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Quang Hanh Grotto is one
of the longest
grottoes in Ha Long Bay, lying 9 km west
of Cam Pha Town and 20 km from
Bai Chay Beach. It is
1,300 m long, and stretches throughout the stone
mountain of Quang Hanh.
Quang 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 Doan wharf
(Hon Gai, Ha Long City) or take a coach to Cam Pha. At
the Cam Pha 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 Co (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.
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