son doong day trip

Son Doong Cave Tours 1 Day, 3 Days and Price (Trip Cost and Booking)

Son Doong Cave is the world’s largest natural cave located in the heart of the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam. It is a must-visit destination for adventure seekers and active travelers who are looking for an unforgettable experience. In this article, we will discuss the details of Son Doong Cave Tour and if it is feasible to do in 1 Day, the alternatives, and the pricing of 3-day tour.

1. Can I do Son Doong Cave Tour in 1 Day?

In this Article

Many visitors wonder if it’s possible to do the Son Doong Cave Tour in just one day . While it may seem like a good idea to fit the tour into a tight schedule, it is not feasible. The Son Doong Cave is the largest natural cave in the world, spanning over five kilometers in length and up to 200 meters in height. It is impossible to explore this cave in just one day without missing out on the highlights and the unique experiences it offers.

Instead of trying to squeeze everything into one day, we highly recommend considering the 3-day tour to Son Doong Cave. This will allow you to fully experience the cave and all its natural wonders without feeling rushed or missing out on any highlights.

During the 3-day tour, you will have ample time to explore the cave and its stunning formations, swim in the underground rivers, camp in the cave, and take in the incredible sights and sounds of this natural wonder. This tour is designed to give visitors the ultimate experience, providing ample time for rest and relaxation while exploring the cave.

If a 3-day tour isn’t feasible for your schedule, there are still other day trips and activities in the area that are worth considering. For example, you could visit the Paradise Cave, Phong Nha Cave, or Dark Cave, all of which offer unique experiences and natural beauty.

2. Son Doong Cave Tour 3 Days and Price?

2.1. son doong cave tour 3 days.

If you’re looking for an adventure of a lifetime, the Son Doong Cave Tour 3 Days is a must-do. This tour takes you deep into the heart of the world’s largest natural cave, Son Doong, and provides you with an experience that you’ll never forget. Here’s what you can expect from the tour:

A. Tour itinerary and highlights:

• Day 1: Your adventure begins with a pickup from your hotel in Phong Nha, followed by a drive to the park entrance. After a safety briefing and final preparations, you’ll start trekking through the jungle towards the entrance of the cave. The hike takes around 4-5 hours and covers 10km.
• Day 2: After a night spent camping inside the cave, you’ll explore different parts of Son Doong. This includes visiting the Garden of Edam and the Great Wall of Vietnam, two of the cave’s most impressive natural features.
• Day 3: The final day of the tour involves a trek back through the jungle to the park entrance. You’ll arrive back in Phong Nha in the afternoon, where you can relax and reflect on the amazing experience you’ve just had.

B. Activities in the cave:

The Son Doong Cave Tour 3 Days is not for the faint-hearted. The cave is challenging to explore, with steep climbs, slippery terrain, and unpredictable weather. However, the experience is worth it, as you’ll get to see some of the most incredible natural formations in the world. Some of the activities you’ll participate in include:

• Trekking through the cave and jungle
• Climbing steep walls and boulders
• Swimming in underground rivers
• Camping inside the cave

C. Requirements and restrictions:

• Minimum age for the tour is 18 years old
• Participants must have a good level of fitness and be able to hike for several hours each day
• Maximum group size is 10 people
• Visitors must obtain a permit to enter the cave, which is limited to a certain number per year

D. Recommended gear and clothing:

• Sturdy hiking boots with good grip
• Lightweight, breathable clothing that dries quickly
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Hat and sunglasses to protect from the sun
• Head torch with extra batteries
• Personal medication and toiletries

Insider tips:

• Book your tour in advance, as spots fill up quickly
• Be prepared for the physical demands of the tour by training beforehand
• Bring a waterproof camera to capture the stunning scenery inside the cave
• Listen to your guide’s instructions carefully and follow safety protocols at all times
• Leave no trace behind by taking all trash and belongings out of the cave with you

Overall, the Son Doong Cave Tour 3 Days is an adventure of a lifetime. By following the recommended gear and clothing, and insider tips, you’ll be able to make the most of your experience and create memories that will last a lifetime.

3, Son Doong Cave Tours Price

If you’re interested in taking the Son Doong Cave Tour, it’s important to understand the cost and what’s included in the package. Currently it costs US$3,000 per person in a join-in tour.

3.1. Inclusions and exclusions:

The Son Doong Cave Tour is an all-inclusive package, which means that most of the expenses are covered in the price. This includes:

• Park entrance fees
• Camping equipment and gear
• Food and drinks (except alcohol)
• Professional guides and porters
• Transportation to and from the park entrance

However, there are a few things that are not included in the price, such as:

• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses (such as souvenirs or snacks)
• Alcohol or other beverages not provided by the tour

3.2. Additional costs and fees:

In addition to the tour package, there may be some additional costs and fees that you’ll need to consider, such as:

• Flights or transportation to and from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City
• Accommodation in Phong Nha before or after the tour
• Tips for guides and porters
• Fees for permits or visas (if applicable)

3.3. Booking and payment process:

To book the Son Doong Cave Tour, you’ll need to contact one of the tour companies that offer the package. You can find a list of authorized companies on the National Park website. Once you’ve selected a company, you’ll need to provide them with your personal details and pay a deposit to secure your spot on the tour. The remaining balance is usually due a few weeks before the tour begins. It’s important to read the company’s booking and cancellation policies carefully before making any payments.

• Consider booking well in advance to secure your spot and avoid price increases
• Compare prices and inclusions/exclusions from different tour companies before making a decision
• Bring some extra cash for personal expenses or emergencies
• Don’t forget to factor in additional costs such as flights and accommodation when budgeting for the tour

Getting from Hanoi to Son Doong Cave

Getting from Hanoi to Son Doong Cave is relatively straightforward. The best way to get to the cave is by flying from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, which takes around 1 hour. From there, you can take a shuttle or private transfer to Phong Nha, where the Son Doong Cave tours depart from. The journey from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha takes around 1 hour by car. Alternatively, you can take a train or bus from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, but these options take longer and may not be as convenient. It’s important to plan your transportation in advance to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey.

Final Thoughts

Visiting Son Doong Cave is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that offers breathtaking scenery and unique adventure activities. It’s important to choose the right tour package that fits your schedule and budget. We hope this blog post has provided you with all the necessary information to plan your trip to Son Doong Cave. Book your tour now and get ready for an unforgettable adventure!

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How to explore the world's largest cave, Hang Son Doong, in Vietnam

Jun 2, 2019 • 5 min read

Inside the world's largest cave ©Ryan Deboodt/Oxalis Adventure Tours

The world’s largest cave, Hang Son Doong (Mountain River Cave) in Vietnam , has suddenly become a lot larger thanks to the remarkable discovery of an underwater tunnel connecting it to another cave.

The discovery was made in April by a trio of British divers, who were invited to explore the cave in central Vietnam’s Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park by Howard Limbert, leader of the caving team that first mapped Son Doong in 2009.

The three divers – Jason Mallinson, Rick Stanton and Chris Jewell – were part of the team that rescued the Thai soccer team in 2018. Tasked with exploring Son Doong’s extensive network of waterways, they discovered a previously unknown tunnel linking it to another giant cave called Hang Thung.

How big is Hang Son Doong?

At more than 200m high (up to 503m in parts), 175m wide and 9.4km long, Son Doong was already huge – so big that it could easily accommodate any of the world’s other largest caves and you could fit several forty-storey skyscrapers standing upright. The new discovery adds an extra 1.6 million cu metre of volume to its existing 38.5 million cu metre, which is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest’s 8848m and discovering a mound that made it 1000m taller, as Limbert recently told CNN.

Son Doong was first discovered by a local man, Ho Khanh, in 1990. Taking shelter from a storm at the base of a huge cliff in the heart of the jungle, he found a deep hole at the base of the rock that was emitting wind and even puffs of cloud. He didn’t explore further, and its location was forgotten for 19 years until he rediscovered the entrance and led Limbert and his team of divers to it.

'We were the first people to enter the cave,' Limbert told Lonely Planet. 'There is no evidence that anyone lived in Son Doong in the past. Usually it’s easy to see this in a cave… also, all the entrances and exits involve near-vertical descents of at least 85m using technical equipment.' By contrast, a 5000-year-old stone axe was discovered in a nearby cave, suggesting that Son Doong’s relative inaccessibility might indeed have deterred prehistoric explorers.

What is inside Hang Son Doong?

