Top 3 Ha Long Bay attractions – Luan Cave, Titop Island, and Sung Sot Cave

We went to Ha Long Bay on the second day after arriving in Hanoi, Vietnam. We felt fortunate because when we returned from Ha Long Bay, all the ships scheduled to depart had been canceled due to the Yagi Typhoon that struck Vietnam.

The journey from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay took us slightly more than 2 1/2 hours by coach. Along the way, one of the most significant and unique things we saw was the tomb built in the middle of the rice field.

Our guide, Lucky, explained that Vietnamese people build tombs in the middle of rice fields for family continuity. This practice creates a lasting bond with their ancestors, allowing the deceased to remain close to the family and fostering a sense of continuity and connection across generations.

About Ha Long Bay

Hạ Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its stunning natural beauty. It features numerous limestone karsts and islets. The name “Hạ Long” means “descending dragon” and comes from local legends about dragons that protected Vietnam from invaders by creating the islands in the bay with their jewels.

Covering an area of about 1,553 square kilometers, Hạ Long Bay comprises approximately 1,969 islands, mostly made of limestone formations. The central area of the bay spans 334 square kilometers and is home to a high concentration of islets that have been shaped over 500 million years in different environmental conditions. Due to tropical wet climates, the unique karst topography has developed over 20 million years, resulting in a diverse range of flora and fauna, with many species found nowhere else.

Ambassador Cruise

We spent the night on a Halong Bay cruise called Ambassador Cruise. It is a luxurious ship on which we had twin-sharing rooms with private bathrooms. All meals were included, and the cruise arranged all the activities during our one-and-a-half-day stay.

Upon boarding, the cruise manager gave us a safety briefing, and then we headed straight for our buffet lunch.

The room is quite spacious, and the cruise is very stable, making it hard even to feel we were sailing on the sea. The room has a king-size bed and a full bathroom, and most importantly, there’s a small balcony where we can enjoy the breathtaking view at any time of the day.

Luon Cave

We visited Luon Cave in the afternoon. Since our cruise ship was too big to sail near the cave, we had to board a smaller boat. 

Upon arrival, our guide purchased tickets and arranged for us to board another boat that could accommodate about 10 to 12 passengers.

The boat then sailed slowly through a narrow passage of the cave, which would be challenging to pass through during high tide. After emerging from the other side of the passage, we were greeted by a breathtaking view right in front of us.

Those who want to kayak can carry themselves through the cave.

Luon Cave is about 100 meters long and four meters wide, functioning as a natural tunnel to form a water path to the limestone mountain from the other end we emerged. The cave is only accessible by small boats and kayaks due to the limited height and structure of the hill.

It is characterized by breathtaking views of the limestone formations, with calm and blue water reflecting the surrounding cliffs, mountains, and vegetation.

It is also home to many wildlife species, including monkeys we spotted looking for food from us.

After visiting Luon Cave, we took the boat back to our cruise. We had some afternoon tea, rested briefly, and headed toward our next destination, Titop Island.

Titop Island

Titop Island is a very recognizable small island in this area. Its viewpoint at the top can be seen from far away, and today, the island is full of visitors.

Some of us chose to swim, while others preferred to hike up to the vantage point at the island’s highest point. The island has a crescent-shaped beach with fine white sand and clear blue waters. It is an ideal spot for swimming, sunbathing, or leisurely walks. 

We decided to climb to the top of the island, where a viewpoint offers a breathtaking 360-degree view. The climb consists of approximately 400 steps, but luckily, they are well-maintained and not too difficult to walk. The top is about 110 meters high, requiring about 20 minutes of walking for us.

The most notable feature on the island is a white statue located next to the beach. He is a Soviet cosmonaut, German Titov, who visited the island with President Ho Chi Minh. The name symbolizes the friendship between Vietnam and the Soviet Union.

Dinner and relax on the cruise

We returned to the cruise after visiting Titop Island for a sit-down dinner. The rest of the night was our time to relax and mingle with all the friends we had known for over three decades.

There was a live band where we could sing along and dance. Some of us tried squid fishing, but luck was not on our side, and we didn’t catch any.

The next morning

The view in the early morning is quite different from the evening, as the color of the sky reflecting onto the water changes. 

A local lady rowed her boat towards our cruise and tried to sell us snacks and water, which we bought.

Sung Sot Cave

Before we disembark from our cruise, we have one more place to visit: Sung Sot Cave.

The entrance to the cave is slightly inclined. It is filled with magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, illuminated to display their unique shapes and colors.

The cave is a bit dim, but it’s easy to walk through as it is well-constructed with a boardwalk leading in and out. There are viewpoints within the cave that offer magnificent views of Ha Long Bay in the morning.

Sung Sot Cave is the largest cave in Ha Long Bay, spanning over 12,000 square meters. It consists of two main chambers. The first chamber is often called the “waiting room” and features impressive stalactites hanging from the ceiling, resembling chandeliers.

These are the top three places and the most popular for tourists to visit in Ha Long Bay, especially for those who joined the overnight cruise like us. There are many more beautiful and charming islands, but we had to skip them as we traveled in a group and headed to our next destination, Sa Pa. We will share a separate story about our visit to Sa Pa. In the meantime, if you want to know our top ten things to do in Hanoi, you can check out this article we just posted.

🎞️ Watch the video shot during our trip

Please watch the video we made for our trip on YouTube. As below: