Động Vái Giời

Useful Information

Location:	Thung Nham, Thôn Hải Nham, Hoa Lư, Ninh Bình. 14 km from Ninh Binh city center. From Ninh Binh follow QL1A south, turn right on DT491C to Hoa Lư, turn right to Thung Nham. The trail starts on the right side of the road 200 m after the gate. (20.2159867, 105.9008740)
Open:	Thung Nham Ecotourism Area: Summer daily 7-18. Winter daily 7:30-17:30. [2024]
Fee:	Thung Nham Ecotourism Area: Adults VND 150,000, Children (1m-1.3m) VND 100,000, Children (<1m) free, Seniors (80+) free, Disabled free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent Coloured Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:
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Accessibility:
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Address:	Thung Nham Ecotourism Area, Thung Nham, Thôn Hải Nham, Hoa Lư, Ninh Bình, Tel: +84-912-900-887. E-mail:
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

Động Vái Giời (Vai Gioi Cave) is one of numerous caves in the karstified and forested hills, which belong to the Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone. The visit is included in the entrance fee of the zone, it is visited self-guided. The zone has three show caves which can be visited on the same day, due to the size of the area you should plan a full day. The three caves are Vai Gioi Cave, Buddha Cave, and Mermaid Cave.

Vai Gioi Cave is the main cave at the park, located right after the entrance on the right side of the road. It is also considered the largest cave of Thung Nham. To reach the cave entrance, which is located high up on the hillside, visitors have to climb a long staircase with 439 stone steps. The scenery on both sides of the path is quite beautiful and wild, but as the trail is surrounded by forest, there are no views. Vai Gioi Cave has three cave floors containing many stalagmites and stalactites. As typical for Asia, the size is given in square meters, which is quite nonsensical, however, the cave is said to have an area of about 5,000 m².

Legend has it that the ancients here set up an altar to pray for favorable weather and good harvests. Also the legends call the three levels the realms: Heaven, Earth and Hell. The entrance is at the eearthly level, filled with stalagmites and stalagmites, arranged like a simple, familiar human life. Walking down on the stone staircase the Hell is reached, the entrance is guardfed on both sides by massive stalactites. Finally, a narrow iron staircase takes the visitors up to the Paradise level. The Heavenly Floor has a sky gate (karstfenster) which offers a panoramic view of the entire beautiful valley landscape below. This cave is considered the place where heaven and earth meet, yin and yang harmonize.