However, the cave is rich in other forms of life. 'We have seen monkeys that are able to climb down 200m to visit the jungle within the cave where they collect snails,' says Limbert. 'We’ve also seen snakes and other animals including squirrels, rats, flying fox as well as birds and bats.' He and his team also discovered seven new species of fish, spider, scorpion, shrimp, wood lice and plankton – all of them completely white and without eyes, the evolutionary consequences of existing in complete darkness.

Yet there is plenty to see in the cave, with parts of it illuminated by two dolines – or sinkholes – that can flood the cave with beams of spectacular sunlight. Within its depths are the world’s largest stalagmites and a jungle with trees up to 50m high. 'You can see up to 1.5km,' says Limbert, 'but the cave’s own weather system can make clouds that are spectacular but cut down visibility.'

Although he has explored the cave over 100 times, Limbert’s enthusiasm for the cave’s beauty remains undiminished. 'There is nowhere like this place anywhere in the world,' he says. 'It is not just the size – though it does matter (as they say) – but the variety of unusual and amazing locations within the cave, such as swimming pools in the dark and 400-million-year-old fossils.'

How can I visit Hang Son Doong?

The cave is open to visitors, but access is strictly controlled and limited to 1000 a year. All tours are organised and led exclusively by Oxalis Adventure Tours , for which Howard Limbert is one of the technical directors along with his wife, Deb. Visits are restricted by the rainy season to the months between the end of January and the end of August, after which the cave becomes impassable.

The entrance to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is accessible from Son Trach town, which is 50km north of Dong Hoi . There are regular bus connections to Dong Hoi from Hue , Hoi An and Danang . A typical tour costs $3000 (of which $660 goes to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park) and lasts four days. All groups are capped at 10 visitors and include a guide (all tours are led by at least one of the British cavers involved in the original exploration), a safety assistant, cooks, porters and a park ranger. A degree of fitness is required, warns Limbert, but you don’t have to be an experienced caver or climber – some trekking experience is enough.

Central Vietnam’s network of caves has transformed the region. Once one of Vietnam’s poorest, it is now the world’s most popular spot for cave exploration and the country’s fastest-growing tourist destination. For Howard Limbert and his team this is all well and good, but conservation remains a paramount concern, especially as 70% of the region’s caves remain unexplored. 'All customers must follow strict rules to protect the fragile caves,' he reminded us.

As for Son Doong and Hang Thung, Limbert says the plan is for the divers to return in 2020 and use special mixed gases to explore even deeper than the 503m plumbed in April. The world’s largest cave may have gotten a lot bigger, but there’s the possibility that it may get bigger still.

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Son Doong Cave Expedition - The Biggest Cave In The World!

• Caving & safety gear: caving helmet, caving headlight, harness and gloves
• Camping gear: tent, sleeping mat, pillow and sleeping bag. Basic camping facilities with eco-friendly compost toilet using western toilet seat
• Use of 3 x 43,000 lumen LED filming lights
• Phong Nha National Park Entrance Fee
• Accommodations (single or twin-shared) at Son Doong Bungalow & Chay Lap Farmstay & Resort.
• Round-trip transfer Dong Hoi – Phong Nha before and after the tour
• 1 Professional English-speaking tour guide, 5 safety assistants and 2 chefs
• 1 Safety advisor (member of the British Cave Research Association)
• Porter team to carry all gear and prepare all meals
• First Aid Kit, Rescue Equipment & Satellite Phone (application by tour guides only)
• Entry/Admission - Son Doong Cave
• Entry/Admission - Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
• Arrive in Dong Hoi by no later than 2 pm on the afternoon of your briefing day, where you will be met by our driver and transferred to Son Doong Bungalow (included in tour price) in Phong Nha. Upon arrival, hospitality services will be happy to help you plan your extra time there. You’ll then have the rest of the day to rest, relax and wander around the village of Phong Nha. You will be required to arrange your own breakfast and lunch on this day.
• Dong Hoi Airport, Dong Hoi Vietnam
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Not recommended for travelers with back problems
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
• Not recommended for children under 18.
• Not recommended for travelers with asthma or respiratory problems.
• Not recommended for adults over 70.
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

