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Sung
Sot Cave
 Situated
in the centre of the UNESCO-declared World Heritage area, the
Sung Sôt or Surprise Grotto is on Bo Hòn Island,
and is one of the finest and widest grottoes of Ha Long Bay.
Ascending to the grotto, the way is covered by trees and foliage,
and consists of great paved stone blocks.
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 Tup Beach, Bô Nâu Grotto, Mê Cung Grotto
and Luun Grotto. French named it "grotte des surprises"
(grotto of surprise)
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 Ân aggressors, Thánh Gióng (the
Saint Gióng) helped the population to chase away evil spirits
and demons. After this feat, Saint Gióng flew to heaven,
leaving a stone horse and sword to continue to keep the demons
away.
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