Halong Bay — a landscape of emerald waters and limestone towers — holds a secret world beneath its cliffs.
Hidden inside these majestic karsts are breathtaking caves, formed by nature over millions of years and illuminated by myth and legend.
For travelers aboard Aime’e Cruises, exploring these caves is more than sightseeing — it’s a journey through time, tranquility, and the art of discovery.
The World Heritage seascape spans Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay, each home to its own fascinating cave formations — from grand halls of stone to serene lagoons hidden behind natural arches.
Caves in Halong Bay – The Iconic Heart of the Heritage
Halong Bay is home to the most celebrated caves, where geological marvels meet poetic legend.
Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave)
- Type: Dry cave
- Size: Approx. 10,000 m², height 30–50m
- Access: Short trek (about 400 stone steps) on Bo Hon Island
- Visit Duration: 45–60 minutes
The largest and most impressive cave in Halong Bay, Sung Sot, opens like a natural amphitheater of stone. Its two grand chambers glow under gentle lighting, revealing pillars, draperies, and formations shaped like dragons and soldiers.
The path winds through a smooth limestone floor, cool air and soft echoes filling the space.
Guests aboard Aime’e Cruises often call this their most memorable stop — where nature’s scale humbles and fascinates. Many pause mid-way just to take in the silence, or capture the scene of light shimmering on ancient rock.
“It feels like walking into a palace built by the earth itself — every corner tells a story.”
Luon Cave
- Type: Sea cave
- Length: ~60 meters, low limestone arch (about 2.5–3m high)
- Access: By kayak or bamboo boat (đò nan)
- Visit Duration: 30–40 minutes
In contrast to the grandeur of Sung Sot, Luon Cave offers peaceful simplicity. A narrow tunnel connects the bay to a hidden lagoon ringed by limestone cliffs 100 meters high.
Visitors may kayak to feel the gentle rhythm of their own paddles, or choose a bamboo boat rowed by local women — a graceful way to drift through still water and mirrored reflections.
This is one of the most poetic experiences on Aime’e Cruises — no sound of engines, only the ripple of oars, the echo of birds, and sunlight glinting through the arch.
Inside the lagoon, macaque monkeys often perch on cliffs, and the air carries a quiet, meditative calm.
“It’s the kind of silence that speaks — you can feel the bay breathing.”
Thien Cung Cave (Heavenly Palace)
- Type: Dry cave
- Size: ~3,000 m²
- Access: 100 steps, near Dau Go Island
Features: Colorful stalactites, shapes of dragons and fairies
This cave dazzles with vivid lighting that enhances its natural sculptures. Legend says it hosted a celestial wedding between the Dragon King and his bride.
Visitors wander through chambers that shimmer in soft reds and blues — a theatrical yet spiritual encounter.
Me Cung Cave (Maze Cave)
- Type: Dry cave
- Size: Small (hundreds of m²)
- Access: Short hike with moderate steps
Special Feature: Overlooks a peaceful lagoon below
It’s an intimate cave — not vast, but enchanting. From the exit, a natural balcony reveals the still green lake of Me Cung Lagoon, one of the most photogenic spots in the bay.
Tien Ong Cave
- Type: Dry cave
- Size: Medium (1,000 m²)
- Access: Easy trail
Highlight: Archaeological site with prehistoric artifacts
More than just beauty — it’s history carved in stone. Tools, bones, and relics found here reveal human life dating back thousands of years.
Bai Tu Long Bay – The Untouched Beauty
In the quieter northeast, Bai Tu Long Bay remains a sanctuary of pristine limestone and tranquil caves.
Thien Canh Son Cave
Nestled on Hon Co Island in the tranquil Bai Tu Long Bay, Thien Canh Son Cave (literally “Mountain of Heaven”) is a serene contrast to the grandeur of Halong’s larger caves.
Located about 25 meters above sea level, the cave spans roughly 2,000 m² across two chambers, accessible by a gentle climb of 60 stone steps. Inside, soft light reveals stalactites shaped like lotus petals and ancient figures — delicate, natural sculptures formed over millions of years.
From the entrance, visitors are rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view of Bai Tu Long’s emerald waters and scattered islets. Below lies a secluded white-sand beach, perfect for a quiet rest or a refreshing swim.
Thien Canh Son is often described as a sanctuary of stillness — cool, luminous, and timeless.
It embodies the poetic, untouched charm of Bai Tu Long Bay — the peaceful soul of the greater Halong seascape.
