Caves and grottoes in Halong bay

There are hundreds of caves and grottoes within the area of Halong, Bai Tu Long bay and Cat Ba islands, most caves are located inside the mountains, below are some famous caves

Catba Hospital cave
This oozes historical significance, as it served both as a secret, bomb-proof hospital during the American War and as a safe house for VC leaders. Built between 1963 and 1965 (with assistance from China), this incredibly well-constructed three-storey feat of engineering was in constant use until 1975. A guide (most know a few words of English) will show you around the 17 rooms, point out the old operating theatre and take you to the huge natural cavern which was used as a cinema (and even had its own small swimming pool). The cave is about 10km north of Cat Ba Town on the road to the national park entrance.

Trung Trang Cave
Trung Trang Cave is easily accessible, but you will need to contact a ranger to make sure it is open. Bring a torch (flashlight) as it is gloomy inside.
There is a challenging 18km hike through the park and up to one of the mountain summits. Arrange a guide for this six-hour hike, and organise a bus or boat transport to the trailhead and a boat to get back to town. All of this can be easily organised with rangers at the national park headquarters or at the hotels in Cat Ba if you’re travelling independently. Many hikes end at Viet Hai, a remote minority village just outside the park boundary, from where boats shuttle back to Cat Ba town (about 250, 000d per boat). Don’t get stranded or you’ll get stiffed. Take proper hiking shoes, a raincoat and a generous supply of water for this hike. Independent hikers can buy basic snacks at the kiosks in Viet Hai, which is where many hiking groups stop for lunch. This is not an easy walk, and is much harder and more slippery after rain. There are shorter hiking options that are less hard core. If you’re planning to join an organised tour from Hanoi, check the trekking options before you book, as many of the cheaper trips don’t actually hike through the park at all.

Ho Dong Tien cave
Ho Dong Tien (Fairy Lake Cave) is one of the most beautiful caves on Halong Bay. It's featured with not only charming beauty but also geological value and historical value.
The mouth of Ho Dong Tien is right on the sea level. Thus, its one third is flooded when the tide rises. The cave inside has two compartments in total. The entrance of the first chambers is very narrow that allows only one person to go through at a time. Passing the tunnel, it is a spacious chamber with various stalactiteshung down from the ceiling. In the middle of the first chamber, there are many stalagmites rising from the ground and linking the ground to the ceiling. It’s so amazing that there are small animals living in the dark of the cave. How they can survive inside the cave is still a question with no answer. Hanging on the wall of the cave, there are lime-stone lofts which are relics of geological history of Halong bay. The second chamber of the cave leads to a lake surrounded by lime-stone mountains. The lake has a special ecological environment with many endemic species.
The lake inside the cave is supposed to be the place where fairies descended to swim. Therefore, the locals call it “Ho Dong Tien” (Fairy Lake Cave).

Hanh Cave
Hanh Cave is located at the foot of Quang Hanh Lime-stone Mountain, about 20 kilometers far from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. Hanh Cave is not only the most beautiful but also the longest cave in Halong.
Hanh Cave has the length of 1.300 meters, runs along lime-stone mountain range of Quang Hanh. This is a low cave so if you want to visit the cave, you have to wait until low tide and then hire a boat. Visiting the cave is only for those who love adventure. Before entering the cave, you must carry torches or flashlight and remember to go out of the cave before the tide rising.
Inside the cave, there is a temple which called Tam Co temple (Three Girls temple). There are rumors that 3 beautiful virgins were get lost in the cave and died here. Thus, local people built this temple in order to comfort their soul.

Thien Canh Son Cave
The pathway to Thien Canh Son Cave is set below the forest canopy and a stone cliff, so you have the feeling you are climbing toward heaven.
Inside the cave, it is an ethereal wonderland with naturally carved images resembling a lotus, and a baby elephant. The ceiling of the cave is covered with a shiny ‘gem carpet’, and numerous sparkling stalactites appear like ’hanging lamps’. Stone statues of seals and flowers create an imaginary dream world.
Thien Canh Son Cave offers a wild and mysterious beauty. This is the reason why we choose to bring guests here – to discover the geological value of the bay, and to enjoy a cozy dinner with family and friends in sparkling candlelight.

