Halong Bay Caves – 10 Must-Visit Caves in Halong Bay

If you’re considering visiting Vietnam, Halong Bay should be on your travel bucket list. Given its stunning natural beauty and unspoiled islands, it is not surprising that Halong Bay, a UNESCO cultural heritage site, is one of the most well-known tourist attractions in the world.

Here is a list of the top 10 caves in Halong Bay that are incredibly amazing and well worth exploring while there.

Why should tourists explore caves in Halong Bay?

• Visiting the caves in Halong Bay is a must-try activity for visitors who want to explore the splendor of this World Heritage Site. The beauty of Halong Bay is a combination of a variety of factors, including numerous islands, craggy cliffs, amazing karsts along with an extensive network of caves with several beautiful stalactites, and historical and cultural value.
• With captivating beauty, serene vistas as well as unique geological structures, visiting caves in Halong bay will bring tourists a one-of-a-kind experience that is hard to find anywhere else in the world.
• No matter which cave tourists choose to visit in Halong Bay, you can expect an enchanted experience, from observing exotic flora and fauna in the caves to discovering ancient structures carved into limestone walls or learning about the region’s rich history.
• Let’s experience Halong Bay’s appeal by exploring its hidden caverns, which are genuine works of nature!

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• How To Choose Your BEST Halong Bay 1 Day Cruise Tour
• What to do 1 Day in Halong Bay?
• How to Make a Perfect Halong Bay Day Trip from Hanoi?

Best time to visit cave in Halong Bay

• In general, the weather in Halong Bay is quite pleasant all year round and each season features its own beauty. During the cold months, the weather is dry and typically foggy, giving Ha Long a mysterious setting whereas in the summer, the scenery is becoming much more obvious.
• June and July are the months with the most storms hitting Halong Bay, so be cautious if you plan to visit during this time.

How many beautiful caves are there in Halong Bay?

It is hard to determine the precise number of caves in Halong Bay, but we are currently accessible to roughly 30 of them. These caves, which span across the bay, come with different sizes and shapes.

The top 10 caves in Halong Bay are listed below and are highly recommended for visits. In order to make the most of your trip, let’s take a look at the list and pick up some caves to visit.

Thien Cung Cave (Heaven Palace Cave) – the most charming cave in Halong Bay

• Entrance fees ticket: 3USD/Pax
• What to expect: Mystical legend of the cave, peace of soul, and perfect check-in corners

• It requires some effort to reach Thien Cung Cave since you must hike across a cliff that is encircled by forests.
• However, once you get into the cave, you’ll understand why it is called “heaven.” This cave is truly a paradise on earth because of numerous colorful stalactites hanging from the cave’s ceiling.
• A large picture of figures from heroic stories that is also painted on the cave wall provides the sense that you are in a special art gallery.

Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave – Halong Bay’s Largest Cave

• Entrance fees ticket: 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 stunning panoramic view of the bay from the top

>>> Read more: Sung Sot Cave Halong Bay – All You Should Know about Surprise Cave

• Due to its distinctive structure, Sung Sot Cave is one of the most well-known caves in Ha Long. Situated on Bo Hon Island in the middle of the Halong Bay World Natural Heritage, Sung Sot Cave is a cave with extraordinarily beautiful fossil stalactites.
• The cave is divided into two main chambers, the first of which resembles a huge theater. Here stalactites of all colors and shapes, including stone statues of elephants, seals, raspberries, and flowers, hang from the cave’s ceiling, creating the illusion of a dreamlike interior world.
• Tourists can enter the second chamber by a very little passageway within, which opens up an entirely new and spacious area that can hold thousands of people like a theater’s capacity.
• The cave’s mouth, which is the highest point, provides a stunning view of Halong Bay and a fantastic location to take a variety of beautiful photos from above.

To visit Sung Sot Cave, you can join a lot of day tour or night tour in Halong Bay from Hanoi with all included

Recommend Daily Cruises that visit Sung Sot Cave

Dau Go Cave – (Wooden Head Cave) – the Cave of Wonders

• Entrance fees: US $2.16 per person
• What to expect: Amire the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites

• Wooden Head Cave with its enormous size and volume is one of Halong Bay’s most well-known caves that you should visit to appreciate its true splendor. The cave was given the name “Grotte des Marveilles” (which translates to “Cave of Miracles”) by French tourists when they first explored it.
• Dau Go Cave with numerous small and towering stone pillars and stalagmites offer visitors a sense of the cave’s ancient, wild, and incredibly calm beauty. Additionally, compared to other caves, Dau Go Cave is more distinctive due to a diverse flora and fauna system inside.
• There are 3 chambers in its cave structure. The first chamber is filled with vibrant stalactites and stone animals resembling lions, tortoises, and snakes. The second one features pictures of rocky isles while the last chamber has many beautiful enormous stone columns.

