Nestled within the Ba Be National Park, Hua Ma Cave is like another world, where light, darkness, and stalactites blend mysteriously. The path leading into the cave is not very long, but it is deep enough for visitors to clearly feel the transformation of the surroundings. From the bright daylight outside, each step gradually leads visitors into cooling darkness like a “memory storage of the mountains and forests”, where the temperature remains nearly constant year-round.
Hua Ma Cave stretches more than 700 meters in length, with an average ceiling height of around 50 meters. The interior is divided into many large and small chambers, which gives the cave both depth and a sense of openness, never causing visitors to feel confined.
A tourist from France said: “This cave is magnificent. The red, orange, and green lights make is more beautiful and you can clearly see every detail of the stalactites. This cave is wonderful.”
As we step into the cave, a surprisingly vast space opens up. Countless stalactites hang down from the high ceiling, with some resembling frozen waterfalls, or herds of elephants or deer silently walking through the stillness.
Further inside, the beauty of Hua Ma Cave becomes even more alive with million-year-old stalagmites rising from the cave floor to the ceiling like pillars supporting a “natural palace.” Many visitors have compared the cave to a “living sculpture museum,” where there are no human hands involved, yet every detail appears perfect.
Bui Thi Hong Hanh, a tourist from Hanoi, said: “I have explored many caves in the northeastern and northwestern mountainous regions. Hua Ma Cave is especially unique and impressive. The floor inside the cave is flat and the surrounding scenery is easy to explore without having to climb.”
Dang Van Khang, another visitor from Hanoi, said: “Hua Ma Cave is completely natural. The path up the mountain is a little rough, as visitors must travel deep inside and climb about 700 meters, but in return, the cave contains many long-standing natural stalactites.”
Because of its mysterious beauty, Hua Ma Cave is closely associated with local folk tales. In the Tay language, the name “Hua Ma” means “horse’s head” and is linked to a legend about wandering spirits once believed to dwell inside the cave, making locals afraid to approach it.
Over time, and as more people explored the cave, what was once considered a frightening place gradually became an attractive destination, opening up economic opportunities for local communities. Thai Nguyen province has been implementing preservation solutions, said Nguyen Hong Lien, an official from the provincial Tourism Promotion and Development Center.
“Hua Ma Cave is considered by many visitors to be the most beautiful and natural cave in the Northeast. To make it more convenient for tourists, we have renovated the surroundings and installed benches at resting points so visitors can relax here. Inside the cave, lights have been installed to make sightseeing easier and allow visitors to fully admire the cave’s mysterious, timeless beauty.”
Hua Ma Cave, once masked by mysterious legends, is emerging as a bright spot on the tourism map of Thai Nguyen. It has helped attract more tourists and created livelihoods for locals, who now work as tour guides and vendors selling local products.
