The Mystique of Tien Ong Cave: Exploring Halong Bay's Hidden Treasure

halong bay cave

Along with the other caverns on the bay, Tien Ong Cave is a natural wonder, but it also serves as a living memorial to a former Vietnamese civilization in Ha Long. This location not only draws people with its natural beauty, but it is also one of the few caves on the bay with evidence of human settlement from a long time ago.

The Tien Ong Cave in general

Tien Ong Cave is one of the beautiful caves on Ha Long Bay and is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. This is one of the top destinations for visitors to visit in Ha Long Bay.

Location of Tien Ong Cave

Tien Ong Cave is located on Ha Long Bay's tourism route number 3, about 2 hours by boat from Tuan Chau port. The cave is located at an altitude of 5m above sea level, has an entrance up to 50m wide, the length of the cave is about 156m (not too long compared to other large caves on the bay), divided into 2 parts separated by a large stalactite block in the middle of the cave.

Tien Ong Cave possesses a mysterious and attractive beauty

Where it got the name Tien Ong

Inside the cave, there are 3 stalagmites like the image of 3 Tiens with kind faces, long hair, and a beard, so people around the area call the cave Tien Ong. In contrast to most other caves on Ha Long Bay, Tien Ong has a fairly large entrance with natural tectonic traces and numerous falling stalactites. The cave's outside half is likewise lit and covered with unclustered mollusk deposits. Because there is a stalactite block within that resembles Mr. Tien's picture, the cave was named Tien Ong.

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The origin of the name Tien Ong Cave

The historical cradle is Tien Ong Cave

Excavations dating from 8,000 to 10,000 years ago have shown evidence that this is the dwelling and living place of the ancient Vietnamese of the Soi Nhu civilization on Ha Long Bay. Tien Ong cave was also the home of ancient Vietnamese thousands of years ago and remains like stone, bone, and pottery were unearthed here.

The majority of the stonework is made of limestone, including axes, and spears, as well as cobblestones and stalactites for tool building. Although it is not much, it has shown dynamism in engaging with nature to adapt to the surrounding environment of the old Tien Ong cave's residents. This region may be regarded as an essential foundation for future marine civilizations in their later phases of development, such as the Cai Beo culture, the Ha Long culture, and so on.

The Ha Long Bay Management Board collaborated with the Quang Ninh Museum and the Vietnam Institute of Archeology in 2017 to construct an archeological exhibition model in Tien Ong Cave. This is regarded as an on-site museum that enables visitors to not only admire the beauty of nature but also learn about a civilization that lived in Ha Long Bay thousands of years ago.

Find out more: Me Cung Cave - A Geological Marvel and Cultural Treasure in Halong 

The historical cradle is Tien Ong Cave

What is Tien Ong Cave special?

If the majority of the caves in Ha Long Bay have a moderate mouth or are quite broad when entering the cave, Tien Ong cave has practically the opposite structure. The cave opening is unusually broad (70m), like a "frog," and the cave floor is roughly 5m above sea level nowadays. Outside the cave, there are several stalactites that are crumbling - signs of nature's geological tectonics. The cave gradually slopes inward and is about 50m deep.

Tien Ong Cave is believed to be more than 1,000 square meters broad, according to a study conducted by the Ha Long Bay Management Board. Bamboo shoots and stalactites descend from the top of the cave and grow from the bottom up, producing a screen that divides the cave into two chambers. A stalactite block in the interior chamber resembles a man from a distance. Because the cave faces southeast, there are numerous stalactites tumbling down in front of the cave entrance, therefore the air in the cave is always airy and cool in summer and winter, preventing chilly winds greatly.

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Tien Ong Cave has strange architecture inside 

Accessing Tien Ong Cave

The geological structure of Tien Ong cave is divided into 6 large compartments; However, this classification of six compartments is only suitable for geology, but for visitors, it is still mainly divided into two main compartments based on images to make it easy to distinguish.

