Legend in the heart of Muong La rocky mountain
Located in the middle of the mountains and forests of It Ong sub-zone, Muong La commune, Co Noong cave (Ong to cave) is one of the scenic spots with the pristine and mysterious beauty of Son La.
This place is not only attractive to tourists because of its unique natural scenery but also preserves many folk stories associated with the land by the Da River.
The cave is located about 250 m from Son La hydropower dam. From the foot of the mountain, visitors must follow winding trails, overcome slopes to reach the cave entrance.
The heart of Co Noong cave is wide with many beautiful stalactites. Photo: Truong Son
From Co Noong cave, the panoramic view of Son La hydropower and the Da River appears in the majestic mountains and forests. Ancient trees clinging to the cliffs, casting shadows on the moss, creating a pristine and mysterious beauty.
Inside the cave, the base is more than 300 m2 wide, the dome is 10-20 m high. The stalactite system formed over thousands of years with many unique shapes such as elephants, deer, deer, monitor lizards, hammocks, money-soaked toads and the statue of the Buddha of Avalokiteśvara.
According to local people, Co Noong cave was discovered in the 1980s when people went into the forest to catch bats and find birds. Prominent among the stalactite blocks is the image of a couple clinging to each other, associated with the unfinished love story of a poor boy and the daughter of a rich mandarin by the Da River.
The story has been passed down through generations, contributing to creating a unique attraction for Co Noong cave, attracting people who love nature and explore the Northwest mountains and forests.
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Ha, a tourist from Hanoi, said that the journey to explore Co Noong cave brings many interesting experiences, especially the mysterious space inside the cave and the surrounding natural scenery. According to her, this is a suitable destination to develop exploration and experience tourism.
From archaeological sites to tourist destinations
Not only possessing pristine beauty, Co Noong cave is also one of the important archaeological sites of Son La province.
In 1997, the Vietnam Institute of Archeology in coordination with the Son La Provincial Museum and Library conducted excavations at the cave, collecting 11 stone tools, including a horizontal ax, a quartz tool, a fragment tool and many chunks of rough earthenware mixed with sand.
According to researchers, these artifacts bear the characteristics of Son Vi culture, reflecting the life of ancient residents about 11,000 years ago, contributing to supplementing a valuable source of materials for historical and cultural research in the Northwest region. Currently, many artifacts are being preserved and displayed at the Son La Provincial Museum.
In April 2008, Co Noong cave was recognized as a provincial-level archaeological and scenic site. In recent years, local authorities and people have actively protected the landscape, preserved the stalactite system and the natural environment.
Despite having a lot of potential, tourism exploitation at Co Noong cave still faces difficulties due to unsynchronized transportation infrastructure and limited experiential services.
Mr. Hoang Duc, a photography enthusiast in Son La, said that Co Noong cave has beautiful scenery, historical and archaeological value. If invested, connected and promoted, this place can become an attractive destination.
Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh, Vice Chairman of Muong La Commune People's Committee, said that the locality is oriented to connect Co Noong cave with Son La hydropower plant, It Ong hot spring and It village terraced fields, forming a unique eco-tourism and experience route.
With landscape, historical and archaeological values, Co Noong cave is expected to become a highlight on the journey to explore Son La land.
