 It is situated on the south-west side the bay, 4 km
from the wharf outside of Ha Long City. The way to
Thien Cung is a perilous one, covered on both sides
by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the
grotto's 130-meter-long girth opens up. Getting in
we are more astonished in front of the very animated
and splendid beauty which is made from stalactite.
On the east wall of the grotto, there is a grandiose
and imposing picture with characters of tales.
Going out of the Thien Cung Grotto, we have a
sensation of just watching a unique, meticulous,
interesting fine-art museum which is made by nature,
get out of the imagine, ability and intellect of
man.
This grotto is recently discovered, one of the most
beautiful grottoes in Ha Long Bay.
Legend has it, that beautiful young lady named May
(cloud), caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he
fell in love with her. They were betrothed, and
their wedding lasted seven days and seven nights in
the very centre of the grotto.
In honour of the wedding, small dragons flew about
through the stalactites and stalagmites, elephants
danced together happily, snakes twined themselves
around trees and two stone lions danced with their
manes flowing in the wind. A large elephant, smartly
dressed, waited for the bride and the groom. The
genies of the south and north stars also came to
attend the banquet, and the atmosphere was
definitely animated and lively. All these scenes
have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto.
Halong tour.
In the centre are four large pillars supporting the
"roof of heaven." From the base to the top, many
strange images seem to live in the stone: birds,
fish, flowers and even scenes of human life. On the
north wall of the grotto a group of fairies seem to
dance and sing in honour of the wedding. Under the
immeasurably high roof, stalactites make a natural
stone curtain. Somewhere there is the sound of a
drum beating, but it is actually just the noise made
by the wind blowing through stone.
Arriving at the last partition of the grotto, a
natural gushing stream of water babbles throughout
the year. Here are three small ponds of clear water.
Legend has it, that this was where May bathed her
100 children, bringing them up wisely and happily
into adolescence. One path meanders out of the
grotto; it was the way May, together with 50 of her
children, took to harvest new lands. The 50
remaining children, together with their father, were
left to build the native land. Left behind by the
mother was the natural stream described above.
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