1. Where is Sung Sot Cave?
Sung Sot Cave is located on Bo Hon Island, in the center of Ha Long Bay. It is located in Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. It is about 14 km from Tuan Chau International Port and about 15 km southeast of Ha Long International Port.
2. How is Sung Sot Cave unique?
Owning a majestic, unique and magical beauty, this cave quickly became famous. And it is on the list of UNESCO recognized world natural heritage. Today, Sung Sot Cave attracts millions of visitors because of the perfect beauty inside the cave.
Along the path with carefully and meticulously made stone steps. You will feel like you are lost in a completely different world with cool air, the sound of flowing water in a large space of more than 12,200m2.
That magical, poetic scene with countless stalactites, stalagmites shimmering in color with many unique shapes, will overwhelm visitors. Those stalactites are as beautiful as a work of art carved by the hands of Mother Nature.
About the origin of the unique name “Sung Sot Cave”. In 1901, a French scientist visited here and named the cave “Grotte de la surprise” – the cave of surprise, astonishment.
3. Legend of Sung Sot Cave
According to ancient legends about the history of Sung Sot Cave, after defeating the An invaders, Saint Giong rode the clouds to heaven. He left behind a sword and a precious horse to reassure the people, to drive away evil spirits and demons. The place that completely preserves the traces of the heroic. And glorious battle of the past is Sung Sot Cave. The small ponds in the cave are also the footprints of the horses left in the past.
4. When is the best time to visit Sung Sot Cave?
You can visit Sung Sot cave all year round. However, the peak tourist season of Sung Sot cave are usually into two reasons:
- In summer: from May to July. This time is when a lot of Vietnamese tourists come to visit HaLong in general and Sung Sot cave in particular.
- In winter: from December to February. This time period is often chosen by foreign tourists to explore Sung Sot cave.
According to HaLong Bay travel experience. The ideal time to visit Sung Sot Cave is from December to April of the following year. At this time, the weather is cool, pleasant, sunny but not too harsh, especially with little rain and storms. It creates favorable conditions for you to travel, explore and participate in outdoor activities.
5. How to get to Sung Sot Cave?
5.1 From Hanoi to Ha Long City
To get to Ha Long City, you can choose means of transport such as: passenger car, private car, taxi or motorbike. Depending on each person’s needs, preferences and budget. With the distance from Hanoi to HaLong only about 160 km and very good traffic infrastructure. It only takes you about 2-2.5 hours to get there.
5.2 From Ha Long city to Sung Sot cave
5.2.1 Route 1:
Starting from the center of Ha Long city, you travel along Hai Quan street about 4 km to Bai Chay international port. From here, you travel by yacht, canoe or boat, going down to the Southeast about 15 km to reach Bo Hon island. Where Sung Sot cave is located.
5.2.2 Route 2:
Starting from the center of Ha Long city, you travel along National Highway QL18 or Bai Chay – Hoang Quoc Viet road about 12 km to Tuan Chau international port. From here, you travel by yacht, canoe or boat, going down to the Southeast about 14 km to reach Bo Hon island. Where Sung Sot cave is located.
6. Entrance fee to Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave is one of the destinations on tour route number 2 in Ha Long Bay. Therefore, if you want to visit this mysterious cave, you need to buy tickets for tour route number 2 in Ha Long Bay.
Tour route number 2 is: The central area of cave park conservation, including attractions: Soi Sim Island, Ti Top Island, Sung Sot Cave, Bo Nau Cave, Ho Dong Tien Cave, Luon Cave, Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave and Me Cung Cave.
Route number 2 is a 6-hour journey in a day, with experiences such as: Cave exploration, swimming, rowing a boat, kayaking, speed boat riding, sightseeing on the bay.
6.1 Entrance fee for tour route 2 is as follows:
- Reference ticket for one day: 290,000 VND/person.
- Reference ticket for 2 days and 1 night: 590,000 VND/person.
- 3-day, 2-night ticket for reference: 790,000 VND/person.
6.2 Visitors need to buy tickets at 2 major ports in Ha Long:
- Tuan Chau International Passenger Port: Visitors just need to go to the main door, look inside and you will see the ticket counter on the right. The port is located on Tuan Chau Island, about 12 km from the center of Ha Long city.
- Ha Long International Passenger Port: This is a new port that has been in operation since 2019, located in the center of Ha Long city.
7. Discovering the beauty of Sung Sot Cave
7.1 The way to Sung Sot Cave hidden under the forest canopy
When you set foot on Bo Hon Island, you will have to climb 50 high stone steps and then continue down 10 stone steps to reach the cave entrance and explore Sung Sot Cave. The way to the cave winds through the forest canopy, made up of precarious stone steps.
Visitors must squeeze through a narrow rock crevice to enter the cave with an area of nearly 12,200m2 and a height of about 30m. Following the 800m long stone path, the beauty of Sung Sot Cave gradually appears magical and enchanting in the eyes of visitors.
7.2 The masterpiece inside the cave causes “astonishment” and amazement
Along both sides of the stone path in the cave are low street lamps with soft light, further enhancing the beauty of this Ha Long landscape.