• OnAir24814755839 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highlight I did the HT2 trip. The support before was great. Every question was answered. Loc was a great guide! He told us about all the different plants there were on the route as well. Together with Thai and An they supported us very well throughout the trip. This trip was definitively one of the highlights of my Vietnam trip! Read more Written March 24, 2024
• steven609172 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 3rd great trip with best of the best. This is my third trip with Oxalis. This time the Tu lan cave 3 days 2 nights. Again superb tour. Enjoyed the caves . Meals in camp outstanding. 1 night in homestay at the end and ATV bike on 3rd day. Led by Hung who like every guide I have had was superb guide and professional. Even at night magic card tricks performed. If you do overnight tours it has to be this company. PS the company puts money into the communities from every tour. Not like most company,s who are simply greenwashing. Thank you again Oxalis. and staff. Read more Written March 23, 2024
• Wahila W 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Once in a lifetime adventure. Suitable for people with good fitness. What an amazing experience! The entire Oxalis team was professional, kind, and friendly. Our guide, Hung, spoke good English, was well-versed in the geology of the caves, and incredibly curious to learn more whenever he could. He was particularly interested in apps that we had to help us identify plants and animals. He was also quite the comedian and a bit of a magician. He took a group of 12 people most of whom had never met and turned us into one big, laughing, loving family over the course of two days. the trekking itself was challenging. The trails are extremely rough and rocky through the jungle and as it was raining on our trekking day things were quite slippery. It’s more of a scramble than a hike. All of the safety team were attentive and made sure that we had all the support that we needed to get through safely. The food they provided in these remote locations was fantastic! Our group was quite unusual and that we had six people over 60 and we all did just fine. If you’re fit and adventurous, I cannot recommend this highly enough. Read more Written March 23, 2024
• Lorenzo C 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An amazing trek in Phong Nha This was an extremely enriching and amazing experience. We took the one day Tu Lang trek. We enjoyed all parts of the trek: the Rat Cave, the Jungle, and especially swimming in the Tu Lang cave to reach a beautiful lake surrounded by trees. Here, we had great lunch. Our guides, Seven, Hung, and the full team were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They assisted us every step of the way and provided plenty of information about the area, its nature, and its people. We totally recommend it! Read more Written March 22, 2024
• shimingo2024 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing experience, meticulously planned and well executed I went on Hang Tien Endeavour in March. It was such a pleasure! Our main adventure guide was Loc, and An and Tuan were our safety guides. Loc was so energetic and was explaining to us different trees and species in the forest, together with An and Tuan, they took very good care of our safety and well being and watched out for us, took care of our meals and always sharing fun times together. The tour is very well planned, campsite was so beautiful with tents, toilets, changing rooms and steam sauna already set up for us. Our local guide was Linh who spoke really good English and brought us to our local homestay, dinner and ATV experience and shared many stories about local communities with us. I really love how Oxalis blends in nature with adventure with shared commitment to showcase natural elements while caring for the environment and sharing existing cultures of local communities with cultural sensitivity. This tops my travel experiences and is truly once in a lifetime experience. You have to try this! Read more Written March 22, 2024
• Louise N 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An experience second to none!! 1-Day Tu Lan trip is an experience second to none! The organisation behind making this one of the best days in Vietnam is world class. The scenery is majestic & due to small numbers there is no over-crowding. You can take it all in & feel fully emerged in beauty of this jungle. Swimming in the cave was definitely a highlight. We were well looked after, the guides were very knowledgeable & to top that we were given a restaurant standard lunch after swimming in one of the most idyllic locations. Can’t recommend this more highly!! Read more Written March 21, 2024
• Voyage67993516619 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Adventure Experience! I would rate this as the best adventure trip for me! The pictures are an understatement as compared to the real stuff. You got to be there to fully experience for yourself this amazing gem created by mother nature. Prior to the trip, Oxalis did a health assessment and provided advice based on my fitness level. Come to think of it, the evaluation has helped me set a clearer expectation to prepare myself better for the tour. Crossing the different terrains like steep rock climbing, river crossing, muddy jungle trekking was rather challenging. As a solo traveller, I felt well supported and safe on this adventure with the highly professional Oxalis crew especially our very knowledgeable guide Mr. Seven, safety assistant Mr Thang who was always looking out for me to lend a helping hand. My heartfelt appreciation to the Oxalis team for making this adventure a breeze and a truly memorable one! And kudos to the organization’s efforts in giving back to the local community! Keep up the good work!! Read more Written March 21, 2024
• Nick B 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Must go in Phong Nha Amazing tour with Oxalis to the Hang Tien Cave. Our tour guide Hang was very professional and has amazing magic tricks. The camps are well organised and the cooks make great food to recover from the hiking. Beautiful nature and caves. Must go! Read more Written March 21, 2024
• 457byronc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tulan cave expedition and jungle trekking. My girlfriend and I did the Tulan Cave 3 expedition. We had such a special experience. We were led by Phi who made the experience extra special he was so knowledgeable on plants, animals, and the caves themselves. He was local too which is always nice. The caves themselves are like travelling back in time, inside the caves it feels like time is still you spend most the time looking around in awe. The jungle trekking is great to, we are fairly fit and found it quite challenging which is nice as it feel like you actually on an expedition. The porters and other workers were amazing so friendly, helpful, and nice to be in their company. The chefs made us some of the best food we have eaten in Vietnam in the campsites which were stunning and have everything you need. I would urge anyone to experience this trip and see why nature is so amazing and worth saving. Read more Written March 20, 2024
• bethdQ9434YH 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tu lan cave experience We completed the tu lan cave experience (TL3) and it was just amazing. We had phi as our guide and he made the experience so special. From stories of the locals to being our professional photographer, he put his heart and soul into it and we were so grateful! The campsites and food were 5 stars. The scenery and the caves were another world. Cannot recommend this experience more! (Ask for phi ;) ) Read more Written March 19, 2024
• sophiefV1795XN 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Adventure of a lifetime I could not recommend this experience highly enough. Myself and my partner completed the Tu Lan 3 Night Expedition and it was the highlight of our time in Vietnam. Our tour guide Phi was knowledgeable, friendly and did everything with his power to make our trip safe and enjoyable at every stage, the chefs were amazing - quite a feat in the middle of the jungle!, the porters were incredibly supportive throughout and the caves and jungle trekking/camping were a once in a lifetime experience. To top it off, you complete your stay in the Tu Lan Lodge which has breathtaking views, laundry (needed after two nights in the jungle!) and a massive comfy bed. If you want to challenge yourself and want a proper adventure, Oxalis is for you. Read more Written March 19, 2024
• Kirby_98 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Really special experience Really special experience. My wife and I took the Hang Tien 3 day tour with a group of about 10 people. Challenging hike but rewarding. We swam in a cave and for a few minutes were in pitch black—but all good fun and safe. Had amazing meals for lunch and cooked at the camp each night. And finished the hike with two caves where we spent 4 hours each. All with fantastic views and special formations. We had an amazing guide in Hung and porters Tai and Huy. They are pros and make you feel supported and safe along the way. Hung is also funny and helps create a bond with the group in a short amount of time. Read more Written March 18, 2024
• Skye L 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Adventure of a lifetime! I had the pleasure of participating in two tours with oxalis during March 2024 (tu lan cave experience and the hang va overnight cave expedition). These trips are absolutely incredible and once in a lifetime experiences! The tu lan cave experience is a perfect day trip with tons of adventure, trekking, and amazing cave swimming! Our guide Dieu and safety coordinator Dat were very friendly and professional! You get to visit 2 caves in one day so this is a great way to experience caving if you only have a short amount of time or want to give the sport a try without committing to camping overnight The next day we joined the Hang Va overnight cave expedition. Our guide, Seven, took amazing care of us for 2 days and made us feel incredibly safe and looked after during the whole trip. Seven is professional, friendly, and made us feel like family. Seven also had the crew set up some special lights around the cave so he could take some amazing photos of us! The crew provides so much amazing food and impecable service. We felt like we were glamping because the staff takes care of everything (they even set up a lemongrass steam bath in the jungle to warm us up after cave swimming!). These journeys were truly magical thanks to the hard work of the Oxalis crew. These cave tours are super adventurous with lots of trekking, exploring, and swimming. It felt like you were actually discovering the cave as a true explorer. What a special, unique experience! Can’t wait to come back for Song Doong in a few years! Thank you to the Oxalis crew for one of the best times of my life! Read more Written March 18, 2024
• Road60671515481 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Experience at Oxalis I had an amazing trip with Oxalis, where the team supported me with everything, prioritizing my safety above all else. What's even better is that they incorporate sustainable travel and community responsibility to a high degree, supporting local livelihoods and preserving the country's heritage. Thank you so much to the team, and I truly hope you continue to uphold this admirable spirit of business. Read more Written March 18, 2024
• Sunshine42721742692 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best thing I did in Vietnam Absolutely amazing experience to walk through the dense jungle and sleep and explore the Hang En cave. The crew is very professional, explaining a lot while also honestly enjoying themselves. What surprised me the most was the quality of the food they served in the cave. So much flavour!! Read more Written March 17, 2024

More to explore in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Son Doong Cave Expedition - The Biggest Cave In The World! provided by Oxalis Adventure

A Singaporean's Adventures at Home and Abroad

Hang Son Doong: The World’s Largest Cave

Hang Son Doong, the world’s biggest cave, has an equally extravagant price to match. It wasn’t easy for me to shed US$3000++ and all the charges for less than a week in the cave.

But even before the deal was sealed, I knew I had to visit Hang Son Doong – the massive Mulu cave systems of Borneo I explored in July 2022 , on top of my previous two caving trips in Waitomo of New Zealand and Lumiang Sumaguing of Philippines , further sparked my curiosity to investigate the world’s biggest cave in Vietnam. 

Sarawak and central Vietnam are rich in limestones perfect for caves. Meanwhile, I am stationed in Singapore, a mere one to three hours flight from both destinations on a budget airline. They’re easier to reach than some smaller caves on the other side of the world, so what’s stopping me from visiting them?

I visited Hang Son Doong in Aug 2023. This post may be updated periodically. Post also contains affiliate links that cost nothing to you but support my blog. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Cheers!

Why You Should Visit Hang Son Doong

How many caves are open to civilian noob-cakes with no caving certs or experience to wander in? Plenty, but with loads of manicured boardwalks and artificial lighting that would have altered the landscapes and scared the cave critters away.

As with my Mulu and Miri cave trips, the less touristy Gua Niah or Niah Cave gave us a much better cave experience than the world-renowned Deer, Lang, Wind, or Clearwater Caves . We had proper trails to follow, sharing with only a handful of visitors, so we got to walk in darkness with our headtorch, smell and hear the bats in the biggest chamber, and see lots of strange insects.

Of course, this pales in comparison to Hang Son Doong, which:

• Opens to max 10 guests per trip. Less people, less noise, less artificial safety structures, more beautiful views.
• Max 1000 guests per year. Less destruction from aliens (us).
• Min 18 years old to participate. No crying or naughty children scooting off or breaking stuff.
• Two jungles and an entire ecosystem in the cave. I’m not sure if there are other caves that visitors can visit with jungles in their dolines.
• Quick changing mist and clouds condition in the cave. It was surreal watching the mist escape from the entrance, exit and dolines of Hang Son Doong.
• Formations that are hard to grasp in their entirety unless you’re there. Cue the Wedding Cake, the Hand of Dog and the view of Doline 1 from the lunch spot.

It’s secluded by the price and restricted by the pax, so you’d get unobstructed great views and undivided attention from the crew in the biggest cave with million-year-old gigantic formations throughout the expedition.

Also, we’re living amid dire weather conditions brought about by climate change. The cave has an underground river system that floods from Sep to Dec. Typhoons and floods terrorise the National Park and Phong Nha every year. So who knows what the future holds?

Hang means Cave , Son means Mountain , and Doong has two explanations. It is the valley where the ethnic minority Bru Van Kieu lives and also refers to the cave with an underground river.

In short, Hang Son Doong refers to the cave in a mountain where a river flows.

In Mandarin, Doong sounds like 洞 Dòng or hole. Cave in Mandarin could be called 山洞 Shān Dòng. So there was a period when I mistook the name for Hang Cave since Hang Son Doong sounds like Han Shān Dòng.

But it isn’t just me. The Mandarin name for Hang Son Doong is either a literal 韓松洞 Hán Sōng Dòng, which is meaningless, or 山水洞 Shān Shuǐ Dòng, which means Mountain Water Cave. 山水洞 sounds poetic and follows the origin better, but sounds nothing like the Vietnamese name.

Size Comparison

Son Doong Cave is nearly 9 km long and 38.5 x 10^6 m3 in size. 