Trinh Nu Cave
Trinh Nu Grotto or Virgin Grotto is situated on the island range of Bô Hon in the system comprising the Sung Sôt Grotto, Dong Tiên Lake and Luon Grotto. It is 15 km south of Bai Cháy Beach. For fishermen, the Virgin Grotto is their house, but for young lovers, it is considered as the symbol of truly love, and is the romantic place for taking oath of love. Entering Trinh Nu Grotto, one finds in the middle of the grotto a stone statue of a lying-girl with her long hair hanging down who is looking to the sea in a vain hope.

Thien Cung Cave
It is situated on the south-west side the bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Ha Long City. The way to Thiên Cung is a perilous one, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the grotto’s 130-meter-long girth opens up. Getting in we are more astonished in front of the very animated and splendid beauty which is made from stalactite. On the east wall of the grotto, there is a grandiose and imposing picture with characters of tales. Going out of the Thien Cung Grotto, we have a sensation of just watching a unique, meticulous, interesting fine-art museum which is made by nature, get out of the imagine, ability and intellect of man. This grotto is recently discovered, one of the most beautiful grottoes in Ha Long Bay.

Tam Cung Cave
Tam Cung Grotto or Three-palace Grotto is situated in the centre of Ha Long Bay, 5 km from Sung Sôt Grotto to the northeast. The grotto itself is divided into three parts; after threading the stone cracks, you find the first chamber. Many beautiful forms can be garnered from the rocky shapes. Continuing on to the second chamber, the bumpy way leads to a spring with fresh water. The last room contains further incredible stone depictions. Tam Cung Grotto lies in May Den, a luxuriant island nearly isolated from other islands. May Den’s cliffs are extremely vertical, while its forest is flourishing.

Sung Sot Cave
Situated in the centre of the UNESCO-declared World Heritage area, the Sung Sot or Surprise Grotto is on Bo Hòn Island, and is one of the finest and widest grottoes of Ha Long Bay. Ascending to the grotto, the way is covered by trees and foliage, and consists of great paved stone blocks. Inside, it is partitioned into two chambers; the first one being similar to a wide theatre hall. Many stalactites hang from the high ceiling, with numerous possible forms and shapes. A narrow passage leads to the second rooms, where a flow of light meets visitors. The chamber is so immense it could contain thousands of people at one time.

Me Cung Cave
Me Cung cave is in two kilometers south-west of Ti Top Beach. It formed on Lom Bò Island, and seen from afar, the entrance is like the roof of a house denting the island’s side.
After a narrow crack only allowing one person through at a time, many partitions appear. These chambers are somewhat small and narrow, but very refined, and with many stalagmites and stalactites bearing beautiful forms.
Threading your way through narrow passages, you find a dim light from afar, which signals the exit of the grotto. On getting out of the grotto, climb up several rugged stone stairs and look down, you see a large round lake surrounded by the mountain. Its waters is blue all year round. The lake is home to many kinds of fish, shrimps, octopuses, algae, see weed, and coral. Lying adjacent to the lake there is an area of old trees popularly known as an alluring “royal garden”.
It is dry and well-ventilated, and features a thick layer of shells forming the foundation of the entrance. Formerly, this layer was 1.2-meter-thick and semi-fossilized. In the course of research, there was also a fossilized animal’s skeleton discovered in the interior. Me Cung cave has been recognized by archaeologists as one of the vestiges of the pre-Ha Long new Stone Age culture, that existed between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago.
Pushing into the grotto, tourists feel like walking in a palace of a Persian king. Hearing the murmur from out of nowhere, you think that Scheherazade is telling the stories of the Thousand and One Nights for her king.
On the island, there are many ancient trees casting long reflections on the water of the bay. They are home to many species of birds and animals (monkeys, chamois and varans).

