Dau Go Cave (Wood Stakes Cave)

Just up the hill from Thien Cung on Dau Go Island, this cave is older — historically known to Vietnamese fishermen for centuries — and architecturally distinct. Three vast chambers progress deeper into the island, each with a different character. The first is open and bright; the second is dim and otherworldly; the third hides a small freshwater pool at the very back.

The cave is less manicured than Thien Cung, with rougher paths and more atmospheric lighting. A French inscription carved by Renaud's expedition in 1900 is still visible near the entrance. Many cruises combine the two caves into a single 90-minute stop. Bring sturdy shoes — the rock floor is uneven and damp in places.

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A story
Dau Go takes its name — Wood Stakes — from the 13th-century Vietnamese general Tran Hung Dao, who is said to have hidden hundreds of sharpened ironwood stakes here before the decisive Battle of Bach Dang River in 1288. The stakes were driven into the riverbed at low tide. When the Mongol fleet sailed upstream to attack, the receding tide impaled their ships on the spikes. The Mongols lost the battle and the war. The French later called the cave 'Grotte des Merveilles' (Cave of Wonders) after Captain Renaud described it in 1900.

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