Less than 100km from Hanoi, Trang An is like a vivid ink painting with a magical cave system. Imagine rowing a boat through dark caves, exploring strange stalactites, and listening to the murmur of the water; you will feel nature’s wild and majestic beauty. Join Meditours to review the top 10 most beautiful Trang An caves through the article below!
Introduction About Trang An Caves
Trang An Cultural and Natural Heritage Complex is located in many districts of Ninh Binh province. It is the only “dual” heritage of our country recognized by UNESCO. This heritage complex includes the Trang An – Tam Coc – Bich Dong scenic complex, the Hoa Lu ancient capital, and the Hoa Lu special use forest.
In that complex, Hoa Lu, the ancient capital, is located in the North, Tam Coc – Bich Dong is located in the South and Trang An tourist area is located in the center. From the center of Ninh Binh city, visitors only need to travel about 8km. This place attracts visitors with its beautiful landscape, famous spiritual tourist attractions, unique festivals, and attractive specialties.
Trang An Caves is a place where the sky and earth merge, creating a stunning landscape with clear blue water. The area boasts 31 interconnected lakes and lagoons, linked by 48 discovered caves, some stretching up to 2km. Each cave is a unique wonder, adorned with beautiful, shimmering stalactites and a constant flow of water from the ceiling, ensuring a cool atmosphere throughout the year.
The best time to visit Trang An
The best time to visit Trang An is usually from January to March of the lunar calendar every year. According to the accumulated experience of traveling to Trang An, the weather is cool, the sky is beautiful and very suitable for the heritage to show its beauty.
In addition, you can also participate in major festivals at this time. Or if you love the countryside painting from the yellow color of ripe rice, come to Trang An from July to September. However, if you do not have much time, you can come to enjoy the majestic beauty of the scenic area at any time of the year.
10 Most Beautiful Trang An Caves You Should Visit
To fully explore the beauty of Trang An, you should take advantage of the top 10 famous caves here. Let’s explore these mysterious caves below:
1. Dark Cave – Bright Cave
Dark Cave is the longest Cave of Route 1, with a length of 320m. The path to Dark Cave is winding and curving, and light cannot enter, so the locals call it Dark Cave. Many beautiful stalactites hang down in the Cave, which looks eye-catching. When visiting Dark Cave in the morning, natural light will shine into the Cave, reflecting on the stalactites, which look pretty beautiful. The ceiling of the Cave is relatively low, so you should bend down when moving, avoiding collisions when passing through the Cave.
Moving through Dark Cave is to Bright Cave. The length of Bright Cave is only about 100m and the Cave is straight so that light can pass through it. It is called Bright Cave, but like Dark Cave, the deeper you go into the Cave, the less natural light there is. When entering inside, the layer of stalactites has a sparkling effect. In some places, it can be up to 12m high, like a palace with a bright cave ceiling.
With the wish to turn rain into sunshine, from winter to spring, from hardship to happiness, and the pursuit of new things, the people here have long called this cave Hang Sang to pray for an increasingly better future.
2. Wine Making Cave
A fairly large cave with a length of 250m, Wine Making Cave is associated with an ancient story. Legend has it that in the cave, there is an underground water source that is more than 10m deep and connects to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. In the past, the ancestors came here to get water to make wine for the king.
Currently, in the cave, there are also many jars and pots restored to resemble the wine containers of the past. During the archaeological research, scientists discovered many jars, pots, wine making tools along with stories told by local people, so the history of the name Wine Making Cave was also confirmed from there.
3. Ba Giot Cave
The name of Ba Giot Cave was formed from an ancient legend about a tragic and romantic love story between a boy and a girl. The stalactites in this cave have a unique beauty, with many different shapes, such as turtles, lamps, or morning glory flowers, creating the feeling that they are telling a fascinating story. The cave is up to 200m long and has become an attractive destination, attracting a large number of tourists on the journey to explore Trang An on Route 1.
