Caves, Grottos and Lake in Ha Long Bay

There are many caves and grottos formed in the interior of stone islands, distributed everywhere in Ha Long bay. Among them, the biggest and most beautiful ones such as Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Grotto, Sung Sot Grotto, Bo Nau Grotto, and Ba Ham lake are mainly in the center of the heritage area. However, some of them are far away from the mainland, like Tien Ong Grotto, Hanh Grotto, and Soi Nhu Grotto.
Thien Cung grotto

Ha Long Bay - Thien Cung Grotto

Recently discovered caves among the most beautiful ones in Ha Long Bay include Thien Cung. It is situated on the southwest side of the bay, 4 kilometers from the tourist wharf outside of Ha Long city, on Dau Go Island, 25 meters above sea level. The way to Thien Cung is perilous, with high and dangerous cliffs covered on both sides by thick forest. Sometimes you can meet monkeys searching for fruits. After entering the narrow opening to the cave, the magnificent, 130 meters long place with its four cornered shape opens up. The deeper you go inside the cave, the more surprised you are by the vivid beauty of stalactites. On the east cave edge, there is a grandiose picture in which characters in old legends were painted. In the center, there are four large pillars supporting the ” roof of heaven”. From the base to the top, many strange images seem to be sculpted on the stone, including birds, fish, flowers and even scenes of daily human activities. In the last Chamber of the cave, a natural jet of white, green and red bubbles spouts forth in an attractive, colorful way. An all-season, natural stream of water runs into three pur small ponds. Visiting Thien Cung Cave, visitors have the feeling of exploring a unique, interesting, and meticulous ” museum of fine arts” fashioned by the Creator and beyond our imagination.

Sung Sot Grotto

Ha Long Bay - Sung Sot Grotto

Sung Sot Grotto is located in the center of the World Heritage area of Ha Long Bay, on Bo Hon island. The French named it Grotte des surorises (Grotto of Surprise). It is one of the largest and most beautiful grottos in Ha Long Bay. Moreover, it is situated in the tourist center of Ha Long Bay (Titov Beach - Bo Nau Grotto-Me Cung Cave- Luon Grotto - Sung Sot Grotto) which has many stone islands of special shapes that you can find nowhere else.The grotto divided into two main parts. The first, outer part looks like a very large theatre and we enter the second part of the grotto through a small path. Legend tells us that after defeating invaders, Saint Giong helped people here drive away ghosts. After that, he returned to Heaven and left his precious horse and sword to bring relief to people’s minds as well as drive away ghosts. Monkeys especially often come here scampering among the trees to find fruits.

Luon Grotto

Ha Long Bay - Luon Grotto

Luon Grotto is situated on Bo Hon island, 14 kilometers from Bai Chay to the south, after Con Rua island, and to the left of Cong Troi. In the grotto there are sheer cliffs and a quiet and pure, mirror-like water surface throughout the four seasons. We can see a bow-shapped “gate” where the water touches the foot of the island. This is Luon Cave. There are not many grottos like this in Ha Long Bay. Visitors are attracted by its natural beauty, the harmony and perfect combination of mountain shapes, clouds, water and plants. It’s hard to think of anything left out by the Creator. Boating through the nice entrance, we can see a round and quiet lake surrounded by luxuriant trees. High, dangerous, sheer cliffs, monkeys swinging on tree branches, shadows of ancient banyan trees in the water and many kinds of wild orchids. In the pure and quiet aquatic environment live such animals as shrimp, fish, crab and cuttlefish.

Ba Ham Lake

Ha Long Bay - Ba Ham Lake

Located in the southwest of Ha Long Bay, Ba Ham lake is on Dau Be island in Lan Ha Bay. Dau Be island is at the end of the island chain of Ha Long Bay, bordering the Long Chau sea area. Ba Ham lake is located in a narrow rectangular section of sea, surrounded on all sides by high, steep mountains. Despite being 25 kilometers away from the shore, it has attracted many visitors and natural beauty lovers. A French book about famous landscapes named Merveille de Monde, published in 1938, recommended visiting Ba Ham Lake, for it gives us a good impressionl like coming to Luon Grotto or Sung Sot Grotto, but the sight is even more beautiful. Ba Ham lake is mor difficult to approach than Luon grotto but that makes sightseeing more enjoyable. The semi-circle entrance of the grotto is located on the island’s northwest cliffs which are 4-5 meters above sea level. The water surface meets the sea current coming from Cua Van.
Ba Ham lake is a system of three large round sea depressions. They are connected with each other through a narrow winding tunnel. Many colorful stalactites hang down from the grotto dome in many strange shapes. Being in such a quiet atmosphere, we only hear the murmur of running water, exploring by boating in the lake, surrounded by sheer cliffs, many kinds of plants like orchids, banyan trees, cycads, ect., as well as many valuable animals such as rhesus monkeys, rare birds, flying squirrels, etc.

Tra Co beach

Ha Long Bay - Tra Co Beach

A Few kilometers to the east, on an island separated from the mainland by a narrow sea chanel, is Tra Co beach. It may be the northe’s longest beach at 17 km (11 miles), which make it relatively easy to find a quiet spot, but the sand is coarse and uninviting. Like many Vietnamese beaches, litter and debris tend to build up in th busier sections of the beach. Unless you don’t mind large crowds, avoid visiting the area from May to August, as this is when both Chinese and Vietnamese tourists arrive in droves. About 1 kim (2/3 mile) north of the beach is the large and impressive Tra Co Church, built in 1880 and restored by the French in 1914.
At the southern end of the beach, Mui Ngoc is wher you can catch a hydrofoil to Van Don island (Dao Cai Bau), wich is part of Halong Bay. From here, it is 240 km (150 miles) southwest to Haiphong and Ha Long bay.