For caving and adventure enthusiasts, we suggest a trip to central Vietnam. About 500 kilometers from Hanoi, in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which has 150 caves, is the world’s largest cave known as Hang Son Doong.

Near the border with Laos, amidst the jungle, an environment of waterfalls, indigenous populations, and wild fauna surrounds the cave that formed on the edge of a fault, from the erosion of the Rao Thong River. Inside, the cave has its own ecosystem: an underground river, which crosses the first two and a half kilometers of limestone, an esplanade where you can camp, and an infinity of surprises that the nature inside the Earth offers, like the unimaginable scenery of a fantasy film.

Hang Son Doong was explored in 2008, although previously, in 1991, a local shepherd had already discovered it. This shepherd led a group of British scientists, under the leadership of Howard and Deb Limbert, to the cave, which was covered by abundant vegetation. The scientists belonged to the British Cave Research Association.

The cave, which was initially named “The River Cave,” is approximately three million years old. It has sections 150 meters wide, some sections are 200 meters high, and the total length is about five kilometers. In accordance with its dimensions, the formation of stalagmites is a real spectacle, as they can reach a length of up to 80 meters.

The complexity of visiting this cave requires great physical preparation, and for safety, the Vietnamese government does not allow anyone to visit it on their own. Therefore, it can only be visited with a specialized company authorized by the government.

The company Oxalis is responsible for guiding adventurers through the cave, on a tour that lasts four days and costs about 2,700 euros. According to the organizing company, the tour begins in the town of Dong Hoi and includes a hotel night and a training day.

If you are interested, you can now prepare to cross 50 kilometers of trekking through the mountain, ascending up to 400 meters, crossing 40 rivers, doing 10 km of caving with rope climbing, and crossing the so-called Vietnamese Great Wall, formed by stalagmites.

A visit for photography enthusiasts is also available, in which climbing is not required. This tour lasts five days and costs about 3,545 euros. Visits are scheduled between February and August.

Curiosities about the World’s Largest Cave

• The shepherd or farmer, according to different sources, who discovered the cave had difficulties leading the explorers to the place where it was located, as he did not remember its location well.
• During the Vietnam War, the cave served as a shelter from bombings.
• Inside the cave, near the so-called Garden of Edam, you can find an accumulation of spherical stones formed over the years and called cave pearls or pisoliths.
• Since the discovery of Hang Son Doong, the Deer Cave, located in Gunung Mulu National Park in Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, has become the second largest cave in the world.

Recommended Hotels

Relax in the nature of Vietnam at Phong Nha Magic Fingers Homestay and Spa. Enjoy the hospitality, comfortable rooms, and traditional massages. Ideal after exploring the Phong Nha caves.