Halong Bay, Vietnam (Part 3):: The Highest Point in Halong Bay and the Wonders Inside Caves

For example, when we step ontoTiTopthe island, it isn’t big, and the small hill on it is only about a hundred meters high, but it’s the highest point in Halong Bay. After landing, you first pass through a crescent-shaped white-sand beach, one of the few places in Halong Bay with fine white sand. Foreigners love lounging here—some gather to play beach volleyball, while others lie or sprawl for sunbathing. If you’re lucky, you might even spot some bikini-clad ladies here too. Passing through large sun umbrellas made of thatch, we slowly climb up the steps, which are divided into three main sections. With each new level climbed, the view becomes more expansive. When you’ve ascended 471 steps and reach the only viewing platform in all of Halong Bay equipped with a pavilion umbrella, you’ve arrived at the highest point in the bay. From here, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the vast Halong Bay, where the continuous karst mountain ranges are reflected on the deep emerald-green, calm waters, creating an illusion of a boundless mirror—or as if you can see to the very edge of the horizon. No matter the weather, you must, absolutely must, "charge to the summit" along the steps. If you get lost admiring the white-sand beach, only focused on snapping photos of passing boats and skip the climb, you’ll definitely regret it. As the old saying goes, “To see a thousand miles further, ascend one more floor”—there’s truth in that.


 

, which easily makes one slow down.


 

In the famous Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), you can see stalactites hidden among steep cliffs and tropical vegetation. The cave is quite large—reportedly, it can accommodate up to thirty thousand people at once. Standing inside the cave and looking ahead, the sides are filled with intertwined stone pillars and stalagmites, while the ceiling resembles undulating desert-like rock formations. I always feel that the scene resembles a mysterious ancient cave from a martial arts novel, as if some legendary figures were cultivating or practicing supernatural martial arts here. Especially with the colorful lights cast by the authorities on these limestone formations, it adds an even more mystical touch. Interestingly, some of these stalactites and pillars resemble vivid figures—for example, one looks like the profile of Confucius, and another resembles Guan Yu stroking his long beard. Although these are descriptions added by people, the lifelike shapes are truly astonishing.