It
is situated on the south-west side the bay, 4 km from the wharf
outside of Ha Long City. The way to Thiên Cung is a perilous
one, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow
gate, the grotto’s 130-meter-long girth opens up. Getting
in we are more astonished in front of the very animated and splendid
beauty which is made from stalactite. On the east wall of the
grotto, there is a grandiose and imposing picture with characters
of tales.
Going out of the Thiên Cung Grotto, we have a sensation
of just watching a unique, meticulous, interesting fine-art museum
which is made by nature, get out of the imagine, ability and intellect
of man.
This grotto is recently discovered, one of the most beautiful
grottoes in Ha Long Bay.
Legend has it, that beautiful young lady named Mây (cloud),
caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her.
They were betrothed, and their wedding lasted seven days and seven
nights in the very centre of the grotto.
In
honour of the wedding, small dragons flew about through the stalactites
and stalagmites, elephants danced together happily, snakes twined
themselves around trees and two stone lions danced with their
manes flowing in the wind. A large elephant, smartly dressed,
waited for the bride and the groom. The genies of the south and
north stars also came to attend the banquet, and the atmosphere
was definitely animated and lively. All these scenes have been
seemingly fossilized in the grotto.
In the centre are four large pillars supporting the "roof
of heaven.” From the base to the top, many strange images
seem to live in the stone: birds, fish, flowers and even scenes
of human life. On the north wall of the grotto a group of fairies
seem to dance and sing in honour of the wedding. Under the immeasurably
high roof, stalactites make a natural stone curtain. Somewhere
there is the sound of a drum beating, but it is actually just
the noise made by the wind blowing through stone.
Arriving at the last partition of the grotto, a natural gushing
stream of water babbles throughout the year. Here are three small
ponds of clear water. Legend has it, that this was where Mây
bathed her 100 children, bringing them up wisely and happily into
adolescence. One path meanders out of the grotto; it was the way
Mây, together with 50 of her children, took to harvest new
lands. The 50 remaining children, together with their father,
were left to build the native land. Left behind by the mother
was the natural stream described above.
It
is situated on the south-west side the bay, 4 km from the wharf
outside of Ha Long City. The way to Thiên Cung is a perilous
one, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow
gate, the grotto’s 130-meter-long girth opens up. Getting
in we are more astonished in front of the very animated and splendid
beauty which is made from stalactite. On the east wall of the
grotto, there is a grandiose and imposing picture with characters
of tales. 
In
honour of the wedding, small dragons flew about through the stalactites
and stalagmites, elephants danced together happily, snakes twined
themselves around trees and two stone lions danced with their
manes flowing in the wind. A large elephant, smartly dressed,
waited for the bride and the groom. The genies of the south and
north stars also came to attend the banquet, and the atmosphere
was definitely animated and lively. All these scenes have been
seemingly fossilized in the grotto.