BUA CAVE

Nghe An has many scenic spots, rich and diverse types. In particular, the rocky terrain has created many caves in Western Nghe An. In which, Bua Cave located in the limestone mountain in the Pha En range of Hong Tien village, Chau Tien commune, Quy Chau district is considered as the most beautiful cave, a natural landscape associated with beliefs, customs, cultural activities of the Thai ethnic group and is one of the archaeological relics in Nghe An containing cultural vestiges of many eras. Bua Cave was ranked as a national scenic area by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1997.

Bua Cave is called Tham Bua by Thai people, which means Lotus cave. The cave is formed from the characteristic weathering of limestone that has been eroded by water over millions of years. The natural tectonics of geology has formed a magnificent masterpiece. Bua Cave has three doors, the two main doors are close together, the big one called Tham Om located in the northwest, the smaller one called Tham Noi located in the southeast, and a small cave called the back door. In front of the big cave, there are two rocks like two frogs guarding. The entrance of the cave has a very fancy lotus shape (also known as Booc Bua). The cave is spacious, elongated, has many niches, can accommodate hundreds of people. Inside the cave is a system of stalagmites and stalactites which are rich in shape with pristine stone blocks, interesting shapes, shaped like people, animals, tools for daily life, associated with many stories, legends by Thai ethnic people, breathing souls into the cave full of life, these are the legends of the mountain god, the water god fighting mutual, the love story of Khun Tinh and Nang Ni (Nang Ni waiting for her lover to turn to stone, her tears seeps through the mountain rocks from many generations into sparkling stalactites in Tham Bua's heart).

They believe that, in a great flood, people went to the cave to reside, dance and sing so as not to be petrified according to the curse, but all were petrified, stalagmite with the image of a man playing a flute, the ancient living tools of Thai residents such as rice bundles, sickles, ...

In particular, the layers of stalactites have the shape like a set of gongs, making a deep sound when knocked, or there is a flat stone like a bed, which the people have attached a legend to the stone bed of Nang Ni. Going deep into the cave, there is a small well, the water is clear and cool, people often call Fairy Well and cool streams flow from the interstitial rocks, flowing through stalactites that look like milk gourds of mom.

With the danger of the cave, during the anti-French colonial period, Lang Van Thiet insurgent army used to use the cave as a place to hide, secretly practice, cut and hide food and weapons.

Famous as a beautiful landscape, Bua Cave is also known as one of the important archaeological relics in Nghe An. Here, scientists have found in the fossilized sediments of ancient animals and production tools of the ancient Vietnamese people, in the Late Paleolithic period (about 40,000 to 15,000 years ago) belongs to the quartz stone tool engineering, quartzite with rudimentary hewn technique and stone axes of the Neolithic period, contributing to the study of prehistory and human history.

Currently, Bua cave has become an attractive destination in the tourist map of Nghe An province. Coming to Bua cave, we will feel the grandeur and mystery of the mountains, the wild and fanciful beauty of nature. The main door of Bua cave faces the south, in front is the vast Chieng Ngam valley, looming the villages of the Thai people. Here, every year on January 18^th-19^th, Bua Cave Festival is held, attracting a large number of people and tourists. At the festival, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the life, culture and activities of the people through rituals carried on the land that used to be inhabited by the ancient Vietnamese imbued with spiritual culture to honor, gratitude to the gods and those who have contributed to the construction of the village, hamlets. The part of contest is also organized with a variety of cultural and artistic activities, sports, contests and games imbued with Thai national cultural identity such as carving beds, Cheraw dance and enjoying the unique food of the Thai people.