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.

route2:Tourist Wharf – Thien Cung Grotto– Dau Go Cave – Dinh Huong Islet – Ga Choi Islet– Sung Sot Grotto– Ti Tov Beach (7-8 hours).

Thiencung Grotto

Is located in the north of Daugo Island, which is visible from the Tourist Wharf and about 4km. away. It is 25m above sea level, covering 3,000sq. meters and is divided into 3 chambers. This is one of the largest and most beautiful grottoes in Halong Bay. Its structure is complex with different levels and chambers, which contain richly ornamented stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago. Visiting Thiencung Grotto, tourists can enjoy interesting stories about the shapes of the stalactites and stalagmites closely connected to the Halong Bay legend of King Dragon. Photography is permitted.

Daugo Cave

Geographical position: Located on Daugo Island, 300m away from Thiencung Grotto, it covers 5,000 sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. It is called “Daugo”, an ancient name, meaning ‘Wooden Stake’. The attractive and significant beauty of the cave is its ancient and mossy appearance. The first vaulted chamber is a large hollow, resembling a beautiful opera chamber, with a harmonious combination of paintings and sculptures. The middle and rear chambers of the cave are full of many blocks of pure stalactites blazed and reflected in the numberless colored rays of the special lighting. In 1957, President Ho Chi Minh visited the cave, and said, “No visitor can convey the beauty of its scenery, so everybody must visit the cave to see its beauty, for himself.”

LuHuong Islet

Located to the southeast of Daugo Island, 5km away from the Tourist Wharf, it looks like an incense burner made of stone, which has grown out of the sea. In the religious beliefs of the Halong fishing villages and the Vietnamese generally, burning incense, when praying to the Godhead, is common. So, Luhuong islet is very close to the local community’s heart.

Gachoi Islet

Located in the southeast of Daugo Island, about 800 meters away from Luhuong Islet, are two small towers, 12m high, which emerge from the sea like two fighting cocks. It is an outstanding feature of Halong Bay and was used as a symbol of Vietnam Tourism in 2000.

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.

Soisim Island

This is a land Island covering 87,000sq. meters, having two peaks, 100m high. Its side slopes in the southeast. There is a primeval forest containing valuable plants - a special terrain, located right in the center of a popular tourist area. Soisim will be targeted for eco-tourism, enabling tourists to experience interactive artistic and recreational activities. It will help visitors to take a new look at their responsibilities and the relationship that exists between people and nature, especially in this vulnerable environment. Presently the following services are available to tourists: a sandy beach, fresh water showers, bathing suit hire and the purchase of refreshments.

Thiencung Grotto

Is located in the north of Daugo Island, which is visible from the Tourist Wharf and about 4km. away. It is 25m above sea level, covering 3,000sq. meters and is divided into 3 chambers. This is one of the largest and most beautiful grottoes in Halong Bay. Its structure is complex with different levels and chambers, which contain richly ornamented stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago. Visiting Thiencung Grotto, tourists can enjoy interesting stories about the shapes of the stalactites and stalagmites closely connected to the Halong Bay legend of King Dragon. Photography is permitted.

Daugo Cave

Geographical position: Located on Daugo Island, 300m away from Thiencung Grotto, it covers 5,000 sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. It is called “Daugo”, an ancient name, meaning ‘Wooden Stake’. The attractive and significant beauty of the cave is its ancient and mossy appearance. The first vaulted chamber is a large hollow, resembling a beautiful opera chamber, with a harmonious combination of paintings and sculptures. The middle and rear chambers of the cave are full of many blocks of pure stalactites blazed and reflected in the numberless colored rays of the special lighting. In 1957, President Ho Chi Minh visited the cave, and said, “No visitor can convey the beauty of its scenery, so everybody must visit the cave to see its beauty, for himself.”

LuHuong Islet

Located to the southeast of Daugo Island, 5km away from the Tourist Wharf, it looks like an incense burner made of stone, which has grown out of the sea. In the religious beliefs of the Halong fishing villages and the Vietnamese generally, burning incense, when praying to the Godhead, is common. So, Luhuong islet is very close to the local community’s heart.

Gachoi Islet

Located in the southeast of Daugo Island, about 800 meters away from Luhuong Islet, are two small towers, 12m high, which emerge from the sea like two fighting cocks. It is an outstanding feature of Halong Bay and was used as a symbol of Vietnam Tourism in 2000.

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.

Soisim Island

This is a land Island covering 87,000sq. meters, having two peaks, 100m high. Its side slopes in the southeast. There is a primeval forest containing valuable plants - a special terrain, located right in the center of a popular tourist area. Soisim will be targeted for eco-tourism, enabling tourists to experience interactive artistic and recreational activities. It will help visitors to take a new look at their responsibilities and the relationship that exists between people and nature, especially in this vulnerable environment. Presently the following services are available to tourists: a sandy beach, fresh water showers, bathing suit hire and the purchase of refreshments.

Tourist Wharf – Thien Cung Grotto– Dau Go Cave – Dinh Huong Islet – Ga Choi Islet (3-4 hours)

Thiencung Grotto

Is located in the north of Daugo Island, which is visible from the Tourist Wharf and about 4km. away. It is 25m above sea level, covering 3,000sq. meters and is divided into 3 chambers. This is one of the largest and most beautiful grottoes in Halong Bay. Its structure is complex with different levels and chambers, which contain richly ornamented stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago. Visiting Thiencung Grotto, tourists can enjoy interesting stories about the shapes of the stalactites and stalagmites closely connected to the Halong Bay legend of King Dragon. Photography is permitted.

Daugo Cave

Geographical position: Located on Daugo Island, 300m away from Thiencung Grotto, it covers 5,000 sq. meters and is divided into three chambers. It is called “Daugo”, an ancient name, meaning ‘Wooden Stake’. The attractive and significant beauty of the cave is its ancient and mossy appearance. The first vaulted chamber is a large hollow, resembling a beautiful opera chamber, with a harmonious combination of paintings and sculptures. The middle and rear chambers of the cave are full of many blocks of pure stalactites blazed and reflected in the numberless colored rays of the special lighting. In 1957, President Ho Chi Minh visited the cave, and said, “No visitor can convey the beauty of its scenery, so everybody must visit the cave to see its beauty, for himself.”

LuHuong Islet

Located to the southeast of Daugo Island, 5km away from the Tourist Wharf, it looks like an incense burner made of stone, which has grown out of the sea. In the religious beliefs of the Halong fishing villages and the Vietnamese generally, burning incense, when praying to the Godhead, is common. So, Luhuong islet is very close to the local community’s heart.

Gachoi Islet

Located in the southeast of Daugo Island, about 800 meters away from Luhuong Islet, are two small towers, 12m high, which emerge from the sea like two fighting cocks. It is an outstanding feature of Halong Bay and was used as a symbol of Vietnam Tourism in 2000.