Dau Go Cave – once called “the cave of wonders” by a French magazine – possesses a rare, pristine, and quiet beauty in Halong Bay. When you travel to Dau Go Cave, you will be captivated by the quiet, ancient, and remaining historical relics.
Today, let’s find out with Halong Private Car all the information you need to know before visiting this cave.
What is the location of Dau Go Cave?
Dau Go Cave is the largest cave in Ha Long Bay, located on Dau Go Island, about 5000 m2 wide, 27m above sea level. The temperature inside the cave is always maintained at a stable level of 20 – 22 degrees Celsius, very suitable for visitors to visit during hot summer days.
Dau Go Cave makes a strong impression with its limestone system of many diverse shapes. This cave was formed at the same time as Thien Cung cave (about 2 million years ago), so when traveling to Dau Go cave, visitors often continue to visit Thien Cung cave. The entrance fee to the cave is also often combined with Thien Cung Cave.
To better visualize the location of Dau Go Cave, you can refer to the distance from the cave to the locations below:
- From Van Don airport: 74km (1 hour 5 min travel)
- From Tuan Chau port: 3km (5 minutes travel)
- From Bai Chay port: 6km (10 minutes travel)
When is the best time to visit Dau Go Cave?
The most suitable time to visit Dau Go Cave in Halong Bay? This is certainly the question for many tourists before coming to Halong Bay. Because the cave is very humid and cool, the ideal time to visit cave is in the summer from April to July, when the cave is dry and suitable to avoid the intense heat.
You can refer to the Halong Bay weather guide to better understand the ideal time to travel to Halong before planning to go to Dau Go Cave or any other attractive tourist destination in Halong Bay!
Dau Go Cave’s ticket price
For tourists traveling to Halong Bay on their own, you will have to calculate costs such as car fare to Halong Bay, Tuan Chau port entrance fee (40,000 VND/person), and yacht rental fee (1,600,000 VND or more), boat fee (150,000 VND). The ticket price for the Dau Go cave tour, including Thien Cung Cave, Cho Da, Dinh Huong, and Trong Mai for 3 hours, will be 310,000 VND/person.
For tourists who buy the Halong Bay cruise tour package (6-7 hours), you will not only visit Dau Go Cave but also other famous places in the bay, such as Thien Cung Cave, Dog Rock, Incensory Rock, The Kissing Rocks. The ticket price for the 4-hour cruise is 2,000,000 VND (weekdays) and 2,500,000 VND (weekends).
How to get to Dau Go Cave
How to get to Dau Go cave conveniently and cost-effectively is a question for many tourists when coming to Ha Long Bay. Below, Halong Private car will analyze the popular routes and prices for each route to Dau Go cave
Transport from other provinces to Halong Bay
For tourists in other provinces, you need to find a means of transport to Halong Bay. Here are some ways you can refer to:
Airplane
- Budget: from 700,000 VND
Airplane is the best means of transport for customers traveling from abroad or the southern provinces of Vietnam to Halong. You can flexibly choose between two landing locations, Noi Bai and Van Don airports, then travel by taxi or private car to Halong Bay.
Shuttle bus
- Budget: 150,000VND
If you are in Hanoi and want to travel to Halong Bay, you can use a shuttle bus. This is also a means of transport chosen by many customers. Depending on the quality of the vehicle, the ticket price can vary from 20,000 – 30,000VND.
Train
- Budget: from 150,000VND
Another means of transport from neighboring provinces to Halong Bay is the train. Depending on the distance and type of train compartment, the ticket price will be different. If you want to enjoy the beautiful scenery during the trip, the train is also a reasonable choice.