Luon Cave

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

>>> Read More: Luon Cave Halong Bay – Travel Guide to the Heaven Gate in Halong Bay

• It located on Bo Hon Island, is a must-visit location when you come to Halong Bay. Though it is shorter than other caves, only 60 meters long, it has a breathtaking natural setting that will astound you.
• Luon Cave is only about 1 km from Sung Sot Cave, with Con Rua Island (Turtle Island) in front and Cong Troi (Gate of Heaven) to the left.
• Since it is a wet cave, visitors must go by boat to get there. Luon Cave is surrounded by limestone cliffs and has crystal-clear water, making it easy to see various marine species, like shrimps, crabs, and squids, swimming beneath your boat.
• One highlight of Luon Cave is the lush greenery that surrounds it. Luon Cave is tucked away in a serene setting, so you may experience peace and tranquility while exploring it.
• In addition, kayaking at the cave’s entrance is a fantastic way to take in the beauty of the area from a new perspective.

Recommend cruises itineraries that visit Luon Cave

• Halong Daily Cruise – 8 Hour Halong Bay Discover
• Athena Luxury
• Aclass Legend
• L’Azalee Day Cruise

Tien Ong Cave

• Entrance fees: US $ 1.29 per person
• How to get there: Should do 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 is not one of the most popular tourist spots in Halong Bay because it was officially opened to visitors in 2010, which was later than other caves.
• However, its archaeological significance and stunning internal landscape are currently drawing more attention.
• You may observe stone artifacts inside the cave dated back from 10,000 to 2,000 BC, and learn more interesting historical information from the tour guide.
• In Tien Ong Cave, archaeologists have found fossilized animal bones, pieces of pottery, seashells, and ancient tools, indicating that the cave was inhabited between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago.
• Tien Ong Cave is situated in a relatively big area, around 20 kilometers from the heart of Halong. The cave’s entrance is 50 meters wide and 10 meters high, and it leads to a massive underground dome that is 1,000 meters square wide.
  Compared to Sung Sot cave, it is far less crowded but has its own charm.

Trung Trang Cave – Lan Ha Bay

• Entrance fees ticket : US $ 4 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 located in Trung Trang valley, about 15 kilometers northwest of Cat Ba island. Found by Vietnamese and French archaeologists in 1938, the cave extends 300 meters through the mountain bed and is surrounded by lush, varied vegetation that brings fresh air to tourists. For these reasons, Trung Trang cave is now a well-known tourist attraction on the journey to Lan Ha Bay.
• Trung Trang cave is a typical cave among more than 150 large and small caves in Cat Ba archipelago. As soon as they enter Trung Trang cave, visitors won’t be astonished to see thousands of naturally occurring stalactites gleaming like precious jewels. Scientists have discovered stalactites and stalagmites here that are approximately 6 million years old. Particularly in the cave, stalactites and stalagmites have formed stone columns, and if you tap them with your hands, you can hear what sounds like a melody.
• In addition to the stunning rocky scenery, visitors will be able to see the diversity of plants in Cat Ba National Park close to the trail.

Recommend cruises that visit Trung Trang Cave

• Orchid Trendy

Dark & Bright Cave in Halong Bay

• Entrance fees ticket: US $3 per person (kayak included)
• 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

• Dark and Bright Cave, also known as “Hang Toi, Hang Sang”, is a unique cave system located on Cat Ba Island, the largest island in Halong Bay. It is a wonderful destination that you should not miss when visiting the bay.
• This is the perfect example of the geological history and natural beauty of the bay. Due to the stark difference in lighting between the two sections of the cave, it is given the name “Dark & Bright Cave”.
• Dark Cave is a wet cave with a narrow path. Therefore, in order to enter it, visitors must navigate with kayaks or small boats. The area is fairly dark and filled with bats, providing guests with a thrilling and adventurous experience.
• Bright Cave, on the other hand, is an open space enclosed by steep cliffs and illuminated by the sun. Visitors can kayak to take in the breathtaking view surrounded by limestone karsts or swim and immerse themselves in the crystal blue waters. Dark & Bright Cave is one of the caves in Halong Bay that is definitely worth a visit.

Recommend cruises that visit Dark & Bright Cave

• Mon Cheri
• Peony
• Sena

Quan Y Cave (Military Hospital Cave)

• Entrance fee tickets: US $4 per person
• How to get there: Take an overnight cruise to Cat Ba Island
• What to expect: Discover the historical and archeological values

• In addition to being a beautiful cave in Halong, Hospital Cave is also a historical site because it served as a field hospital throughout the war. Therefore, when you visit here, you will have the chance to take in the natural beauty and learn about various enduring historical values.
• The cave has 17 rooms spread across three stories with a surface area of around 2,000 meter square. In the past, this location was chosen as a base for the army to discuss strategies to battle the enemy. Therefore, the entrance was built to assure security, and it was tough to get in.

Thien Canh Son Cave

• Entrance fees: US $ 3 per person
• What to expect: Conquer 400 stone stairs to admire the spectacular views from the top

• Discovered in 2010, Thien Son Canh Cave is one of the most recent caves in Halong Bay to be accessible to tourists.
• The cave is located in Bai Tu Long Bay and considered as a hidden gem that many tourists overlook. With its stunning natural beauty and peaceful ambiance, the cave becomes a perfect getaway for individuals looking to escape from the crowd.
• One of the highlights when visiting Thien Son Canh is the ability to view an entire bay from above. Inside the cave, there are many impressive stalactites and stalagmites coming with different shapes and sizes. Given the diversity of birds in the area, this beautiful cave is also a fantastic place to go bird watching.

