Exploiting the potential of caves

The cave system in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay has pristine beauty and much potential for tourism exploitation.

Tourists visit Vung Duc cave (Cam Pha city).

Due to geological formations, the cave system in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay has developed diversely, including underground caves distributed above, floor caves and frog jaws, often accompanying the sea water lines and formed by marine activities. In fact, many horizontal cave systems are distributed at different heights, some places are connected by vertical cave systems, showing that they have different formation and evolution histories because this type of cave is formed corresponding to the groundwater level at the time of formation, and also roughly corresponding to the sea level at the time the cave was formed. The existence of caves with different heights reflects the history of fluctuations in groundwater levels and sea levels in the history of cave formation in the past.

In addition, many caves have cave floors and sedimentary layers that are tilted, which is a sign that they have been deformed by younger tectonic movements after the cave formation process. The period from 14,000 to 6,500 years ago was the last ice age, causing global sea levels to rise by an average of about 110m compared to the previous ice age.

The cave system is also the first place where humans lived and lived in the prehistoric period and until recently. In Quang Ninh, many prehistoric sites dating back to 10,000 years ago, belonging to the Soi Nhu culture (Tien Ong cave) and many other relics with relics of many cultural layers dating back several thousand years (Trinh Nu cave) have been discovered. Therefore, caves are also important archaeological sites, containing the remains of living activities, culture and customs as well as the level of evolution of prehistoric residents.

In 2025, Ha Long Bay Management Board registered to develop 3 new tourism products in Ha Long Bay. Among them are art performances combined with parties at Trong Cave, Co Cave, and Trinh Nu Cave. Previously, some concerts at Dau Go Cave were quite successful and there was an idea to turn Dau Go Cave into a special theater in the middle of Ha Long Bay.

Organizing music tourism products and culinary experiences in caves must ensure safety conditions, fire prevention, food safety and limit the number of visitors.

There are also many attractive caves in Bai Tu Long Bay. Dong Trong Cave is closest to the mainland in the cave system in Bai Tu Long. Dong Trong Cave has a wide cavity and a high door, so it is easy to move in and see traces of prehistoric people. Located a little further than Dong Trong is Nha Tro Cave, located in Ban Sen Commune, Van Don District, with its primitive beauty and many stalactites with strange shapes. Or Cai De Cave on Cai Lim Island, visitors can row a small boat inside to see the mangrove forest. Also located on Cai Lim Island, next to Cai De Cave is Doi Cave surrounded by limestone mountains, forming many freshwater pools with very high biodiversity. On Bai Tu Long Bay, there is also the Quan Cave system in Thang Loi Commune, Van Don District, which was the station of a naval unit during the resistance war against the US, with many traces of war.

In particular, on the shore of Bai Tu Long Bay, there is Vung Duc Cave, which consists of a system of 5 caves connected together, including Thien Dang Cave, Long Van Cave, Ngo Ngang Cave, Kim Quy Cave and the largest is Cung Dinh Cave (also known as Doi Cave). Ms. Pham Thi Thu Huong, Director of Vung Duc Cave Tourist Area, said: Vung Duc Cave has been exploited for tourism since 1999 and has tickets for sale. This land area has also been leased by Dong Ha Company, with Mr. Pham Thanh as Director, who is also the founder of the tourist area, for 50 years.

Vung Duc Cave tourist area has also been recognized as a tourist destination by the Provincial People's Committee and is allowed to carry out tourism activities. There is currently a double-decker bus route running from Bai Chay to Vung Duc. Tourists can admire Ha Long Bay and the most beautiful coastal road in the country, Ha Long - Cam Pha, before visiting Vung Duc Cave.

However, to make cave tourism more attractive, it is necessary to have more unique products to attract tourists. For example, in the Vung Duc cave area, there are music tourism products, culinary experience tourism, spiritual tourism associated with the Vung Duc martyrs temple. However, to exploit these tourism products well, it is necessary to ensure conditions of food hygiene and safety, environment, fire prevention and fighting, have solutions to protect the environment, landscape and especially need to limit the number of participants.

Pham Hoc

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