Vietnam’s “Dark Cave” opens for tourists

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has come to be well-known for the Phong Nha Cave and its natural beauty. Starting in June, the park’s management board launched a tour from the Chay River to Hang Toi (Dark Cave).

Boat trips along Chay River

The tour is environmentally friendly, and offers visitors a chance to try out the local cuisine of Quang Binh Province.

The Chay River begins at the limestone plateau of Ka Bang, with the clear and blue waters of the Son River’s tributary.

The stone peaks provide a lovely foil to the surrounding corn fields, making unique and picturesque scenery.

Hang Toi or “The Dark Cave” is 5,258 metres in long, and 80 metres in high. It is also the home of a number of animals, from bats to swallows.

Hang Toi

Underwater lime stone caves of Hang Toi

Grandiosity puts human life in perspective

Pavilion of Edicts (Phu Van Lau)

Location: Pavilion of Edicts is situated right in front of the Flag -Tower and by the National Highway No.1A which crosses Hue City.
Characteristic: It is a delicate pavilion with a south view. In front of the Pavilion is a large court leading to the Nghinh Luong Pavilion (Pavilion for Fresh Air) on the Perfume River bank.

There had once been a tiger – elephant duel on the pavilion grounds in 1829 to entertain Emperor Minh Mang. In his fortieth and fiftieth birthday anniversaries, many entertainments were also held there. These practices were maintained by Emperors Thieu Tri and Tu Duc in their birthday anniversaries. Emperor Thieu Tri listed the Perfume River and the Pavilion of Edicts among 20 most beautiful sights of the capital city of Hue. It was him who ordered in 1843 the construction of a stele house on the right of the pavilion for engraving his poem “Morning Boating on the Perfume River”.

It is the building where Emperor’s edicts and lists of successful candidates of Thi Hoi (National Examination) and Thi Dinh (Court Examinations) were publicized. Though built early in Emperor Gia Long’s reign (1819), it was first decided by Emperor Minh Mang to be the site to publicly display his important edicts.

After having been announced at the Throne Palace or the Ngo Mon, the edict was put in a canopied palanquin and carried by soldiers to the pavilion. On that occasion, the Thua Thien Province mandarins and thousands of local elders crowded to pay homage to the edict. Since 1821, after the Proclamation Ceremony, lists of successful candidates were posted there. In order to enhance the significance, two stone steles were erected on both sides of the pavilion, inscribed with Chinese characters meaning “Tilt Your Hats and Dismount” reminding passers-by to tilt their hats and get off their horses when passing this monument.

The pavilion was destroyed by a typhoon in 1904 and restored later by Emperor Thanh Thai.

Coto island

Co To Island is about 3 hours by boat from Cai Rong Town , Van Don Island District, 150km from Halong City. The Quang Ninh province's tourism sector has surveyed potential to develop tourism on the island, especially eco-tourism. Co To Island includes 40 large and small islands, of which the three largest are large Co To, Thanh Lan and Tran.

Co To Sea is beautiful both day and night, sunrise and sunset, bright moon and dim moon. Beaches in the large Co To Island are deserted and not polluted by modern industrial society. Trinh Sat Beach is typical with white sand and blue water as clear as crystal.

The forest is also appropriate for ecotourism tours. You can walk or catch "xe om" (motorbike taxi) to visit a lighthouse on a high hill. It's about 10 minutes by "xe om" from centre of island to the foot of hill, and then you'd better walk along a path to the lighthouse. This path is about 1km and lies among pine tree forest together with thousands of violet wild flowers. The light house is on the highest peak of the Co To island, 70 metres above sea level.

Large Co To Island has an abundance of seafood such as shrimp, cuttle fish..., price is very cheap. You can bring gas cooker and cook your own meal or hire a native to cook.

From large Co To Island, hiring a boat to the islands around, you will discover things such as kinds of water sports: snorkeling, fish stabbing... on Thanh Lan Island, oranges are a special harvested fruit. During harvest time, the island turns a splendid orange-yellow colour.

Charming landscape with fresh air make CoTo become an attractive place for visitors who are keen on exploring.