Halong Bay: Sung Sot Caves

There are a number of caves around the Halong Bay area. We went to visit the Sung Sot caves, which, according to the guide that was showing us around, have been nicknamed the "surprising caves" because of one rather phallic outcropping of rocks the first explorers encountered.

We began the climb up into the caves.

And then down.

Before we went down there were some lovely views of the area.

There were a number of caverns of increasing size, each with interesting and unique rock formations.

Here's the surprising part 

More views of the bay as one exits the caves.