1. General introduction to Sung Sot Cave
Overview of Sung Sot Cave. (Source: Collection).
Sung Sot Cave is located on Bo Hon Island, in the heart of the magnificent Ha Long Bay, about a 20-minute boat ride from Ha Long City. The Bo Hon Island area also hosts many other famous caves such as Luon Cave, Trong Cave, and Trinh Nu Cave, creating a diverse tourist attraction route for visitors.
In terms of scale, Sung Sot Cave boasts an impressive area of 12,200 m², with an average height of about 30 m, consisting of two large chambers with unique structures. The first chamber is relatively narrow, but as you venture deeper inside, the space surprisingly expands like a magnificent underground palace. The stone-paved walkway system, about 800 m long, allows visitors to easily explore every nook and cranny of the cave.
The fame of Sung Sot Cave extends beyond the national level. The Association of Czech Travel Agencies and Operators honored this place among the "Top 10 most beautiful caves in the world" in 2012. The unique stalactite formations, the vast space like an underground palace, and the natural light shining through the rock crevices create a magnificent landscape that leaves any visitor in awe.
In 2025, Sung Sot Cave continues to update new experiences and focus on ecological conservation. Limiting the number of visitors per day not only ensures the quality of the experience but also protects the precious ecosystem within the cave.
2. Guide to traveling to Sung Sot Cave 2025
Detailed guide on how to get to Sung Sot Cave. (Source: Collected).
2.1. Route from Hanoi to Sung Sot Cave
Visitors from Hanoi have many transportation options to reach Sung Sot Cave . Buses depart from My Dinh or Gia Lam stations with ticket prices ranging from 250,000-450,000 VND/person/trip, with travel time of about 2.5-3.5 hours. Trains from Hanoi Station to Ha Long Station take 6-7 hours, suitable for tourists who enjoy a relaxing journey. Luxury limousine buses are also a popular choice with prices ranging from 350,000-500,000 VND/trip.
Many travel companies offer package tours departing from Hanoi, including transportation, entrance tickets, a tour guide, and lunch on the boat. This option is particularly convenient for tourists exploring Ha Long Bay for the first time.
2.2. Moving from Ho Chi Minh City and Southern Provinces
Visitors from Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces can fly to Van Don Airport (Quang Ninh) or Cat Bi Airport (Hai Phong). From Van Don Airport, shuttle buses take about 1 hour to reach Ha Long City, while from Cat Bi Airport it takes about 2 hours.
The inter-provincial travel route in 2025 has been significantly improved with a modern highway system. After arriving at the airport, visitors will be picked up and taken to Tuan Chau Marina or Ha Long International Port to begin their journey to explore Sung Sot Cave .
2.3. Choosing a tour and how to reach the cave from the pier
Reputable cruise lines such as Indochina Junk, Paradise Cruise, Emeraude, Syrena, L'Azalee offer professional sightseeing services. The average price for a 6-hour tour to Sung Sot Cave is 350,000-550,000 VND/person for group tours, and chartering a private boat starts from 2,500,000 VND/boat.
Tour booking tips include booking in advance during peak season and proactively contacting the tour guide for detailed itineraries. Pay special attention to the itinerary for Bo Hon Island as the number of boats is limited daily to preserve the area's ecosystem.
3. Detailed experience of visiting Sung Sot Cave
Interesting experience at Sung Sot Cave. (Source: Collected).
3.1. The path to Sung Sot Cave
The journey to explore Sung Sot Cave begins with climbing 50 stone steps from the pier to the cave entrance. This path goes through a small forest with narrow natural rock crevices, offering a sense of exciting adventure. It takes about 10 minutes to complete this climb, but the surrounding landscape with bizarre limestone formations and lush green vegetation makes the journey captivating.
The cave entrance is relatively small and narrow, creating a strong contrast with the vast space inside. This contrast is what gave it the name "Sung Sot" - the feeling of surprise visitors experience when stepping from a modest entrance into the magical world within.
