Thang Hen Lake was a fresh water lake lying in the
community of 36 fresh water lakes on the high mountain of Tra Linh
District. It is around 3,000 metres long, more than 1,000 metres wide,
and thousands of metres above the sea level. The landscape here is
quite charming with lines of green trees beside the precarious cliffs,
reflecting on the pure water surface and meandering around the
underground rock peaks. In the morning, taking a look at the lake from
the top of the mountain, people can see masses of cloud like silky
cloths flying in the wind. At the head of the lake Thang Hen, there is
a wide cave and water in this cave flows out constantly, making the
scenery more imposing. Everyday, there are two turns of tide: one up
and one down, at Thanh Hen Lake. Even in the flood season or droughty
season, the water in this lake still stays green and pure.
A beauty spot at Thang Hen Lake
The
legend about Thang Hen Lake is an interesting discovery to travelers.
According to the folks, a very long time ago, in Tra Linh area, there
is a handsome and intelligent young man. He passed the national
examination (in the old time), became a mandarin and was awarded seven
days for returning his village after achieving such honour and entering
the imperial city. Before he went to the imperial city, he met and
married a beautiful lady, Bi Ooc. Because of spending time with his
newly-married wife, he forgot the time to depart to the capital city.
Until the seventh night, he suddenly remembered about this business,
said goodbye to his wife and parents and hurriedly ran to the imperial
city.
Passing 36 valleys among rocky mountains in the
midnight, he dropped with fatigue and unexpectedly smashed into the
mountain and died. Those 36 valleys today are 36 small and large lakes
with various names in the forest and mountainous region in Tra Linh
District. It is believed that the place that young man died is now the
locality of Thang Hen Lake.
Nowadays, at Thang Hen Lake
area, people have built boarding-houses and hotels and this place now
is getting much attention and development focus from the provincial
authorities with purpose to make it become an ideal location for
ecological tourism and resting for both domestic and foreign tourists.
In 2002, Thang Hen Lake was recognised as an ecological tourism area of
Cao Bang Province by the Ministry of Culture and Information.