Hang
Hanh is one of the longest grottoes in Ha Long Bay, lying 9 km
west of Cẩm Phả Town and 20 km from Băi
Cháy Beach. It is 1,300 m long, and stretches
throughout the stone mountain of Quang Hanh.
Hang 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 Đoan wharf (Ḥn 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.
