Tu Thuc Cave, also known as Bich Dao Cave (in Nga Thien Commune, Nga Son District), is considered one of the most beautiful caves in Thanh Hoa. This place always attracts tourists because of the shimmering, magical colors inside the cave and the legend of Tu Thuc meeting the fairy Giang Huong that is passed down among the people.
According to legend, Tu Thuc was from Tong Son (now Ha Trung district, Thanh Hoa province) and worked as a district magistrate in Tien Du district, Bac Ninh province. Tu Thuc often enjoyed traveling, enjoying the scenery and writing poetry.
During a flower viewing party, he encountered a beautiful young woman. While admiring the flowers, she accidentally broke a peony branch and was detained by the temple. Seeing this, Tu Thuc immediately took off the brocade shirt he was wearing to atone for the young woman's sin.
Later, because he did not want to be tied down by fame and fortune, Tu Thuc resigned from his position and returned to his hometown to enjoy the countryside. One day, looking out to the Than Phu seaport (Nga Son district), Tu Thuc saw a five-colored cloud forming the shape of a lotus flower. Tu Thuc rowed his boat toward the mountain and got lost in Bich Dao cave.
As soon as he entered the cave, Tu Thuc saw a majestic and magnificent castle. Then the owner of the castle married his daughter named Giang Huong. At this moment, Tu Thuc realized that Giang Huong was the girl he had taken off his brocade dress to atone for his mistake that year.
After living together for a year, although they were in harmony and peace, Tu Thuc suddenly missed home and asked to go back to his hometown. Sympathizing with her husband's feelings, Giang Huong bought a carriage and prepared a sealed envelope to say goodbye. When they arrived at their hometown, everything had changed. Tu Thuc asked an old man with white hair and beard and found out that he was his grandson. He had been gone for too long, and now Tu Thuc wanted to return to the fairyland with his wife, but the cloud carriage had disappeared.
Opening the envelope, Tu Thuc saw Giang Huong's farewell message. He was sad and disappointed and went to the Southwest along the Hoang Son mountain range (in Hoang Son commune, Nong Cong district) and then disappeared. Since then, Bich Dao cave is also called Tu Thuc cave .
According to the Tu Thuc Cave Management Board, on normal days, this place also welcomes tourists. However, on holidays, on September 2, this place welcomes thousands of visitors.
Ms. Le Thi Hong, a tourist in Ha Trung district (Thanh Hoa), said that she had heard about this cave before, but this year's September 2nd holiday, she had the opportunity to go with her family to explore it. Here, in addition to hearing the story of Tu Thuc meeting a fairy, her family also got to visit the inside of the cave with countless beautiful stalactites.
Some pictures inside Tu Thuc cave.
