Top 9 Famous Caves in Halong Bay You Shouldn't Miss Out

Top 9 Caves in Halong Bay Worth Visiting 2024

The following provides comprehensive details about the renowned Halong Bay limestone caves, highlighting their stunning formations and unique features.

Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave)

• Entrance fees: US $2.16 per person
• How to get there: Take a boat tour to reach Bo Hon Island, on which lies Sung Sot
• What to expect: Behold a stunning panoramic view of the bay from the top 

Sung Sot Cave is one of the biggest and most beautiful Halong Bay limestone caves

Located in the World Heritage's core, Sung Sot is among the most magnificent Halong Bay caves to be found. After reaching Bo Hon Island, walk about 10 minutes through the path covered with evergreen plants, and Sung Sot will gradually manifest itself in your eyesight. Get inside; as its name suggests, you will be surprised by the stunning beauty and uniqueness.

It features a huge space inside and is full of strange-shaped karst cliffs created by nature for thousands of years, hanging themselves upwards, thus giving the tourists an impression of a hundred chandeliers above their heads. In a moment, you might imagine being lost in a fairy tale, as the scene here is breathtakingly beautiful.

Thien Cung Cave

• Entrance fees: US $ 2.16 per person
• How to get there: Book a day cruise that includes Thien Cung in the itinerary
• What to expect: Mystical legend of the cave, peace of soul, and perfect check-in corners

Step into the mystical beauty of Thien Cung Cave

Earning 2nd place in the top 9 is the beautiful Thien Cung, which lies on Dau Go Island. Like the former, Thien Cung also possesses a complicated karst structure with towering height and long-standing unique stalactite cliffs. The cavern has been linked to the famous legend for ages.

The honorable Dragon King, who brought peace and prosperity to the country, was told to have lived there thousands of years ago. He was praised not only by the people but also by the animals. As a result, the fact that there are both human-like and animal-like cliffs inside Thien Cung could be explained.

Today, fully equipped with a colorful light system, Thien Cung Cave seems to be far more stunning than it used to be. 

Dau Go Cave

• Entrance fees: US $2.16 per person 
• How to get there: Book a day boat in 4 hours or 6 hours in Halong Bay
• What to expect: Amire the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites

Stunning stalactites hanging from the ceiling of Dau Go Cave

Dau Go is also among the top 9 most heavenly Halong Bay caves. It attracts tourists with its magnificent beauty inside with a large space full of light and various stalagmite cliffs. Besides, a feature that makes Dau Go Cave a stunning place is its aboriginal scenery giving us a feeling of being back to the past when primitive nature took place.

Dau Go is quite near Thien Cung. Like its neighbor, the cavern has been linked to a legend about King Tran Hung Dao's defeating Nguyen invaders with hundreds of wooden spiles, hence its name.

Luon Cave

• Entrance fees: US $ 1.29 per person 
• How to get there: Take a 2- or 3-day Halong Bay to Bo Hon Island
• What to expect: Kayaking by yourself or rowing a bamboo boat with local people

Luon Cave is like a gate with thousand-year stalactites

Lying 14 km to the South of the World Heritage area, Luon Cave is the most unique caves in Halong Bay tours. The grotto itself is open with a small entrance (only 3 meters wide and 2.5 - 4 meters high). Therefore, you can only admire the stunning scenery of it while kayaking or rowing a bamboo boat.

Luon Cave was, at first, a huge limestone rock that had undergone erosion for thousands of years, thus featuring small gaps in the bottom, creating uniqueness. Getting here, you would find the amazingly tranquil and perfect for relaxing. Besides, you could also immerse yourself in the fresh air, and cold wind and take some pictures of the monkeys climbing on the rock above energetically.

Thien Canh Son Cave

• Entrance fees: US $ 2.16 per person 
• How to get there: Take an overnight cruise to Bai Tu Long
• What to expect: Conquer 400 stone stairs to admire the spectacular views from the top

Thien Canh Son Cave is an untouched cave in Bai Tu Long Bay 

The Grotto of Thien Canh Son is the 5th to be worth visiting in your Halong Bay cave tour. The grotto belongs to a brother of Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay. While Halong Bay is a tourism center that is well-known to the world, Bai Tu Long Bay is a lesser-known and more deserted but equally stunning one.

Therefore, Thien Canh Son is more pristine than others, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in a peaceful atmosphere while getting away from bustling urban life. The grotto also attracts people with its collection of stalagmites that resemble many floras and faunas like a baby elephant, and a lotus flower, which can give tourists a vivid imagination of nature.

Dark & Bright Cave

• Entrance fees: US $ 2.16 per person (kayak included in most cruise tours)
• How to get there: Take an overnight cruise to Lan Ha Bay 
• What to expect: Discover the green valley and sparkling stalactites on a kayak/ small bamboo boat

Kayak through the serene waters of Dark & Bright Cave

Dark & Bright Cave is among the most unique Halong Bay cave names. The system itself is a sophisticated limestone structure that contains two parts: Dark and Bright. Generally, Dark Cave is huge and, as its name suggests, dark and often hard to get in, while Bright Cave is a small but easily accessed one that has Sunshine from the entrance to the end.

To explore its stunning beauty, you will have to go by kayak on your own or sit on a small bamboo boat rowed by the locals. Once arriving at the two, you would find the place extraordinarily quiet and breathtakingly beautiful.

Tien Ong Cave

• Entrance fees: US $ 1.29 per person 
• How to get there: Take a 2-day or 3-day cruise to Bai Tu Long
• What to expect: Learn about the legend and the masterpiece of archeology in the cave

Tien Ong Cave with its unique-shaped limestone cliffs

Ranking the 7th in the top 9 worth visiting, Tien Ong is famous for its breathtaking scenery. With an area of about 1,000 m2, the cavern features a huge space inside. Also, Tien Ong is divided into two chambers by a tall rustic pillar. Both chambers feature many strange-shaped limestone cliffs such as animal-shaped, man-shaped, etc., giving the tourist a sense of interest.

