Some 2-3 km
southeast of Trống
Mái Islet lies Bồ
Nâu Grotto or
Pelican Grotto. This
vaulted grotto
covers 200m2. The
floor of the grotto
is wide and flat,
but not deep, and
its wall features
lots of stalactites
and stalagmites.
At the entrance are
three stones,
looking like three
fairies with their
heads close to one
another. Two men
appear to be playing
chess, with the
third serving as a
referee.
Bồ Nâu Grotto is one
of the beauty
grottoes in Ha Long
Bay.
The name Bồ Nâu or
Bồ Nông is
associated with the
fact that pelicans
often take shelter
here. If Ðầu Gỗ
Grotto lies
completely inside
the island, Bồ Nâu
opens its mouth at
the side of the
island. Stalactites
fall down from the
roof of the grotto
in different
clusters. Meanwhile
stalagmites grow up
in different shapes
and layers. Is this
that the life out
there is so noisy
that the three
fairies have to
choose this tranquil
place to play chess?
Turning southward,
Bồ Nâu Grotto enjoys
cool wind. Standing
there, one can hear
the murmur of the
sea all year round.