To put things into perspective:

• An Olympic-sized swimming pool is about 2500 m3. 15,400 pools can fit in the cave.
• The cave is 5 times bigger than Deer Cave in Sarawak, Malaysia.
• It is home to the tallest stalagmite (80m).
• The tallest measurable height is 200 m. The height of Marina Bay Sands is 200 m.
• The widest space measured is 160 m. The biggest commercial airliner Airbus A380 has a wingspan of 79.8 m .

The Man Who Found It

Hang Son Doong is unusual, but so is the story that led to its discovery!

The cave exists before we do in the deep jungle of Phong Nha. Back then, Phong Nha was a poor village where livelihood revolved around farming, logging and hunting. Village men often combed the deep forest for the extremely rare and treasured Agarwood, known as the King of Incense , which produces Oud oil worth more than gold!

Illegal logging continued despite the forest’s establishment as a protected Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Here enters Ho Khanh . The man is like others in search of the Agarwood. Unlike others, he also holds an interest towards caves. Ho Khanh happened to stumble into the entrance of Hang Son Doong one stormy day in 1990. Visions of clouds and cold air floating out of the entrance, coupled with the rumbling sounds of water, spooked him so much that they left an indelible impression.

Decades later, cave explorers from Britain visited Phong Nha in search of more caves. Ho Khanh related what he saw to the team, but they could not locate the entrance from the dense jungle.

Despite the expedition’s futility, Ho Khanh was determined to find the cave entrance. He funded his own trip and traced the route he took in 1990, eventually finding the entrance leading to Hang Son Doong.

The British team returned a year later in 2009. With the aid of laser measuring devices, the team found the cave to be five times bigger than the biggest cave in the world.

Why Is It So Expensive?

This question gets asked a lot and was one of our dinner conversations in the cave.

Why is visiting Hang Son Doong so expensive?

• Son Doong Cave is a big cave. Caves are dark with uneven slippery boulders and sharp rocks. One misstep could be dreadful. I had my spookiest and most dangerous cave experience in Lumiang-Sumaguing of the Philippines , and safety is really important! Lots of investment went into managing the safety of the guests , who oftentimes are not caving professionals.
• The 10 guests are supported by a team of 27 – 1 cave specialist, 1 lead guide, 5 assistant guides, 1 porter team lead, 17 porters, and 2 chefs. Food, water, camping needs and caving gear are carried in. Human waste is carried out. I saw the men carrying gas tanks for cooking too! Each porter could carry up to 100 kg (that’s what one of them said!).
• The guides need to receive proper training from renowned cave specialists frequently.
• A part of the three grand goes to cave conservation .

My Hang Son Doong expedition feels more glamp than camp. And I could safely rank it the top glamp trip compared to my other multi-day treks to places like Semeru , Ladakh or Nepal.

We had fresh delicious food prepared for every meal – so much so that the food outside of the camp became less tasty! We always ended up eating more than our daily output.

In light of output, we carried the bare minimum , with most of our load (max 7 kg per pax) going to the porters. So the calories you’ll burn would mostly come from fretting over where to place your foot or pulling the rope up some slippery slope.

The guide assistants to guests ratio of 1:2 meant there’s always one of them around us for help – pinpointing the spots to step or grab, or giving me an arm and subsequently pulling me up as well.

Pre Hang Son Doong To-Dos

Here are some tips to save and plan for your trip. While I did mention my trip being more glamp than camp, a certain level of fitness is still required, or it would be a torturous trip for you instead!

Saving Up for the Cave Expedition

To start saving, estimate when you will be going (at least two years in advance!) and set aside an amount every month in a savings account or, if you’re in Singapore, high-interest plans with robo advisors like Syfe or Stashaway .

I’ve been using Stashaway to keep my funds for some time now, and their current rate of up to 5% is attractive . Otherwise, you could chuck some money and start saving with Syfe too ! Both links are affiliated with me – I get to earn some benefits/ coffee money, and you get to keep yours too (so do me a favour :P). 

Reservation, Payment, and Follow-Ups for the Trip 

I booked my trip to Hang Son Doong exactly one year in advance , a week or two after returning from Mulu National Park . Hang Son Soong is only open for expeditions from Jan to Aug . Torrential rain, and heavy floods for the remaining four months make venturing into the cave extremely dangerous. More about the weather in the later section.

By the time I made up my mind in late-Aug/ early-Sep 2022, the earliest slots left were in June 2023. It was booked solid from Jan – May 2023, and even for June, there were 1 – 2 vacancies left per trip.

My partner and I decided on August 2023, which happened to coincide with a public holiday in Singapore (National Day).

Booking and the follow-ups were straightforward:

• We filled our info under the BOOK NOW page in Oxalis (the only company doing Hang Son Doong) .
• A generic email indicating our booking code arrived within three days.
• Another email from their Adventure Consultant with more info regarding the tour policies, payment terms and bank details came around the same time.
• Packing List
• Physical Preparation List
• A brief overview of the schedule (also a request for you to inform them about your pickup point and time)
• Other useful info like shoes to wear and clothes to bring
• Special Mentions, like no drones, no wifi 
• A month before our trip, the Adventure Consultant sent an exact email as point (4). By then we had already informed them about our arrival.
• A week before our trip, we received another system-generated email repeating details like check the weather, check your fitness and check the items to bring. 
• Two weeks after our trip, we received another email from the Adventure Consultant with the contact details of our two lead guides, links to Oxalis social, and a link to a feedback form.

Choosing the Time to Visit

Depending on the time you would like to visit, different weather condition follows:

Jan – Mar. A chilly expedition (below 20 dC) and jackets may be needed. I don’t think anyone would appreciate the cold underground river swim. You get stronger and longer sunbeams illuminating into the deeper recesses of the cave.

Apr – May. Nice and warm. But this period is also a slash-and-burn season in neighbouring Laos , so there may be haze depending on the wind direction.

Jun – Aug. Slightly warmer and more humid. But the underground river soak was excellent at 16 dC. For others coming from a dry and cold country, the climate might be unbearable. Hailing from Singapore, I find the humidity and temperature somewhat similar. But walking unshaded under the hot sun before reaching Hang En can be agonising.

Working Out for Son Doong Adventure

You must be in shape to be ready for the expedition! Or be prepared to suffer, or even risk not going at all.

Oxalis has a checklist for physical activities that participants should minimally achieve as a reassurance of their fitness level (gleaned from their checklist):

• Training at least 6 months in advance
• Walk comfortably 10 kilometres/ 6 miles with at least one hill of 300-400 m/ 900-1200 ft 
• Walk confidently over rough ground, and be able to scramble up and down rocks and boulders
• Do at least 6 training hikes (10 km/ 6 miles with at least one large hill) within the 3 months leading up to the tour departure with the shoes and backpack you plan on wearing to the caves.

They also suggest supplementary activities like Spartan race, rock climbing, yoga, and home exercises like squats, burpees and stairs. Basically, activities that stimulate the muscles needed in the cave.

There’s a statement somewhere in the email or their website that indicates assessing the physical fitness of their participants on the first day. The hike to Hang En, the third largest cave in the world , is marketed as a short overnight trip under Oxalis with mostly forest tramping and river wading and very few caving activities. It’s easy to get back to civilization compared to when you’re deep in Hang Son Doong. If you can’t complete Day 1 with ease, you are really not fit for the entire trip.

What to Bring for Hang Son Doong

What to Bring is the section I was most interested in before the expedition. Visiting Son Doong Cave is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip and you really want to be at your best. What kind of clothes should I prepare? How about the shoes? Should I get a better camera? Here’s all you got to know.

