Xuan Long Cave also known as Cau Quay Cave or Nine Baskets Cave, will give tourists a very surprising experience with its unique charm that few places have.
Xuan Long Cave has recently been opened to tourism, so it still retains the pristine beauty bestowed by nature. Here, tourists will discover the mystery of a heavenly palace nestled in the mountains. In this article, Geargru.com will provide detailed travel guides for Xuan Long Cave.
Introducing Xuan Long Cave
Not only is Thac Ba Lake considered as “Halong Bay on the mountain,” but also at Thac Ba Lake, there is Xuan Long Cave, which is also considered as a version of Heavenly Palace Cave in Halong Bay but on the mountain. This proves that Xuan Long Cave is not inferior in beauty to Heavenly Palace Cave in Halong Bay.
Xuan Long Cave was discovered about a hundred years ago by people who were transporting timber on bamboo rafts, which were swept by the water into this forest area and discovered a cave entrance, which is the present Xuan Long Cave. They found the cave very deep with many nooks and crannies, so they named it Cau Quay Cave. Later, the local people realized that exploring all the areas in Xuan Long Cave would take 9 hours, so they called it “hang chin sọt” (Nine Baskets Cave) in the local language. Xuan Long Cave is the name tourists give for easy reading and remembering when visiting here, not the official name of the cave.
Xuan Long Cave has 2 entrances: the left entrance has only one passage called the cold entrance, and the right entrance has three passages called the hot entrance. People distinguish between the hot and cold entrances because when entering the right entrance, tourists will feel the distinct warmth of the earth, while when entering the left entrance, tourists will feel the low temperature, the cold air blowing out from inside the cave, making it cool. This is the unique feature of Xuan Long Cave.
When entering the hot entrance, tourists will see a space about 1,200 m2 wide and about 30m high; if entering from the cold entrance, tourists will see a smaller space about 1,000 m2 wide and about 20 m high. Regardless of which entrance they use, tourists will see the beauty of layers of stalactites, resembling sculptures carved by nature into various shapes and colors.
Exploring Xuan Long Cave Tips
Where is Xuan Long Cave?
Xuan Long Cave officially and commonly known as Cau Quay Cave, is located in Xuan Long commune, Yen Binh district, Yen Bai province, in the upper area of Thac Ba Lake, Yen Bai.
Best Time to Visit Xuan Long Cave
During the summer, the air around Thac Ba Lake is very fresh and cool. Exploring all of Xuan Long Cave takes about 9 hours. This means tourists need to dedicate a whole day to this activity. Therefore, visiting Xuan Long Cave during dry and sunny weather is most favorable. Summer is also the most beautiful tourist season at Thac Ba Lake.
What to Bring
Remember to bring water, fruits, and snacks, or even meals if you’re traveling in a group and plan to organize a meal at Xuan Long Cave
Getting to Xuan Long Cave
Travelers can reach Xuan Long Cave from Hanoi by private car, bus, or motorbike to either Thac Ba Hydroelectric Plant or Yen Binh town at Huong Ly Bus Station. From there, they can take a motorboat or a small boat to Xuan Long Cave. Here’s a detailed guide:
By Motorbike:
- From Hanoi, take National Highway 2A, then National Highway 2
- Turn left at the post office in Doan Hung town.
- Head to Thac Ba town.
- Arrive at Thac Ba Port to rent a boat to Xuan Long Cave.
The journey from Hanoi to Thac Ba Port takes about 4 hours.
By Car or Bus:
- From Hanoi, take the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway.
- Exit at IC9 junction, then take the Tuyen Quang-Phu Tho Expressway.
- Exit at Doan Hung, Yen Bai junction.
- Head to Thac Ba town.
- Arrive at Thac Ba Port or Huong Ly Bus Station to rent a boat to Xuan Long Cave.
This journey takes about 3 to 3.5 hours, with bus ticket prices ranging from 100,000 VND to 120,000 VND per person.
For backpackers, upon arriving in Thac Ba town, they usually prefer the route: Thac Ba town -> New Bridge -> Road 170 -> Vu Linh -> O Do waterfall.
Food and Accommodation When Visiting Xuan Long Cave
Travelers can have meals on boats as per request or stop by floating restaurants and stilt houses along the way. The cost for a meal is approximately 120,000 VND to 200,000 VND per person. If traveling alone, you may have to pay more to enjoy the full range of local specialties here.
For accommodation, tourists can stay at resorts on the islands in the middle of the lake or homestays along the Vu Linh and Phuc An areas. The cost for resort accommodation on the islands is about 900,000 VND to 1,800,000 VND per room per night, depending on the room type. Homestay prices are cheaper, ranging from about 150,000 VND to 700,000 VND per room per night.
Where to Rent a Boat and Is it Easy?
Travelers can rent private or shared boats directly at Thac Ba Port or Huong Ly Port. If guests have booked accommodation at island resorts, transportation to the islands will be arranged, then tourists can rent a boat from the resort to go to Xuan Long Cave or explore Thac Ba Lake. For those staying at homestays, they can ask the homestay to assist in renting a boat.
Renting a boat at Thac Ba Lake is very convenient and easy, with costs around 200,000 VND for a shared boat ticket or 1,200,000 VND to 6,000,000 VND for renting a private boat, depending on the type of boat. You also need to agree beforehand with the boat owner about your destination being Xuan Long Cave and the pickup and drop-off points.
If you’re an international tourist and not traveling with a Vietnamese companion, it’s best to ask the manager of your homestay, resort, or hotel where you’re staying to help you rent a boat, and make sure to clearly agree on your destination.
Conclusion
Spending a day to explore Xuan Long Cave is completely reasonable and worth it to gain great experiences and insights. Because it requires a significant amount of time to travel to the cave, fewer tourists choose to visit, making it primarily attractive to those who enjoy exploring new and adventurous destinations, adventure seekers, and backpackers. Therefore, Xuan Long Cave is truly worth exploring for its unique and pristine charm.
