Eight Ladies Cave stands as a symbol of the heroic sacrifices made by youth volunteer martyrs and is a spiritual site tied to many sacred legends. This document explores the unique coincidences associated with this place.

Fire Coordinates on Road 20 - Quyet Thang

The historical relic, Eight Ladies Cave  - Hang Tam Co, also known as Hang 8 Thanh Nien Xung Phong  is located at kilometer 16 on Road 20 – Quyet Thang, in Tan Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh. This site was one of the significant "fire coordinates" during the years 1971-1972.

Road 20 – Quyet Thang served as a crucial supply route for our army while also being a target of intense attacks by the US Air Force. Eight Ladies Cave itself is a cave that is 20 meters deep and 10 meters wide, providing shelter for soldiers and TNXP volunteers during the war. Adjacent to this cave was a liaison station where groups of eight would rotate shifts. The arrival of eight young women significantly uplifted the atmosphere of the war zone, leading locals to affectionately name the cave Eight Ladies Cave.

On November 14, 1972, while the forces were filling bomb craters, American planes attacked the area. Eight youth volunteers—four men and four women—sought refuge in the cave. Tragically, a large rock fell and sealed the entrance, trapping them inside. Efforts were made to supply necessities; comrades used pipes to send drinking water and mixed dry food through the cracks in the cave. Despite numerous attempts to break through the rock, they were unsuccessful.

The Significance of the Number Eight

Eight Ladies Cave is not only a testament to the steadfastness and bravery of youth volunteers but has become a spiritual location rich in legends, particularly those associated with the number eight.

According to Mr. Vy, the Head of the Memorial Temple Management Board, there is a story about a wild banana tree in front of the Eight Ladies Cave that consistently produces exactly eight bunches of bananas. This phenomenon has reportedly occurred multiple times, especially during the week of the death anniversary of the eight volunteer martyrs who perished in the cave.

Another story involves a pair of geckos that took shelter at the temple, referred to as the Truong Son geckos. One day, the female gecko laid exactly eight eggs, and eventually, eight baby geckos hatched from those eggs, all surviving without any harm.

Furthermore, on the night of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the legendary Truong Son Road, as thousands of visitors gathered to honor the heroes and martyrs, the distinct sounds of "gecko, gecko" echoed from inside the Eight Ladies Cave. Remarkably, these sounds occurred exactly eight times before falling silent.

The Road 20 - Quyet Thang relic site, part of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Road relic system, was designated a National Historical Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 1986. It has become a significant destination for both tourists and locals wishing to pay tribute to the heroes and martyrs.