Thien Cunng Cave,Halong Bay :
It is situated on the south west side of Halong Bay, 4kms from the wharf outside of Halong City. This grotto is recently discovered, one of the most beautiful grottoes in Halong Bay. The way to Thien 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 in the Thien 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.
Mythical Wonder
Thien Cung cave has an ancient story behind its existence. Legend has it that a beautiful young lady named May (meaning cloud in Vietnamese), 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 among 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 on the bride and the groom.
The genies of the south and north stars also came to attend the banquet, and the atmosphere was definitely lively. All these scenes have been seemingly fossilised 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 come “alive” in the stone – birds, fish, flowers and humans.
On the north wall of the grotto, there were images of a group of fairies dancing and singing in honour of the wedding. Under the immeasurably high roof, stalactites make a natural stone curtain. Somewhere, there was the sound of a drum beating, but it was actually just the noise made by the wind blowing through stone.
At the last partition of the grotto, a gushing stream of water flows throughout the year. There are three small ponds of clear water. Legend has it that this was where May bathed her 100 children, bringing them up wisely and happily into adolescence.
One path meanders out of the grotto; it was the way May and 50 of her children took to open new land. The 50 remaining children, together with their father, were left to develop the native land.
