Hoa Binh city is about 80km from the capital city Hanoi. Having driven in Hoa Binh city, tourists just take a few-minute walk on a small brick road to Bich Ha wharf, where they can get on a motorboat to start their exploration of the cave. Sitting on the boat, tourists can see mounts leaning against each other in the mist. Along the Hoa Binh river are lines of floating houses for aqua-farming.
After 30 minutes boating, Thac Bo cave appears.
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Thac Bo cave - a tourist destination |
The cave is located near Ngoc (Pearl) wharf in the northern side of the Chua mountain range spreading along the Hoa Binh riverside. It is part of the relic complex of a temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess who helped Le Loi, then King Le Thai To, defeat Northern invaders. It used to be a shelter for many traders on the Da river to avoid big waves and strong winds.
According to a tourist guide, in dry season, tourists must climb nearly 100 steps from the mountain foot to the cave’s entrance. When the river water’s level rises, tourists can sit on a boat to reach a floating house and walk on a nearly 50m pontoon bridge to the cave’s entrance.
In the cave, apart from wondrous stalactites of different shapes, there are alters to worship Buddha and President Ho Chi Minh.
Visiting the cave for the first time, tourist Tran Thi Bich Ngoc in Long Bien district, Hanoi said, what impressed her most was stalactites with strange and lively shapes, such as dragon carps, clouds, and horses. The rocks grow up from the floor in combination with the stalactites coming out of the cave’s ceiling create a virtual feeling like a place in the fairyland, Ngoc said.
Another place tourists should not miss while exploring the cave is a temple dedicated to Thac Bo Goddess, a legendary local girl who had assisted Le Loi’s troops to defeat enemy from the North.
It is worth noting that tourists should savor grilled Mang fish, a local specialty of freshwater fish and other specialties on a boat while contemplating a picturesque scenery of clouds and mountains. Such an unforgettable experience!
Translated by Mai Huong