Dau Go Cave

Dau Go (Driftwood) cave is a simple name between the sky and land of Halong. From the far distance, the entrance of the cave is in the shape of a jellyfish. After 90 steps up the island, the entrance is reached. The ceiling of the cave is about 25 m. Hundreds of stalactites falling down from the roof of the cave look like a waterfall. The cave is divided into three main rooms. The outer room is a room with a vault full of natural light, the dome of the cave is a giant canvas with the natural wild landscape of stalactites. Many forms may be seen in the rock formations of the chamber, depending on the imagination of the visitor. 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 stone flowers appears with the shapes of similar and strange things to human, which creates the excitement as well as the curiosity. The third chamber of the cave is widely opened. At the end of the cave 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. The name Driftwood Cave came from a popular story of the resistance war against the Yuan – Mongolian aggressors. In a decisive battle, Tran Hung Dao was given the order to prepare many ironwood stakes here, to be planted on the riverbed of Bach Ðang River. The remaining wooden pieces found in the cave have given it its present name. And the name Dau Go is associated with the legend that General Tran Hung Ðao (1226-1300) hid ironwood stakes in preparation for the Bach Dang battle against the Yuan-Mongolian invaders. If the Thiên Cung Cave is monumental and modern (in its natural form), then Driftwood Cave is solemn, but also grandiose. In “Marvels of the World,” published in France in 1938, the author called the cave “Grotte des merveilles” (a site of many marvels) In 1917, Emperor Khai Ðinh came to visit the cave, and amazed by the beauty of the place, ordered the erection of an engraved stone stele singing the praises of Ha Long Bay and the cave. Today, it remains to the right-hand side of the entrance.

Da Bac cave

It is said that in a time coming to the earth of the fairy girls, because of loving the nature, the fairy girls were lost in Da Bac. The beauty pulled them back and did not want to come back to the heaven. The God of heaven knew that news and was angry. He had the gate of the heaven closed and forbidden the fairy girls to be back. They stayed in that place and incarnated into the mountainsides. Since then, the Da Bac cave is also named Tien cave (fairy cave). Today, the Da Bac cave is in Lien Son commune, Hoa Binh province. It was discovered since 1990. IT is a 70m long cave with many small rooms. The entrance is not quite big with a path covered with brick for the visitors to come in. Firstly, the Co Tien cave (fairy girl cave) is separated into two rooms: the outer and inner rooms. The outer room is pure, cool, and wide. The stalactites hang down into the curling shapes, which help the room more lively. The under parts are sparkling stalactites which look like the natural ponds with full of waters. The inner room seems to be smaller. The empty range of stone hangs down to create a beautiful and strange image. Only one minute standing there would create the peace in mind and the visitors would feel like being on the fairyland. Visitors would touch those masterpieces of nature. Beside Co Tien cave is Long Tien cave where the visitors would be surprised because of its special structure. The half part of the cave is in the shape of lined in the logical order. The outside light could come into the cave through a sub-entrance. At the end of the journey, visitors would come to Mau cave, a special place, which is like the joining of the whole fairy world. The stalactites hang down with different colors. The fairy girls on the cliffs. The Thach Sach under an ancient bayan trees. God Giong on his iron horse and the yellow bamboo to defeat the evils. Such a rare wonderland on earth. Comingn to Da Bac cave, visitors would be free to discover the nature to have the most relaxing moments after the tough working days.

Bach Long Vi Island

The Bach Long vi (White dragon tails) island is 130km far from the Hai Phong northern province by sea. With the area is 3km square, Bach Long Vi is a triangle shape with the perimeter of 8 km. In the middle of island is the hillock with the figure of tortoise shells with the height of 60 m. From this very peak, there is a observatory which is like a tireless eye which witnessing the sea land of Vietnam. There is a village in the island which named Phu Thuy Chau (village floating on the water). This village is established since 1920s, due to the foundation of sweet water resource. Bach Long Vi was formerly the reside temporarily place of fishermen from Co To or Cat Ba. Now there is also people from Hai Nan (China) island coming to live and they earn a living mainly by catching abalone. Apart from abalone, Bach Long Vi also has phosphate, mange, and alfatite, which is the prospect of natural oil in the Gulf of Tonkin. In American war, the enemy destroyed the island 142 times with the total bomb released were hundreds ton. The army in this island was bravely raised against the enemy which deserved the title of “never sink battleship”.

