Traversing Vietnam from South to North in 10 Days – Day 5
The oldest karst mountains in Asia, almost 400 million years old, pervaded with hundreds of extensive cave systems, historic sites, and underground rivers form the area of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which is Vietnam’s most interesting region. It is designated as UNESCO World Heritage site. The national park is home to Hang Son Doong, discovered in the early 1900s, which is known to have the world’s largest known cave passage cross-section in 2009. We visited the Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave today, among many other caverns here.
Highlights of the Day
- Paradise Cave
- Phong Nha Cave
- Train from Dong Hoi to Hanoi
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
We checked out from Serene Shining Hotel in Hue at around 7 AM. Our kind staff packed huge amount of fried noodles and fresh spring rolls accompanied by freshly cut tropical fruits – all vegan as requested – as breakfast for all of us.
Mr. Thinh will drive us today – the same person who picked us up from Da Nang the day before, and showed us magnificent places in and around Hue. Today he took us to Paradise Cave followed by Phong Nha Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park before dropping us at Dong Hoi train station.
The caves are open from 7 AM to 4.30 PM during the summer and from 7.30 AM to 4 PM during the winter.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is close to the border of Vietnam and Laos, so there is presence of military in the park. The area is full of large cave systems, but it is also one of the highest concentrations of unexploded bombs in the world, so you are certainly not allowed to hike or trek through the park without a licensed tour operator. The most famous caves that are accessible now are Paradise Cave, Hang En, and Phong Nha Cave, and also the most famous Hang Son Doong, but with a permit through Oxalis Adventure Tours.
Heard of Hang Son Doong Cave?
In 1991, Ho Khanh, a local man, was curious when he heard a whistling sound of wind and roar of a rushing stream and discovered that it was coming through the entrance of a cave, which was later named as Hang Son Doong. In 2009, a group of cavers from the British Cave Research Association conducted a survey in the national park and in 2013, it was announced that Hang Son Doong is the world’s largest cave system. Hang Son Doong can only be visited by Oxalis Adventure Tours that run the tour for 4-5 days for 3000-4000 $ per person on certain dates of the year as the number of permits allowed in the cave system is limited in a year.
Paradise Cave
It took around 4 hours to reach Paradise Cave, also known as Thien Duong Cave. We reached there at around 11 AM. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful caves of the world because of the abundance of beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations inside the cave.
There is an optional non-polluting golf cart service that would drop you close to the cave from where you have to take a flight of 500 stairs up to the entrance of the cave. Apart from the entrance fee, we paid 150,000 d or 7.5 $ for a buggy for 6 people for both ways.
We spent 2 nice hours exploring Paradise Cave. It was around 1 PM when we returned to the car parking. For lunch, we did not choose to eat out, because we had extra food packed by the hotel in Hue – that worked well for lunch.
Phong Nha Cave
Next we were driven to Phong Nha Cave – it was almost an hour away from Paradise Cave. It offers magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formation and a mysterious underground river and the cave can be visited by a dragon boat.
What Other Options You Have Here?
- Tien Son Cave has the most spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formation of this national park. Its entrance fee is 80,000 d or 4 $ per person. The boat fee is the same as that for Phong Nha cave. But if you club both the caves, then the boat fee is 400,000 d or 20 $ for a maximum of 14 persons. It takes 2.5-3 h to visit the cave and more if you combine with Phong Nha cave.
- Dark Cave is another mysterious cave where you can also experience the emerald green Chay river. The cave can be visited by boat. Tour activities also include kayaking, zip-lining, and mud-bath. The entrance fee of the cave is 80,000 d or 4 $ per person. The full access tour fee that includes the entrance fee, boat fee, all safety. It also includes activity equipment for kayaking, zip-lining, and mud-bath plus travel insurance. The tour fee is 450,000 d or 22.5 $ per person during high season and 250,000 d or 12.5 $ per person during low season. It takes 5-6 h for the whole tour.
- Mooc Spring Eco-Trail can be enjoyed by wandering through the bamboo bridges and paths along both sides of rapids. You can also enjoy local dishes being sold there. There are exciting activities like kayaking, adventurous games, and inflatable toys available to have fun on the rapids. This tour involves reaching the spot by car and walking. The entrance fee of the Mooc spring is 80,000 d or 4 $ per person. The package tour price includes the entrance fee and life-jacket, kayak, adventurous games, access to three-station tower for view of orchard garden plus travel insurance. It is 180,000 d or 9 $ per person. This is on the way to Paradise cave.
- Tu Lan Cave System comprises 10 known caves. These are few of the most beautiful unspoiled areas of Vietnam. They exhibit minority cultures living in the jungles, near underground rivers and waterfalls. Oxalis Adventure Tours can only take you there as you would need a special permit to visit this area.
- Hang En is the third largest cave in the world. It is close to Hang Son Doong. Exploring this cave needs an overnight stay in the cave. This is because it involves a day trek through magnificent jungle and valleys, and through a minority village before you reach the cave.
