Luon Cave is a small cave located northeast of Bo Hon Island, approximately 13 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina and 14 kilometers south of Bai Chay Port in Halong Bay. Despite its small size, it still stand out among massive caves in the area and keep drawing thousands of tourist every year.
Let’s explore what’s make this cave so special.
1. Getting there
As Luon Cave is in the middle of Halong Bay, the only way to explore it is by boats.
First option is renting a day boat. From Tuan Chau Marina, you could buy a ticket for Halong Bay route No.2. It will take you to not only Luon cave, but also pay a visit to Sung Sot, Ti Top, and Ba Hang fishing village. The total cost would be 520,000vnd to 540,000vnd including kayaking, entrance fee and boat renting fee.
Another hassle-free option is travel with a Halong Bay overnight cruise. Thanks to its ideal location, Luon Cave normally chosen as a stop for kayaking and swimming by overnight cruises during their routes visiting Halong Bay. The prices for these cruises packages are range from 120USD – 165USD. This option included a visit to Luon Cave and the surroundings, as well as a night stay with meals included.
You might check out our collection of the cruise which visit Luon Cave here.
2. Best time to visit
According to others travelers, the best time to visit Luon Cave is from April to June. It’s in the middle of summer with perfect temperature for swimming if you’d like to jump in the clear water of the area. The water is also calmer and quieter by then, making it easier to explore the cave by kayak, even if you’re not an experienced kayaker.
3. The Beauty of Luon Cave
“Luon” is a Vietnamese word that means to drop or bend your head down. That is exactly what you must do to get inside this small cave. Don’t worry, it’s also what sets Luon Cave apart from others in Halong Bay.
Luon cave is created by 2 primary factors: wind and sea water. For years, the combined impact of water flows and tides eroded the limestone slopes, carving part of a limestone into a natural cave that is just 60m long, about 4m broad, and more than 3m high. Due to the small entrance, large cruise have no way to enter the cave, giving the impression that it’s hidden from the crowds of tourists.
The only way to get inside Luon Cave is jump onto a sampan boat or riding a kayaking yourself.
The journey will start with a bit of a struggle since you’ll always have to “Luon”—mind your head when sailing into low ceiling of the cave, especially when the tide rises. As you get deeper, the fascinating splendor of the stalactites and stalagmites start revealing up close. This stunning “decoration” are the result of millions years of natural sculpting.
That’s not the end of the surprise. As soon as you though you get out of Luon, you’ll see a huge green valley bordered by beautiful high limestone mountains. In limestone mountains, there are many old trees and undisturbed plant species, which blanket the area in green. The clean water lake below reflects the images of clouds, rocks, and plants above it, transforming the entire scene into a romantic painting.
Luon Cave is also a home to 50 wild golden monkeys, a beautiful breed quite friendly to humans. They frequently gather on the cave’s cliffs, and you can see them climbing among the tree branches as the boat approaches the rock. If you’re lucky, you might making friends with these tiny “locals” when they approaching you and asking for a small treat!