Sapa Town

If the nature has “pre-setup” for the North West part with the limestone ranges or the green forest ranging with rivers and spring, the historical of nature also left many landmarks with the living symbols of grottoes inside the hillside with the magical stalactites. All have made the visitors being moved. One of the typical features for the tenacious creativities is located in Lai Chau province with the complex of grotto Pu Sam Cap which is newly discovered since July 2006 with more than 10 grottoes and caves. Among them, there are three main grottoes named Thien Mon, Thien Duong and Thuy Tinh which are compared with the sleepless woman in the forest. The natural beauty of Pu Sam Cap is not so less in comparison with any complex which is acknowledged to be the national and international landscape such as Phong Nha – Ke Bang (Quang Binh) or Thien Cung (Quang Ninh), etc. Pu Sam Cap means “three overlapping big mountains” in local language. This is the name for the limestone mountain range with the topography type of karst, which is shaped from the Tectonics era. Pu Sam Cap complex is along the provincial road no 129 to Sin Ho plateau. It is about 6km from the West of Lai Chau Township, and it is on the height of 1,700m above the sea level. Coming to Pu Sam Cap, visitors have to go through a rough tortuous pathway with the ancient trees being stroked down by storms lying in the middle of the road. That makes the steps of the visitors full of magic and natural power of the jungle. The interesting part of it is when visitors are hard to approach different types of stalactites; it is very easy for them to touch in Pu Sam Cap. This seems to be the advantage of this cave, but it has left many tough issues in preserving. Because it needs millions of years to create these masterpieces, but only small unawareness could harm them even in a blink of eyes. Py Sam Cap cave is still too neglected and simple. There seem only some instruction plates to instruct the visitors to the Thien Mon or Thien Duong caves. There are also some of llight bowl are set up to help the visitors to witness the inside parts. Almost no large-scale investments are made to match the beauty of the Pu Sam Cap mountain girls. It is hoped that in the near future, under the special treatment of the local authorities, Pu Sam Cap complex would become the bright point along with the latent values of the province. Pu Sam Cap will contribute to the tourism enhancement of Lai Chau to add on the unique colorful features of North West sonority.

Pu Sam Cap Cave

If the nature has “pre-setup” for the North West part with the limestone ranges or the green forest ranging with rivers and spring, the historical of nature also left many landmarks with the living symbols of grottoes inside the hillside with the magical stalactites. All have made the visitors being moved. One of the typical features for the tenacious creativities is located in Lai Chau province with the complex of grotto Pu Sam Cap which is newly discovered since July 2006 with more than 10 grottoes and caves. Among them, there are three main grottoes named Thien Mon, Thien Duong and Thuy Tinh which are compared with the sleepless woman in the forest. The natural beauty of Pu Sam Cap is not so less in comparison with any complex which is acknowledged to be the national and international landscape such as Phong Nha – Ke Bang (Quang Binh) or Thien Cung (Quang Ninh), etc. Pu Sam Cap means “three overlapping big mountains” in local language. This is the name for the limestone mountain range with the topography type of karst, which is shaped from the Tectonics era. Pu Sam Cap complex is along the provincial road no 129 to Sin Ho plateau. It is about 6km from the West of Lai Chau Township, and it is on the height of 1,700m above the sea level. Coming to Pu Sam Cap, visitors have to go through a rough tortuous pathway with the ancient trees being stroked down by storms lying in the middle of the road. That makes the steps of the visitors full of magic and natural power of the jungle. The interesting part of it is when visitors are hard to approach different types of stalactites; it is very easy for them to touch in Pu Sam Cap. This seems to be the advantage of this cave, but it has left many tough issues in preserving. Because it needs millions of years to create these masterpieces, but only small unawareness could harm them even in a blink of eyes. Py Sam Cap cave is still too neglected and simple. There seem only some instruction plates to instruct the visitors to the Thien Mon or Thien Duong caves. There are also some of llight bowl are set up to help the visitors to witness the inside parts. Almost no large-scale investments are made to match the beauty of the Pu Sam Cap mountain girls. It is hoped that in the near future, under the special treatment of the local authorities, Pu Sam Cap complex would become the bright point along with the latent values of the province. Pu Sam Cap will contribute to the tourism enhancement of Lai Chau to add on the unique colorful features of North West sonority.