4. Son Duong Cave
Deep in the heart of Trang An, Son Duong Cave is like a precious gem hidden among the mountains. With a length of 250m, this cave is the final destination in the journey to explore the scenic complex. Legend has it that mountain goats often gathered here to drink water in the past, reflecting their image on the clear lake surface.
The cave is named Son Duong, evoking a wild, peaceful scene. Today, visitors coming here can admire the magical beauty of the stalactites of various shapes and immerse themselves in the quiet space, listen to the murmur of the water and feel the harmony between nature and humans.
5. Khong Cave
Khong Cave is up to 70m long and is closely connected to Khong Palace. It is also associated with the mysterious story of 100 coffins used to bury King Dinh Tien Hoang in the past. In addition, the cave also played the role of a military warehouse and weapons factory during the resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, demonstrating the important contributions of the Party Committee and the people of Ninh Binh province during difficult historical periods.
6. Seo Cave
Seo Cave, with a length of up to 100 meters, is one of the caves that stands out because of its narrow entrance. The name Seo Cave comes from Chinese, meaning “small path”. When visitors visit here, they often have to move slowly and carefully because the path leading into the cave is relatively narrow and dangerous due to many obstacles that can cause people to stumble.
Exploring Seo cave is a journey into the untamed beauty of nature and the serene atmosphere within. The narrow entrance, while adding an element of excitement, also presents a challenge. It is of utmost importance for visitors to move with care, ensuring their safety is paramount throughout the exploration.
7. Quy Hau Cave
Quy Hau Cave is only about 100 meters long, and its name means “Return”. This is the last cave that visitors explore on the Trang An tour on route number 1. After completing the exploration of Quy Hau Cave, visitors will return to the boat to return to the central boat station, marking the end of this exciting tour.
8. Lam Cave
This is the first destination on the Trang An route 2, Lam Cave is 60m long. When taking a boat through Lam Cave, you will come to Lam Valley, which has an area of about 9,000m2. Following the Sao Khe River, which has gone through many ups and downs in history but still retains its clear blue water, Lam Cave appears with its majestic beauty right before your eyes.
According to ancient legends, this place was a cave for people to bring agricultural products outside. Because there are too many layers of mud underneath and the path is full of mud, it is called Lam Cave. The first water valley that visitors pass through is called Lam Valley with an area of about 9,000 m2.
9. Vang Cave
On route 2, after performing the incense burning and praying ritual at Cao Son Temple, you will continue your journey to explore the beauty of Vang Cave. Vang Cave is up to 250 meters long. According to local people, the name “Vang” comes from rowing a boat through the cave, the sound echoing back is very loud. Besides this name, people also often call this cave Fish Cave because it is the habitat of many different types of fish.
10. Thanh Truot Cave
Passing Thuy Dinh is Thanh Truot Cave, the majestic Thanh Truot Cave is associated with the legend of Saint Nguyen Minh Khong. it is said that during the reign of King Ly Than Tong, when Saint Nguyen Minh Khong passed by here to find medicine to cure the king, he was so fascinated by the scenery here that he slipped and fell, hence the name Thanh Truot Cave. After visiting Thanh Truot Cave and passing Dia Linh Mountain, standing tall in the middle of the water like a pen tower, you will arrive at Suoi Tien Temple, where Saint Quynh Minh Dai Vuong and his wife are worshiped.
According to ancient legends, the area around here has a very clear and clean water source, which people call Suoi Tien Park because fairies often come down here to bathe. Every year, on the 18th day of the first lunar month, people hold a festival of Quy Minh Dai Vuong, carrying a palanquin on the river, hundreds of boats in a row, through ten caves to Suoi Tien to pray for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, good crops, and happiness for every family.
If you are a travel enthusiast, finding and exploring the most famous places in the country, such as Trang An, will definitely bring you wonderful memories. Hopefully, with the most beautiful Trang An caves introduced by Meditours Ninh Binh above, you will have a lot of great experiences on your trip, and you can completely rest assured you set up a trip right away.
