halongbaycruise.infoIndependent cruise guide, Vietnam

caves

Halong Bay caves: which cave to see, and the route that stops there

The Halong Bay caves sit on fixed routes, so the cave you want decides the cruise you book. Sung Sot Cave, which the Ha Long Bay Management Board calls the largest cave discovered in Halong Bay to date, is on route VHL2 with Luon Cave and Me Cung Cave. Thien Cung Cave and Dau Go Cave share one island on VHL1. Luon Cave is not walked: you pass under its arch by rowing boats or kayaking. Each cave keeps the visiting hours the board sets, for example 7:30 to 17:30 at Sung Sot in summer.

In short: for the largest cave and a lagoon, pick a route 2 cruise; for the two lit caves closest to the ports, pick route 1. The table below sets every cave in Halong Bay, Vietnam (Vịnh Hạ Long) side by side with its route, hours and how you go in.

  • 40 m above sea level: Hang Co, the highest cave mouth the board gives
  • 3,000 m² base area of Thien Cung Cave, per the board
  • 7:30 to 17:00Sung Sot Cave hours from 1 Nov to 15 Apr

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Stalagmites and rock formations lit in the main chamber of Sung Sot Cave.

cave by cave

The caves in Halong Bay side by side

First the cave mouths, drawn to the height the Ha Long Bay Management Board gives for each. Then every cave on the five sightseeing routes: the route code (it links to the route's line on the official list), the board's summer and winter hours, how you go in, and whether day cruises or cruises with nights on board reach it. Use it to match a cave to a route, then a route to a cruise.

  1. Luon Cave entered from the water
  2. Thien Cung Cave 20 m above sea level
  3. Sung Sot Cave level with Thien Cung in the board’s description
  4. Me Cung Cave 20 to 30 m above sea level
  5. Hang Co 40 m above sea level
Cave mouths drawn to the height above sea level the Ha Long Bay Management Board gives; Me Cung as the range the board states. The limestone islands themselves rise 50 to 200 m, the board states, so every cave here opens in the lower part of its island.
The caves on the Halong Bay routes, side by sideRoutes and stops as the Ha Long Bay Management Board lists them; hours as the board states them (summer 16 Apr to 31 Oct, winter 1 Nov to 15 Apr)
CaveRouteSummer hoursWinter hoursHow you go inReached byThe board on it
Sung Sot Cave VHL2 7:30 to 17:30 7:30 to 17:00 On foot, on the Bo Hon Island range Day cruises and cruises with nights on board The board calls it the largest cave discovered in Halong Bay to date
Thien Cung Cave VHL1, VHL5 7:30 to 17:30 7:30 to 17:00 On foot, from the pier on Dau Go Island Day cruises Base area about 3,000 m²
Dau Go Cave VHL1, VHL5 7:30 to 17:30 7:30 to 17:00 On foot, on the same island as Thien Cung Day cruises
Luon Cave VHL2 7:30 to 17:30 7:30 to 17:00 From the water: rowing boats or kayaking Day cruises and cruises with nights on board
Me Cung Cave VHL2 8:00 to 17:30 8:00 to 17:00 On foot, on Lom Bo island Day cruises and cruises with nights on board Soi Nhu culture deposits dated 18,000 to 7,000 years ago
Trinh Nu Cave VHL2 Not listed Not listed In the route 2 overnight area; no visiting hours listed Cruises with nights on board With Trong Cave, the board calls the area a popular overnight stop for Halong Bay cruises
Trong Cave VHL2 Not listed Not listed In the route 2 overnight area; no visiting hours listed Cruises with nights on board
Bo Nau Cave VHL2 Not listed Not listed A stop on route 2; no visiting hours listed Day cruises and cruises with nights on board
Tien Ong Cave VHL3 8:00 to 17:30 8:00 to 17:00 On foot, at the overnight area of route 3 Cruises with nights on board
Hang Co (Thien Canh Son) VHL4 7:30 to 17:00 8:00 to 16:45 On foot, from the boat landing Day cruises and cruises with nights on board
Hang Thay VHL4 Not listed Not listed A stop on route 4; no visiting hours listed Day cruises and cruises with nights on board
Cap La Cave VHL4 Not listed Not listed Not open yet No cruise yet The board states it is in investment and infrastructure development (not yet open)

Sung Sot Cave

Sung Sot Cave: the largest cave, on route 2

Sung Sot means surprise, and the cave sits on route 2, the route of the listed day cruises below. The board places it on the Bo Hon Island range and calls it the largest cave discovered in Halong Bay to date. From the pier you climb to the entrance and follow a lit visitor path through its chambers, past stalagmites and lit rock formations.

