The name of Thien Canh Son Cave lends it a pretty positive first impression. Translating to something along the lines of ‘mountain landscape in Heaven’, it joins Thien Cung as another of Halong Bay’s ‘heavenly’ caves, offering similar rock formations that have been bestowed mythical backstories by the locals of the region.
Thien Canh Son Cave
Thien Canh Son Cave lies in one of Halong Bay’s sister bays, Bai Tu Long Bay. Because of Bai Tu Long’s less touristic route, this cave offers a good alternative to the sometimes crowded Halong Bay caves. Its location in protected Cong Do is one of the quietest in all of the Halong Bay area; ships that drop anchor here during the night often enjoy an utterly serene experience.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Entering through its bushy forest and limestone rock-speckled entrance, almost Jurassic Park-like in appearance, you will be greeted by three large chambers with hanging stalactites and rising stalagmites. The various coloured lights inside accentuate their silhouettes along with a collection of larger rocks that are said to be a petrified party of gnomes. Lotuses, elephants and seals can be seen in the formations with quite a leap of imagination, too.
Stalactites and Rising Stalagmites inside Thien Canh Son Cave
The glistening stalactites above, looking almost like chandeliers in their natural arrangement, create the heavenly scene for which the cave is named, along with the ‘Stairway to Heaven’, a 100-step staircase ascending towards the bright light outside. Visitors who climb this will get a panoramic view of Cong Do from the top, with its tree-covered limestone faces and the white sand beach of the island below.
In the past, the large open chamber of Thien Canh Son Cave was utilised for romantic candlelit dinners by some cruises, but they have been banned in recent years by the Halong Bay authorities. It is not clear if they will make a reappearance, but if they do, they are likely to be as popular as they were before.
Dinner in Thien Canh Son Cave
Many Bai Tu Long Bay Cruises tend to do an excursion to Thien Canh Son Cave because of its easy accessibility and location in a very beautiful area. The cave features in any overnight itinerary by Swan Cruises and Huong Hai Sealife Cruises, while Signature Royal Cruises and Starlight Cruises offer luxury transit to the cave on their Halong Bay 3 days 2 nights or Halong Bay 2 day 1 night itineraries.
Thien Canh Son Cave in Bai Tu Long Bay
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