When it comes to Ha Long Bay, the first image that springs to mind for visitors is a system of magnificent caves and impressive islands. Among all the caves in Ha Long Bay, the most famous cave that visitors cannot miss on their journey is Sung Sot Cave. Are you curious about what makes this cave stand out from other caves in Ha Long Bay? To help you discover the answer, VDS Travel will reveal everything you need to know about Sung Sot Cave, helping you plan the best for your upcoming trip.
Introduction to Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave, located on Bo Hon Island and part of Route 2 of the Ha Long Bay exploration tour, is one of the largest caves in the bay with a total area of up to 12,200m². Situated at an altitude of 25 meters above sea level, the cave has a length of about 800m and a height of about 30m. Along with Luon Cave and Trinh Nu Cave, Sung Sot Cave is one of the three most famous caves on Bo Hon Island, attracting a large number of visitors every year.
Discovered for the first time in 1901 by the French, the explorers were amazed by the magical beauty and diversity of the shapes inside the cave. Therefore, they named this place “Grotte des Surprises” (Cave of Surprises). Although discovered very early, it was not until 1993, after being invested and exploited by the Bay Management Board, that Sung Sot Cave officially opened to welcome visitors. In early 2023, the American television channel CNN honored Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave as two of the seven most prominent caves in Vietnam.
How to get to Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave is included in Route 2 of the Ha Long Bay tour, along with destinations such as Ti Top Island, Luon Cave, Trong Cave, Finger Islet, and Fighting Cocks Islet. The tour fee for this route is 510,000 VND/person (including Ha Long Bay entrance ticket and boat fare). Visitors can choose either Ha Long International Cruise Port or Tuan Chau International Passenger Port as the departure point.
You should also note that spring, early summer, and late autumn are the most suitable times for you to travel to Ha Long Bay in general and Sung Sot Cave in particular. The temperature and rainfall conditions in Ha Long at these times are quite favorable for visitors to explore the bay. You should also check the weather forecast to best prepare for your trip.
Read more: Halong Bay Tour: Ticket Prices and Cruises 2024
Exploring Sung Sot Cave
Upon arrival at the dock, visitors will need to climb 50 winding stone steps to reach the cave entrance, as it is situated about 25 meters above sea level. The path is relatively easy to navigate, however, there is currently no separate access for people with disabilities. Therefore, wheelchair users will require assistance to enter. From the cave entrance, visitors continue up another 10 steps to reach the cave’s interior. Upon entering, visitors will be amazed by the majestic beauty and vast space of the cave.
According to researchers, the geological formations of Ha Long Bay have undergone at least 500 million years of formation and development under various geographical conditions, with multiple mountain formations, marine regressions, subductions, and marine transgressions. Ha Long Bay has a complete karst evolution process, spanning 20 million years, thanks to the simultaneous combination of factors such as very thick limestone layers, a hot and humid climate, and a slow tectonic process. Most of the caves in Ha Long Bay were formed about 2 million years ago and are divided into 3 main groups: ancient underground caves, base caves, and frog-mouth caves. Among them, Sung Sot Cave belongs to the group of relatively young underground caves, formed in the early-middle Pleistocene with a funnel-shaped bottom at an altitude of 50-60m. The cave is divided into 2 main chambers, each with its own scale and beauty.
Inside the cave, there is a stone-paved path running along from the entrance to the exit, about 800m long. At the entrance of the first chamber, there is a freshwater lake that never dries up, which is considered a very special feature. In the past, fishermen living in Ha Long often entered the cave to collect freshwater for drinking and daily use, but since Sung Sot Cave has been opened for tourism, people are not allowed to enter freely anymore.
The interior of Sung Sot Cave resembles a giant Opera house. The special feature is the curved ceiling with very even and smooth concave marks along with countless shimmering stalactite chandeliers. In the middle of the cave, there are also large stalagmite columns connecting directly from the ceiling to the floor, resembling taut strings of a musical instrument, as if waiting for the hand of creation to play a melodious tune.
Leaving the first chamber, visitors continue through a small passage to reach the second chamber, which is the largest and most beautiful in Sung Sot Cave. This chamber contains countless beautiful stalagmites and stalactites with various shapes, but the most special stalactite is the one shaped like a horse and a long sword. According to legend, this is associated with Saint Giong. After defeating the An invaders, Saint Giong helped the people of Ha Long drive away demons and flew back to heaven. Saint Giong left behind his sword and precious horse to reassure the people.
The legend of Saint Giong becomes even more convincing because there are many natural features in the cave that seem to be traces of the fierce battle in the past. Horse footprints turned into lakes later on, along with many shattered rocks.
In the final area of Sung Sot Cave, visitors will see countless stalactite blocks piled on top of each other. This is simply because these stalactites are formed from the cave ceiling, clinging to it mainly due to the cohesive force of calcium precipitate. As they grow larger, their mass increases, and at some point, the chemical bond is no longer strong enough to keep them attached to the ceiling, causing them to fall. This phenomenon is considered completely natural by researchers. Although the old stalactites are lost, the regeneration process slowly takes place from those same locations. Over time, new stalactites will form, and sometimes they are even purer and have more unique aesthetic value than the lost ones.
Concluding the journey of exploring Sung Sot Cave, visitors will stand at the exit of the cave, 30m above sea level. From here, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the mainland and the beautiful scenery of Ha Long Bay below.