The board's visiting hours for Sung Sot Cave are 7:30 to 17:30 from 16 April to 31 October and 7:30 to 17:00 from 1 November to 15 April. Boats on route 2 pay the route 2 fee of VND 250,000 per visit per person for a day visit, set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council.

Route 2 strings Sung Sot together with Ti Top Island and Luon Cave, and the two listed day cruises that name it keep that order: Halong Bay Day Tour with Sung Sot and Ti Top by Cozy Bay Cruise visits Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave and Ti Top Island from Tuan Chau, and Sunlight Grand Day Cruise: Halong Bay, Sung Sot and Ti Top Island does the same from Tuan Chau International Marina. Both include admission, as listed. Their cards are further down, with the listed price and the read date.

Sung Sot and Thien Cung lie about 11 km (6.7 mi) in a straight line, but they are on different routes, so a day cruise sees one or the other. If both caves matter to you, plan two trips or look for a cruise on the exploration route VHL7, which combines routes 1 to 4.

Sung Sot Cave interior
The lit visitor path through the first chamber of Sung Sot Cave.Photo: lumoplank / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Ti Top Island beach and viewpoint
View from the Ti Top lookout over anchored cruise ships and islands.Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Thien Cung, Dau Go

Thien Cung and Dau Go: the two caves of route 1

Thien Cung Cave (the name means heavenly palace) lies on Dau Go Island close to the ports, about 20 m above sea level by the board's figure, with a base area of about 3,000 m². Inside, colored lighting picks out flowstone and stalactite columns. Sung Sot is larger; Thien Cung is closer to the ports.

Dau Go Cave opens on the same island. The board gives both caves the same hours: 7:30 to 17:30 in summer and 7:30 to 17:00 in winter. Dau Go has a dark chamber where daylight reaches in from the mouth; the board gives no height or size for it.

Both caves are on route VHL1, which carries on past Cho Da, Ba Hang, Dinh Huong and Trong Mai Islets, and on VHL5, which repeats those stops and ends at Gia Luan pier on Cat Ba Island. Route 1 is a day route only: there is no overnight fee for it. The board's sample day on route 1 runs about 7:00 to 12:00, so it suits a morning on the water.

One Klook listing sails route 1: Dragonfly Day Cruise: Halong Bay, Thien Cung Cave, Kayaking names Thien Cung Cave, kayaking and the Fighting Cocks Islet, which appears to be route 1's Trong Mai Islet; its listing shows no price, so check it on Klook. The Halong Bay day cruise page compares the day cruises by route.

Thien Cung Cave
Colored lighting on flowstone inside Thien Cung Cave.Photo: xiquinhosilva from Cacau / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Thien Cung Cave
A visitor hall in Thien Cung Cave with stalactite columns and mixed lighting.Photo: xiquinhosilva from Cacau / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Dau Go Cave
Light entering a dark chamber of Dau Go Cave.Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Kayaks in Halong Bay
Kayakers paddling in a sheltered stretch of water between steep limestone walls.Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Luon Cave

Luon Cave: a cave you enter from the water

Luon Cave is a low tunnel through an island into an enclosed lagoon, and it is the one cave in Halong Bay you go through rather than into. The board names the ways in: rowing boats or kayaking. From the cruise boat you change into a rowing boat or a kayak and pass under the low arch into a lagoon walled by cliffs.

The board's hours for Luon Cave are 7:30 to 17:30 in summer and 7:30 to 17:00 in winter. Kayaks and bamboo boats are water recreation craft, and under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024 they may operate on Halong Bay only between 5:30 and 18:30. In 2023 state press reported that the province named four zones where water recreation meets the national conditions: Luon Cave, the Cua Van fishing village, Ho Dong Tien with Trinh Nu Cave, and Cong Do.