Tac Tinh Waterfall

Coming to Binh Lu, Tam Duong District, Lai Chau visitors are not only fascinated by immense cane of the people, but also this place has a fascinating sights waiting to be discovered it is the Tac Tinh waterfall. It does not know the time the name “Tac Tinh” formed and exists in the minds of each of the Dao people in particular and all the people here in general. Following the Dao language: Tac: means water from the height falling down the rock -top emerging from vertical cliff (cliff height from 50m up compared to the ground); Tinh: means the water from the waterfall flowing down forming a puddle on the ground (like a small lake). About 30 km from Lai Chau Town to the southeast, the highway 4D on the intersection of Binh Lu town, visitors will have to undergo approximately 2km of bumpy and tortuous road to the foot of waterfall. From a distance, Tac Tinh turns up as a charming and natural scenery painting in the middle of northwestern mountains attracting visitors to explore, discover. The waterfall originated from the imposing Hoang Lien Son range, about 130m high, pouring down in the vertical direction, the foot of waterfall is about 40 meters wide, at the foot of the waterfall is a large lake about 200m2. Standing eye-level the waterfall appears as a charming picture, in the sunset light , guests will find a rainbow picture shown up on the cool water, a relaxed, which make visitor not forget the wonderful sceneries in the pictures, the best lens. After satisfying the sight from above, a small walkway will lead visitors down the lake at the foot of waterfall, a green lake showing up, and foam tossing dazzlingly white. At the foot of visitors, the water looks like wriggling through the rocks with all sorts of shapes, sizes, when visitors looked up suddenly, they feel so small midst the immense space of the scene here. “Tac Tinh” is not only the name of a waterfall but also the love – song legend of a young couple in love. Legend has it that ancient days nobody remembered any time, in the village of Dao ethnic, at the foot of waterfall, there was a beautiful girl, and her beauty is considered as orchid flowers. She fell in love with a person in the same village; both people loved and hang on to together as deer in the forest from the morning to evening. However, happiness was not long the disaster has struck down two people; their love has encountered many obstacles and dangers because evildoer plotted to harm, to cut to the love, not to become husband and wife. In order to fulfill their faithful love and vows between two people, she threw herself into the waterfall. Impressed by the actions of young girls, the people here named the Tac Tinh for the waterfall to honor her along with the desire to work for the love story of two people.

Kinh Chu cave

Kinh Chu cave (or Duong Nhan cave) is located in Duong Nham village, An Sinh commune, Kinh Mon district, Hai Duong province. Kinh Chu cave is placed into the 6thrank of beauty in caves in Vietnam. From An Phu Mountain to the north, Duong Nhan mountain range looks like the giant rock-garden in the vast space of paddy field in Kinh Thay valley. In the north of Duong Nhan range, the river flows close to the foot of the mountain, which creates the nice landscape with river, and mountain, moreover, it is also convenient in transportation. The west south is bordered by the district connected road and an old village named Kinh Chu (Kinh Mon) which is the hometown of stone workers in the East part. Duong Nhan range and Kinh Thay River is the natural landscape and Kinh Chu village is the artificial projects, which perfect the landscape. Duong Nhan Mountain is also named Bo Da, Xuyen Chau, Thach Mon. In the war against Nguyen dynasty of China, King Tran Nhan Tong settled the army on the mountain and prevented the attack from the water line. The mountainside in the south has one big cave called Kinh Chu or Duong Nhan cave, and it is placed in the 6th rank of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam. The gate of the cave faces the South. It is on the height of 20m above the field with good light and cool atmosphere in the summer, warm in the winter. There were prehistoric human beings living there. Apart from Kinh Chu cave, Duong Nhan Mountain, there are lots of particular interesting caves such as Vang cave, Luon cave, Trau cave, Tien Su cave, etc. There are many animal figures carving on the rock and the old tools for working of the ancient people. People also use Kinh Chu cave to honor the Buddha, mediator Minh Khong, Ly Than Tong king, Xuan Zang monk and other stone statues which describe the typical facts in the prayer book of Buddhism. Kinh Chu cave was soon restored by human. It is also combined with other landscape around to make it become the landscape of the East North of the country, which is close to the Red River delta. Many famous people in different times have been here. Many kings, monks, officials also visit the cave and be moved with the grandiose and beautiful landscape of the river and mountains, then they left their thoughts about the country and time. Those feelings have been carved in the stone in more than 40 steles in the cave. Kinh Chu cave is always a nice landscape. There is a small museum restoring the steles and the sculptures from seven centuries. This is the heritages, which are not owned by every cave. After the reunification day, especially in the recent years, the intellectual of people has been raised. Kinh Chu cave is also restored. The uncontrolled exploiting of rock has been prevented to forever protect this important national cultural and historical vestige.

