Sung Sot Cave is located in Bo Hon Island, the center of the world heritage site of Halong Bay, one of the most beautiful and beautiful caves in the bay area. In January 2012, the Czech Association of Travel voted the Sung Sot cave is one of the 10 most beautiful caves in the world.
Sung Sot Cave – top 10 most beautiful caves in the world
The cave is approximately 10,000 square meters with thousands of stalagmites, stalactites. In the cave there is a 500m stone path from the gate to the end. Both side of the path are colorful lampposts. Sung Sot is the typical karst caves, with high scientific value.
Sung Sot Cave – top 10 most beautiful caves in the world
Sung Sot Cave is on the same island with Trinh Nu cave. The path to Sung Sot is quite steep and is lined with shady trees. The cave has 2 chambers. The outer chamber is square and is often referred to as the waiting room. The cave’s ceiling is approximately 30 m high. The walls are almost perfectly smooth as if it was built by man. The walls generate a variety of colors that blend with the setting of the area.
The cave is divided into two main chambers, the first one is bigger, they called it the Opera House. Cave’s ceiling is covered with a layer of “velvet carpet”, countless “light beams” hung with glittering stalactites, stone statues which are vibrating between real and dream.
The path to the inner chamber is approximately 3m wide. The inner chamber is known as the serene castle. The formations in the chamber take the form of sentries conversing with one another, animals in varying poses etc. In the middle of the chamber stands a formation which resembles a general surveying his troops.
There is a side entrance which is approximately 6m in height. The light reflected from the moving water outside causes the formations inside the chamber to seemingly come alive. According to the locals, this was the reason the cave was named Sung Sot, from the awe-stricken reaction of the visitors to the cave.
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.
At the deepest point of the grotto, a “royal garden” appears with a clear pond and a seemingly fascinating landscape of mountains. Many birds and plants (benjamin figs, cycads and centenary banyan trees) live here. On nice days groups of monkeys might arrive in search of fruit.
It is situated in the central tourism centre of the bay, as well as Ti Top Beach, Bo Nau Grotto, Me Cung Grotto and Luun Grotto. French named it “grotte des surprises” (grotto of surprise).
Sung Sot Cave – top 10 most beautiful caves in the world
From the wharf, you climb 50 steep stone stairs to the mouth of the grotto, which lies 25 m above the sea level. Going down some 10 stone stairs, you reach the mouth of a grotto. The grotto covers some 10,000 m2. Inside the grotto there have thousands of stalactites and stalagmites along the 500-meter paved passage. Light posts line the passage and serve as signposts and ornaments. The lighting system with elegant styles adds more charm to the beauty of the grotto.
Up in the 30-meter roof of the grotto, one can figure out small, soft and even concave spots, which look like patterns in the ceiling of a theater. A huge piece of stone stands up to the ceiling by the grotto’s mouth. This evidences one of the typical karst-style grottoes with high scientific values.
At the side of the entrance, the rock seems to form the shape of a horse with a long sword. Legend has it, that after having defeated the An aggressors, Thanh Giong (the Saint Giong) helped the population to chase away evil spirits and demons. After this feat, Saint Giong flew to heaven, leaving a stone horse and sword to continue to keep the demons away
Because of such values, Cave Sung Sot is one of the favorite places of visitors to Halong Bay.