Luon Cave is a route 2 stop, so the same day cruises that visit Sung Sot reach it. Both Klook route 2 listings name it, the Cozy Bay day tour and the Sunlight Grand day cruise, and list a kayak or bamboo boat in the price. The kayaking guide has the rules and the zones in full.

Luon Cave (boat or kayak through the arch)
Rowing boats passing through the low arch of Luon Cave.Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Luon Cave (boat or kayak through the arch)
The rock arch of Luon Cave seen from the water, with a boat beyond.Photo: Mig Gilbert from Brighton / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Me Cung, Trinh Nu

Me Cung, Trinh Nu and the caves of the route 2 anchorage

Me Cung Cave (the name means labyrinth) lies on Lom Bo Island at 20 to 30 m above sea level, according to the board. It matters for more than the formations: the board dates the Soi Nhu culture deposits found at Luon Cave, Trong Cave and Me Cung Cave to 18,000 to 7,000 years ago, traces of the people who lived among these islands. Its hours are 8:00 to 17:30 in summer and 8:00 to 17:00 in winter.

Further along route 2, Trong Cave and Trinh Nu Cave mark one of the anchorages where boats spend the night. The board names the overnight areas of route 2 as Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Ho Dong Tien, Hon Lat 690, Ti Top Island 587, and calls the Trong Cave and Trinh Nu Cave area a popular overnight stop for Halong Bay cruises. The board lists no visiting hours for these two caves.

A cruise with one night on board is how you reach them. All inclusive Bhaya Classic cruise 2-Day 1-Night Halong Bay Tour on Viator names Trinh Nu Cave in its first day, which places it in the route 2 overnight area. One night on route 2 carries an overnight fee of VND 550,000 per visit per person in place of the day fee. For what one night adds hour by hour, see the Halong Bay overnight cruise page.

Sung Sot and Me Cung lie about 1.3 km (0.8 mi) in a straight line. Bo Nau Cave sits on the same stretch of route 2; the board gives no figures or hours for it.

Wide Halong Bay seascape with karst islands
Three limestone stacks standing in calm water under cumulus cloud.Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

the eastern routes

Tien Ong, Hang Co and Cap La: caves of routes 3 and 4

Routes 3 and 4 head east, away from the busiest anchorages, and each has a cave of its own. Tien Ong Cave on route 3 is the overnight area of that route (the board names it the Tien Ong Cave area). Its hours are 8:00 to 17:30 in summer and 8:00 to 17:00 in winter. Route 3 also takes in the Cua Van floating village, so a cave and a village visit fit one day; see things to do in Halong Bay for the stops around them.

Hang Co (Thien Canh Son) on route 4 sits 40 m above sea level, the highest cave mouth the board gives a figure for. Its hours are shorter than the others: 7:30 to 17:00 in summer and 8:00 to 16:45 in winter. Hang Thay is another route 4 stop with no figures given. Cap La Cave, also on route 4, is in investment and infrastructure development (not yet open), so no cruise visits it yet.

Day fees on these two routes are lower: VND 200,000 per visit per person on route 3 and VND 200,000 per visit per person on route 4. Both routes allow nights on board, and since 20 April 2026 cruises on them may continue into Lan Ha Bay. The route lines and fees for every route are on the official routes page, and the caves are drawn on the Halong Bay map.

listed cruises

Cruises that stop at a cave in Halong Bay

The listed cruises that name a cave in their itinerary, with the bay and route as the itinerary sails them, what the price includes and the listed price with its read date. Three show; the fourth, in Lan Ha Bay, opens below.

  1. HLB Day

    Klook, Cozy Bay Cruise

    Halong Bay Day Tour with Sung Sot and Ti Top by Cozy Bay Cruise

    Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Cozy Vietnam Travel - Halong Cruises, Tuan Chau Harbor.

    • Day cruise, no night on board
    • Bay fee in the price
    • Hanoi transfer at extra cost
    • Kayak or bamboo boat listed
    • Free cancellation 24 hours before (as listed)

    from about US$42 listed as AUD 60.75 per person for the lowest option on the listing, on 14 November 2026

    All in from the pier: VND 1,070,000 (about US$42)

    4.9 from 7,000 reviews

    Check dates: Halong Bay Day Tour with Sung Sot

  2. Day

    Klook, Sunlight Grand Cruise

    Sunlight Grand Day Cruise: Halong Bay, Sung Sot and Ti Top Island

    Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Tuan Chau International Marina.

