Turning Bat Cave on Bai Tu Long Bay into a magnificent restaurant

On the evening of May 30, an event called "consultation and suggestion for new tourism products" was held at Doi Cave (also known as Ngoc Rong Cave) in Vung Duc tourist area, on the shore of Bai Tu Long Bay (Cam Pha City, Quang Ninh). Attending the event, many people were surprised to see that Doi Cave had been renovated and turned into a magnificent restaurant.

Hang Dơi biến thành nhà hàng sang trọng tại Quảng Ninh - Ảnh 1. — Bat Cave was renamed 'Ngoc Rong Cave' for business purposes.

The seemingly professional event quickly turned into a party right in the cave, with about 200 guests. The natural space was transformed into a party venue, with hundreds of tables and chairs, a stage, a sound system and even a kitchen installed permanently inside.

Previously, after the press reported that a business had built a toilet in Bat Cave, local authorities inspected and required the business to dismantle the toilet construction, move tables and chairs, stage frames, etc. out of Bat Cave.

However, instead of returning it to its natural state, the Bat Cave area continued to be "renovated" on a larger scale: the floor was covered with fake stone carpet, multi-colored lighting was installed, high-power sound equipment and facilities for organizing events and catering.

Hang Dơi biến thành nhà hàng sang trọng tại Quảng Ninh - Ảnh 2.

Hang Dơi biến thành nhà hàng sang trọng tại Quảng Ninh - Ảnh 3.

Just 2 months later, Bat Cave was magnificently renovated to become a restaurant.

PHOTO: LA NGHI HIEU

The intervention in the cave has made many people worried. A delegate (who asked not to be named) who was invited to attend the event on the evening of May 30 at Bat Cave said: "The sound was too loud, resonating with the cave's dome, making my head dizzy. Burning torches in the cave created a strong smell of gasoline, forcing me to leave halfway."

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van, former Director of the Institute of Geology and Minerals, emphasized: "Concreting, lighting, and organizing events inside the cave will have long-term effects on the structure, microbial ecosystem, and air quality, which are difficult to overcome."

Hang Dơi biến thành nhà hàng sang trọng tại Quảng Ninh - Ảnh 4. — The grand party took place on the evening of May 30.

Mr. Van also warned that Quang Ninh is repeating the mistake that Ha Long made more than 20 years ago when it arbitrarily installed lights in caves, leading to biological changes in the caves. Currently, Ha Long Bay has had to coordinate with the Institute of Geology and Minerals to conduct in-depth research to overcome the consequences.