1. Where is Me Cung Cave?
Me Cung Cave is one of the famous landmarks in Ha Long. The cave is located on Lom Bo Island and on tour route number 2 in Ha Long Bay. It is about 13 km from Ha Long International Passenger Port and about 14km from Tuan Chau International Tourist Port to the Southeast. And about 168 km from Hanoi capital to the East.
2. How is Me Cung Cave unique?
Me Cung Cave is located at an altitude of 20 m above sea level, including 2 cave entrances. Based on the original rock structure, Me Cung Cave is divided into 4 compartments. In which, compartment 2 and compartment 3 are the inside of the cave; compartment 1 and compartment 4 are parts of the 2 cave doors, with light shining in.
This uniqueness has created an impressive scene for the cave. In addition to the beautiful nature, this place also makes visitors feel excited because of its extremely meaningful cultural and historical value.
3. Cultural vestiges of Me Cung Cave
Me Cung Cave has cultural vestiges from ancient times, 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. The most remaining here are Melania snail shells located right at the cave entrance, this species only lives in freshwater. Accordingly, the land on the right side of the path to the cave is still full of mollusk shells.
On both sides of the entrance to the rock roof are intact snail shell sediments. In addition to mountain snail shells and stream snail shells, there are also pearl shells, clam shells, and worm shells – freshwater mollusks. When renovating Me Cung cave, the Ha Long management board collected fossilized and semi-fossilized animal bones.
This is extremely valuable material that helps us to study important and typical issues in Halong Bay. Such as the living environment, exploitation objects and the way of eating and living of prehistoric people.
In particular, these animal bones also reveal the sacrificial rituals of ancient Vietnamese people. Because the bone details were found in a deep niche in the cave containing Pleistocene yellow soil sediments. All will contribute to clarifying the age of the archaeological relic equivalent to Hoa Binh and Bac Son cultures.
Me Cung cave also possesses a captivating outside landscape. On Lom Bo island, there are many ancient trees reflecting in the calm, blue lake. This is also the habitat of monkeys, monitor lizards and birds.
Thanks to the conservation process, the Me Cung lake ecosystem is always in the best condition. Corals and sea cucumbers are gradually recovering, and many endemic animals and plants are also thriving.
4. When is the best time to visit Me Cung Cave?
According to the experience of traveling to Me Cung Cave from previous travelers, the ideal time to travel to explore Me Cung Cave is from March to May. At this time, the weather in Ha Long is quite nice, the climate is cool and pleasant. The weather is dry, sunny, and there is little rain, which makes your travel and sightseeing journey easy and complete. Don’t forget to pocket a few notes about clothing to have the best tour.
5. How to get to Me Cung Cave?
From the center of Ha Long city, you can go to Tuan Chau or Bai Chay wharves to board a boat to visit Me Cung Cave. Boats are the main means of transportation in the journey to explore Me Cung Cave. You can choose to buy your own boat tickets or book a Ha Long tour, Ha Long Bay cruise of Origin Vietnam to have a schedule to visit Me Cung Cave.
Me Cung Cave is part of HaLong Bay tour route number 2 along with Sung Sot Cave. Therefore, you should negotiate with the boat owner because usually the boats only choose 1 of 2 destinations, either Sung Sot Cave or Me Cung Cave.
6. Me Cung Cave tour cost
Before coming to Me Cung Cave, you need to consult different costs, typically entrance tickets, boat rental, meals such as:
- HaLong Bay ticket: 290,000 VND/person/trip.
- Boat rental: 200,000 VND/person/trip.
- Lunch (optional): From 180,000 VND – 350,000 VND/person/meal.
7. Discovering the beauty of Me Cung Cave
Not only special in its name, Me Cung Cave also conquers tourists by its enchanting beauty. Overall, this place is deeply embedded in the mountainside, gradually rising towards the West. When going deeper into the cave, you will notice the wide niches in the stone roof and a 100m long corridor.
Standing from the entrance of Me Cung Cave, through a narrow gap, many compartments will open. You will be impressed by each cluster of stalactites hanging down from the cave ceiling with different shapes. Such as: statues, patterns, stone lions, stone bears playing with each other, stone curtains flowing down the cave walls, …
Visitors recognize the path to the cave entrance by a faint light from afar. You need to climb a few jagged stone steps to reach a round, wide lake, hidden in the heart of the mountain. The water here is blue and calm all year round and is where creatures such as fish, shrimp, squid, coral, and crabs gather.
Near the top of the mountain are ancient Ha Long bamboo trees. They grow in clumps or individuals clinging to the cliffs with deep roots. This is also a typical tree species in the bay area, present on most rocky mountains.
When passing through the steep stone steps, you will see a wide, cool stone roof protruding. Right in front of your eyes will be a thick layer of Melina stream snails spread across the cave entrance as a foundation. Since ancient times, this layer of snails has been up to 1.2m thick, forming a semi-fossilized layer on the outside.
8. Activities and experiences in Me Cung Cave
8.1 Witnessing traces of prehistoric people’s residence and activities
This place used to be the home of ancient Vietnamese people, one of the archaeological sites of the Soi Nhu culture. In front of the cave entrance, there are hundreds of meters of sedimentary layers of stream snails and mountain snails. These are the food remains of ancient Vietnamese people. When coming to Me Cung Cave, you will have the opportunity to admire all the traces, thereby understanding more about the lives of prehistoric people. 8.2 Admire the system of stalactites and stone pillars in the cave
Besides its historical and cultural value, Me Cung Cave also impresses with its majestic natural scenery. Inside the cave is a system of stone bells, stalagmites, stone curtains, stone pillars with diverse and unique shapes and patterns. When you come here, you will have the opportunity to admire and contemplate this rare and impressive scene.