    • Day cruise, no night on board
    • Bay fee in the price
    • Hanoi transfer at extra cost
    • Kayak or bamboo boat listed
    • Free cancellation 24 hours before (as listed)

    from about US$47 listed as AUD 69.05 per person for the lowest option on the listing, on 14 November 2026

    All in from the pier: VND 1,220,000 (about US$47)

    4.9 from 4,100 reviews

    Check dates: Sunlight Grand Day Cruise

  3. 1 night

    Viator, Bhaya Cruises Company Limited

    All inclusive Bhaya Classic cruise 2-Day 1-Night Halong Bay Tour

    Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Bhaya Cruise Center, No. 9 International Port, Ngoc Chau Harbor, Tuan Chau, Quang Ninh.

    • 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
    • Bay fee not named in the inclusions: VND 550,000 per adult (Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council, Resolution 51/2025)
    • Hanoi transfer at extra cost
    • Free cancellation up to 6 days before the experience for a full refund (as listed)

    from US$120 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

    All in from Hanoi: VND 4,230,000 (about US$165)

    4.9 from 2,363 reviews

    Check dates: All inclusive Bhaya Classic cruise 2-Day 1-Night Halong

Show 1 more cruise
  1. HLB Day

    GetYourGuide, Tinny Travel Co. Ltd

    Hanoi/Cat Ba: Lan Ha Bay Day Cruise with Dark and Bright Caves

    Sails: Lan Ha Bay. Route not stated in the listing. Pier: Cat Ba Island / Hanoi Old Quarter hotels.

    • Day cruise, no night on board
    • Bay fee not named in the inclusions: VND 120,000 per adult (Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025)
    • Hanoi transfer at extra cost
    • Kayak or bamboo boat listed
    • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start for a full refund (as listed)

    from US$38 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

    All in from Hanoi: VND 1,810,000 (about US$71)

    4.9 from 116 reviews

    Check dates: Lan Ha Bay Day Cruise

The Lan Ha Bay card lists kayaking. On the Cat Ba bays that is as the listing states: in May 2025 Bao Hai Phong reported that the city's designated water-recreation zones were not yet announced by the city. The route 1 cave cruise, Dragonfly Day Cruise: Halong Bay, Thien Cung Cave, Kayaking, has no card because its listing shows no price.

before you go

Planning a cave stop: hours, seasons and the climb

  1. Pick the cave, then the route. Sung Sot, Luon and Me Cung mean route 2; Thien Cung and Dau Go mean route 1; Tien Ong means route 3; Hang Co means route 4. A listing that names its route or its caves tells you which; one that names neither is worth a question to the seller.
  2. Mind the two seasons. The board's cave hours change on 16 April and 1 November, and most caves close earlier in winter: Thien Cung at 7:30 to 17:00 from November to mid-April. These dates differ from the season dates for boat hours, so read each on its own.
  3. Expect steps. Thien Cung, Sung Sot and Me Cung open well above the water (see the drawing), so each visit starts with a climb from the pier. Luon Cave has no climb but a change of boat.
  4. Check the fee line. On Halong Bay the board charges one sightseeing fee per route, and its fee list names the caves of each route. The listing should say whether its price includes that fee; the Klook route 2 listings include admission, as listed.
  5. Allow for weather. In storm season the port authority can stop boats, and a cruise that does not sail visits no cave. See Halong Bay weather for the months to plan around.

New to the bay as a whole? Start with the Halong Bay guide, which shows every sight by route and what the board says about it.

Kayaks or bamboo boats in Lan Ha Bay
Yellow sea kayaks tied up at a floating fishing platform below limestone cliffs off Cat Ba Island.Photo: Tuyencabr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Hai Phong

Caves beyond Halong Bay: Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island

Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island are a separate bay and island in Hai Phong, with their own rules, and their caves are not on the Halong Bay routes. In Lan Ha Bay, the Dark and Bright Caves (Hang Toi and Hang Sang) were stops on two of the bay's routes in its 2020 route list, which a 2025 decision replaced without a new list. Day boats from Cat Ba still name them: Hanoi/Cat Ba: Lan Ha Bay Day Cruise with Dark and Bright Caves on GetYourGuide is one, with kayaking as the listing states.

