Thien Canh Son Cave
The pathway to Thien Canh Son Cave is set below the forest canopy and a stone cliff, so tourists have the feeling they are climbing towards heaven.
Inside the cave, is a strange beauty – an image of a lotus, a picture of baby elephant. The ceiling of the cave is covered with a layer of shiny ‘carpets’, numerous sparkling stalactites appear like “hanging lamps”. Stone statues, stone elephants, seals, flowers – all seem to create an imaginary world as if in a dream.
Located in the centre of the World Heritage area, Bai Tu Long Bay covers an area of 2000 sqm., Thien Canh Son Cave offers a wild and mysterious beauty. This is the reason why we choose to bring tourists here – to discover the geological value of the bay, and to enjoy a cosy dinner with family and friends in sparkling candlelight.
Cong Dam Area
Cong Dam fishing village is located on Bai Tu Long bay. It is an old and small village, far from the mainland with the population of about 120 people.
This place is considered as an outdoor geological museum with the highlight is a plenty of mountains formed by a stack of huge rock, which looks like the amazing arrangement of “mother nature”. There is also the area which includes many coral reefs, underground limestone, underwater caves, etc. Besides, surrounding Cong Dam village are many different islets and beautiful beaches with white, smooth sand and clear, blue waters, such as Tra Gioi, Cay Bang and Cat Oan beaches
The most outstanding highlight in Cong Dam is a small ancient village floating on a vast expanse of clear water. Cong Dam fishing village has retained its traditional fishing culture.
Tourists come here can have chance to start gossiping with friendly local people, hear them talk about their memories of life, how they did to get over big storms, what they do to gain their living, etc. Moreover, have chance to participate in many interesting activities such as rowing boat or kayaking to discover mysterious caves or enjoy dreaming beaches nearby. If you have time, do not forget to go fishing or grow trees with local people to protect the environment.
The number of visitors to Cong Dam fishing village is not much. Therefore, the scenery there has been remaining primitive and the environment is very clean. This area has many majestic lime-stone mountains and pristine coral reefs.
Vung Vieng Fishing Village
Bai Tu Long and the Vung Vieng Fishing Village is off the beaten tourist track as it is not so near to the popular Cat Ba Island which has lodging, beaches and nearby caves where most of the large tour companies and boats operate. There are about 50 families; the population is between 200 and 300 residents. This includes nearly 100 children.
These families have lived in this village for generations. The language is Vietnamese. The village is a “floating village.” There are no structures built on land. The village is very poor. Traditionally income for food and potable water (imported from the mainland) came solely from fishing. Now, there is some supplemental income from tourism also.
There are 4 fishing villages in the World Heritage site: Ba Hang, Cua Van, Vong Vieng and Cap La. Vung Vieng is the less touristy. After disembark the mother boat, you will be transfer by rowing boats, tender boats, or doing kayaking to enter Vung Vieng fishing village. After enter the village gate (see the picture), you have a chance to experience the villagers’ daily life as well as the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen, who live in the World Heritage Area of Halong Bay.
Their floating houses look spacious and clean. The well-off families even have tiled roof houses with radios, television sets, tables and chairs, etc. There is one community house here where villagers come to have meetings. Here is also the place tourists stopover to shop some traditional hand made items.
It is interesting to see the rambunctious children going to “school”. Their bustling calling and their flopping rowing liven up the atmosphere of the quite bay. Looking at the small boats driven by tiny oars going to school, and the radiant faces of the children, one feels confident in a bright future for the fishing village. Tourist can drop some notebooks, pens to the village children.
