Primitive beauty of Ham Long cave temple

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Thanh Minh 07:59, 2018/01/16

Owning rarely primitive beauty, Ham Long cave temple in Ham Long relic complex built under the Tran dynasty is located in Tu Lac commune, Minh Tan town, Kinh Mon district, about 45km east of Hai Duong city.

Ham Long is also know as “the second-ranking cave under the Southern Sky”. The cave with an area of about 1,000m2, was renovated into temple under the Tran dynasty. Looking up from the inside cave sees a cone-shaped dome and stalactites hanging from cave ceiling like curtains or tassel flowers.

The gate of Ham Long cave temple

The cave entrance is over 3m high, 10m wide, the length of the cave is 80m, the widest place in the cave is 20m. On the right wall, about 5m high, there is a carp shape turning its head towards the cave entrance, which looks lively as if it is flapping in the water. On the left wall, there is a stalactite like an elephant with a faucet.

Heading deep inside sees miraculous beauty blessed with nature. There is a slab carved at the reign of King Le Thanh Tong (1496) among six stelae on the wall dating back to the 15th - 17th century. In front of the cave, there is a “Nham Son Ham Long” stele carved in 1718.

Ham Long cave mouth

Miraculously primitive beauty of present Ham Long cave temple was created by the monk Tue Vien who built an epitabh base, also known as Luu Ly cave in Khanh Nghiem mountain taking advantage of natural landscapes of Ham Long cave.

Throughout the Vietnamese history, Ham Long cave and Minh Tan mountain are also anti-Nguyen strongholds supposed to worship famous general Yet Kieu. These are also revolutionary bases of Vietnamese people and army in the resistance wars against the French colonialist and the American imperialist.

Ham Long cave temple monument complex was recognized as the national relic in 1993

With magnificent beauty, historical and cultural values, the complex of Ham Long cave temple and adjacent monument was recognized as the national relic site in 1993. It is also a place for local people and tourists to practice cultural activities and spiritual beliefs. The traditional Ham Long temple festival is held from the 16th to the 18th of the first lunar month every year.

Apart from Ham Long cave temple, Ham Long cave relic complex also has Tam Long cave and Doc Tit grotto. Tam Long cave was discovered in 1992. Although the small cave mouth is just wide enough for a person to enter, going deeper inside sees wider space. In the cave, there are many stalactites with eye-catching shapes. Doc Tit grotto with an area of 1800m2, 40m high, has two east and west doors, capacity of over 1,000 people.

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