Dich Long Cave and Pagoda

Wind Flute Cave


Useful Information

Location: Kenh Ga, Gia Thanh, Gia Vien
Open: All year daily.
[2009]
Fee: free.
[2009]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Dich Long Cave and Pagoda.
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History


Description

Dich Long Cave and Pagoda is a famous tourist destination of Ninh Binh Province. It is a temple built 80 m up a karst tower also named Dich Long. There are three caves beneath the temple, to the right is a chamber with stalactites, stalagmites, and Buddha statues which is used for prayers. To the left is a cave called Toi or Dark Grotto. It is famous for a huge stalagmite resembling a woman's breast. Behind this cave is the Sang or Light Grotto which has a wide opening so the light and the wind can enter the cave. When a breeze plays on the conical stalagmites, they sound like flutes. This explains the name Dich Long, which translates literally Flute Wind.

Every year there is a great festival at the temple, on the sixth and seventh of March. There are religious elements like worshipping Buddha and thurification (the act of burning incense) and there is entertainment, like performing kylin dances, dragon dances, a chess tournament, a competition in writing Han scripts, and more.