Private car
- Budget: from 700,000VND
Currently, traveling by private car is a trend among many tourists. With the advantages of flexible time, door-to-door pick-up, free schedule adjustment, good car quality, and personalized service, private car travel is suitable for many diverse customer groups, from families, friends, couples,…
In case you want to experience a private pick-up service from your accommodation to your hotel/homestay, you can refer to Halong Private Car’s private car service chain:
Transfer from Quang Ninh city to Dau Go Cave
After arriving at Halong Bay, there are 2 main routes for you to travel to Dau Go Cave:
Way 1: Using the Halong Bay Cruise Tour package
The Halong Bay tour package will integrate many destinations in the Halong area, including Dau Go Cave. When using the Halong Bay Cruise Tour, tourists will be provided with a free shuttle service included in the tour price to Tuan Chau port, Bai Chay, then the tour guide will take you on a cruise to the locations in the tour package (6-7 hours)
Way 2: Self-guided travel
If you want to travel to Halong Bay on your own, you can use a taxi or motorbike to Tuan Chau port (about 20 minutes by car). This is the shortest way to get to Halong Bay. At the port, you can rent a boat or take a boat to go directly to Dau Go Cave.
The origin of the name and the mysterious stories about Dau Go Cave
Why is it called “Dau Go”? In fact, up to now, there is no completely accurate information about the origin of the name Dau Go. According to documents on Ha Long Bay tourism, there are 3 hypotheses about the origin of the name.
Hypothesis 1: The war against the Yuan-Mongol army in the 13th century
In the 13th century, Dau Go Cave was the place where Tran Dynasty soldiers hid wooden sticks before the battle on Bach Dang River. Therefore, the cave was originally named “Giau Go” (hiding wooden sticks). Gradually, people mispronounced it and it became “Dau Go” as it is today.
Hypothesis 2: Traces of fishing villagers
The second hypothesis suggests that, due to the shape of Dau Go Island, it has a bow shape, creating a secluded area for the cave entrance, which can avoid storms and floods. Therefore, in the past, many fishermen came here to take shelter from storms and repair boats during days of fishing when they encountered heavy rain and strong winds. Later, when they left, there were still some pieces of wood from the boats. From then on, the cave was named Dau Go.
Hypothesis 3: The shape resembles a wooden log
The last hypothesis is simpler, saying that the shape of the wooden island from afar looks like a wooden log, with 2 ends where ropes can be threaded, so people named it Dau Go cave.
Regardless of the exact reason, the above hypotheses have contributed to creating a unique attraction for tourists to explore.
What can we see inside Dau Go Cave?
Dau Go cave creates a strong impression with its ancient, wild beauty, with many towering stone pillars, a rich flora ecosystem (moss, ferns) due to the impact of sunlight and high humidity
Exploring Dau Go cave Halong Bay, you can not only admire a rich ecosystem that nature has bestowed after millions of years, but also a picture of history, culture, the rhythm of life blending between humans, animals and all that is closest to our lives seem to be clearly depicted in the mysterious space of the cave.
When moving from the outside into the cave, you will pass through 3 main compartments:
The first chamber
It is the chamber closest to the cave entrance, so sunlight can affect this area. Especially during the day, you can admire the sparkling scenery on the rocks when the sunlight shines on them. The rocks in this chamber have animal shapes that are very close to life, such as chickens, turtles, pythons, and lions
The second chamber
Next, when entering the second chamber, visitors will see a more open space with large rocks bobbing on the water surface, small clusters of flowers adding to the rich natural picture.
The third chamber
Finally, when reaching the third chamber, which is also the deepest compartment in Dau Go cave, is where giant stone pillars millions of years old appear, with sizes ranging from small to large. In this area, there is also a fairy well with clear water at any time of the year.
Historical relics in Dau Go cave
Dau Go cave is the place where many important historical events of Vietnam took place thousands of years ago. A typical example is the resistance war against the Mongol invaders in the 13th century. This was used as a “storage” for wooden sticks by the Tran Dynasty soldiers to implement the strategy of planting stakes in the Bach Dang River, creating a resounding victory to repel the invaders.
Currently, in the cave, there are still many important historical relics, most notably the stele engraved by King Khai Dinh, the 12th king of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam. This is a stone stele praising the beauty of this place by King Khai Dinh when he visited Ha Long Bay with the French Governor-General at that time, Albert Pierre Saraut.