Besides, the primitive charm created by layers of emerald green moss would be the one that makes Tien Ong a must-see in the bay.

Trung Trang Cave

• Entrance fees: US $ 3.45 per person 
• How to get there: Take a 2-day or 3-day cruise to Cat Ba Island
• What to expect: Trekking to Cat Ba National Park and exploring the ecosystem

Trung Trang Cave is one of the largest cave systems in Vietnam

Located in Trung Trang Valley and about 15km to the Northwest of Cat Ba Town, Trung Trang is one of the most recommended Halong Bay Caves. They are locally known as "gold measure" with a variety of unique things as shown in many Halong Bay cave images. Those include hundreds of animal-like or man-like shaped stalagmites that give visitors a fertile imagination and remind us of the amazing nature. Here, you can find various ideal corners to take some photos for your travel collection and learn about its archeology, which will bring you another point of view of nature.

Hospital Cave (Quan Y Cave)

• Entrance fees: US $3.45 per person 
• How to get there: Take an overnight cruise to Cat Ba Island
• What to expect: Discover the historical and archeological values

Once the wartime hospital, Quan Y Cave now is a testament to Vietnamese resilience

Not only a stunning Halong Cave, but Hospital Cave is also a historic place, as it used to be a makeshift hospital during the war. Therefore, once you come here, you will have a chance to enjoy the scenery and explore many lasting historical values.

With an area of about 2,000m2, It is divided into 3 floors, including 17 rooms. In the past, it was an ideal base for the army to discuss the strategy to fight against the enemy, so the entrance was designed to ensure security, thus making it hard to get in. With all these features, Hospital Cave could give you the best experience that can never be found anywhere else.

An overview of the top 9 caves in Halong Bay

Best Way to Explore Caves in Halong Bay

In order to ensure your cave discovery in Halong Bay is nothing short of extraordinary, BestPrice Travel has compiled the best tips you can refer to right below.

Halong Bay Day Cruise

• Price: From US $100/pax

Halong Bay day tour is particularly suitable for those who don't have much time on their vacation but still want to visit the highlights of the World Heritage.

Depending on the tour itinerary you choose, you will have the chance to set foot in Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, or Dark & Bright Cave. They are all sites that can not be missed when coming to the bay. Besides sightseeing, you can also participate in exciting activities such as kayaking and swimming.

Halong Bay Overnight Cruise

• Price: From US $170/pax

If you want to visit more places and experience more about tourism services, the Halong Bay overnight cruise will be the best idea. Due to a longer time, the ship would take you to more caves in and outside the Ha Long area. 

The cruise will take you through main highlights like Trung Trang Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, or Thien Canh Son Cave. In terms of activities available, the overnight cruise has some more unique ones compared to the day cruise. This includes cooking classes, Tai Chi exercise in the early morning, and squid fishing at night.

Moreover, Halong Bay luxury cruises are well-equipped with modern amenities and facilities for your entertainment such as spas; some even have poker rooms and mini-golf for guests. 

Local Tips When Visiting Halong Caves

Before you take on your trip to Halong Bay limestone caves, here is some travel advice from the local experts to make the most of your time here:

• You should not visit caves on a summer weekend; they can be quite crowded with Vietnamese and Chinese tourists.
• Some caves are crowded in the afternoon like Sung Sot and Trung Trang because both day & overnight cruises visit them, so a morning tour is recommended.
• Some of them are suitable for young and promising health travelers because you have to climb relatively high: Sung Sot (100 steps up), Trung Trang, Hospital, and Thien Cung.

FAQs on Halong Bay Caves

1. What are the most famous caves in Halong Bay?

Halong Bay boasts a collection of remarkable caves, each with its own distinct character.

• Sung Sot Cave stands out as the largest cave in Halong Bay.
• Thien Cung Cave, often referred to as the "Heavenly Palace Cave," is considered the most primitive cave in the bay.
• Luon Cave is renowned as the most unique cave in Halong Bay accessible by kayak or small boat.

2. How many caves are there in Halong Bay?

Halong Bay is home to approximately 59 discovered caves scattered throughout its thousands of limestone islands and islets. Each cave has a unique combination of formations and historical significance, offering visitors a captivating glimpse into the natural wonders created over millions of years.

3. How to get to caves in Halong Bay?

To reach the Ha Long Bay limestone cave, you must take a Halong Bay cruise. While many caves are accessible to tourists on foot, offering easy exploration, some can only be reached by kayak or small boat, providing a more adventurous way to experience their beauty and tranquility.

4. What are some interesting Halong Bay Caves facts?

• Ancient formations: Halong Bay caves have been sculpted for more than millions of years by the relentless force of water-eroding limestone. The intricate stalactites and stalagmites that adorn these caves are the result of both chemical weathering and mechanical erosion.
• Unique ecosystems: Some of the caves in Halong Bay such as Tung Sau Cave, where a pearl farm thrives, contribute to the local economy and preserve traditional pearl cultivation techniques. 
• Archeological sites: Several caves, such as Me Cung Cave, have uncovered prehistoric artifacts that provide evidence of early human habitation in the region. These archaeological discoveries, which date back thousands of years, include stone tools and animal bones, shedding light on the lifestyles of ancient inhabitants.

With these nine incredible caves, your trip to Halong Bay will be unforgettable. Each cave offers its own unique beauty and history, providing a rich and immersive experience for every visitor. To make the most of your adventure, contact BestPrice Travel to find the perfect Halong Bay tour that suits your interests.