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Cai Lim Valley, situated on Tra Ngo Lon Island within Bai Tu Long National Park, boasts pristine wilderness and hosts an unparalleled array of unique flora compared to other mangrove forests in Vietnam.
Cai Lim Valley – The Living Museum of Bai Tu Long Bay
Bai Tu Long National Park spans 15,783 hectares, encompassing both sea and floating islands: Ba Mun, Tra Ngo Lon, Tra Ngo Nho, Sau Dong, Sau Nam... Cai Lim Valley on Tra Ngo Lon Island remains remarkably untouched, seemingly untouched by human presence.
With a distinct geological formation characterized by limestone mountain ranges encircling vast valleys, Cai Lim Valley provides a rich habitat for numerous species of fauna and flora. The central area of Cai Lim Valley features an expansive mangrove forest covering approximately 10 hectares.
Trees within the valley typically have trunk diameters of around 30cm and can date back hundreds of years. Cai Lim Valley does not directly interface with the sea; instead, seawater flows through underground caves and rock crevices. During the rainy season, the valley becomes a realm for frogs, snakes, and an array of brackish water species such as shrimp, mudskippers, and crabs, contributing to the diversity of the ecosystem.
Hang Bat Cave is home to hundreds of bats and monkeys. There are many monkeys here, including the rare white-faced monkeys that have lived naturally for many years. Each year, hundreds of long-tailed monkeys are confiscated by the Forest Protection Department and later released on Mun Island and Cai Lim mangrove forest.
About 1km north of Bat Cave, you will come across Cai De Tunnel, also located within the mangrove forest area. This underground limestone cave stretches about 500m through the mountains, with the widest part of the cave about 60m. The cave can only be accessed when the water recedes, as it gets flooded during high tide. It's home to numerous bats, making it a gigantic bat colony.
According to scientists, the mangrove forests on Tra Ngọ Lon Island in particular, and in Bai Tu Long National Park in general, do not have sediment deposits like those in the mangrove forests near the Red River estuary.
Venturing deep into Cai Lim mangrove forest, renowned for its unique flora compared to other mangrove areas in Vietnam, from lush green bamboo forests to dense mangrove trees. The mangrove trees grow intertwined, with small saplings growing at the base of ancient trees hundreds of years old.
In addition to mangrove trees, there are also ancient towering fig trees, with a circumference that four people can't reach around. The deeper you go into the mangrove forest, the more wonders you'll encounter. The dense layer of vegetation belongs to the orchid family, clinging to limestone rocks, with rare orchid species listed in the 'Vietnam Red Book', such as the golden lady slipper orchid, thread-like orchid, and buffalo ear orchid...
Perhaps that's why scientists have likened Cai Lim mangrove forest to a 'living museum', vividly showcasing the evolutionary history of species in the Bai Tu Long Bay region.
According to Mytour's findings
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
Published by MytourNovember 22, 2022
