Động Thác Bờ Ngòi Hoa

Động Thác Bờ

Useful Information

Location:	Ngòi Hoa, Tân Lạc, Hòa Bình. (20.7571365, 105.1768867)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave Cave Church
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Động Thác Bờ Ngòi Hoa, Ngòi Hoa, Tân Lạc, Hòa Bình, Tel: +84-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

This cave is named Động Thác Bờ (Bo Waterfall Cave), but it is quite often listed as Động Thác Bờ Ngòi Hoa (Bo Waterfall Cave Ngoi Hoa). It is unclear if they think there are other caves with the same name and try to make the name unique by adding the location. Ngoi Hoa is a bay at the southern side of Hoa Binh Lake. This lake is dammed, the dam is located at the province capital Hòa Bình, and named after it. Bo Waterfall was a waterfall or high rapids in the Da River, which is now flooded by the lake. Many people lost their home when the dam was built and the valley was flooded. Most took the opportunity and started aquafarms, fishing, or water tourism jobs. The village Ban Tien is to the east, and it is connected to the capital by a road. From the harbour of this village boat tours to the Buddhist temple Đền Chúa Thác Bờ and to the cave start.

It seems the lake has strongly fluctuating water levels. When the water is low, it is necessary to climb nearly 100 steps, while during high level the cave is entered on a bridge without stairs. It seems the jetty with the shops and restaurant is swimming and thus moves up and down.

During high water level, the cave entrance is flooded by the lake, so it is now a water cave. There is even a temple in this entrance section which is flooded, only the top of the roof is above the water. A jetty in front of the cave allows boats with visitors to land, and it is big enough to allow shops and a restaurant. A wooden bridge brings the visitors to the cave entrance, but as the cave passage leads upwards, the cave becomes dry. Up a few staircases, a huge chamber contains several Buddha altars. Then the cave continues and has some nice speleothems. The cave is 100 m long and has in total three chambers.

Thac Bo Temple worships two Goddesses of the ancient Muong and Dao ethnic peoples, one named Dinh Thi Van and the other unknown. Both made great contributions to helping the army under Emperor Le Loi (1384-1433) quell a rebellion. They supported them to transport food and boats through Bo Waterfall to the Muong Le region. After the two women passed away, their souls often appeared to help local boatmen safely cross the dangerous waterfalls. Before the Da River was dammed, the waterfall in the river became quite dangerous after heavy rains. To pay tribute to the two goddesses, local people built a temple to worship them as the Goddesses of Bo Waterfall.

It is more or less a cave temple, not a real show cave, but the cave is impressive, and it is well developed with trails, railings, electric light, and even a pagoda with a statue of Ho Chi Minh. As it is a temple, it is open without restrictions and there is no fee, though donations are welcome. Please behave appropriately for a temple. You may offer incense and pray for luck.