An independent guide to Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long
Understand the bays
Sung Sot, Thien Cung, Ti Top, Cua Van and Vung Vieng
Five places appear on nearly every itinerary. This page says what each one is, which route reaches it, how many steps and how much walking it involves, and when it is most crowded or closed.
At a glance
| Place | Bay and route | What it involves | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sung Sot Cave | Ha Long Bay, VHL2 | About 100 steps up to the entrance, about 800 m of path inside, exit by a higher opening | Landing stage congestion at midday; boat access only, no kayaks |
| Ti Top Island | Ha Long Bay, VHL2 | About 400–450 steps to a summit about 100 m up; small beach | One path for up and down; jams when boats arrive together |
| Thien Cung Cave | Ha Long Bay, VHL1 and VHL5 | Climb to the entrance, lit chambers | Closed to kayaks since 2024 |
| Cua Van floating village | Ha Long Bay, VHL3 | Boat visit; floating cultural centre | Most residents moved ashore in 2014 |
| Vung Vieng fishing village | Bai Tu Long, VHL4 or Bai Tu Long trips | Rowing boat or kayak, about 40–45 minutes | Keep distance from homes |
Step counts and distances come from independent guides, not official measurements; treat them as approximate.
Sources: Local Vietnam — Sung Sot Cave guide (independent guide); Local Vietnam — Ti Top Island guide (independent guide); Halong Bay kayaking guide 2025 (published by a tour company); Viet Nam News — preserving old fishing villages in Hạ Long Bay (2023); Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, rural tourism portal — Vung Vieng fishing village; Green SM — Ha Long Bay ticket guide (commercial, July 2025) · last checked .
Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave)
Sung Sot is on Bo Hon island in central Ha Long Bay, about 14 km from the Bai Chay wharf. French explorers found it in 1901 and called it the Cave of Surprises. Boats moor at a landing stage, and roughly 100 steps lead up to an entrance about 25 m above the sea. Inside, a paved path of around 800 m runs one way through two main areas: a first chamber with a high domed ceiling, then a very large main hall with stalactites, columns and small pools. You leave by a higher opening with a view over the anchorage.
Access notes: the path is paved and lit, but there are steps at both ends and some slopes inside. It is humid and can be slippery. Kayaks are not allowed; you arrive by boat. Sung Sot sits on route VHL2 with Ti Top and Luon Cave, the most popular route on the bay, so mid-morning to early afternoon is the busiest time.
Sources: Local Vietnam — Sung Sot Cave guide (independent guide); Halong Bay kayaking guide 2025 (published by a tour company); Sun Paradise Land — Ha Long Bay routes and ticket prices (attraction operator) · last checked .
Ti Top Island
Ti Top lies about 7 to 8 km south-east of Bai Chay, opposite Sung Sot. It was renamed after the Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited with Ho Chi Minh on 22 January 1962; a monument to Titov was put up in 2015. Two things bring people here: the climb to the summit pavilion, about 400 to 450 stone steps and about 100 m up, and the small crescent beach at the foot of the island.
Access notes: railings run the whole way and there is a rest point partway up, but the same narrow path serves people going up and coming down, and it jams when several boats land at once. Head up straight after landing, before the rush, and wear shoes with grip. The beach has basic showers and toilets; changing space is limited, so wear swimwear under your clothes. Pebbles and coral underfoot make water shoes useful.
Sources: Wikipedia — Ti Tốp Island; Local Vietnam — Ti Top Island guide (independent guide) · last checked .
Thien Cung Cave (Heavenly Palace Cave)
Thien Cung was found by accident in 1993 by fishermen sheltering from a storm. It is on route VHL1, with Dau Go Cave nearby, and on VHL5, which continues to Hang Thay and Gia Luan. The cave is reached by a climb from the landing and is lit with coloured lights, which some visitors find theatrical and others enjoy.
Access notes: route VHL1 is short, about three to four hours, which makes Thien Cung the usual choice when time is limited, for example from Ha Long city in a morning. A 2025 kayaking guide reports that kayaking around Thien Cung has been closed since 2024.
Sources: Vietnam Discovery — Thien Cung Cave (independent guide); Green SM — Ha Long Bay ticket guide (commercial, July 2025); Sun Paradise Land — Ha Long Bay routes and ticket prices (attraction operator); Halong Bay kayaking guide 2025 (published by a tour company) · last checked .
Cua Van floating village
Cua Van was one of the largest floating fishing villages in Ha Long Bay. In 2014 Quang Ninh province decided to move most residents to the mainland, resettling them in Ha Phong ward; a small group was allowed to keep farming fish from the old floating houses. A floating cultural conservation centre in Cua Van recreates the community's heritage for visitors. The provincial authorities and the bay's management board have been reviewing how to preserve and rebuild the remaining houses.
Access notes: Cua Van is on route VHL3, a longer route of about six to eight hours with a lower entry fee of 200,000 VND. Expect a village that is partly a museum. Visits are by boat; ask whether rowing boats or kayaks are offered on your date, as rules on kayaking near villages are set by the management board.
Sources: Viet Nam News — preserving old fishing villages in Hạ Long Bay (2023); Green SM — Ha Long Bay ticket guide (commercial, July 2025); Báo Văn hóa — Quảng Ninh ends the 50% ticket discount (June 2022) · last checked .
Vung Vieng fishing village
Vung Vieng lies inside the protected area of Bai Tu Long Bay, about 20 km north-east of Tuan Chau. Founded in the nineteenth century by fishermen sheltering from storms, it lost its 100 households to the mainland in 2014; 30 aquaculture households remain, raising grouper, cobia, sea bass and pearls. Boats enter through Cao Cave, a natural arch about 50 m wide and 5 to 8 m high depending on the tide.
Access notes: visitors are rowed round the village by local residents, which takes about 40 to 45 minutes, or paddle kayaks, keeping a minimum distance from homes. A community raft has become a small museum of ceramics and fishing gear. Route VHL4 heads this way from the Ha Long piers; most Bai Tu Long overnight trips stop here too.
Sources: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, rural tourism portal — Vung Vieng fishing village; Halong Bay kayaking guide 2025 (published by a tour company); Green SM — Ha Long Bay ticket guide (commercial, July 2025) · last checked .
If walking or steps are a problem
- Choose routes VHL3 or VHL4, built around floating villages visited by boat, over VHL2.
- Skip the Ti Top summit and stay on the beach; the climb is optional.
- Ask how passengers transfer to the landing stage: boats sometimes moor alongside each other and you cross decks.
- Avoid caves after heavy rain, when paths are wetter and more slippery.
Common questions
Questions readers ask
How many steps are there at Ti Top Island?
About 400 to 450 stone steps to the summit, roughly 100 m above the sea, according to independent guides.
Which is larger, Sung Sot or Thien Cung?
Sung Sot's main hall is the larger space. Thien Cung is on the shorter route 1, which suits a half day.
Do people still live in Cua Van and Vung Vieng?
Most residents were moved ashore in 2014. A small number of aquaculture households remain, about 30 of them at Vung Vieng.
Can I kayak into Sung Sot Cave?
No. Sung Sot is visited by boat only. Kayaking is allowed at designated spots such as the Luon Cave lagoon and around Vung Vieng.
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