Thay Cave (The Master’s Cave)
Hidden deep within Bai Tu Long Bay, Thay Cave — meaning “The Master’s Cave” — carries both natural beauty and spiritual calm. Smaller and more secluded than other caves, it is said to have once sheltered a wise monk who lived in solitude, meditating by the sea.
Inside, the air is cool and still; sunlight filters gently through narrow openings, casting soft reflections on the limestone walls. The cave’s simplicity feels sacred — no dramatic lights or crowds, only the sound of waves echoing through stone.
Lan Ha Bay – The Hidden Lagoons
At the southern edge of Lan Ha Bay, the Dark & Bright Caves (Hang Tối – Hang Sáng) reveal one of the most tranquil landscapes in northern Vietnam. These twin sea caves form natural gateways leading into a peaceful, enclosed lagoon surrounded by towering limestone cliffs.
Accessible only by kayak or bamboo boat, the journey through the low, arching tunnel feels almost dreamlike — light reflecting off emerald water, the sound of paddles echoing softly against the stone. Inside, the lagoon opens like a secret garden, calm and untouched, where sunlight dances on the surface and time seems to pause.
Compare the Caves of Halong Bay
| Cave Name | Location | Type | Approx. Size / Feature | Landscape Character | Access / Experience |
| Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) | Halong Bay | Dry cave | ~10,000 m², two chambers | Grand hall with glowing stalactites | Walking & gentle climb (~100 steps) |
| Luon Cave | Halong Bay | Sea cave | ~60m natural tunnel | Hidden lagoon surrounded by cliffs | Bamboo boat or kayak |
| Thien Cung Cave | Halong Bay | Dry cave | ~3,000 m² | Multicolored formations, mythic patterns | Walking & mild climb |
| Me Cung Cave | Halong Bay | Dry cave | Small | Lagoon and elevated viewpoint | Walking & short climb |
| Tien Ong Cave | Halong Bay | Dry cave | Medium | Archaeological site | Walking, easy access |
| Thien Son Cave | Bai Tu Long Bay | Dry cave | Medium | Gentle light, untouched limestone | Walking, remote |
| Thay Cave | Bai Tu Long Bay | Dry cave | Small | Spiritual, quiet | Walking |
| Dark & Bright Caves | Lan Ha Bay | Sea cave | Natural tunnel system | Lagoon hidden inside limestone | Kayak or bamboo boat |
Two Types of Caves in Halong Bay
- Dry Caves (like Sung Sot, Thien Cung, Me Cung):
Found high on the islands, reached by steps. Inside, vast chambers and glowing formations resemble natural palaces — cool, silent, and surreal. - Sea Caves (like Luon, Dark & Bright):
Found at sea level, these tunnels lead into lagoons enclosed by cliffs. Passing through them feels meditative — a slow glide from open ocean to hidden tranquility.
The Aime’e Experience: Discover Sung Sot & Luon Caves
At Sung Sot Cave
Guests disembark onto Bo Hon Island and ascend through lush greenery. Inside, the cave reveals itself chamber by chamber — light reflecting off stone in shades of gold and silver.
Your guide shares stories of dragons and heroes, while the vastness of the space leaves everyone in quiet awe.
At Luon Cave
Later in the journey, guests can choose between kayaking or a bamboo boat ride to pass through the low archway of Luon Cave.
Both ways lead to the same reward — a mirror-like lagoon surrounded by towering cliffs.
The water is calm, the only sounds are the dip of paddles and the soft breeze.
Many Aime’e guests describe this as the most peaceful moment of their voyage — pure connection with nature.
“From the grandeur of Sung Sot to the serenity of Luon, Aime’e guests experience both the soul and silence of Halong Bay.”
Geological Wonders and Legends
Over 20 million years, water and wind have sculpted these limestone formations.
Every stalactite is a patient sculpture of time; every hollow, a whisper of nature’s art.
Local legends breathe life into the stone — dragons descending to protect the land, celestial weddings in Thien Cung, hidden spirits resting in Thay Cave — turning geology into poetry.
The caves of Halong Bay are not just geological marvels — they are the quiet heartbeat of the bay, echoing stories of time and tide.
Aboard Aime’e Cruises, guests explore this hidden world with elegance and ease — walking beneath stone arches, gliding across still lagoons, and returning to the refined comfort of their suite as the bay glows at sunset.
