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Tiên Cave gracefully nestles between two rock walls in Halong Bay, standing out not only for its scenic beauty but also for its immense scientific value in geology and topography. It's a beloved cave among many researchers.
Tiên Cave – A Captivating Scene within the Heart of Halong Bay Heritage
Tiên Cave sits just above sea level, with its entrance carefully designed to avoid flooding. Exploring the cave involves a 3-section tour, with passages getting narrower as you go deeper. The passages are so narrow that only one person can pass through at a time, and as you go deeper into the cave, it becomes darker.
From the second section of the cave, two openings lead to sinkholes, surrounded by limestone mountains. These limestone mountains host a diverse ecosystem with various plant species. Besides its scientific significance in geology and biodiversity, the cave also boasts a unique and enchanting beauty. The stalactites in the cave are less affected by light, creating a sparkling effect when illuminated.
The stalactites in Tiên Cave are formed at different geological ages, continuously changing. On the walls, traces of numerous layers resembling shelves can still be seen, formed through the erosion process of underground water over millions of years.
However, many sections within the cave are filled with sediment below the cave floor, waiting to be explored. The continuous transformation of stalactites has attracted numerous geologists and archaeologists to conduct research here.
The stalactite columns have formed the main cave chambers, and some passages within the cave are very tight, low, and narrow, only enough for one person to bend and move through. In the cave's humid and dim environment, a flashlight is needed for navigation, and the ground is quite slippery, so visitors are often advised to wear suitable footwear when exploring.
The cave currently features many stalactite columns hanging down to touch the floor, serving as the foundation to speculate that beneath the current floor, there is an ancient cave floor. Additionally, there are many rock formations growing upwards to support these stalactite columns. The lower half of the cave is still buried in sediment, presenting an undiscovered mystery.
From the second compartment of Fairy Cave, there are two openings leading to a water reservoir, surrounded by limestone mountains. Such water reservoirs are called sinkholes. In reality, this is a karst funnel with the bottom part submerged in water.
It is a unique ecological environment, both isolated and interconnected with the sea through underground cave systems and fissures in the limestone. Therefore, these sinkholes often harbor a unique ecosystem with many endemic species.
According to legend, ancient fairies descended to bathe in the water reservoir and slept on the stone slabs within the cave. Hence, the name 'Fairy Cave' originated from this tale.
Fairy Cave was once the favored retreat for those living in seclusion from the outside world. In the 20th century, Vietnamese and Chinese pirates utilized the cave as a hiding place for their treasures. In the 1950s, the Viet Minh used it as a covert hideout.
This location possessed all the elements for escape and defense, including a freshwater source, protection from the elements, difficult cave access, covert activities within the cave, and small, narrow tunnels that made infiltration challenging.
As reported by Mytour
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourOctober 21, 2022