In addition, Dau Go Cave was also a place where President Ho Chi Minh visited in 1962
Explore travel destinations around Dau Go Cave
Visitors to Halong Bay will not only explore Dau Go Cave, but also visit all the surrounding areas. So besides this cave, what other interesting destinations are there in Halong Bay? Let’s explore with Halong Private Car below!
Thien Cung Cave
Thien Cung Dau Go Caves, a familiar phrase to many tourists when referring to these places. “The most beautiful cave in Halong Bay” is located right next to Dau Go Cave and was formed at the same time.
Entering the cave, visitors will admire a series of limestone rocks, large stalactites with many unique shapes. Inside, there is also a cave opening to the sky, so this area receives a lot of light from the outside, creating an extremely splendid scene.
Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave is located on Bo Hon Island, the center of Halong Bay. This is a cave associated with the famous Vietnamese legend of Saint Giong. The cave has a diverse limestone system with small lakes and 2 main compartments
Sung Sot Cave is one of the caves on tour route number 2 (Ga Choi, Cho Da, Dinh Huong, Sung Sot, Titop) with a price of 310,000 VND, excluding boat fare.
Hon Trong Mai – The Kissing Rocks
The kissing rocks can be considered the symbol of Halong Bay when referring to this tourist destination. Located near Dinh Huong island, in the southwest of Halong Bay, 12m high, the two rocks lie in the middle of the vast space of the bay, creating an extremely majestic scene.
The reason for this name is because of the unique shape of the two rocks. From afar, the kissing rocks look like a pair of roosters and hens standing opposite each other. This is a symbol of love in Halong Bay and is visited by many couples every year.
Dau Go Cave – Best tips for perfect travel
Before visiting Dau Go Cave, according to the experience of previous visitors, you need to know some tips in advance to make the trip go as well as possible:
- Choose comfortable, light clothes, apply sunscreen, and prepare drinking water before entering the cave
- Do not cause disorder and protect the environment during the time visiting the cave.
- If you suffer from motion sickness or other diseases, do not forget to bring medicine and health protection equipment
- Bring a camera, phone, and a spare charger to save beautiful moments
- Do not forget to experience traditional dishes in Halong Bay, such as squid patties, horseshoe crab,etc
In addition to the above attractions, you can participate in must-try activities in Halong Bay, such as going on a cruise, enjoying the cuisine, and staying at a Halong Bay hotel. You can refer to the budget for the Halong Bay Cruise in advance to calculate the cost of a Halong Bay cruise for your trip!
FAQ about Dau Go Cave
How much is the ticket price to Dau Go Cave?
Currently, when buying a ticket, you will have to buy the ticket price for sightseeing route number 1 (Thien cung Cave, Dog Rock, Incensory Rock, The Kissing Rocks, Dau Go Cave) for 460,000 VND, including:
Train ticket: 150,000 VND
Sightseeing ticket: 310,000 VND
What is the means of transport to get to Dau Go Cave?
There are many means of transport depending on your needs:
Plane: from 700,000 VND and above
Bus: from 150,000 VND and above
Train: 150,000 VND and above
Private car: from 700,000 VND and above
Are there any regulations when traveling to Dau Go Cave?
Do not cause disorder and protect the environment during the visit to the cave
Do not draw or carve on the cliffs; do not touch the artifacts in the cave.
Limit taking photos with flash, affecting other visitors
When should you go to Dau Go Cave?
You should go to Dau Go Cave from April to July, when the weather in Halong Bay is dry and hot.
Should you choose a tour or go to Dau Go Cave on your own?
Depending on your needs, the number of people going, and your financial ability, you can choose between a tour or going on your own. Below is a comparison table for you to make the most suitable choice
| Category | Guide-tour | Self-guide tour |
| Transportation | Shuttle bus according to the tour schedule | Self-owned vehicle |
| Schedule | Tour schedule | Free schedule |
| Guide | Yes | No |
| Travel time | Follow the schedule in your tour package | Flexible and decide your own travel time |
| Cost | Travelling in a large group can save on the price | If you do not go with a large group, the price is quite high |