Introduction
Thien Ha Cave (Galaxy Cave) is considered the most beautiful cave in the cave complex in Trang An. Although not as famous as Hang Mua or Tam Coc Bich Dong, this cave possesses a beauty far beyond your imagination. This is said to contain a whole galaxy inside the cave. Combined with sunlight on sunny days, it creates a beautiful scene you can hardly find anywhere else. Let’s join Ninh Binh Private Car to learn more about Thien Ha Cave, the most beautiful cave in Ninh Binh, to see what makes many people appreciate it.
Thien Ha Cave Overview
Thien Ha Cave is located at Tuong Mountain east of Son Ha commune, Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh province, Vietnam. Visitors must travel about 24km from the center of Ninh Binh to reach the cave. Galaxy Grotto is a part of the mountain, about 200m above sea level. This cave used to be a natural lookout protecting Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel in the 10th century.
The climate inside the cave is much cooler than outside. Even when tourists come here in the summer, the climate in the cave is very cool because it is located inside the mountain, away from the summer sun. Thien Ha Galaxy Cave was discovered in 2007 and underwent many research processes before entering tourism operations in 2013. This place quickly attracted a large amount of attention from many tourists from everywhere.
Thien Ha Cave in Ninh Binh is about 12,000 m² wide and 700m long, equivalent to Sung Sot Cave in Halong Bay. Caves are a combination of both dry caves and water caves, each offering a unique experience. If possible, you should spend a lot of time exploring this place.
Thien Ha Cave Ticket Price & Opening Hour in 2025
- Galaxy Grotto Trang An opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5.30 p.m.
- Thien Ha Cave ticket price: From 150,000 VND to 250,000 VND, depending on route and means of transportation.
To visit this cave, visitors must buy a ticket that combines two routes and two different types of vehicles.
Route 1: Thien Ha Cave – Thien Thanh Cave – Cay Thi Hoa Lu – Thien Son Cave – Thung Phu
- Boat trip: 200,000 VND/person
- Walking: 150,000 VND/person
Route 2: Thien Ha Cave – Thien Thanh Cave – Cay Thi Hoa Lu – But Cave – Thung Nham Bird Park
- Boat trip: 250,000 VND/person
Which season is the most beautiful for visiting Thien Ha Cave?
The ideal time to visit Thien Ha Cave is summer when sunlight shines brightly. Although hot weather will cause discomfort for tourists when visiting, this is an exception. Ninh Binh and Thien Ha Grotto are covered with green trees and calm rivers, and when it’s sunny, the lights shining into the cave make it seem bright.
Besides, visitors will feel the temperature difference inside and outside when they visit the cave in the summer. The temperature inside the cave will be 12 degrees Celsius lower than outside. That means even if it’s hot and sunny outside, you will feel much cooler when entering the cave. In winter, thanks to the natural insulation layer, the temperature inside will be much warmer than outside. So Thien Ha Cave is suitable for visiting both in summer and winter.
Besides, on beautiful sunny days, visitors will see places where light shines into the cave, creating a beautiful scene. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the “heaven’s gate” inside the cave, an opportunity to take a great photo.
Visit Thien Ha Dry Cave
Thien Ha Dry Cave is situated within a limestone mountain range that was formed during the Triassic period, approximately 250 million years ago. Although only about 200m long, the dry cave is located high up, where it receives a lot of light, so it’s easier for visitors to observe. Thanks to those lights, the cave becomes sparkling, and the stalactites seem to be plated with gold.
The shape of stalactites in the dry cave has many shapes; relax and let your imagination work. Then, you will see fairies, lions, thrones, and many interesting shapes on the rocks in the cave.
Perhaps the most beautiful Thien Ha dry cave is in the beautiful “heaven gates” whenever light shines. It was like a natural window letting light into the cave. Creating streaks of sunlight shining on the stalactites, making them sparkle. So, to see that scene, visitors should choose to visit on beautiful sunny days.
Explore Thien Ha Water Cave
After completing the tour at the dry cave, visitors will continue their journey to Thien Ha Wet Cave. You will use a boat to visit this cave; you will enter the underground river located at the foot of the mountain. Local people call this place the Milky Way; it curves around beautiful, shimmering stalactites. This is also the reason that the cave is named Galaxy Cave.
Thanks to the lighting system inside the cave, the stalactites become more magical. When visitors go inside the cave, they feel like they are looking at a real galaxy right inside the cave. The cave is about 500m long and has a low ceiling, so visitors can closely observe the stalactites above their heads.
A unique thing about this cave is that American experts have determined that the stalactites in the cave are still growing. It is entirely different from many other caves in Ninh Binh, Vietnam. So it is possible that many years from now, Thien Ha Grotto will have a completely different appearance than it does now.
What to Bring When Visiting Galaxy Grotto
If this is your first time visiting Hang Thien Ha Ninh Binh, let us give you some helpful advice on what to bring.
- The first and indispensable is a phone or camera that can take good photos in the dark because the lighting conditions inside the cave are minimal, especially in water caves.
- Prepare a thin jacket because the weather inside the cave will be different from outside; bring a coat to avoid getting cold.
- The light inside the water cave is minimal, so bring a flashlight to see everything more clearly.
- Visitors should bring food and water to have more time to visit. But avoid carrying bulky things that make it difficult to move.
- You should wear sports shoes to move in the cave quickly.
Notes When Visiting Thien Ha Cave
- Visitors will get very close to the stalactites when visiting the water cave but should not touch them. Especially the blocks in water caves, because it can affect their development.
- Do not arbitrarily break or destroy stalactites. If discovered, you may be subject to administrative fines.
- Choose comfortable, convenient clothes for boating in the water cave and walking inside the dry cave.
Some Places to Visit Near Thien Ha Cave
Thien Thanh Cave
Thien Thanh Cave is located near the boat dock to Galaxy Grotto. There, visitors will see 157 stone steps leading directly to the store. This is a dry cave with a length of about 50m, much shorter than the scale of Dong Thien Ha. However, many layers of stalagmites and stalactites contribute to the depth and richness of the cave. Stalactites have different shapes are white as snow, sparkling, and translucent. Sometimes, they lie far apart to expose the vast ceiling cave and sometimes close together like coral reefs.
Tam Coc Bich Dong
Tam Coc Bich Dong and Thien Ha Cave are part of the Trang An Scenic Landscape, so visitors can do sightseeing together. You can visit the system of three beautiful caves inside the mountain. If you come in the summer, you can see Rice Field Ninh Binh, which has a lovely yellow color because this is the season of ripe rice.
In addition, visitors can stop by Bich Dong Pagoda to visit this ancient sacred temple. Inside the pagoda are two caves: Dark Cave and Xuyen Thuy Cave.
Khe Coc Island
Khe Coc Island is a new tourist destination and is attracting many tourists. This place recreates the way of life of ancient Vietnamese people after the marine regression period. There are also many antiques and working tools of ancient people found in Thien Ha cave.
Conclusion
Thien Ha Cave is one of the must-visit places every time you visit Ninh Binh. You will enjoy the majestic yet romantic scenery right inside Galaxy Cave. Admire the stalactites inside the cave and let your imagination soar. You will see the shapes of the rocks become unique and interesting. Besides that, the cave is also located in Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex and near other tourist attractions, which is convenient for transportation. All of that makes Galaxy Cave worthy of a visit; Ninh Binh Private Car wishes you an enjoyable visit here.