Oxalis’ Packing List on What They’ll Provide

• Use of 3 x 43,000 lumen LED filming lights → these were used for photos and in the campsite
• Camping gear: tent, sleeping mat, pillow and sleeping bag
• Caving & safety gear: caving helmet, caving headlight, harness and gloves
• Meals: All 6 days, except breakfast and lunch on D1, and lunch and dinner on D6
• Water filters (application by guide and porters)
• Basic camping facilities with eco-friendly compost toilet using western toilet seat
• First Aid Kit, Rescue Equipment & Satellite Phone (application by safety advisor and tour guides only)
• 1 Safety advisor (member of the British Vietnamese Caving Expedition)
• 1 Professional English-speaking tour guide, 5 safety assistants and 2 chefs
• Porter team to carry all gear and prepare all meals
• Accommodations (single or twin-shared) at Son Doong Bungalow before the tour and at Chay Lap Farmstay & Resort after the tour
• Round-trip transfer Dong Hoi – Phong Nha before and after the tour

Essentials I Brought for My August Summer Trip

Oxalis provided a packing list as well, which I have sort of incorporated into my list below:

• 3 sets of quick dry long sleeves. But bringing 4 different brightly coloured ones would be nice. Then you’ll have a variety of colours over the 4 days in the cave. Red, orange, yellow or neon would be ideal for beautiful photos.
• 4 sets of tights . I wore tights used for hiking and yoga.
• 2 pairs of socks (I wore darn tough) . I bought another 2 pairs from Oxalis after learning about foot rot. Your feet would be wet throughout the expedition since the shoes are wet. Having a fresh pair of socks to begin the day felt wonderful. No need for fancy socks. Those mid-calf cotton ones would do.
• 2 bandana/ head wrap . Keep my hair contained. Also, prevent abrasion between my skin and the helmet strap.
• 4 sets of undergarments.
• 1 swimwear. For the fish spa at Hang En.
• 1 set of pyjamas/ camp wear. You could wear them for the next day, but I preferred not wearing long sleeves to sleep. Some participants wore short sleeves paired with arm sleeves.
• Sunhat , sunglasses , sunscreen and insect repellant . For the torturous heat on Day 1. There are big mozzies and hungry leeches!
• Lightweight outer shell. In case it rained on Day 1.
• 1 pair of jandals. I took my sturdy ones from Taiwan made for marathon running. Sandals with fabrics stay wet and icky.
• Headtorch . For camp use. The torch on the helmet is stuck to the helmet.
• GoPro. Gopro are small, nifty and waterproof. So easy to carry! I upgraded from 8, which I extensively used in New Zealand , to 11, and had mine strapped to the shoulder strap of my bag.
• Batteries, power bank, cables .
• Wet wipes , dry shampoo , biodegradable soap , prickly heat powder , etc. Those sanitary items. You can only use biodegradable soap at Hang En. There’s no washing area for the second and third nights, and this is where wet wipes come in handy.
• Sleeping bag liner . In case the sleeping bag is nasty like other camping trips I’ve done. But the sleeping bag provided was clean and smelled fresh.
• Earplugs . Very important if someone snores at night! Hang En is home to thousands of swiftlets. The incessant chirping might be a bane for some.

Special Mentions for Further Discussion

SHOES! I wore the amphibious quick-draining Merrell Choprock shoes that seem to be phasing out. Decathlon might have something similar. Oxalis has a list of shoes to recommend, focusing on Soloman and trail runners. You need shoes with grippy soles and drains well! Goretex or waterproof shoes are a big nono as they trap water. Oxalis checks your shoes during the briefing. If you fail to meet the expectations of the caving specialist, they’ll lend you a simple archless high-cut canvas one, which may not be comfortable.

BAG! I’ve been carrying my beaten Gregory Juno 25 L for day hikes in Indonesia and Malaysia . It’s comfortable and fits what I need to carry for the day. As with the bags, the specialist will check if they are suitable for the expedition. It needs to fit the helmet and water!

SNACKS! No need for those. You’ll be well fed. Bring hydration salts!

FAN! For a hot summer expedition. Bring along a small portable electric one , or the Asian foldable fans that you can get from night markets.

DRONES! Not allowed!

FEMALE HYGIENE! I would expect the trip to be uncomfortable if you’re still on pads for a summer expedition. You’ll also be missing out on swimming in the underground river and soaking in Hang En. It may be icky too if the water level of some river crossings towards Hang En gets too high. Use a period cup. Simple, easy, and sustainable. Toilets are very clean and convenient for ladies on periods.

How to Get to Phong Nha

Transport between Dong Hoi and Phong Nha is provided in the tour package. To take advantage of that, you still need to find yourself in Dong Hoi, the nearest city to Phong Nha.

Dong Hoi has a domestic airport. There are many flights to Dong Hoi from Ho Chi Minh City (1h 35 mins) or Hanoi (1h).

Train rides take about 11 hours from Hanoi to Dong Hoi and a day (24 hours) from Ho Chi Minh City. It makes far better sense to fly if you’re coming directly from HCMC unless you enjoy long train rides…

I took the night train from Hanoi to Dong Hoi to have a full day in Phong Nha. There are five different timings to choose from, and you have the option to pick a soft seat (not recommended for a night train!), a sleeper 4-berth, or a sleeper 6-berth.

The only way to buy directly from the Vietnamese booking site is if you have a local bank account. Else, purchase online from Baolau , or physically from the train station for budget options. You may, however, risk not getting what you want! Travel agencies quote a bit more.

For those looking forward to an overnight sleeper bus experience, book yours online through 12Go , or at your accommodations. Be warned that buses may reach your destination earlier than expected (middle of the night)!

Finally, we reached the meat of the post. My expedition! Here’s a ✨ detailed ✨ collection of my experience in Hang Son Doong.

The tour is marketed as 6 days, but only 4 days were spent in the caves.

Day 1: Dong Hoi to Phong Nha + Briefing

Transfer to phong nha.

We reached Dong Hoi at 6 AM, and an assistant guide holding a card with my name written on it immediately ushered us to the car with a driver. The journey from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha took almost an hour. I was too tired to notice what was outside, but I did not miss the iconic Hollywood-style sign!

Check-in to Son Doong Bungalow + activities

Checking into our spacious room at Son Doong Bungalow was surprisingly quick . We got a room upon arrival at 7-ish AM! Rooms in this bungalow were named after caves in Phong Nha, and we happened to stay in Hang En. Our room had a double and a single bed, and free wifi, but no TV, which really isn’t needed anyway. There’s a pool by the rows of rooms.

We had our breakfast (not included) and booked a full-day tour around Phong Nha within the hour with the bungalow. It was a day well spent.

Oxalis requires participants to be at Dong Hoi before 3 PM that day, and ready for the evening briefing by 5.30 PM. We received the red dry bags from the bungalow.

Briefing + Welcome Dinner

Participants on the same tour as ours met by the breakfast table at 5.30 PM , greeted by our lead guide, Vu. We were reminded to bring our bags and shoes and boarded a one-way bus to the Oxalis office.

Briefing and checks took almost an hour while we sipped on complimentary drinks. We went through slides reiterating information from the emails while hungry mozzies feasted (I got two bites that night!). What’s interesting for me were the photos of the foot rot and itchy plants . Then came the shoes and bag checks by cave specialist Deb, getting our helmets fitted, grabbing the water bottles from Oxalis, and buying extra shirts or socks.

We had a delicious dinner with an assortment of side dishes paired with rice. Then more drinks, self-introductions, and getting eaten by mozzies, before we walked back to Son Doong Bungalow to rest and prepare for the trip.

Day 2: Phong Nha to Hang En Campsite

Breakfast and preparation.

Wearing long sleeves, long tights, and long socks can never be comfortable in a warm and humid environment. Especially so as you indulge in a warm bowl of Pho Bo for breakfast again.

Bags not meant for the caves and red bags meant for the caves were marked and named with special stickers from the day before.

We promptly left at around 8.30 AM on another bus, but this time, with the guide assistants as well. Somewhere along the way to the trailhead, we got off at a bridge of Ho Chi Minh Highway West that overlooked one of the many streams supporting the underground river into Hang En and Hang Son Doong.

Trailhead to Village Lunch

An easy hour-plus downhill hike through a forest, followed by some minor river crossings for half an hour to Ban Doong village . As we inched closer to the village, we saw free-roaming oxen and lots of cow dung. We even had a family of them enjoying their soak in the river we had to cross. The assistant guides had to chase them away as these oxen may attack.

Lunch was underneath a shelter in the village, with a squat toilet some distance away from the spot. We had wet rice rolls paired with a variety of ingredients to be wrapped, watermelon and yoghurt.

The guide also pointed out a two-storey school that Oxalis helped build that can be a shelter for the villagers in times of bad weather. Compared to the old school that was destroyed by the 2020 flood, this new compound has accommodations for the teachers, which is a big advantage. Teachers usually hail from other areas and need places to stay. This new upgrade helps to retain and keep educators happy.

A Merciless Unshaded River Tramp to Hang En

This section was the most taxing walk for me in retrospect . We were under the sun for almost two hours. Wading through the lukewarm river was fine as water levels were mostly beneath the knees (it was summer!). But the heat and humidity can make one dizzy. The assistant guides filled up the bottles of some participants with river water filtered from powerful filters.

We passed by a stream where cold water emerged from a small cave opening. That was the only short respite I felt for those two hours. Thereafter, the cold water merged with the warm water.

We reached the entrance of Hang En around 2 PM and took a small break – putting on our helmets and finding spots for more photos.

