Magnificent Chin Chu Chai Cave

Việt Nam•17/05/2024

(BLC) - A giant stalactite formation with a circumference of about 20 meters and a height equivalent to a 7-story building, a tranquil lake with unique stalactite formations carved into the shape of the Goddess of Mercy, Vietnamese-style walls on both sides of the cave with babbling waterfalls during the rainy season creating a gentle water symphony… These are the magnificent experiences when visiting Chin Chu Chai Cave, Nung Nang commune, Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province.

The vegetation in Chin Chu Chai Cave creates a pristine beauty, like a miniature park.

Chin Chu Chai village is located about 3km from the center of Nung Nang commune, Tam Duong district, and about 8km from the center of Lai Chau city, with over 50 households of the Mong ethnic minority. The name Chin Chu Chai means "bamboo forest," because in the past, this area had many bamboo trees. The village is situated in a plain at an average altitude of 1,030 meters above sea level, on the majestic Pu Sam Cap mountain range. Interspersed among the oddly shaped limestone formations are lush green fields of corn, rice, peanuts, and medicinal plants. In the gardens, plum and peach trees are laden with fruit. The houses are neat and clean, and livestock are kept in pens far from the homes. All these impressions, along with the friendliness of the people, give visitors a feeling of peace when they step into this mountain village. Not only does it possess a pristine and peaceful beauty, but it also holds a treasure of nature, protected and preserved by the people for generations, maintaining the magnificent beauty of Chin Chu Chai Cave.

The vast cave arch

Chin Chu Chai Cave, based on initial assessments, has set many records, breaking the limits of caves discovered in Lai Chau province in particular and the Northwest region in general. Stepping through the entrance reveals a magnificent, vast space with a high and wide vaulted ceiling, approximately several tens of meters wide. With its enormous volume, it could contain a section of a street with buildings from 7 to 10 stories high – almost no other cave in the Northwest is as large. The dry ceiling of the cave entrance, devoid of stalactites, suggests it was created by a geological sinkhole. This also explains the fear of some elderly villagers who recounted their childhood fear of speaking loudly inside the cave due to echoes (caused by the wide vaulted ceiling and numerous passages creating repeated reverberation). Occasionally, plumes of white mist emerge from the cave entrance, accompanied by wind blowing from inside outwards. According to cave theory, this is a sign of large, long caves with multiple entrances. At the cave entrance, a layer of shrubs grows, creating a wild, unspoiled beauty like a miniature park.

The archway of Chin Chu Chai cave in Nung Nang commune, Tam Duong district, is very large. Photo: Cu Porter, Vuong Son

A giant stalactite formation shaped like a pagoda.

Deep inside the cave, in the third chamber, lies a colossal, magnificent stalactite formation resembling a pagoda. The stalactite is cylindrical, with a circumference of approximately 20 meters and a height equivalent to a seven-story building. It was formed by the crystallization of limestone due to water dripping from the cave ceiling. This is a spectacular natural formation; comparisons suggest it is the largest and most unique stalactite column discovered in Lai Chau province in particular and the Northwest region in general. It is comparable to the giant stalactite columns in Son Doong Cave (Quang Binh province), the world's largest cave. This comparison also estimates the formation time of this "pagoda" to be several million years. Witnessing the stalactite with its sparkling millions of crystals under the light is truly awe-inspiring.

This giant stalactite formation has a circumference of approximately 20 meters and a height equivalent to a 7-story building. Photo: Cu Porter, Vuong Son

The statue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara hangs serenely by the lake.

In the fourth chamber of the cave, about 2km from the entrance, lies a miniature version of the "Vietnam Wall" of Son Doong Cave. This stalactite wall was formed by the trickling water cascading down the cave walls during the rainy season. During the dry season, the frozen stalactite formation resembles a magnificent, sparkling, towering wall. The wall symbolizes stability, strength, and trust.

A Buddha statue on a stalactite. Photo: Cu Porter, Vuong Son

Remarkably, in one corner of the Vietnamese wall lies a "Pure Hanging Lake" with crystal-clear water that never dries up year-round. In the middle of the lake are two unique stalactite columns, one tall and one short, separated by about 1 meter. From a 45-degree angle, viewed from the tall column, one can admire, with sincere devotion, the exquisitely carved statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, also known as the Goddess of Mercy. In one hand, the Goddess holds a willow branch pointing upwards, while the other holds a pure vase of nectar pointing downwards. The vase is tilted downwards, as if pouring pure water, creating a small, crystal-clear "Fairy Pond" in the heart of the cave. Avalokiteshvara means "observing the cries of suffering beings in the world to deliver them from suffering."

Nature, in a rare and ingenious way, allowed a broken stalactite from the ceiling or wall of the cave to accidentally fall between two stalactite columns. This broken stalactite was so wide that its width matched the distance between the two columns, forming a bridge connecting them. Some call it the Mother-Child Bridge, others the Bridge of Destiny or Love, but whatever the name, it signifies connection and emotional bonding. Sitting by the tranquil hanging lake, also known as the Fairy Pond, facing the Buddha, one feels as if all sorrows vanish, and wishes for happiness, love, and children are granted by the benevolent Bodhisattva. Therefore, for generations, the elders of the village have told their descendants that the cave is very sacred, warning them not to damage the stalactites or do anything to defile the cave. Thus, despite being discovered a long time ago, Chin Chu Chai Cave has been preserved almost intact.

A serene hanging lake. Photo: Cu Porter, Vuong Son

The deeper you explore , the more mysterious, unique, and pristine beauty Chin Chu Chai Cave reveals. Each chamber conceals numerous stalactite formations with unique shapes. All of them exude the majestic beauty of a cave that breaks many of the boundaries of caves discovered in Lai Chau province in particular and the Northwest region in general.

The cave has many magnificent and unique stalactites and stalagmites. Photos: Cu Porter, Vuong Son

Chin Chu Chai Cave is attracting the attention of many tourists who want to visit and explore it. However, currently, the cave has not been recognized as a historical site or tourist destination, and has not received investment in basic infrastructure. To ensure the preservation of the cave's current state for assessment, surveying, and recognition as a historical site and tourist destination, the People's Committee of Tam Duong District has issued a document temporarily suspending all activities related to visiting and exploring Chin Chu Chai Cave. Surveying and measuring Chin Chu Chai Cave is being carried out by the government and relevant agencies to determine the true value and scale of this "precious gem" of Lai Chau and to reveal it soon. The local authorities will make a specific announcement when the cave is ready to welcome tourists.

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