On Cat Ba Island itself the caves are on land, reached by road rather than by boat. Trung Trang Cave and Hoa Cuong Cave are both on the island. Hospital Cave is covered with the national park and the other land sights on Cat Ba things to do.

Trung Trang and Hoa Cuong lie about 5.7 km (3.5 mi) in a straight line. Lan Ha Bay has its own sightseeing fee, set by the Hai Phong City People's Council.

Cat Ba National Park forest or trail
Forest canopy and limestone ridges seen from a viewpoint in Cat Ba National Park.Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

questions

Questions about the Halong Bay caves

What is the biggest cave in Halong Bay?

Sung Sot Cave. The Ha Long Bay Management Board calls it the largest cave discovered in Halong Bay to date. It sits on the Bo Hon Island range on route VHL2, together with Ti Top Island and Luon Cave. Thien Cung Cave on route 1 is smaller, with a base area of about 3,000 m².

What are the opening hours of the Halong Bay caves?

The board sets them by season. Sung Sot Cave opens 7:30 to 17:30 from 16 April to 31 October and 7:30 to 17:00 from 1 November to 15 April. Thien Cung and Dau Go keep the same hours as Sung Sot; Me Cung and Tien Ong open half an hour later, and Hang Co closes earliest. The comparison table lists each cave.

Can you kayak into Luon Cave?

Yes, or you go in by rowing boat: the board names rowing boats or kayaking as the ways into the lagoon. Kayaks may operate on Halong Bay only between 5:30 and 18:30 under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024, and Luon Cave is one of the water recreation zones the province named in 2023, as state press reported.

Is Sung Sot Cave or Thien Cung Cave better?

They suit different trips. Sung Sot on route 2 is the largest cave the board knows in the bay and comes with Luon Cave and Ti Top Island on one day. Thien Cung on route 1 is smaller and more brightly lit, close to the ports, and shares its island with Dau Go Cave. A single day cruise reaches one route, so choose by the route.

Do day cruises visit the caves?

Yes. Day cruises on route 2 stop at Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave, and day cruises on route 1 at Thien Cung Cave and Dau Go Cave. Admission is included on both Klook route 2 listings on this page, as listed. Caves in the route 2 overnight area, such as Trinh Nu, are reached on cruises with a night on board.