8.3 Enjoying the lyrical beauty of Ang Me Cung
Me Cung has a circular saltwater lake, connected to the sea by small tunnels. In fact, this is a karst funnel flooded at the bottom, this is a very special terrain of Ha Long Bay. Hidden in the heart of a rocky island, surrounded by steep cliffs, Me Cung Lake is covered with a green coat of grass and trees. In addition, the calm and clear surface of the lake also contributes to the charming and mysterious beauty of this place.
8.4 Checking – in “virtual life” at Me Cung Cave
For those who love “virtual life”, Me Cung Cave is a photo shoot location that cannot be missed. Whether inside or outside the cave, this place still possesses a breathtaking beauty. This is the perfect background for you to freely take “million-like” photos.
9. Specialties when traveling to Me Cung Cave
9.1 Banh Cuon Cha Muc (Rice roll and squid cake)
Banh Cuon is a rustic and familiar dish to people all over the country. Keeping the traditional flavor of Banh Cuon and taking advantage of the available local ingredients, the people of the “mining land” have transformed and created the specialty Banh Cuon Cha Muc that is “absolutely delicious”.
This is one of the breakfast dishes in Ha Long that is quite familiar to the people here. The squid cake served with Banh Cuon is fried until golden brown and smells delicious. When eating, you will feel the sweetness, crunchiness of the squid cake and the softness of the Banh Cuon.
Some addresses to buy delicious Quang Ninh specialties include:
- Xoi – Banh Cuon Cha Muc Ha Long – Quang Phong: Kiot C112A, Ha Long Street, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
- Banh Cuon Cha Muc Ba Yen: No. 36 Doan Thi Diem Street, Bach Dang, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
9.2 Nem chua, Nem chao
During the exploration of the mining land, visitors can buy Quang Ninh specialties as gifts for relatives and friends. In which, nem chua, nem chao are ideal choices. Nem chao is also known as nem thinh. From only simple ingredients such as pig skin, thinh,…Local people have created a very special dish, crispy, rich, very delicious.
Nem chua impresses with its sour taste mixed with the natural sweetness of meat and the moderate saltiness of spices. These Quang Ninh specialties are best eaten with raw vegetables such as perilla leaves, ginseng leaves, fig leaves… and dipped in spicy chili sauce.
Some places to buy delicious nem chua and nem chao include:
- Nem chua – nem chao Quang Yen: Tran Hung Dao street, Quang Yen, Quang Ninh.
- Nem chao gia truyen Co Huu – Quang Yen: No. 3 Le Quy Don street, Vuon Hoa Cheo intersection, Quang Yen, Quang Ninh.
9.3 Dong Trieu earthworm cake
“Going to Quang Ninh – remember Dong Trieu earthworm cake” is a saying associated with the people of the mining land. This Quang Ninh specialty is quite large in size, thick and has high nutritional value. To have a delicious crab cake, the cook must choose live crab cake, with a reddish-brown or pinkish-red color and a pleasant fishy smell.
Dong Trieu’s fried worm cake is memorable because of its fragrant smell, crispy outer shell, not too dry and bright yellow. Diners can eat this Quang Ninh specialty with vermicelli or simply dip it in fish sauce.
Addresses to enjoy delicious Dong Trieu fried worm cake include:
- Fried worm cake restaurant: No. 136 Nguyen Binh Street, Dong Trieu, Dong Trieu, Quang Ninh.
10. Accommodation when traveling to Me Cung cave
When traveling to Me Cung cave, you have two types of accommodation: staying overnight at a hotel and staying overnight on a cruise. Here are some places to stay that you can refer to.
10.1 Staying overnight on a cruise:
A unique experience when coming to Ha Long Bay is staying overnight on a cruise. This brings a feeling of closeness to nature and the ocean. Here are some cruises that you can refer to:
- Paradise Sails cruise
- Au Co cruise
- Era cruise
- Scarlet Pearl cruise
- Calypso cruise
- Dragon Pearl Junk cruise
10.2 Staying overnight at a hotel:
- Novotel Halong Bay Hotel. Address: 160 Ha Long, Bai Chay, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
- The Watson Premium Halong Hotel. Address: 9 D. Hoang Quoc Viet, Hung Thang, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
- Sojo Ha Long Hotel. Address: 168 Le Thanh Tong, Bach Dang Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
- A La Carte HaLong Bay Hotel. Address: Lot h30-h33 Peninsula/2, Hung Thang, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
- Halios Halong Hotel. Address: 38 Nguyen Du, Hong Gai, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
- Wyndham Legend Halong Hotel. Address: 12 Ha Long, Bai Chay, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
11. Some important notes when traveling to Me Cung Cave
To make your tour Vietnam to explore Me Cung Cave complete and memorable. You need to pay attention to the following issues:
- You need to prepare enough sunscreen, hats, caps, glasses, … to protect your skin.
- Wear sneakers, hiking shoes for easy movement.
- Wear active, comfortable clothes.
- Keep the cave clean, do not litter.
With majestic, unique natural landscapes and meaningful historical and cultural values. Me Cung Cave promises to bring visitors memorable experiences. You are planning your vacation but do not know where to go to play and relieve stress, please refer to this place.
With useful and updated information about Me Cung Cave travel experiences. Origin Vietnam – a professional tour operator, has shared through the above article. Hopefully you have gained more experience visiting this beautiful cave in your journey to explore HaLong Bay. From there, you will complete your plan for your upcoming vacation with interesting activities and the best experiences.