3.2. Exploring Chamber 1 - A mystical space
The first chamber of Sung Sot Cave has a relatively low ceiling, creating a cozy and mysterious atmosphere. Stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes sparkle under natural light and cleverly arranged artificial lighting. Visitors can see interesting associations from the rock formations: an old turtle, a conical hat (non la), or petrified streams.
3.3. Exploring Chamber 2 - An underground grand palace
Moving into the second chamber, the space unexpectedly expands like a grand hall with a high ceiling and a wide cavernous dome. This area is likened to an "underground grand palace" with massive stalactites hanging down from the cave ceiling. The height of this chamber reaches up to 30 meters, creating an overwhelming sense of scale.
The lighting system and landscaping are delicately designed, highlighting every detail of the stalactites and stalagmites. Notably, there is an area called the "royal garden" with rock formations shaped like trees, creating a fairy-tale scene in the heart of the earth.
3.4. Special "stone statues" found only at Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave is famous for its unique "stone statues" sculpted by nature over millions of years. A giant elephant-shaped stalactite with a long trunk and large ears is an unmissable photo spot. The image of a seal resting on a rock makes visitors imagine the wild life by the sea.
The "dragon's egg" is a perfectly oval rock, which legend says is a relic of ancient dragons. An ancient banyan tree with a wide canopy formed by thousands of densely packed small stalactites symbolizes eternal vitality. Each "stone statue" is associated with interesting stories that the guide will share with visitors throughout the tour.
4. Ticket prices, opening hours, and information to know in 2025
Ticket prices, opening hours of Sung Sot Cave. (Source: Collected).
4.1. Latest updated ticket prices
In 2025, tickets for the Sung Sot Cave - Titop Island route cost 250,000 VND/adult, children from 1-1.4 m tall are 195,000 VND, children under 1 m are free. Tuan Chau entrance fee is an additional 40,000 VND/entry.
The cost of a shared boat is about 150,000 VND/person, while renting a private boat ranges from 2,500,000 VND/boat for 6 hours of sightseeing. All-inclusive tours including shuttle bus from Hanoi, lunch on board, and a tour guide cost from 800,000-1,200,000 VND/person depending on the boat company and included services.
4.2. Opening hours, best tips for visiting
Sung Sot Cave is open for visits from 07:30 to 17:00 daily. The best time to explore is from May-July with cool, less rainy weather, or from December-February when the air is fresh although the weather is a bit cold.
It is advisable to go early in the day to avoid large crowds and enjoy the most beautiful scenery when sunlight shines into the cave, creating a magical light. Experience shows that prioritizing weekday visits and booking boat tickets in advance will ensure the most complete experience. Visitors need to prepare good physical strength for the stone steps and wear comfortable clothing, non-slip shoes.
5. Useful experiences and tips when exploring Sung Sot Cave
Experience and tips when exploring Sung Sot Cave. (Source: Collected).
When visiting Sung Sot Cave, preparing suitable clothing and items will make the trip safer and more comfortable. Visitors should wear light, breathable clothing, sports shoes or non-slip sandals, avoiding high heels or backless flip-flops as the paths in the cave are often wet. Additionally, bring drinking water, a mini flashlight to illuminate stalactites, a waterproof bag to protect devices, and a sun hat for the outdoor sections.
In 2025, environmental protection at Sung Sot Cave will be tightened more than ever. Visitors are strictly prohibited from littering, bringing single-use plastic items, and must strictly adhere to landscape conservation regulations. The tour is limited in the number of visitors per day to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem.
After finishing the exploration of Sung Sot Cave, in the morning visiting the magnificent cave, in the afternoon visitors can continue to experience Sun World Ha Long Park with the Queen Cable Car, Dragon Park, and Sun World Beach. In the evening, enjoy fresh seafood at seaside restaurants, check-in at Ha Long Walking Street to mark beautiful memories.
Sung Sot Cave is not only a symbol of natural wonder but also a unique spiritual experience in the heart of Ha Long Bay. Prepare your luggage and save this checklist for an impressive Ha Long Bay exploration journey in 2025!
