Nature has endowed Tay Bac (the north-western area) with imposing ranges of mountains, vast luxuriant forests, rivers and murmuring streams. Over millions of years of tectonics and movements, spectacular caves and grottos have been formed, of which the complex of Pu Sam Cap Caves emerges as the most beautiful spot in Lai Chau Province.
From the centre of Lai Chau Town, going westwards for 6km visitors will reach Pu Sam Cap which consists of three large caves including the Thien Mon, Thien Duong and Thuy Tinh. They all have a natural beauty equal to that of well-known caves, such as Phong Nha in Quang Binh Province, Thien Cung in Quang Ninh Province and Huong Tich in Hanoi. Since the complex of Pu Sam Cap Caves was discovered in July 2006 it has attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists who love adventures and discovery.
The path to Pu Sam Cap is winding and rough, which evokes the visitors’ curiosity and wish of discovery. On the way they will see many age-old trees, some of them fallen along the pathway due to strong wind and covered with moss and mistletoes, creating mysterious scenery.
Thien Mon Cave has a large entrance and is deep. Going inside the cave, visitors feel the cool air coming from stones. Via the light of the torch they will see different types of stalagmites and stalactites. Drops of water falling from the roof of the cave make them have the feeling of walking in the rain. On the large floor in the middle of the cave there are a lot of ball-shaped stalagmites which have been formed due to the flows of water over millions of years. These balls overlap one another, creating both familiar and strange formations depending on the visitors’ imagination. Arriving at the centre of Thien Mon Cave, visitors are astonished because it is high and large and has a flat floor, which can be called “a theatre of nature”. They will enjoy hearing the sound of wind that goes through the stalactites and its echo off the walls sounding like a piano. A little light from the open air creates a contrast space.
Leaving Thien Mon Cave, visitors will go through the forest for half an hour to reach Thien Duong Cave. With primitive natural features Thien Duong Cave looks like a landscape painting, very attractive to visitors. To go down the cave, visitors have to cling to a rope running along the sides of the cliffs. A calm and solemn atmosphere prevails, thrilling the visitors. Standing among the stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave the visitors’ imagination varies. The curving lines on the sloping floor resemble a terraced field. The deeper the cave, the more colourful and multi-dimensional its space, with formations of rocks looking like familiar images of the daily life, such as a flower trellis, a garden of vegetables, etc. There are a series of white crystal stalactites resembling glass pillars and many other spectacular formations.
In the near future together with the development of Lai Chau Province, Pu Sam Cap Caves will become a destination for discovery and ecological tours accompanied by other forms of tourism, such as hamlets and festivals.