Sources

  1. The Halong Bay sightseeing fee for day route VHL1 (Thien Cung, Dau Go, Ba Hang, Trong Mai), set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council and collected by Ha Long Bay Management Board (now named the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board), is VND 250,000 per visit per person. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  2. The Halong Bay sightseeing fee for day route VHL2 (Ti Top, Sung Sot, Luon Cave, Me Cung), set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council and collected by Ha Long Bay Management Board (now named the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board), is VND 250,000 per visit per person. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  3. The Halong Bay sightseeing fee for day route VHL3 (Cua Van, Tien Ong Cave, Ho Ba Ham), set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council and collected by Ha Long Bay Management Board (now named the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board), is VND 200,000 per visit per person. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  4. The Halong Bay sightseeing fee for day route VHL4 (Hang Co, Vung Vieng, Cong Do, Hon Xep), set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council and collected by Ha Long Bay Management Board (now named the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board), is VND 200,000 per visit per person. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  5. The Halong Bay sightseeing fee for day route VHL5 (route 1 sights, ending at Gia Luan pier, Cat Ba), set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council and collected by Ha Long Bay Management Board (now named the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board), is VND 250,000 per visit per person. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  6. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states the overnight sightseeing fee for Halong Bay route 2 with 1 night as VND 550,000 per visit per person. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  7. OpenStreetMap places Sung Sot Cave (cave) at (lat, lon) 20.843737, 107.090845 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  8. OpenStreetMap places Thien Cung Cave (cave) at (lat, lon) 20.912681, 107.017211 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  9. OpenStreetMap places Dau Go Cave (cave) at (lat, lon) 20.911213, 107.01866 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  10. OpenStreetMap places Luon Cave (cave) at (lat, lon) 20.853091, 107.094871 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  11. OpenStreetMap places Me Cung Cave (cave) at (lat, lon) 20.834106, 107.084576 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  12. OpenStreetMap places Trinh Nu Cave (cave) at (lat, lon) 20.83448, 107.108561 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  13. OpenStreetMap places Tien Ong Cave (cave) at (lat, lon) 20.815894, 107.122644 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  14. OpenStreetMap places Hoa Cuong Cave (cave) at (lat, lon) 20.838277, 106.984235 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  15. OpenStreetMap places Trung Trang Cave (cave) at (lat, lon) 20.78877, 106.997437 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  16. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Thien Cung Cave and Dau Go Cave in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 7:30 to 17:30 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  17. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Thien Cung Cave and Dau Go Cave in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 7:30 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  18. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Sung Sot Cave in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 7:30 to 17:30 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  19. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Sung Sot Cave in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 7:30 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  20. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Me Cung Cave in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 8:00 to 17:30 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  21. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Me Cung Cave in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 8:00 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  22. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Luon Cave in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 7:30 to 17:30 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  23. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Luon Cave in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 7:30 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  24. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Tien Ong Cave in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 8:00 to 17:30 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  25. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Tien Ong Cave in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 8:00 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  26. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Hang Co (Thien Canh Son) in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 7:30 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  27. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Hang Co (Thien Canh Son) in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 8:00 to 16:45 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
  28. Bao Dau Tu (state press) reported on 8 Aug 2023 that the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee announced the Halong Bay areas meeting Decree 48/2019/NĐ-CP conditions for water recreation (kayak, bamboo boat) as Hang Luon (5.23 ha), Cua Van fishing village (29.56 ha), Ho Dong Tien - Trinh Nu Cave (32.55 ha), Cong Do (62.36 ha) zones. Bao Dau Tu (state press) report of a Quang Ninh PPC announcement, 8 Aug 2023, 8 August 2023.
  29. Hai Phong City People's Committee Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND (replaced on 12 January 2026 by Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, which lists no routes or overnight areas) listed day sightseeing route 2 on the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago (Lan Ha Bay) as Ben Beo - fishing village - Monkey Island - Hon Rua - Cua Viet Hai - Quai To - Ba Trai Dao - Hang Toi - Hang Sang - Ben Beo. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND of 2 Oct 2020 (in force 15 Oct 2020), Regulation on tourism on the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago, Annex II, 2 October 2020.
  30. Hai Phong City People's Committee Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND (replaced on 12 January 2026 by Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, which lists no routes or overnight areas) listed day sightseeing route 3 on the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago (Lan Ha Bay) as Got port - Gia Luan - Tra Bau - Ang Ong Cam - Hang Toi - Hang Sang - Gia Luan - Got port. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND of 2 Oct 2020 (in force 15 Oct 2020), Regulation on tourism on the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago, Annex II, 2 October 2020.
