Eight Ladies Cave: Spiritual tourist destination in Phong Nha Ke Bang

Eight Ladies Cave is located in Tan Trach Commune, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province. Eight Ladies Cave is 70km northwest of Dong Hoi City. This small cave marks the great sacrifice of the Youth Volunteer Force in the resistance war against the US to save the country.

At km 17 on Highway 20 is a memorial site for heroic martyrs who died while on duty to ensure traffic on Highway 20. And especially the memorial area for female youth volunteers who were on duty when their caves were destroyed by American bombs, blocking the exit, and who died tragically and bravely.

The memorial area is popularly known by the sacred name “Hang Tam Co”. Currently, the system of historical relics on Ho Chi Minh road is being invested in by the Ministry of National Defense and Quang Binh province to be built into a very grand and unique outdoor museum.

The Tragic Story of Hang Tam Co

The story of Hang Tam Co is perhaps even more tragic than the Dong Loc intersection. On November 14, 1972, American bombs hit Route 20, where a youth volunteer team and an artillery squad were stationed.
The youth volunteer team consisted of 8 people, 4 men and 4 women. The oldest man was 37 years old at that time, and the remaining 7 people were between 18 and 20 years old. To avoid American bombs, the 8 people took shelter in a mountain cave right next to the road.

At that time, the sky of Route 20 seemed to be shattered by the roar of aircraft engines and bombings. Not only was Route 20 plowed away, but even the surrounding mountains were shaken by the bombs. When the smoke and dust cleared, other units fighting nearby were shocked to realize that the entrance to Tam Co Cave had been sealed by a giant rock weighing hundreds of tons. When they arrived, they could only hear the faint cries for help from their comrades behind the rock. The rock had separated the outside from the inside. Those outside found the cave after the bombing, but could not open the way in. The rock was too big.

They only knew how to use a long bamboo stick through a gap to bring drinking water and dry food to the people in the cave. Every time a car passed by, people tried to find a way, even using dynamite to break the rocks, but it was hopeless.
After 9 days, the people outside could no longer hear the crying inside…..
From then on, this place was called the Eight Ladies Cave. Even though there were only 4 ladies in the cave.

It was not until 1996, when a road was built here, that the remains of the eight martyrs were brought out of the fateful cave. They were buried together with the five anti-aircraft artillery soldiers who died in the same bombing on November 14, 1972.

Some number 8 that’s difficult to explain in Hang Tam Co

Later, when counting the number of tanks and trucks used during the war against the US in 1972 on this road, people were quite startled to see a round number 8. However, that was not the last number 8 to appear at this place. Many stories about Hang Tam Co were told by the guardians themselves.

Banana bunch of 8 bunches

Looking up at the bunch of wild bananas growing at the cave entrance, counting over and over again, the writer could only see 8 bunches. Anh Hung happily explained that the wild banana trees had been growing here for a long time, this tree grew up, produced bunches, then fell down, and another tree grew up.

Through many “generations”, each tree produces a bunch of 8 bunches. But for those who take care of and are close to the relic of Hang Tam Co, they believe that the evergreenness of the banana trees at the cave entrance is like the enduring youth of the people who have passed away here.

However, up to now, these officials still cannot explain why these banana trees only produce 8 bunches and not less or more.

Gecko lays 8 eggs

The bunch of 8 bananas surprised everyone, but the story of the gecko laying 8 eggs was even more haunting. According to long-time staff of the Hang Tam Co relic site, a long time ago, there was a pair of geckos that came to take shelter at the temple. People called them the Truong Son geckos. They came to be friends with the staff here for nearly 10 years or so.

Not long ago, the pair of geckos laid eggs right in the cave. The gecko eggs stuck to the wall, right in the middle of the shrine. Strangely, when it reached the number of 8 eggs, the female gecko stopped, ending her “labor” to the astonishment of everyone.

A few months later, eight baby geckos hatched from those eight eggs, none of them damaged. Visitors to the temple at that time kept talking excitedly and took photos to commemorate that strange coincidence.

The gecko rang out clearly on the great day of the festival.

Then on the night of the 50th Anniversary of the Opening of the Legendary Truong Son Trail, while many Party and State leaders and thousands of visitors from all over the country were silently commemorating the heroic martyrs who had fallen on this Truong Son forest, suddenly from the cave of Tam Co, the clear sounds of “gecko, gecko” resounded. But what was unbelievable was that those decisive, resounding sounds were heard exactly 8 times and then stopped, leaving everyone present that day in amazement.

It is these inexplicable coincidences that have turned this place into a sacred land. Anyone passing by, no matter how hurried, will stop their vehicle and go up to the temple to burn incense at the Eight Ladies Cave.

Hang Tam Co – a spiritual tourist destination attracting visitors to Quang Binh

Currently, Hang Tam Co is a spiritual tourist destination that attracts visitors to come and offer incense. Coming to the cave, visitors can walk on the legendary Highway 20 and light incense sticks to commemorate the heroic martyrs who sacrificed for national independence.

Eight Ladies Cave is located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. Located on the sightseeing route of Paradise Cave and Ozo Park.

When traveling to Quang Binh, don’t forget to visit Hang Tam Co to burn incense to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs of Route 20.

Some frequently asked questions

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