It didn’t take us long to reach the vantage point overlooking our first campsite. Perhaps 10 mins from the rest stop? Then another 10 mins of scrambling without bags to another viewpoint.

Finally, it was back down to ground level. We boarded a hand-pulled float over the river in Hang En and reached our campsite before 4 PM. Time for tea!

Hang En Activities

There are actually many activities to do in this camp. I, for instance, spent a long time playing with the many little fish in the river while rinsing my shoes and socks. Then an even longer time swimming in the river with the fish. Biodegradable soap is allowed here.

Dinner was served underneath a shelter. By then, we had already hung our clothes, checked out the toilet and changing rooms, enjoyed a cup of coffee, seen the colonies of swiftlets fly in and nest above our heads, and watched the light from the gaping hole slowly dwindled.

When night arrived, we sat around a tray of freshly roasted peanuts with a warm Vietnamese tea cupped in hand, while the assistant guides surprised us with another beautiful photo point. The lamp underneath the small dock, and another pointing to it, created another setup for an otherworldly photo.

Day 3: Hang Son Doong Day 1 | Hang En to Hang Son Doong

Out of hang en, into another forest.

Breakfast was an overkill! We had baguettes paired with beef slices, capsicums and eggs on a sizzling hot plate! 

The first activity was scrambling to another viewpoint behind the campsite without bags.

Then bags on from the campsite towards the exit of Hang En that leads to Hang Son Doong, as Ho Khanh first explored.

We trekked through rivers, again , before steadily ascending through a forest with steep rocky sections. Lunch was served atop the hill.

Safety Briefing, Descending into Hang Son Doong

Post-lunch, the assistant guides strapped us up in safety harnesses. Next came a short safety briefing conducted by the lead guide, and some demo of half-squat/ abseiling poses that’ll come in useful in the cave.

Our lunch stop was in very close proximity to the entrance of Hang Son Doong. After a clumsy – all of us were wearing harnesses! – short and steep descent supported by ropes and ladders, we came face-to-face with the red-painted words indicating the entrance of Hang Son Doong !

Puffs of mist and cool air erupted from the jagged mouth of Hang Son Doong. We waited for our turns to descend the 80 m slippery calcite rocks , leveraging on the ropes and half-squat positions. For every new safety rope, we clipped and unclipped our carabiners. A slow but easy process.

Bridges, Hand of Dog and Other Big Formations

Sounds of the underground river echoed within the cave chamber. As the water level was too high and dangerous for us to wade through, our river crossing for that day came to an eventual halt. Instead, we waited for our turns to tread over two bridges.

The ground below us changed from rocks covered with thin layers of slippery mud or water to soft wet sand that clung tenaciously over my shoes. We were now walking within The Hope and Vision Passage , where a Boeing 747 could easily fly through.

We stopped and gazed in wonder at a huge cavern where the tallest stalagmite lives (80m) . Behind it, late afternoon light streamed in from the misty and faraway doline 1. Standing between the clusters of gigantic formations was the unmistakable silhouette of the stalagmite funnily termed The Hand of Dog .

According to the guide and Oxalis website , this formation should have been called the omnipresent Hand of God . Somewhere along the exploration, however, the person who penned it down misheard the person who named it and the name has stuck ever since. 

After a display of these incredulous formations, courtesy of the staff who got there before us with strong lamps, we were back gingerly treading over a track filled with bobby traps in the form of slippery boulders, shaky rocks, and steep or wide crossings.

Our first campsite in Hang Son Doong, The Level Playing Fields , came into attention beneath our feet, enveloped by mist. Beside it stood the large vertical gaping hole of Doline 1, which we’ll enter the following day.

Underground River Swim and Fossils

We dropped our bags, changed our harnesses for life jackets, and headed towards the sound of the underground river.

The walls and floors became incredibly smooth, black and slippery as we got closer to the river, with some areas requiring us to sit and slide instead. Prehistoric old coral fossils embedded in the black rock came to view along the way.

Don’t let the cold water shock you! It was a nice relaxing swim after a hard day of walking over unsteady rocks. The cold water, about 16 dC, coupled with the life jacket, acted like a relaxant. We had a fish spa the day before, and now it was a cave cold water spa! We let the chilly water take away the soreness and sweat debris until I was toggling between a state of utter relaxation and a state of cold shivers.

Son Doong Campsite I: The Level Playing Fields

We swam and crawled/ walked back to the campsite – my legs were not mine after the cold soak. Then it was resting on camp chairs facing the magical doline, before another sumptuous dinner, roasted peanuts and tea, and finally black out.

Day 4: Hang Son Doong Day 2 | Doline to Doline Easy Day

Towards doline 1: watch out for dinosaurs.

Guess what’s for breakfast? A bowl of soupy vermicelli AND pancakes, complete with chocolate sauce or honey. Bananas were always present. Too bad my stomach isn’t quite awake for a big breakfast.

We ascended some rocky climbs towards the first doline: Watch Out For Dinosaurs at 9 AM. The origin story behind this doline isn’t as interesting as The Hand of Dog . A passing remark that a dinosaur may pop out from nowhere in the jungle stuck and remained.

But before we even reached the forest, we had a photo stop with the hole on the wall, or what some may call, The Eye of Hang Son Doong . The climb was not easy – it was very slippery, the walls were like marble – and needed three assistant guides to help. But the photos speak for themselves. A Spiderman, ninja or 007 pose gives perfect results.

Wandering within the First Doline

The first doline was formed when the weaker areas of the passage carved out by the underground river collapsed. Sunlight gave light and life sprang into action.

Within this doline lies the enchanting Wedding Cake that almost everyone who’s heard of Hang Son Doong would want a photo with. From the photos, the flat and fat stalagmite looks tall when it’s not. It’s all about the angles .

After spending countless moments soaking in the sights and sounds, it was time to head down towards our lunch stop.

But first, a quick stop for a photo with the green gours ! I’ve seen phytokarsts from my trip in other gigantic caves at Mulu National Park , but green gours are a first. These are green cave formations with algae growing on them from the ample sunlight exposure.

Lunch over A Heartbreakingly Beautiful View

Lunch was a simple but still delicious fried rice with egg at 12 NN. Before we tucked into our meals, we tucked into the sights at our lunch spot, trying out different ways and angles to record what we’re seeing in videos and photos. But there’s really no way you could capture the magical moment with a device. You have to see it to feel the depth of its beauty.

We saw the mist come and go, sometimes disrupted by the evasive sunbeam, as we munched on the fried rice.

Towards Doline 2: Garden of Edam

With our bellies filled, it was time to head over to Doline 2: The Garden of Edam !

Some of us climbed over a mountain of rough stalagmite to reach a vantage point for a timelapse video, while a few took their positions on the path towards the garden with their headlamps strategically shone in.

The Garden of Edam does not feature as many attractions – if you could say that – compared to Doline 1.

We were down to the dry and sandy Campsite II shortly after, reaching by 3 PM.

Son Doong Campsite II

The second campsite has a larger view of the sky, and we were earnestly hoping for some night shots. But alas, clouds blocked our view of the celestial sky, so there’s no Milky Way to boot.

As the second campsite is close to the exit, we had beer and canned drinks for dinner, courtesy of the strong porter team!

Day 5: Hang Son Doong Day 3 | Over the Great Wall of Vietnam and back to Phong Nha

Mud-travagant.

The last day began anew as with all days over a crazy breakfast. This time, it was fried noodles with French toast. Bananas were always there.

We strapped onto our harnesses that had more straps than the one we first wore into the cave. It’s time to ‘climb’ The Great Wall of Vietnam !

But first, some more photos of a gigantic stalagmite and – finally! – a stalactite. Also cave pearls – and potatoes – sound and look precious in their dams, but are like regular stones and pebbles out of their dams.

Oh, and the mud-fest! If you were to visit the Wall after a very heavy rainy day, it’s not mud you’ll cross, but a raft to row over a beautiful lake to the bottom of the Wall.

For us, we had muddy trenches and walked like supermodels through a V-shaped valley that has the width of a foot as its breadth. I meant it as supermodels since you walk toes in (to the mud) or shoes gone (in the mud). Some sections had muddy water going as high as my knees.

The Great Wall of Vietnam

Scaling the wall was very different during the exploratory times. Back then, it took explorers two days to crack their heads for a safe way to climb the delicate flowstone wall . Now, it took us less than an hour with an 18 m stainless steel ladder and climbing ropes over 45-degree slopes with an assistant guide pulling our weight from above.

