Tu Thuc - the best cave in Thanh land

Located in the heart of a mountain in the majestic Tam Diep range in Nga Thien commune, Nga Son district, more than 40 km northeast of Thanh Hoa city, Tu Thuc Cave is considered one of the most beautiful caves in Thanh Hoa with majestic mountain scenery, magical shimmering stalactites associated with the legend of Tu Thuc marrying a fairy.

Tu Thuc Cave is more than 200m long, thousands of square meters wide, the highest dome is about 40m, inside there are countless stalactites with strange shapes. The cave is associated with the legend of Tu Thuc meeting a fairy. Tu Thuc Cave is located on the rocky mountainside, surrounded by vast fields. The highest dome is about 40m. The cave still retains its original, wild features.

From the foot of the mountain, to reach Tu Thuc cave, visitors need to climb over 100 steps. The long steps, made of concrete, are surrounded by dense trees. Soft vines intertwine to form hammocks along the way.

Outside the cave entrance are two thousand-year-old fig trees. Wrapped around the fig trees are hundreds of years old gắm vines (a type of climbing plant) hanging in a hammock shape. Legend has it that this was the fairy hammock where Giáng Hương rested. Outside the cave entrance is a small sacred shrine worshipping the Mountain God. Next to it are two poems carved on a stone slab right at the cave entrance and the handwriting still looks as if it was just carved. The first poem was by Lord Trịnh Sâm and was dated 1771. The second poem was by Lê Quý Đôn and was later engraved in 1905.

The cave consists of two main caves. The outer cave is extremely spacious, with an arched ceiling that resembles a giant upside-down bowl. Inside the ceiling are peach-shaped stalactites, while below the floor are shimmering, magical stalactites.
Continuing along the narrow corridor, visitors will reach the inner part of the cave. Inside the cave, there are many colorful stalactites shaped like a pair of birds, a half-heart, or a tray of five fruits. When you tap on this stalactite, it will resonate like a stone instrument.

The two forks at the end of the cave are “Tu Thuc’s path to the fairyland” with neat stone steps. The second fork is “the path to the underworld” – a turn deep into the mountain with spiral paths and bumpy stairs in a dark, damp space.

In the cave there is still a temple to worship Tu Thuc.