|
 Hang Hanh is
one of the
longest
grottoes in
Ha Long Bay,
lying 9 km
west of Cẩm
Phả Town and
20 km from
Bãi Cháy
Beach. It is
1,300 m
long, and
stretches
throughout
the stone
mountain of
Quang Hanh.
Hanh
Grotto is
extremely
beautiful.
The small
boat will
take you
through the
stone
passageway
by
lamp-light,
casting
magical
colours on
the hanging
stalactites.
The French
named it “Le
Tunnel” or
Tunnel
Grotto. The
mouth of the
grotto is so
low one has
to go by
small boat
to pass
through.
To get
there,
tourists can
hire canoes
in Ðoan
wharf (Hòn
Gai, Hạ Long
City) or
take a coach
to Cẩm Phả.
At the Cẩm
Phả wharf,
one can also
hire boats
or canoes to
go to the
grotto. One
should visit
the grotto
at low tide,
as this is
the time the
mouth of the
grotto
appears.
Remember to
bring along
torches
before
starting the
journey. It
takes one
some 60 to
90 minutes
to complete
the trip.
Hang Hanh
Grotto seems
suitable for
adventures.
Another
matter of no
less
important is
that the
boatmen must
be
experienced
or else you
will get
locked up in
this deep
“Water
Palace”.
In front of
the
present-day
mouth stands
Ba Cô (Three
Girls)
shrine in a
towering
piece of
stone.
Legend has
it that:
“Once upon a
time there
were three
girls who
often went
to the sea
together.
One day,
they caught
a pouring
rain and
took shelter
in a grotto.
They found
the scenery
so
captivating
that they
forgot the
time of
rising tide.
Locked up in
the grotto,
they passed
away and
became Water
God.”
Today,
fishermen
usually went
to the
shrine to
pray for
their
bestowing
favours on
them. |
