Visitors to the northern province of Ninh Binh hear about the beauty of Tam Coc – Bich Dong grotto as a Ha Long Bay on land, yet there is another grotto in this region hardly marked by the footprints of tourists which may be even more magnificent.
It is Trang An grotto, a community of mountains, caves, river-valleys, woods and cultural and historical relics, whose central pier on the Sao Khe river is six kilometers from Ninh Binh City and 95 kilometers from Hanoi.
This grotto is a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna, many of them in the Red Book of Vietnam, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Each of the caves has its own beauty with many stalactites in a profusion of color.
Some of the caves are Toi (Dark) Cave, a 315-meter deep and dark cave, Sang (Light) Cave, a 112 meters deep lighter cave. There is also a 260-meter Nau Ruou (wine brewing) Cave, which, according to legend, has water that makes a delicious wine. Ba Giot (Three Drop) Cave, according to legend, grants a wish to those who catch three drops of water.
Unlike Tam Coc grotto, Trang An forms an “indoor” journey and visitors rowing through the cross-water caves get the sensation of a labyrinth. Visitors enter easily enough but need a local guide to find the exit.
That is why King Dinh Tien Hoang (924-979) chose this grotto as his southern citadel to protect the rear of Hoa Lu capital city and to hide food for his army.
A 10th century Dinh Dynasty temple with a thousand year old Chinese fig tree and many antique objects including tools and weapons can be seen here.
While rowing through Trang An grotto in the quiet, fresh air of the highlands, with only the sound of birds and the oars stirring the clear water and surrounded by magnificent forested mountains upon which graze white goats, visitors enjoy a heaven on earth.
It is Trang An grotto, a community of mountains, caves, river-valleys, woods and cultural and historical relics, whose central pier on the Sao Khe river is six kilometers from Ninh Binh City and 95 kilometers from Hanoi.
This grotto is a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna, many of them in the Red Book of Vietnam, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Each of the caves has its own beauty with many stalactites in a profusion of color.
Some of the caves are Toi (Dark) Cave, a 315-meter deep and dark cave, Sang (Light) Cave, a 112 meters deep lighter cave. There is also a 260-meter Nau Ruou (wine brewing) Cave, which, according to legend, has water that makes a delicious wine. Ba Giot (Three Drop) Cave, according to legend, grants a wish to those who catch three drops of water.
Unlike Tam Coc grotto, Trang An forms an “indoor” journey and visitors rowing through the cross-water caves get the sensation of a labyrinth. Visitors enter easily enough but need a local guide to find the exit.
That is why King Dinh Tien Hoang (924-979) chose this grotto as his southern citadel to protect the rear of Hoa Lu capital city and to hide food for his army.
A 10th century Dinh Dynasty temple with a thousand year old Chinese fig tree and many antique objects including tools and weapons can be seen here.
While rowing through Trang An grotto in the quiet, fresh air of the highlands, with only the sound of birds and the oars stirring the clear water and surrounded by magnificent forested mountains upon which graze white goats, visitors enjoy a heaven on earth.
By Thuy Nguyen/ The Saigon Times
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