Nguom Ngao cave
Magnificent cave by its size and its contents, the cave of Nguom Ngao is one of the largest caves in Vietnam.
Nguom Ngao cave is nestled in the heart of a mountain in Gun village, Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province, about 4 km from Ban Gioc waterfall. This masterpiece of nature has become a must-see destination in Cao Bang.
In Tay language, Nguom Ngao means “cave of tigers”, many tigers would have lived there according to the legend. Moreover, it is also called the cave of the wind. The cave was discovered by chance in 1921 when French authorities visited the Ban Gioc waterfall. It was opened to the public in 1996.
The cave extends over 2 km, with three main entrances, but only 1 km is accessible, a large part at the bottom of the cave is not yet to visit. Under the rocks at the foot of the mountain is hidden the Nguom Lom gate. The Ban Thuon gate is located behind the mountain, near the village of Thuon des Tay. The main entrance to Nguom Ngao is in the village of Gun.
When visiting the Nguom Ngao cave, visitors will be overwhelmed by the natural landscape and the many impressive stalactites. According to scientists, this limestone cave was formed 300 million years ago before our era.
Here you can see stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and sizes, some of which represent curious mythical creatures or magical scenes. Nature has endowed the cave with stone formations that resemble human beings, trees, plants and mythical animals. The most famous are the throne with the inverted lotus, the coral tree, the boat, the gold and silver waterfall, the solitary pillar, the toad, the stone tablet… All appear as brilliant masterpieces.
At the bottom of the cave, the beauty is even more sparkling and majestic. Many nooks and crannies are suitable for only one person, or sometimes a stalactite in the ceiling suddenly blocks the way, forcing visitors to bend down to pass.
The unique features that make up the highlight of the Nguom Ngao scenic site are creations of limestone soils eroded and weathered over millions of years that resemble terraced fields.
The temperature in the cave is between 18 and 25 degrees, which gives a cool feeling in summer and keeps the heat in winter.
Because of its beauty, Nguom Ngao Cave was recognized as a national relic in 1998. Without a doubt, Nguom Ngao cave and Ban Gioc waterfalls are two must-see natural wonders in the northern province of Cao Bang, Vietnam.
