a kaleidoscope of light that is both breathtaking and
unique. The inner chamber is famous for the colorful stalagmites and
stalactites.
The inner chamber is much smaller by comparison. It is here that visitors will
find stone wells filled with fresh water. According to the locals these wells
are filled year round.
Dau Go is probably the most famous of all grottoes in Ha Long. Since its
discovery, many Vietnamese dignitaries have visited Dau Go cave. In 1929, King
Khai Dinh (Nguyen dynasty) visited Dau Go cave and was awed by its beauty. His
praise in writing is carved on a stone stele at the entrance of the cave.
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Pelican Cave (Hang Bo Nau)
Unlike Dau Go cave, Bo Nau cave is not as
deep and large. Looking out from the cave the visitor can enjoy the scenic
beauty of Ha Long. The clear blue water with rocky formations rising forms a
picturesque setting. Bo Nau is a compound word derived from two words, bo cau
meaning pigeon and nau meaning brown. Bo Nau literally means brown pigeon. For
some reason, many foreign translations refer to this cave as Pelican cave.
According to the fishermen in this region, long ago, when there were still few
visitors, Bo Nau cave was home to thousands of pigeons. Today as more visitors
and people begin to inhabit the surrounding islands, the pigeons have left until
only the name Bo Nau remains out of habit of the local fishermen.
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Hang Trinh Nu (Virgin Cave)
Hang Trinh Nu or the Virgin is also known
as Mid Gate cave. According to local lore, an old couple lived here long ago.
The husband made a living fishing around the bay. They were very poor. They had
only one daughter. She grew up to be a beautiful young woman, so beautiful that
people from all around knew of her. There were many suitors and her reputation
reached the local mandarin. The mandarin immediately sent his soldier to her
home to capture her. She was forced to marry the old mandarin.
After much cajoling and threats the fair maiden still steadfastly refused. One
day, she escaped from the mandarins home, however she was afraid to return home
for fear of retaliation. After much thought, the maiden decided to go to Mid
Gate cave to commit suicide. Her body turned into the stone statue lying atop a
flat surface. Since then, Mid Gate cave became known as Virgin cave.
Virgin cave tunnels through the middle of an island approximately 2 km long.
Along the tunnel, there are many chambers. Each is famous for a different
reason. All are unique in their beauty. Many visitors to the cave are awed by
its beauty and so the name Hang Sung Sot was given to the outer chamber of the
Virgin cave. Sung Sot literally means astonishment or awe.
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Cave of Awe (Hang Sung Sot)
Sung Sot cave is on the same island with
Trinh Nu cave. The path to Sung Sot is quite steep and is lined with shady
trees. The cave has 2 chambers. The outer chamber is square and is often
referred to as the waiting room. The cave's ceiling is approximately 30 m high.
The walls are almost perfectly smooth as if it was built by man. The walls
generate a variety of colors that blend with the setting of the area.
The path to the inner chamber is approximately 3m wide. The inner chamber is
known as the serene castle. The formations in the chamber take the form of
sentries conversing with one another, animals in varying poses etc. In the
middle of the chamber stands a formation which resembles a general surveying his
troops.
There is a side entrance which is approximately 6m in height. The light
reflected from the moving water outside causes the formations inside the chamber
to seemingly come alive. According to the locals, this was the reason the cave
was named Sung Sot, from the awe-stricken reaction of the visitors to the cave.
How To Get to Halong from others City
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Northern Service Flight Company (182 Truong Chinh,
Hanoi) offers and helicopter flight every Saturday from Hanoi, departing
at 8am and returning at 3pm. |
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Take the train from Hanoi to Haiphong, then by a
boat to Halong Bay. *** Daily ferries leave from the dock in Hon Gai for
Haiphong, Cat Hai island and Mong Cai. |
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Bai Chay Station is by the Bai Chay Post Office.
Buses leave Hanoi' Gia Lam Station for Bai Chay. Air-con minibuses
depart daily from Kim Ma station to Bai Chay. It takes 3 hours and 40
minutes and costs 35,000VND. Minibus depart from Bai Chay to Hanoi from
Mien Tay Bus station. |
