Pa Thom Cave
Parts of Pa Thom Village, the spectacular Pa Thom Cave is located to the west of Dien Bien District, adjoining the border between Vietnam and Laos.
Photo: baodantoc.vn
Locals usually refer to the cave as Tham Nang Lai which means the Full-of-Fairies Cave in Vietnamese language. Accompanied by myths about love and loyalty, Pa Thom Cave is not only a natural wonder but also a holy place in the belief of Dien Bien people. Located up high on the side of a mountain, the cave has a 12m high, 17m wide, arch-shaped mouth. At the middle of this special entrance stands a giant stone resembling the head of an elephant. Along the 350m length of the cave, there are 9 arches of different sizes. Impressive stones, stalactites, and stalagmites are ubiquitous. Right after you enter the cave, you will see a block of three huge stones that looks like a giant snake. Stalactites and stalagmites come in a variety of sizes and shapes, sparkling mysteriously under the candle light. The cave is extremely spacious. Decorated with majestic block of stones, the ceilings looks like that of a luxurious palace. The beautiful curtains made of soft-looking, colorful stalactites hang themselves beside the silver waterfalls inside the cave.
In addition to its magnificent look, the local tales about love make Pa Thom Cave a romantic and attractive destination for travelers from everywhere. When you have a chance to visit Dien Bien, never forget to pay a visit to this wonderful natural site. Surely, it will never let you down.
Useful Information
- Location: Pa Thom Cave
- Best for: All visitors
- Entrance: Free
- Hours: Day time visit is recommended
- Distance to city center: 15.9km (9.9 mi)
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