DWS at Mekong Cave

The name comes from the red-blood graffiti at the entrance of the cave: « Le Mékong 1947 ». The cave is reminiscent of an underground sewer, or a gaping entrance to a nefarious netherworld.

Mekong Cave in a glimpse

- Cat Ba to Mekong cave: 1h 30
- GPS coordinates: WGS 84, °”.’ N / °”‘ E
- Number of climbing routes: ~10
- Routes accessible at high tide: ~8
- Routes accessible at low tide: ~6 (shown in red on the map)
- Grades: 4c ->7c
- Depth of water: Great when the tide is high – still safe with low tide, though starts are more difficult.
Rock: good quality
- Other: Mekong Cave 1947 is one of the best areas for Deep Water Soloing, with a lot of routes open at high tide, compact rock and depth > 5m.

Location

This cave is located in the Lang Ha bay, archipelago of Dao Dau Be (or “Calf head” island, in English): South West of Halong, North East of Cat Ba. More precisely, near Ba Ham Ho.

Deep Water Soloing guidebook

See the picture and drawing of the routes. In front of the cave, from right to left

Climbing route n° 1, 6b
Start from the angle on the right, go to the right to reach a kind of big potatoes, end at the ridge with vegetation. Uninteresting route at high tide.

Climbing route n° 2, 6b
Start from the angle on the right, follow the crack on few meters. From the tufa you take as an undercling, you have jugs, which lead you to the right to same platform as the Route n°1.

Climbing route n° 3, 6c
Start from the base wall, go round by the left, follow the crack, which goes to the left and becomes horizontal. Stand in the middle of the lip to reach 2 holes, and go on in a thin crack, which becomes horizontal. Go to the left, reach the edges and finish in a hole….

Climbing route n°4, Emmet’s Route, variant of the n°3
Go straight in the steep wall (3 dynamic steps, first hole on the right of the graffiti). After reaching the horizontal crack, join the route n°3. Accessible only at high tide.

Climbing route n°5, 4c
On the right of the corner, follow the slab. Be careful, fall forbidden if you’re high. Accessible only at high tide.

Climbing route n°6, project ?
On the right of the cave, to go inside the lagoon. Start on the “tufas” and follow up (roof) until the big stalactite, on continue straight away. Accessible only at high tide.

Climbing route n°7, Loskot’s Route, >7a
On the left of the cave, start with the hanging rope, traverse (very steep) to the left to reach a black stalactite. Go up on few meters with jugs, then traverse to the right to reach 2 big holes. Go on a little bit higher, have a rest in the third hole (foot in the hole). Go up with pinches (crux) and reach the top of the

Climbing route n°8, other start for the route n°7, >7a
By high tide, you can start directly with the black stalactite and avoid some hard moves. Accessible only at high tide.

Climbing route n°9, 7a
Start on the left of the enter of the cave, follow the obvious crack (on the shells). After few meters, follow the bad underclings on the right

Climbing route n°10, 6c
Same start as the route n°9, but avoid the underclings on the right, and go on the crack. After the lip, rising traverse on the right to reach the top of the cave. High : about 13 m.