Luon Cave
Luon Cave is situated on Bo Hon Island, 14 km south of Bai Chay Beach. In front of the grotto is Con Rua Islet, and the Sky Gate is on the right. Here the cliffs stretch vertically out of the pure blue and smooth water. At the water-level, an arched entrance leads to the grotto, just at the base of the island.
Passing through the pretty entrance, you come across a tranquil round lake, surrounded by luxuriant trees and high dangerous stone walls. Monkeys run to and fro in groups, benjamin fig trees shade the landscape and many orchids hang their sweet-scented flowers. In the lake, many species abound: shrimp, fish, crab and cuttle-fish.
This is an enclosed group of islands. It connects with the sea via a 4-meter-wide, 100-meter-long, and 3-meter-high mouth. Inside the grotto, the 1-km2 brackish lake is surrounded by mountains. On the cliff one still find traces of fossils of fresh-water snails, which prove that men used to live there and this must have been a deep valley then.
The beauty of the site, is the mingling of a number of factors: the mountain’s size and form, the colour of the water and the clouds. You should visit Luon Cave once!

Kim Quy Cave
Kim Quy Cave or Golden Tortoise cave is situated on Dam Nam Islet, with a peak 187 m above sea level. Come to Kim Quy cave, visiter can amagine a tortoise with a peak 187 m above sea level. Dâm Bac Islet is in the front of the grotto and Soi Sim Islet in the back.
Kim Quy Cave is 100 m long and 5 to 10 m wide, running in a north-south direction.
A narrow way leads to the interior of the grotto where a stream flows. The stalactites here are snow-white and lightly hang from the ceiling.
It is linked to the ancient legend of the Golden Tortoise: after having helped Emperor Lê Loi defeat his enemies, the Golden Tortoise took back the magic sword he had given him, and swam towards the sea. Arriving in Ha Long Bay, it met with so many evil spirits and demons hindering its journey that it remained to do battle. After having defeated them all, the Golden Tortoise was so exhausted that it searched for a grotto to rest in, and once inside, turned to stone.
Today in Kim Quy Cave, it can be found dozing, still with ancient wounds covering its body.

Dau Go Cave
The grotto is on Driftwood Island. Seen from afar, the entrance to the grotto appears to be blue, and has a shape similar to that of a jellyfish. After 90 steps up the island, the entrance is reached. The ceiling of the grotto is about 25 m. Hundreds of stalactites falling down from the roof of the grotto look like a waterfall. The grotto is divided into three main parts. The exterior is a room with a vault full of natural light. Many forms may be seen in the rock formations of the chamber, depending on the imagination of the visitor of course.

Bo Nau Cave
Bo Nau Cave (Pelican Cave) is located on the southwestern Halong Bay. It's about 13 kilometers far from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf and 2-3 kilometers to the southeast of Trong Mai Islet...
Story has it that in the past, that cave had been the residence of a herd of pelicans (in Vietnamese: “bo nong”). The number of pelicans is so many that they filled the cave. Therefore, the cave was named after thepelican as Bo Nau Cave (“bo nau” and “bo nong” are pronounced similarly in Vietnamese).
The mouth of Bo Nau Cave is quite wide with the size of 5-7 meters. It’s in the shape of arch and has many stalactites falling down from the ceiling. Right on the entrance is three blocks of stone. They look like a sculpture about three fairies playing chess. The space inside covers an area of 200 square meters. The foundation of Bo Nau Cave is flat with various stalagmites growing up in different sizes and shapes.
From the cave, tourists will get a unique view of Halong bay that seems like standing in the monster’s mouth with sharp teeth and seeing magnificent scenery outside.

Ba Ham Cave
Situated on the south-west side of Ha Long Bay, Ba Ham Lake is found on Dau Be Island (Calf Head Island) in Lan Ha Bay. This island is part of the range of islands at the farthest end of Ha Long Bay, bordering the immense zone Long Chau Sea. Ba Ham Lake is situated in the middle of a narrow, rectangular area, with the all four sides enclosed by vertical cliffs.