The Trinh Nữ Grotto or Virgin Grotto is situated on the island range ofBồ Hòn in the system comprising the Sửng Sôt Grotto, Ðộng Tiên Lake andLuồn Grotto. It is 15 km south of Bãi Cháy Beach

For fishermen, the Virgin Grotto istheir house, but for young lovers, it is considered as the symbol oftruly love, and is the romantic place for taking oath of love.

EnteringTrinh Nữ Grotto, one finds in the middle of the grotto a stone statueof a lying-girl with her long hair hanging down who is looking to thesea in a vain hope.

Situated opposite to Trinh Nữ Grotto,Trống (or Male) Grotto has a stone statue of a boy who turns his face toTrinh Nữ Grotto. One still hears his vain scream in tune with the windblowing into the cliff somewhere.

Legend has it, there once was abeautiful fisherman’s daughter, whose family was so poor that it was inthe service of the rich administrator of the fishing zone. He forced thefamily to give him the girl as a concubine. She already had a lover whoat that time was on the high seas catching fish to prepare for theirwedding. The administrator, angered by her refusal, exiled her to a wildisland where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. On onefrightening night, amidst terrible rain and winds, she turned to stone.

It was also the night that her loverknew of her danger, and he rowed his boat in search of her. On theterrible night, the tempest destroyed his boat and he floated to one ofthe islands. In a lighting flash he saw his mate in the distance, buthis calls were driven away by the wind. He used a stone block to hammerdown on the mountain cliffs to announce to her he was nearby. He struckuntil blood flowed from his hands, and in his final exhaustion, turnedto stone (today’s Trống Grotto).

Tourists also find Trinh Nữ Grottoattractive partly because of its association with a fanciful lovelegend: “Once upon a time, there lived a boy and a girl who deeply lovedeach other. However, they were so poor that they could not be able toget married. The boy decided to go offshore fishing with a hope that hecould get enough money for his marriage. And the girl painfully waitedin vain for her fiancé. She finally took a small boat and rowed to thesea to look for him. So immense is the sea, and so many are the islands,the boy, therefore could not hear her doleful call, though he was justseveral canals away. Exhausted, the girl lied in a grotto, looking tothe sea and got petrified after the last call. The boy got lost in agrotto nearby, shouting to call the girl in vain. The echo of their callthrough the cliff was so moving. At last, the boy became exhausted andpetrified in the grotto – present-day Trống Grotto.”

Today, whenever passing this place, tourists can still hear his faint call.

(halong cruise.info)