Love waterfall

About 4km from the West South of SaPa, Tinh Yeu Waterfall (love waterfall) is located in San Sa Ho commune. There are a mountain which is separated into two pieces and it is also the beginning part of the Tour: climbing the Fansipan mountain. The pathway of red soil carries visitors to the green forest with the green color of bamboo, the sound of leaves in the wind and suddenly very colorful with many types of Do Quyen flower. Visitors will pass to a small spring to reach the waterfall, the last stop of the tour route. The waterfall flows from the height of nearly 100m with the cold and the white spumes to create the light fog to cover the forest. Though it is such a rumble waterfall, it could still be felt with the soul of it which is made from the beat of love and the name of Tinh Yeu waterfall (Love waterfall) are just in people’s mind. The waterfall flows to create a wild bathtub. Visitors could enjoy the legend about the love of the local boy with a fairy girl from the heaven. It is about the name of the O Qui Ho Pass and the bird, which often make the sound of that name. There are still that sound around the pass in the afternoon to create the vague sadness for the land. If the waterfall is exploited in the right and effective way, it could become the attractive destination in Sapa district.

Sung Sot cave

Sung Sot cave (Surprised cave in Quang Ninh province) is just voted to be one of the ten most beautiful cavees in the world by the Czech travel agent association for its mysterious beauty of stalactites. Sung Sot cave was discovered in Bo Hon Island in the centre of the heritage group of Halong in 1991 by the French. With the special beauty and always giving surprise to the visitors, French people gave it the name “grotte de la surprise”. The cave is about 10,000sq m and 30m high, and it is separated into two main parts. The first part is quite large with many stalactites and in different shapes of elephant, seal, leaves, etc. There are also stalactites hanging from the ceiling, which are like the cluster of bowls. From the first part to the second part, you would have to cross a small path. Beside the entrance to the second part, there are shapes of elephant and sword. It is said that Giong God before coming to the heaven have been in this place and helped people to beat evils and ghosts, and he left the sword and horse to calm people’s nerve. There are still signs of that battle for the footprints of horse, etc. In the dome, there is no water dropping from the stalactites. Instead of that, there are concaves like the ceiling of the theatre. The sound in this place is able to hear in echoes back, which are clearer. This is one of the typical karts caves with high value of science. Coming deeper, the landscape is more beautiful with the shape of a royal garden with the shapes of stones like cycad tree, ancient banyan trees, etc. From the Bai Chay port, sitting on a ship to the South of 14 km, visitors would reach Bo Hon Island. From this point, you could cross 50 high staircases and go down for 10 more steps to come to the entrance cave. Following the long stone path for 800m from the beginning to the end of the cave, you would see the mysterious and magnificent beauty of this cave.

Silver waterfall

Silver waterfall has long been famous for a beautiful landscape of Sapa (Lao Cai province). This waterfall is about 100m high from the top. Standing under Silver waterfall and watching the mountain from far, people could understand the smallness of ourselves in front of the grandiosity of the nature. Silver waterfall is about 7.5 miles from Sapa town. From the mountain gorge of hundred meters high, the water line roaring flows to the water surface to let out the spumes, which are white like flowers so that it is called Silver waterfall. People could hear it sounds from the far distance in the jungle, which let it be more mysterious and wild. The waterfall is right near the national road, which is suitable for tourism. It is springs together flow to the waterfall from far away that urges the visitors to come. After about half an hour, visitors would feel coming to the P’eng-lai land. Among the place of fruits and flowers all around and foggy covering for whole year, especially in Silver waterfall, it is still a bit cold in summer. People would wallow themselves in the cool water and release all the fear, worries and just relax under the green trees. All of their sorrows will flow along with the Silver waterfall.