he Trinh Nu Grotto or Virgin Grotto is
situated on the island range of Bo Hon in the system comprising the
Sung Sot Grotto, Dong Tien Lake and Luon Grotto. It is 9km south of Bai
Chay Tourist Wharf. For some fishermen, the Virgin Grotto is home;
while for young lovers, it is considered as the symbol of truly love.
The
French gave this grotto the name La Virgin (the grotto of virgin girl)
according to the legend of the romantic love of two couple: a poor
beautiful girl and a young fisherman. Legend has it that there once was
a beautiful fisherman's daughter, whose family was so poor that it was
in the service of the rich administrator of the fishing zone. He forced
the family to give him the girl as a concubine. She already had a lover
who at that time was on the high seas catching fish to prepare for
their wedding. The administrator, angered by her refusal, exiled her to
a wild island where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. On one
frightening night, amidst terrible rain and winds, she turned to stone.
It was also the night that her lover knew of her danger, and he rowed
his boat in search of her. On the terrible night, the tempest destroyed
his boat and he floated to one of the islands. In a lighting flash he
saw his mate in the distance, but his calls were driven away by the
wind. He used a stone block to hammer down on the mountain cliffs to
announce to her he was nearby. He struck until blood flowed from his
hands, and in his final exhaustion, turned to stone (today's Male
Grotto).
Trinh Nu Grotto has three chambers. The first chamber
likes a house with flat roof and linked with the next chamber by a
narrow window. The second chamber is 8m long and 5m wide and about 4m
height. Inside the grotto many stalagmites and stalactites bearing
strange forms which created on the wall many skilful carving pictures.
From the second chamber there is a small door leading to the last
chamber which is in rectangle with 60m long, 20m wide. On the wall many
stalactites fall down which created many lovely pictures: here is a
group of girl heart to heart talk, another is a picture of phoenix
spread with its wing spreading wide. Far from is many pictures of bird.
Today, when visiting the Virgin Grotto, you can still see the
petrified girl with her long hair hanging down, and eyes looking
towards the mainland. Opposite the Virgin Grotto, the Male Grotto is
still home to the lover, his face turned towards his mate. His
passionate calls and blows against the grotto's walls can still be
heard at times.