Overnight Train from Dong Hoi to Hanoi
It was 5 PM when we bid adieu to Phong Nha-Ke Bang Heritage Area and headed to Dong Hoi train station, which was an hour away. Honestly, we filled in the same food we were carrying as an early dinner, as we had no plans to waste the food. Surprisingly, the food stayed unspoiled and tasty throughout the day.
It was a great day spelunking at the caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. I would advise my fellow travelers to stay at one of the many hotels in Dong Hoi or Son Trach village for few nights and explore more caves or do overnight tours in the caves that allow you to do so – they are magnificent! For now, goodbye and see you all at Hanoi!
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN USD)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Day 5 in Vietnam – Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
- Getting around: 35
- Entrance fee of the national park including buggy ride: 25
- Dong Hoi to Hanoi (train): 50
Total expense (roughly): 110 USD
For an overall idea of itinerary and expense of the trip, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page. You can also have a look at Traversing Vietnam from South to North in 10 Days – Itinerary and Expenses.
If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!
Very informative blog. Transports you to the site. Loving this. Keep it up Shreya.
So good to have this coming from your side. ✌ Thanks a lot!
Wow, what an adventure! I love checking out caves that have stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations. Taking a boat around the caverns seems like a cool way to explore as well! I haven’t been to a national park like this before and I can’t wait to possibly this summer!
I hope you get to travel more this summer!
Great photos. I can’t believe some of the stalagmite formations. They are incredible. Also the colour of the water. What a great adventure. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to know that you have enjoyed it.
Whoa! What stunning formations… I’ve been caving in Belgium & Hungary. Not I’m so smitten by caving that I’ll definitely do wherever I go. This looks impressive. 200 steps underground before you begin walking? Wow, That’s deep!!
Yes it is really deep, and then you get to see such amazing lanscapes inside the cave.
Just by reading and looking at the beautiful photos, I feel like I have also been there already. Vietnam is just a few hours flight away from my country, I need to visit Vietnam soon! Thank you for sharing your experience and adventure with us
You must visit the place, soon.
It just reminded me the trapped in the cave goup of tourists, when the sudden flood came. I was recently visitong one cave in the Philipines and had this in my mind. Your trip looks so beautiful and happy ending, hope it was safe.
Yes Anita, it was safe indeed.
Both caves look amazing with their stalactites and stalagmites formation. And Phong Nha Cave is extra special because you got to enter it by boat. So exotic! I also like how the water carved the wall on this cave. Reminded me of Longhorn Cavern in Texas. What a great time you must have had there!
True that Umiko, I really had a good time.
Ohhhh I would love to do that tour where the boat takes you into the caves. That looks to be so interesting! We have alot of caves and caverns around us as well but it has been a long time since I have been in one.
You must visit them soon.
This is a wonderful experience. I have heard about Hang Son Doong Cave from a fellow backpacker and has always been keen to visit. Thank you for this very detailed post. It is very helpful. Looking forward to visiting the soonest.
You would love it, Clarice.
I had no idea there was such an extensive collection of caves in Vietnam — and such beautiful ones, too. I love that you could ride right into the entrance of a cave on a boat. So cool that there are so many amazing stalactites and rock formations. I’m also surprised that some of these caves were not even discovered until recently!
Yes Tami, they were discovered lately.
These seem to be pretty well developed for the tourists. The low illumination of those lights definitely help you see the marvels within better. The one where you have to go with the boat seemed intriguing. I see that kayak is an option here. Maybe I would try that.
Yes, the kayak is actually a great option.
What a really fun adventure! Exploring caves isn’t a terribly common activity to do while travelling, but it looks really fun! I love the idea of exploring a cave by boat. The pictures of the inside of the caves you shared are gorgeous. The stalagmite formations are stunning. I appreciate that you shared your expenses as well. That always comes in helpful when budgeting for a trip and deciding what activities you want to do. For such an incredible experience, it is very well priced, which makes it even more enticing.
It’s too much of fun, Erica.
Those pictures make an already incredible place just seem even more incredible! I am most definitely adding that to our bucket list.
Sure.
Those caves are amazing! I didn’t realize that Vietnam had the world’s largest cave system so certainly worth exploring while in the country. I like the idea of visiting on a dragon boat too. I’m glad you’ve provided photos of the sleeping arrangements on the train to Hanoi – I wouldn’t have considered it otherwise but it’s a great use of time to travel while sleeping. I’m looking forward to the other cities on your itinerary and appreciate the breakdown of expenses.
Yes, all these were discovered lately.
I’ve never done any cave exploring but this looks really cool. I would love to visit the Phong Nha Cave especially. Entering by dragon boat is such a unique experience!
You will surely like it, Hailey.
The stalagmite and stalactite formation inside the Paradise caves are stunning. I just can’t imagine a cave as big that a 1 km stretch path is laid inside. It’s exciting how the Phong Nha cave has to be accessed via a boat ride. Absolutely beautiful pictures.
Thanks much, Pooja.