Trinh Nu Cave (Virgin Cave) – A symbol of love

• Virgin Cave located on Bo Hon Island, is a peaceful and romantic destination. It is also the only cave in Halong Bay, named after a folktale about the tragic love story of a young couple. Once you enter it, you can even see a stone statue of a young woman in the center of the cave.
• Inside the peach-shaped cave entrance are stalactites and stalagmites that resemble a young woman’s body.
  The little beach in front of Trinh Nu cave is one of its highlights. It’s a wonderful place to unwind and take in the breathtaking view of the bay. You can also ascend to the top of the cave to get a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery.
• In addition, you can enjoy your time on Trinh Nu beach by swimming in the crystal-clear sea or sunbathe on a private beach that is hidden by the cave. This is the moment when you may take in the gorgeous setting and the clear water, especially enjoy the most idyllic Trinh Nu Cave panorama.

Me Cung Cave (Maze Cave)

• Located on Lom Bo Island, about 2 kilometers southwest of Titov Island, Me Cung Cave features numerous partitions connected by narrow passageways that are typically just wide enough for one person to pass through.
• This cave is small but airy and beautiful. It is better known by archaeologists due to its historical significance which contains fossil bones from the prehistoric culture of Halong about 7,000-10,000 years ago.

Plan Your Trip To Halong Bay Caves Now!

You can experience wonders beyond your imagination with these 10 incredible Halong Bay caves! Make sure to include them on your schedule for Vietnam.

Coming to Halong Bay Caves, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery as well as learn about fascinating history, and rich cultural legacy. For anyone interested in Vietnamese culture, let’s look at some suggestions below!

What are you expecting? Discover why Halong Bay is regarded as one of the most beautiful sites in the world by going there and exploring its caves.

For the ultimate adventure, reserve a Halong Bay Day Excursion to visit caves in Halong Bay!

Read more: 

• Halong Bay on a Day Trip or Overnight Cruise?: Which One is Suitable?
• Halong Bay Luxury Cruise – How To Choose The BEST one!

Best ways to explore cave in Halong Bay

If you’re interested in one or more of the 10 caves listed above, why not book a day excursion to Halong bay? In particular, we recommend taking a cruise tour, as that’s the best way to explore the caves.

You just need to book a cruise on Halong Bay to enjoy your vacation to the fullest, instead of taking many routes to get here and seeking for a hotel to stay at.

Additionally, cruises might provide you with the chance to visit more places and take part in more activities, all of which are included in tour price.

Typically, there are two tour options to consider

Book a Halong Bay Day Cruise

• The Halong Bay Day Tour is especially suitable for those who don’t have much time on vacation but still want to visit the highlights of the World Heritage Site.
• On a day trip on a Halong cruise, you will be taken to a number of noteworthy locations in the bay, including a number of caves worth-exploring like Sung Sot and Luon Caves, and able to engage in exciting activities such as kayaking, swimming, rock climbing, and more while taking in the breathtaking scenery.
• Additionally, a full-day cruise of Halong Bay will not cost you too much.

>>> EXPLORE BEST HALONG BAY DAY CRUISES <<<

Do a Halong Bay Overnight on Cruise

• An overnight cruise on Halong Bay will be the finest option if you want to see more sites and get more exciting tourism experiences. Due to the longer journey duration, the train will take you to additional caves both inside and outside of the Halong region.
• Additionally, you can engage in activities more comfortably, and especially, enjoy the professional onboard service and excellent cuisine, which will make your journey more delightful.

>>> EXPLORE BEST HALONG BAY OVERNIGHT CRUISES <<<

BEST Local Tips When Visiting Halong Caves

Don’t expect to explore every cave.

• It will be challenging to choose one of the fascinating caves in Halong Bay; however, exploring every cave seems impossible.
• First of all, you won’t have enough time to thoroughly explore and learn about each cave you select if you decide to visit all of them.
• Additionally, your health condition plays a significant role in how many attraction sites you will include in your itinerary. You might feel exhausted after seeing 2-3 caves due to the rocky terrain, which necessitates a lot of moving and climbing.
• You might therefore take into consideration the caves mentioned above, which are all quite intriguing and exciting sites to visit.

Bring some snacks and water

• The majority of the Halong caves has tough terrain, so the best way to explore the cave is to climb the mountain and get far inside.
• Prepare snack and drinking water to help you stay energized during the trip

Choose the appropriate clothes

• Wear clothing with good elasticity and sweat absorption for physical activity like climbing or walking
• Wear long sleeves to protect yourself from the sun’s rays and insect bites
• For the best adventure in Halong Bay, book a day trip to explore the caves!

Spend some time visiting the Halong Bay Caves to make your trip even more enjoyable. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions