Drum Cave and Virgin Cave (Trinh Nu Cave) are two familiar names to tourists when coming to Ha Long. Not only because of the majestic beauty bestowed by nature, but also because of the fascinating legends.
Virgin Cave is located on Bo Hon island range, near Sung Sot cave system and Dong Tien lake, about 15 km south of Bai Chay. For fishermen, Virgin Cave is a beloved home, and couples consider it a symbol of love and vows.
Entering the cave, visitors will encounter a stone statue of a girl lying on her back, her hair loose, her eyes looking out to the sea, as if waiting in despair.
Virgin cave in Halong Bay
Opposite Virgin Cave is Drum Cave (also known as Man Cave). The statue of a young man turned to stone, facing towards Virgin Cave, echoing the desperate screams and the sound of knocking on the cliff. The traces of the storm of the past still remain: the pile of rocks, the roaring wind and the white foam of the waves.
Both caves are stunningly beautiful with many stalactites, but the main attraction is the touching story behind them. One cave has a rock that looks like a girl reaching out to the sea, called the Virgin Cave; the other cave has a stalactite column that looks like a giant boy standing looking into the distance, called the Drum Cave.
Drum cave in Halong Bay
According to ancient legend, there was once a very beautiful girl in a fishing village. However, because her family was poor, her family was forced to work for a local landlord. He found her lovable and beautiful, so he forced her to marry him as a concubine, but she refused because she already had a lover. The boy was currently sailing out to sea to fish to prepare for their wedding. Unable to convince the girl, the landlord exiled her to a deserted island. After nights of storms, hunger and cold, she was exhausted and turned to stone. The place where she later turned into stone is called Virgin Cave.
As for the young man, when he returned, he heard that his lover was exiled to a deserted island, so he hurried back to find her. During a stormy night, his boat was broken by the waves. He drifted to the deserted island, where he saw his lover’s image calling him. At this time, the young man used a stone to hit the cliff, intending to let his lover know that he had returned. He knocked and knocked until his two hands were covered in blood. Finally, he was exhausted and turned into stone like his lover. The place where the young man turned into stone was later named Drum Cave by the locals.
Tour to explore Virgin cave and Drum cave
Arcady Boutique Cruise is one of the few cruise ships that organize tours to visit Virgin Cave and Drum Cave. Although the cave is not as big as Surprise Cave or Thien Cung Cave, in front of the cave is a quiet lagoon with beautiful natural scenery. Visitors can choose to kayak from the cruise ship to the cave area to explore.