  31. The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists the stops of Halong Bay route VHL1 as port - Thien Cung Cave - Dau Go Cave - Cho Da islet - Ba Hang - Dinh Huong islet - Trong Mai islet. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), fee page listing the 8 Halong Bay routes, 31 March 2025.
  32. The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists the stops of Halong Bay route VHL2 as port - Soi Sim beach - Ti Top Island - Sung Sot Cave - Tung Sau inlet - Me Cung Cave - Bo Nau Cave - Luon Cave - Trong Cave - Trinh Nu Cave - Ho Dong Tien. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), fee page listing the 8 Halong Bay routes, 31 March 2025.
  33. The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists the stops of Halong Bay route VHL3 as port - Cua Van floating cultural center - Tien Ong Cave - Ho Ba Ham lagoon - Ba Men temple - Ang Du - Bamboo Forest. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), fee page listing the 8 Halong Bay routes, 31 March 2025.
  34. The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists the stops of Halong Bay route VHL4 as port - Hang Co (Thien Canh Son) - Hang Thay - Cap La Cave - Vung Vieng - Tung Ang ecological area - Cong Do island - Hon Xep park. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), fee page listing the 8 Halong Bay routes, 31 March 2025.
  35. The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists the stops of Halong Bay route VHL5 as port - Thien Cung Cave - Dau Go Cave - Cho Da islet - Ba Hang - Dinh Huong islet - Trong Mai islet - Gia Luan pier (Cat Ba, Hai Phong). Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), fee page listing the 8 Halong Bay routes, 31 March 2025.
  36. The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the overnight areas on Halong Bay route 2 as Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Ho Dong Tien, Hon Lat 690, Ti Top Island 587 overnight areas. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  37. The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the overnight area on Halong Bay route 3 as Tien Ong Cave area. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  38. The Ha Long Bay Management Board's itinerary for route 1 gives its sightseeing time (port departure to last islet) as about 7:00 to 12:00 time window. Ha Long Bay Management Board, route pages 'Ha Long Bay Itinerary 1-5' (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  39. Under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024/QĐ-UBND, water recreation craft (such as kayaks) may operate on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay between 5:30 and 18:30 local time. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Decision 43/2024/QĐ-UBND of 8 Oct 2024 (in force 20 Oct 2024), Regulation on managing inland waterway vessels serving tourists on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, 8 October 2024.
  40. Thien Cung Cave lies at about this height above sea level, per the Ha Long Bay Management Board 20 m. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  41. The Ha Long Bay Management Board gives the base area of Thien Cung Cave as about 3,000 m². Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  42. The Ha Long Bay Management Board calls Sung Sot Cave, about 20 m above sea level on the Bo Hon island range, the largest cave discovered in Halong Bay to date. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  43. At Luon Cave the Ha Long Bay Management Board names these visitor activities in the enclosed lagoon rowing boats or kayaking activities. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  44. The Ha Long Bay Management Board dates the Soi Nhu culture deposits at Luon Cave, Trong Cave and Me Cung Cave to 18,000 to 7,000 years ago. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  45. The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the Trong Cave and Trinh Nu Cave area as a popular overnight stop for Halong Bay cruises. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  46. Me Cung Cave on Lom Bo Island lies at this height above sea level per the Ha Long Bay Management Board 20 to 30 m. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  47. Hang Co (Thien Canh Son) lies at this height above sea level per the Ha Long Bay Management Board 40 m. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  48. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states Cap La Cave (about 3,000 m2) on route VHL4 is in investment and infrastructure development (not yet open). Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  49. The Ha Long Bay Management Board describes the islands of Halong Bay as mostly limestone, with heights of 50 to 200 m. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Introduction' category page, 6 November 2024.
  50. In May 2025 Bao Hai Phong (Hai Phong state newspaper) reported that the city's announcement of designated water-recreation zones on the Cat Ba bays was still being prepared, with completion targeted for 2025; at that date the zones were not yet announced by the city. Bao Hai Phong (Hai Phong state newspaper), 'Chung tay bảo vệ Di sản thiên nhiên thế giới', 26 May 2025, 26 May 2025.
  51. Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND does not itself list Cat Ba bay routes; routes and overnight anchorages are those announced by the competent authority under current rules. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
  52. Cruise boats began crossing between Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay on four connecting itineraries (VHL3, VHL4, VHL5, VHL6 to Lan Ha Bay); the first two sailings left Tuan Chau International Marina and the Sun Group inland pier at Ha Long International Cruise Port on 20 April 2026. Ha Long Bay Management Board website, post 698 (2026-04-20), 20 April 2026.
  53. Distances in a straight line. Measured on the site from OpenStreetMap coordinates (great circle, 6,371 km earth radius). A straight line between two points, not a sailing or road distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Photographs

  1. Sung Sot Cave interior. Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
  2. Sung Sot Cave interior. Photo: lumoplank / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
  3. Ti Top Island beach and viewpoint. Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
  4. Thien Cung Cave. Photo: xiquinhosilva from Cacau / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
  5. Thien Cung Cave. Photo: xiquinhosilva from Cacau / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
  6. Dau Go Cave. Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
  7. Luon Cave (boat or kayak through the arch). Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
  8. Luon Cave (boat or kayak through the arch). Photo: Mig Gilbert from Brighton / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
  9. Kayaks in Halong Bay. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
  10. Wide Halong Bay seascape with karst islands. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
  11. Kayaks or bamboo boats in Lan Ha Bay. Photo: Tuyencabr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
  12. Cat Ba National Park forest or trail. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0