Hi All, March 29, 2011 Sapa, Vietnam
One of the wonders of the karst (limestone) pinnacles or peaks that are characteristic of coastal waters and rivers of South east Asia and southern China are that caves can occur in side them as they were formed. Many of these have been discovered over the years. One of the biggest in the world is here in Vietnam, inland up a river in the central portion of the country. I couldn't resist seeing them. I hired a car, made a 4 hour trip (each way) then 1/2 hour boat ride up river, then a 2 hour tour of the caves, then back in one day. It was all very worth it.
You tour the first 2 km of the cave in a local boat, launched by a skilled one-oar pilot using the same technique the gondaliers use in Venice. Then the motor comes on. After a tour inside the cave on water, you beach and walk through the cave. Amazing.
This site has also been designated as a World Heritage Site. The only way to describe it is through pictures, I have a few here.
Next, on to Halong Bay, with its over 1500 karst pinnacles out in the ocean, see you there!
-Bill
Photos: up river to the cave; the entrance to the cave; inside the cave
Video: River traffic on the way to the cave, these boats transport tourists up river to see the caves.
