Lomography

Sung Sot Cave
written by ianysip on July 10th, 2008 (0 votes)

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Located in Bo Hon Island, at the center of the UNESCO-declared World Heritage area Ha Long Bay, the Sung Sot Cave (which means “Surprising Cave” or “Cave of Awe”) boasts of having one of the best and largest grottoes of Vietnam. Before getting there, be sure to get ready with high-ASA films and long/bulb exposure shots!

To get to the entrance, one would need to climb 50 stone stairs to reach the mouth of the cave. It’s quite a steep hike, but trust me, it’s worth it. On your way to the top, make sure to look back and enjoy the wondrous view of the cove and the junk boats parked in the dock. Once you enter the first chamber of the cave, you will already begin to notice the magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations that the cave possesses. As you walk along the lighted passage way to the second chamber, you’ll begin to appreciate the size and depth of the Sung Sot Cave. The lighting set up, which highlights the best formations of the cave, adds to the charm and mystery of the place. The formations in the second chamber resemble sentries conversing with each another, creatures in different poses and the like. In the center of the chamber stands a formation which resembles a general surveying his troops. Moving forward, the third chamber made me realize that the cave deserves its name. The third chamber is five times the size of the second one, and my jaw dropped with the different formations found there.

Up in the 30-meter roof of the cave, I could see several small, soft and even concave spots, which look like patterns in the ceiling of a theater. In the center of the chamber, formations which look like a castle, turtle and a sword could be spotted. While hiking on the way out, I took one last look at the marvelous natural creation I just visited. It is truly a must-see when you go to Ha Long Bay.

To get there, you can fly in to Vietnam through Hanoi. From Hanoi, hire a van to take you to Ha Long Bay. After the 3.5 hour van ride, take a junk from the Ha Long Bay Port and cruise to Sung Sot Cave.

Link: http://www.asiaexplorers.com/vietnam/sung_sot_cave.htm