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Dau Go Grotto
Location:
Situated on
Driftwood Island
(Dao Dau Go), next
to Thien Cung
Grotto, belong to
Halong Bay.
Characteristics:
Seen from afar, the
entrance to the
grotto appears to be
blue and has a shape
similar to that of a
jellyfish. After 90
steps up the island,
the entrance is
reached. The ceiling
of the grotto is
about 25m.
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Hundreds of
stalactites falling
down from the roof
of the grotto look
like a waterfall.
The grotto is
divided into three
main parts. The
exterior is a room
with a vault full of
natural light. Many
forms may be seen in
the rock formations
of the chamber,
depending on the
imagination of the
visitor of course.
In the first
chamber, in the very
middle of the
grotto, is a
colossal pillar
supporting the large
vault. On the top of
the pillar, there
appears to be a monk
draped in a long,
dark cloak, with his
right hand clasping
a cane.
Crossing the first
chamber, one enters
the second chamber
through a narrow
passage. The light
here is mysterious,
and new images
appear in the stone.
It makes us having a
fear and be
inquisitive. The
second chamber is
narrow. Here, the
stalactites look
smaller but more
graceful. One feels
like going to a
pagoda with a monk
in meditation so
that one steps more
gently.
The third chamber of
the grotto is widely
opened. The third
chamber features
high stone columns
out of which nature
has carved images of
a large kingdom, of
heroes and soldiers
holding swords and
spears rushing up,
of war elephants and
horses or lions,
etc. All of them
suddenly was
petrified and
remained there for
good. At the end of
the grotto is a well
of clear water.
Looking up in the
dim light we
recognize that
surrounded is the
image of an ancient
citadel and a
scuffle of
elephants, horses,
man with bristly
sword and spear. All
are making a rush
and be petrified
suddenly.
The name Driftwood
Grotto came from a
popular story of the
resistance war
against the Yuan -
Mongolian
aggressors. In a
decisive battle,
Tran Hung Dao was
given the order to
prepare many
ironwood stakes
here, to be planted
on the riverbed of
Bach Dang River. The
remaining wooden
pieces found in the
grotto have given it
its present name.
And the name Giau Go
is associated with
the legend that
General Tran Hung
Dao (1226-1300) hid
ironwood stakes in
preparation for the
Bach Dang battle
against the
Yuan-Mongolian
invaders.
If the Thien Cung
Grotto is monumental
and modern (in its
natural form) then
Driftwood Grotto is
solemn, but also
grandiose. In
"Marvels of the
World," published in
France in 1938, the
author called the
grotto "Grotte des
merveilles" (a site
of many marvels). In
1917, Emperor Khai
Dinh came to visit
the grotto and
amazed by the beauty
of the place,
ordered the erection
of an engraved stone
stele singing the
praises of Halong
Bay and the grotto.
Today it remains to
the right-hand side
of the entrance.
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