But before we could even hop onto the ladder, we had to rid ourselves of the mud. The team had cleverly directed a small stream into a bucket with a brush tied to it.

Climbing the 18 m ladder was easy.

Climbing the first section of the slope was like a warm-up for the half-squat-fall-back position we had previously learnt.

Climbing the second section became increasingly easier after the warm-up. We had the guide assistants pulling our weights from above as well, and I was at the top within minutes. Waiting for our turns took a longer time.

They said lunch, consisting of a yummy beef stew with baguette and cold drinks from outside, was light, and we would enjoy another complimentary light lunch/ snack at Chay Lap. For me, it was the last tasty camp food before we left the caves, and I might have taken more than what was supposed to be a light lunch .

Bidding Hang Son Doong Goodbye

The distance from the lunch stop to the exit was a short and easy 500 m. We also saw bones of an animal (they said it was a deer but who would have known?), already calcite-covered for N years .

Jungle trekking that day was different from jungle trekking on D2 and D3. There were significantly more razor-sharp jagged limestones and unstable rocks. Those sharp rocks were similar to the ones I faced for my Mulu Pinnacles climb , where a woman fell and cut herself deep on her inner thigh. She needed stitches.

It took us probably an hour from the Son Doong Cave exit to Ho Chi Minh Highway. The trek plateaued once we reached the bottom of the hill with many butterflies.

Bus to Chay Lap Farmstay

There’s not much to note for the 45 mins bus ride back to civilization. We were all too sticky with wet feet mushed in wet shoes to pay attention to anything.

The welcome champagne and cold towel from Chay Lap Farmstay excite us for what’s to come – a nice hot shower! 

Farewell Dinner

After the wash-up, we had our last dinner together with the team. It was the same setting as the dinner of Day 1 with the same people but in a different mood. Food was, obviously, less tasty than camp food. We exchanged contacts (and hundreds of photos and GBs of videos), took farewell photos, tipped, bought a photography book and bade everyone good night.

Day 6: Leaving Phong Nha

Phong nha to dong hoi.

Some participants left in the early morning for the train to Hanoi, or the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Transport to Dong Hoi was provided, and our lead guide took note of everyone’s departure during the last dinner.

Chay Lap has a decent variety of dishes for their breakfast, but nothing comes close to the overkill breakfasts of the last three days!

For us, we maxed our time in the comfortable room until it was time to leave for our next destination. Unlike others, we booked a private car to take us to Hue, stopping by some stops in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) . We had the drop-off arranged at Oxalis HQ since Chay Lap was considered out of the pickup zone of Phong Nha centre.

Post Trip Activities

If you have more time to spare in Phong Nha, here are some ideas for post-Son Doong activities:

• Kayak/ cycle. Chay Lap offers discounts for kayaking and free rental bikes.
• Tour the other caves and attractions around Phong Nha . Some famous ones include Paradise Cave, Phong Nha Cave, and the Dark Cave. There are full-day tours for these at good prices with lunch included.
• Massage and relax. Chay Lap has massage services.

Beyond Phong Nha, head North for Hanoi. You could make a stop at Ninh Binh. Head South towards Danang or Ho Chi Minh City, with the conventional stops at Hue, Hoi An, Muine and Dalat. I took the opportunity to tour around the DMZ on the way to Hue.

More Caving Expeditions I Hope To Do

Phong Nha is a cave wonderland with caves providing different challenges and sights to experience. Here are two that I hope to visit someday:

• Hang Va . Ho Khanh, the man who found Hang Son Doong discovered Hang Va too. Hang Va has strange cone formations, an underground waterfall, an emerald river, and many impressive stalactites. The entrance of Hang Va is near the exit of Hang Son Doong. There’s only one tour to Hang Va from Oxalis and it costs USD 426 for 4D3N.
• Hang Tien. For the strange tornado-like hole in the ceiling of one of its chambers. There are three tours of varying lengths to pick from, but I might go all out for the 6D5N with camping in jungles, an abseil and a flying fox, and eight caves to explore . Prices range from USD 355 for a 3D2N to USD 774 for the 6D5N.

To wrap it up, the USD 3,000 took me a lot of deliberation, time to save, and anxiety when I transferred such a big sum overseas. Money aside, it also took me a year to wait for the trip. Someone in our group waited even longer, having booked before the pandemic!

But the expedition was well worth the wait and moolas. I had a memorable good time that not many would have the opportunity to experience. More people have felt the winds at the peak of Mount Everest than the sunbeams in Doline 1. This is a strange but painfully beautiful part of nature that I’m glad I’ve savoured in real life.

Tips To Take Note

• Book early. It’s expensive, yet it’s booked months in advance. Make sure you book your transport early too!
• Mind your fitness. Or you’ll feel the pain and soreness at the end of the day.
• Pack sensibly. Wear light and bright clothes so your photos pop.
• Ease into your gear. Make sure the shoes are workable in the river and over slippery surfaces. Have a bag with straps such that they do not move around your torso too much. Waterproof dry bags are great since they don’t collect as much dirt, but the back, where your skin is in contact with, can get hot and stuffy.
• Have good cameras. An action camera is small and convenient to carry around. My Huawei P30 Pro may be old, but it has taken countless beautiful photos (since the start of my Working Holiday in New Zealand! ). One of the participants’ Samsung Z Fold was abused for most of everyone’s iconic shots. Iphones do not work as well for night shots or under dim lights.
• Have clips or straps to hold your camera. Go hands-free and yet capture the moments.
• Electrolytes. For the sweat loss. Thwarts cramps.
• Baby powder or prickly heat powder . For the wet wrinkly feet. Also helps fight sticky sweaty skin and gives relief under high humidity.

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How To Explore Son Doong, The World's Biggest Cave

Vietnam is home to many spectacular landscapes—from the cascading rice terraces of Sapa and the thousands of limestone karst isles in Ha Long Bay , to the silky smooth red and white sand dunes of Mui Ne and the maze of rivers and rice paddies in the Mekong Delta , there is no shortage of sights to see. A lesser known fact, however, is that Vietnam is also home to the world’s largest cave. Here is all you need to know.

Hang Son Doong (Mountian River Cave), the largest cave in the world, is located right in the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the Quang Binh province of Vietnam. It was formed during the Cambrian-Permian geological eras, putting it at a date between 400–450 million years old. No words can do justice to the size of this UNESCO protected cave —it stretches for over three miles (five kilometers), and it reaches heights of 650 feet (200 meters). The main cavern is large enough to house an entire New York City block.

What’s even more amazing is that the ecosystem created within the cave has its own weather system and creates its own clouds. Inside, you will find the largest stalagmite known to man, hanging at 262 feet tall (80 meters), and fossils dating back millions of years. Collapsed ceilings have created openings known as dolines, and this has allowed foliage to grow inside the cave. You will come across jungles and rivers enveloped by misty clouds, and microorganisms thriving in the darkness. It is a whole other world, devoid of much human interaction. You will be walking into an image of Earth as it was hundreds of million of years ago. Think of it like A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. Maybe you will find dinosaurs inside.

Son Doong was first discovered in 1990, thanks to a local by the name of Ho Khanh who loves trekking the jungles of the national park in search of food and timber to earn a modest income. He saw an opening, and when he peered inside, he saw clouds and heard the soft gurgle of a river inside. He was apprehensive to investigate further, so he went home. Then he forgot where he found it.

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It was then found again years later in 2008, by Ho Khanh again. He took note of the path, and subsequently led Howard and Deb Limbert of the British Cave Association to the cave for the first expedition. In 2013, the cave was opened to the public. Expeditions are allowed only through one company, Oxalis, who have a legal permit to run tours. They run an exclusive five-day expedition that is not for the faint of heart. A tour costs 3000 USD, but it is money well spent. Remember, the cave is mostly used for scientific research, and more people have stood on the summit of Mount Everest than witnessed the surreal beauty inside this cave.

Unfortunately, you need to be extremely fit and patient, as there is a waiting list of about two years. The government only releases around 300–500 permits yearly, and it will take time to get yours.

To reach Hang Son Doong, you need to pass through the only village located inside the Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park. The Ban Doong ethnic minority village is only accessible by foot, as it is surrounded by dense jungles. The village is home to less than 40 people, and their hardships have been alleviated by the discovery of the cave and the subsequent conservation partnership with Oxalis. Exploring this village and interacting with the locals is also an exciting part of the journey, as there is a lot you can learn. The village offers a view of a way of life that has been unchanged for centuries.

