Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) is one of the spots in Halong Bay you should not miss. Visiting the cave, you will be amazed by the glistening and fanciful beauty inside the cave. Let's explore the cave with Handspan Travel Indochina!

Through this article, you will find out these pieces of information below.

General information about Sung Sot Cave

Sung Sot Cave, located on the Hon Bo Island Range in the core area of Halong Bay, about 15 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina, is voted one of the most beautiful caves in the world by the Association of Czech Travel Agents and offices. It is also one of the typical karst limestone caves with high scientific values. In 1901, a France scientist discovered the cave and called it "Grotte de la surprise," which means the cave of surprise due to its beauty. After 40 years, it was known by more people and officially welcomed the first tourists to visit in 1993.

Sung Sot Cave

Visiting the cave, besides admiring the scenery, you will also have a chance to hear its legend. According to the story in the past, after defeating the An enemy, Saint Giong (Thanh Giong) flew to the sky and left a sword and a precious horse to reassure the people and chase evil spirits and demons. 

How to visit Sung Sot Cave

To explore Sung Sot Cave, choose the boat running through the second visiting route in Halong Bay or take an overnight cruise. Let's see each way in detail as below.

Using a boat to visit Sung Sot Cave

Sung Sot Cave is one of the spots in the second visiting route of Halong Bay. Therefore, if you would like to explore this magnificent cave, you will need to buy this route's sightseeing fee at VND 290,000 per person and buy the boat ticket at about VND 200,000 per person. Departing from Tuan Chau Marina or Halong International Cruise Port, the boat will take you to the spots on the route, including Soi Sim Island, Titop Island, Sung Sot Cave, Bo Nau Cave, Ho Dong Tien Cave, Luon Cave, Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, and Me Cung Cave. The journey lasts 6 hours, and you will have about 45 minutes in each place. Besides visiting impressive spots, you can also have a chance to go kayaking, rowing boats, and admiring the bay's majestic landscape. 

Boat to Sung Sot Cave

Taking an overnight cruise

Taking an overnight cruise is the best way to have a complete experience in Halong Bay, including visiting Sung Sot Cave. Below are some reliable cruises taking you to Sung Sot Cave you can refer to.

• Paradise Elegance Cruise

Paradise Elegance Cruise is one of the most comfortable and luxurious cruises in Halong Bay. The cruise will bring you an unforgettable trip to Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, and Tung Sau Pearl Farm. Also, you can enjoy wonderful services and activities on the cruise, such as bars, sauna and Jacuzzi, live music, cooking class, kayaking, and doing Yoga, and Taichi on the sundeck. 

Paradise Elegance Cruise

Doing Yoga on Paradise Elegance Cruise

• Indochina Sails Halong Bay

Indochina Sails Halong Bay also takes you to visit Sung Sot Cave. Besides, you will have a chance to explore the floating village on the bay, go kayaking, join board games and film entertainment, do squid fishing, etc. 

Indochina Sails Halong Bay

Indochina Sail Cruise's sundeck

• Ambassador Cruise

The Ambassador cruise appeals to tourists through the modern and luxurious style, spacious rooms with full amenities, and excellent services. Besides visiting Sung Sot Cave, you can drop in Tung Sau pearl farm, Titop Island, relax in the outdoor Jacuzzi or enjoy an Atelier de Beauté spa treatment, etc.

Ambassador Cruise

In addition to these above cruises, there are also many other cruises taking you to Sung Sot Cave. If you would like to book an overnight cruise or support anything, please do not hesitate to contact the Handspan team!

Exploring the beauty of Sung Sot Cave

Sung Sot Cave attracts tourists from the path leading to the cave's door to the beauty inside. Let's see how appealing the cave is!

• The path leading to the cave is hidden under the forest canopy

From Bo Hon Island port, you will have to climb 50 steep stones, then go down ten steps to reach the cave's entrance. The cave's door is 25 meters above sea level, surrounded by the foliage of the trees. From the entrance, you will pass through a narrow rock crevice and an 800-meter stone road to get inside the cave, which is about 30 meters high and has a total area of more than 12,000-meter squares. Now, it's time to go deeper inside the cave!!

The path leading to Sung Sot Cave

• The masterpiece inside the cave amazes everyone

Inside the cave, a system of paved paths runs along the cave entrance to the exit. On both sides of the aisle are poles with soft lights, enhancing the cave's beauty. 

Sung Sot Cave's natural light

Sung Sot Cave has two main compartments with different characteristics. The first area looks like a large theatre with a glistening lighting system. The cave's ceiling has a curved dome with smooth indentations and countless shimmering stalactites.

Sung Sot Cave's first compartment

Sung Sot Cave's first compartment

Walking through a narrow path to the second compartment, you will find more magnificent scenery. This spacious compartment has a capacity of up to 1000 people. In this area, you can find stone artifacts in the shape of a horse, a long sword, and small ponds related to the Saint Giong legend. Besides, the deeper you go inside the cave, the more majestic the stalactites and stalagmites you will find. These stalactites look like elephants, seals, birds, old trees, etc.

Sung Sot Cave's second compartment

The sword-shaped stone inside Sung Sot Cave

Continue walking; you will reach a garden in the highest place of the cave. Here you can find a charming landscape with a small lake, various kinds of trees, flowers, and birds. 

In conclusion, you have just had an overview of the Sung Sot Cave. Hope that you have already had enough information. Let's visit the cave and find yourself the reason why the cave is called the "Surprise Cave"!