Route 3: Tourist Wharf – Me Cung Cave – Sung Sot Grotto – Ti Tov Beach (7-8 hours).

Mecung Grotto

Situated on Lombo Island, it is 2km away from Sungsot Cave. Access to the entrance of the grotto is on the Catba – Haiphong sea passage. The exit leads to a ‘garden’ area outside the grotto. Mecung is one of grottoes containing archaeological remains of Halong Culture dating from 20,000 years ago. In the entrance, visitors can see, to a thickness of 2 –3 m, cultural deposits of ancient freshwater shells – evidence of the pre-historic people who used to live in the grotto.

Daunguoi Islet

Is 2km away from Sungsot Cave to the southeast and resembles the tall head of a giant, with a large nose, whose chin is pointing down to the water. A stunted grove grows on the top of islet, looking like a tuft of hair blown by the wind.

Trong and Trinhnu caves

These two caves are located on two sides of an arc of small islets, to the east of Bohon Island and are 700m apart through a small sea valley. The entrances of the caves face in opposite directions. Sounds reverberate from one to the other. Stalactites in the caves are strange and attractive and resemble different shapes.

Cuavan Fishing Village on Halong Bay

There are 4 fishing villages in the World Heritage site: Bahang, Cuavan, Vongvieng and Capla with a total of 287 households and 1,283 people of which Cuavan is the largest. This is a habitat that has maintained both a tangible and intangible marine culture. Visiting the village, tourists have a chance to experience the villagers’ daily life as well as the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen, who live in the World Heritage Area of Halong Bay. In the future, a Floating Cultural Center will be established in Cuavan fishing village, which will become an important interface between the Halong people and tourists.

Tienong Cave

Situated to the northwest of Trai Cave, it is 4 –5m above sea level. The entrance is 40m – 50m wide and 10m high. The floor covers 1,000sq. meters strewn with ancient freshwater shells - evidence of prehistoric habitation. Here are the thickest deposits of fresh water shells yet found in Vietnam from pre-historic times. The volume of shells runs to hundreds of cubic meters.

Baham Lake

Situated on Daube Island, 25km. away from Baichay Tourist Wharf in the southwest, the lake is famous for its attractive scenery. There are actually three lakes connected together. Tourists visit these lakes by bamboo boats through low vault like passages with stalactites hanging down. They can observe a diversity of flora and fauna. On the cliff at the entrance, tourists can observe some species of orchid. To paddle by bamboo boats to Baham Lakes takes about 45 minutes. Canoes can be hired (life jackets must be worn.)

Luon Cave

Located to the northeast of Bohon Island, it leads to a calm, blue, closed lake which only opens to the sea via a vault like stone passage, 60 meters long but only 2.5m to 4m high, depending on the level of the tide. It takes 20 minutes to paddle inside by bamboo boats.

Sungsot Cave

- Is located on Bohon Island where there is a group of famous caves, 15km away from Baichay Tourist Wharf. - Sungsot is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Halong Bay and covers over 10,000sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. Each chamber has its own beauty which surprises tourists, especially the third chamber, which suddenly widens into a large, curved, vault like, monumental palace, with a variety of great sculptural works. In “Halong Tourism”, a book published in 1938 by the French, it was referred to as Surprise Cave’ (Grotto de Surprise).

Titov Island

About 13km away from Baichay Tourist Wharf, this beautiful island has a steep cliff on one side and a gentle sloping side, with an attractive sandy beach, on the other. Its old name was Catnang Island. President Ho Chi Minh and Russian Astronaut, Giecman Titov, visited Halong Bay and stayed on the island in 1962. To celebrate this trip and Viet – Russian friendship, Uncle Ho named this island Ti Tov. Visiting the island, tourists can enjoy a white sandy beach and look over the whole panorama of the Bay from the top of island. They can also take part in various recreational activities and enjoy quality service, for example: go swimming, hire rubber rings and bathing suits, use fresh water showers and purchase refreshments.