Sung Sot Cave consists of 2 main chambers.
7.2.1 First chamber:
In the first chamber, the cave ceiling is covered with a layer of smooth “velvet carpet” with sparkling stalactite chandeliers. Stone statues, elephants, flowers, seals, … appear vividly, attracting visitors.
The outer chamber is often compared to a giant Opera House with a curved dome and many stalactites sparkling like lights. From the cave floor to the ceiling is about 30 meters high. The cave ceiling is full of small dents that look very smooth, creating the feeling that the cave is elaborately and delicately carved.
7.2.1 The middle of the cave:
In the middle of the cave, there are large stalactites connecting from the cave ceiling to the cave floor. That makes the scene even more beautiful. The cave roof has no gaps so there is no water dripping. The interesting thing is that the cave is so wide, but when entering the cave, the voices of people in the cave do not echo but are still clear.
7.2.3 The last chamber:
This is a completely different scene with a vast cave, capable of holding up to a thousand people. Going deeper inside, visitors will admire the images associated with the legend of Saint Giong. Next to the entrance and exit is a stone block shaped like a horse and the long sword of Saint Giong. Inside the cave, there are small ponds like the footprints of Saint Giong’s horse. In this chamber, there are many stalactites created by the magical hands of nature in many shapes. Such as dinosaurs, banyan trees, sea bears, etc. Stalactites and stalagmites fill the top and inside of the cave, creating a spectacular scene.
Go to the highest peak of the cave, and before your eyes open a “royal garden” with a clear lake, a variety of plants and many species of birds. Groups of monkeys often come down here to find fruits, causing a stir in the whole area.
8. Enjoying Ha Long specialties when visiting Sung Sot Cave
When visiting Sung Sot Cave, you will not only admire a masterpiece created by Mother Nature. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy the specialties of this land.
8.1 Banh cuon cha muc (Squid and rice roll cake)
Appearing on familiar menus in all regions. Ha Long Banh cuon cha muc carries a unique mark thanks to the special squid sausage served with it. The filling of the banh cuon includes meat, mushrooms, and onions, ground and mixed together. When eating squid sausage with fish sauce, nothing can compare.
8.2 Sa Sung
When mentioning Ha Long specialties, you cannot miss Sa Sung, also known as Dia Sam. This is a type of sandworm that only exists in Ha Long sea. Sauteed Sa Sung with garlic creates a rich aroma and is very delicious. You must definitely try this dish when traveling to Ha Long. In addition, grilled sea worms sipped with cold beer is also a favorite dish of local people.
8.3 Sea worms
Sea worms have fragrant meat, moderate sweetness and toughness, and are a familiar dish at most delicious restaurants in Ha Long. People processed sea worms into many dishes, such as: sea worm soup, sea worm sausage, sea worm eggs, sea worm salad. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a HaLong specialty that must be tried at least once in your life.
8.4 Milk oyster porridge
This is a specialty of Ha Long, not only delicious but also very nutritious with many nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are good for health. With the rich flavor of oysters combined with a little sweetness of milk. This delicious dish has become a favorite choice of many tourists when they want to enjoy a light and delicious meal.
9. Accommodation when visiting Sung Sot Cave
When visiting Sung Sot Cave, you can refer to some types of accommodation below:
9.1 Overnight stay at a hotel:
- Vinpearl Resort & Spa Ha Long. Address: Reu Island, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
- Tuan Chau Resort Ha Long. Address: Tuan Chau Island, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
- Citadines Marina Halong. Address: Peninsula 3, Marina Ha Long, Ha Long Marine Boulevard Hung Thang Ward Halong City, Quang Ninh.
- A la carte Halong bay hotel. Address: Lot h30-h33 Peninsula/2, Hung Thang, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
- Muong Thanh Holiday Suoi Mo Ha Long Hotel. Address: Ha Long, Bai Chay, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.
9.2 Overnight stay on a cruise:
- Scarlet Pearl Cruise.
- Ambassador Cruise.
- Paradise Elegance Cruise.
- Hermes Cruise.
- Peony Cruise.
- Indochine Cruise.
10. Some important notes when visiting Sung Sot Cave
To have a safe and complete Halong Bay tour of Sung Sot Cave. You need to refer to some necessary notes below:
- You should wear light clothes, bring little luggage and wear sports shoes, hiking shoes. To easily conquer the terrain here.
- Apply mosquito repellent or insect repellent before setting foot on Bo Hon Island to explore the cave.
- Bring a flashlight, spare battery to prevent some necessary cases.
- You should combine visiting Sung Sot Cave with some other famous tourist destinations of HaLong Bay. Such as: Soi Sim Island, Luon Cave, Ti Top Island, …
You will be immersed in the wild and charming beauty of nature. And forget the noise, bustle and dust of the city. Because the landscape is so wonderful. Sung Sot Cave is one of the most visited tourist attractions in HaLong Bay.
Contact Origin Vietnam – a professional tour operator. We are ready to share useful and updated information about other beautiful destinations in Quang Ninh. We also accompany you on the cruise Halong Bay to explore Sung Sot Cave with interesting activities and memorable experiences.