The large stalactite block in the cave is a unique natural wonder. The cave floor is littered with incompletely shaped rock formations - the result of rocks falling from the roof of the cave during a geological earthquake.

The anomalous limestone and stalagmite formations are the result of a geological fault process that has been going on for millions of years and is still ongoing. The stalactites are still forming due to the water flowing down from the ceiling of the cave.

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Tien Ong Cave has stalactites with strange shapes

When to Visit Tien Ong Cave Is Best

Halong Bay is a place rich in characteristics of Vietnam's four-season climate. As a result, traveling during the dry season or summer is preferable for sightseeing and recreational activities, particularly for natural beauties. At this time of year, the weather is dry, with no rain or fog, making it ideal for cave exploration and other outdoor activities.

The ideal times to visit the cave are March to April and August to October. Because the number of visitors is not too high at this time, the weather is pleasant and conducive to tourist travel. From May through July, the weather in Ha Long is rainy and stormy, affecting tourist activities such as visiting and exploring.

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The best time to explore the Tien Ong Cave

What Can You Do In Tien Ong Cave That Is The Most Amazing?

Tourists often visit Tien Ong cave to see the natural beauty, enormous stalactites, and antiques and images on exhibit. Visitors will learn more about the ancient Ha Long people's culture and history. Visitors will be able to enjoy the dazzling stalactites with various unusual forms while also learning about the cave's archaeological region. Furthermore, tourists may combine sightseeing and enjoyment in nearby Tien Ong cave sites such as Ti Top Island, Soi Sim Island, and others.

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Tien Ong Cave has many activities for visitors

A trip that visits Tien Ong Cave

Tien Ong Cave is approximately 18 kilometers from Tuan Chau Port, or about 2 hours by boat.

This is a stop on the Line 3 tourist route, thus you may get here by purchasing Route 3 tickets and chartering a sightseeing boat. In addition to this location, you will stop at Ba Ham Lake, Cua Van fishing hamlet, and Umbrella...

Another option is to purchase a Route 3 ticket and rent a separate train for the day so that they can run at their leisure, but this method is only suitable for groups of 20 or more people to save money, as the minimum rental price is around 4 million or more depending on the peak season and the quality of the train.

Another alternative is to go on a sightseeing trip that includes a stop at Tien Ong Cave. For example, at Paradise Vietnam, you may choose a variety of overnight cruise itineraries to tour Ha Long Bay. Normally, you may pick a two-day, one-night trip or a three-day, two-night tour to fully enjoy and see Ha Long Bay. If you want to optimize your journey even further, you may chat with the cruises line's advisors.

See Tien Ong Cave with Paradise Vietnam's Halong Bay cruise

Read More: Where is Ha Long Bay? How to Get There

It is worth a visit to Tien Ong Cave

Tien Ong Cave is a must-see for scientists and visitors interested in learning about the history of the ancient Ha Long people's settlement on Ha Long Bay.

Tien Ong Cave, with outstanding historical, cultural, and scientific importance, is the first and only venue now chosen by the Ha Long Bay Management Board in partnership with the Quang Ninh Museum to showcase archeological papers and artifacts since 2017. The Ha Long Bay Management Board utilized the distribution map of archaeological sites, and the pano system, and notably, there are only Vietnam over 200 objects on show in Ha Long to present the exhibition area.

The Tien Ong Cave in Ha Long Bay is not just a cave with natural beauty like the other caves on the bay; it is also a living testimony to an old Vietnamese civilization. Tien Ong cave, along with Me Cung, Thien Long, Soi Nhu, and Dong Trong..., is a must-see for scientists and visitors interested in learning about the history of the ancient Ha Long people on Ha Long Bay.

Tien Ong Cave is a destination not to be missed in Ha Long Bay

If the historical beauty of Tien Ong Cave entices you, schedule a visit to obtain the whole picture of this area. Tien Ong Cave's amazing and enigmatic beauty will make you feel like your experience is more significant than before. To have the most full adventure, you may refer to the boat excursions to explore Ha Long Bay with an optimally designed route!