Then you will continue on your journey to Hang Son Doong, and it is not easy. There will be two days of intense jungle trekking and river crossings in order to reach the entrance. Once inside, you will have to abseil, climb, crawl, and swim through underground rivers to complete your journey. Making it even more beautiful is that you will get to camp inside the cave, eat, take extraordinary photos, and laugh along with your crew. Hang En, the world’s third largest cave is also included in the tour.

Only 10 guests per departure are allowed, and each one is perfectly cared for. Your group will include two caving experts, three local guides, two chefs, two park rangers, and 20 porters that will help carry your belongings and other luggage such as tents. Everyone’s safety is ensured, as is the preservation of the cave. Tours run once per week each year, between February and August.

Oxalis also offers expeditions to other caves such as Hang En, Tu Lan, and Hang Va. All of these are spectacular and visiting them is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If there is ever a time in your life that you want to splurge, this should be it. Forget the fancy beach resorts you can find anywhere else in the world. Son Doong cave is unrivaled.

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SON DOONG CAVE

VIETNAM SON DOONG CAVE - THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CAVE

Just recently discovered, Son Doong cave is one of the largest and most magnificent caves in the world and now becoming a must-visit location for adventurous travelers. On a normal day in 1991, a peasant in the central region of Vietnam was wandering in a deep forest when he found a cave. He could never imagine that that moment would later become one of the most unforgettable moments of his life. He found out the largest and most magnificent cave ever explored that shocked scientists and adventurous travellers all over the world!

I - The Son Doong Cave facts 

Ii - how to get to son doong cave   , 2 - by train, 3 - by bus or taxi, iii - exploring the largest cave in vietnam, 1 - the cave’s entrance, 2 - the paws of foot, 3 - fossil hallway, 4 - campsite number 1, 5 - doline 1, 6 - doline 2, 7 - campsite number 2 , 8 - the great wall of viet nam, iv - son doong cave tours exploring, 1 - preparation, 2 - journey into son doong cave trip , 3 - what to pay attention to, 4 - recommended tours .

Source: Oxalisadventure

Source: #Savesondoong

In particular, Save Son Doong is the first environmental protection campaign of the young generation in Vietnam to be implemented successfully. Founded by Ms. Le Nguyen Thien Huong, Save Son Doong helps the public to have a more detailed view of the harmful effects of building cable cars inside the cave.

Source: Internet

Flying, of course, will save you a lot of time and energy. The nearest airport to Son Doong is Dong Hoi airport and you can take a flight every day from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city to there. The flight takes you around one hour both from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city , and can be offered by Vietnam Airlines (from Hanoi), Vietjet Air (from Ho Chi Minh city).

You can board a train from almost anywhere in Vietnam to Dong Hoi . Travel time depends on your starting point.

Buses and taxis are the most flexible options to travel to Son Doong cave. Prices and time are variable, depending on the starting point and service providers. All above means of transport can only bring you to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park as the farthest point. From Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, you can only go on foot to Son Doong. Below is an example of how you can get to this hidden cave in Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh city: To travel to the cave from Ho Chi Minh city, you need to take a flight from Tan Son Nhat Airport and depart in Dong Hoi. Then, you take a bus (usually provided by your tour service) to the Kilometer 39 of Ho Chi Minh road. From there, you will start walking about 1 hour down the mountain. After an additional half hour of walking along the stream at the foot of the mountain, you will stop at Ban Doong, where the Bru Van Kieu ethnic minority village is living separately in the deep forest, a landmark not to be missed in the journey. Here you will have the opportunity to learn and discover the unique characteristics of their cultural life during the break and enjoy lunch right inside the village. After lunch and rest, you will continue walking along the stream for about 2 more hours in the midday sun with very little shade. You will often have to wade through streams so be prepared for shoes and pants that can get wet throughout the day. In summer, spring water will flood to the knees. You should not wear waterproof shoes (such as Gore Tex shoes) because it will hold water and moisture inside the shoes causing discomfort. Go all the way to the door of Hang En, home to tens of thousands of swallows. Here, you will be provided with a headlight, and continue to walk about 20-30 minutes over the rocks to reach the first camping site inside En Cave. Son Doong is located in Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province, Vietnam. There is currently no road to the cave, you will need to walk for about 6 hours for a distance of 10km from Ho Chi Minh trail to the mouth of the great wall of vietnam. 

The Cave’s Entrance is located deep in the jungle of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, which is also the official sight to start the Doong cave adventure. As soon as you climb down the cave entrance, you will feel the wind blowing and the echo of the underground river from deep inside the largest cave in the world. Looking down from the cave entrance, you will see a blue lake, from here you have to climb about 90m to reach the lake. During the climbing process, there are a number of sections that require ropes and safety equipment.

This is a massive natural stalactite in Son Doong cave, viable from far away to the area of Ho Sut Mot, the shadow of the Paws of Foot can stand up as a magnificent sight of the largest cave in the world. From this position to reach Ho Sut Mot, we have to go through a giant cave section of over 1 kilometer. From above this position, we cannot help admiring the panoramic view of the cave.

This is the area where cave walls are filled with coral fossils dating back 300 million years. It is right next to the first campsite.

The Bai Trai So Mot of Son Doong cave is located near Ho Sut Mot, on a fairly flat sandy area and has a beautiful view looking towards Ho Sut Mot.

Son Doong's Ho Sut Hai is also known as the "Garden of Eden". The formation of these sinkholes allows light to enter the cave and create a small forest with trees and vegetation; an endemic ecosystem world's biggest cave discovered in Vietnam was able to survive thanks to sunlight. To get to this place, visitors will have to climb a rocky hill with natural steps rising higher, like the steps leading to the Garden of Eden. The path is filled with ferns and small plants. The leaves of these trees rise straight towards the crater to catch the rare rays of sunlight. At the center of Ho Sut Hai, there are many taller trees such as banana trees and forest trees.

This sight is also known as a seaside camping because this camp is located on a cave covered with white sand like the coast. This is also considered to be the most majestic campsite in the world, so the tourists always show their love at the impressive scenery of this campsite.

This highest stalactite wall is located at the end of Son Doong cave, this is also the place where the ceiling of the cave is about 200 meters high. To reach this wall, you need to pass a fairly muddy cave. If you are lucky enough to get through the cave, there will be a beautiful blue lake, visitors will raft the passage to reach the foot of the wall, and start climbing a metal ladder, then climb to the top of the wall with a rope and seat belt.

Source: Pinterest

- Physical strength: The journey to conquer Son Doong cave is always perilous and to overcome these dangers requires you to have a good physical health. Before participating in the tour, you need to practice walking at least 10 kilometer per day, lasting from 3 to 6 months. - Clothes: + Some long-sleeved and light-dry trekking clothes for 4 days + 1-2 shorts and t-shirts to wear at campsite (bring long-sleeved clothes during the cold months) + A warm sweater and a light windbreaker (from February to April) + High quality hiking boots with good grip on rough terrain + 1 flip-flops / sandals, towels, wet paper, water bottles, portable flashlights for use at the camping site + 4-5 pairs of long, thick socks (do not wear short socks or waterproof socks) + Electrolyte rehydration capsules, essential medications, antifungal powder for feet, sprays against mosquitoes, insects, sunscreen and hats. + Medium-sized backpack for carrying items used along the way + Personal items: underwear, hygiene items, personal medicine, anti-foot bandages (women should wear additional toiletries, even in case of backup) + Camera, phone,...

Source: Sondoongvietnam

Day 3: Vuon Dia Dang – Bai Trai So Hai On the third day, there will be quite a lot of rock climbing sections, wriggling through the arch of the small cave to reach Ho Sut Mot/"Vong Khung Long" - a prominent destination of the Son Doong exploration journey. Continue going deep and climbing ropes through some steep rocks to reach the other side of the Ho Sut Mot. From here the scenery becomes spectacular and an ideal place to capture the beauty of the world's largest cave in Vietnam. If you are lucky, you will be able to admire the sun's rays shining through the sinkhole into the cave. Stop for lunch by the beautiful underground lakes. After lunch, you will climb over the rocky slope to the "Vuon Dia Dang" in the Ho Sut Hai, from here you can overview the forest directly below. After exploring this special forest, the team will take a little rest at the second camp and continue to visit the dark cave to learn the unique cave creatures such as blind spiders, blind fish, termites and other species and insects and admiring the jade and countless stalactites masterpieces. Then, you go back to the camp for dinner and rest, ending the third day. You can wear a pair of dry shoes throughout the day. Also, there's no place for you to take a bath at this campsite on this 3rd day. Day 4: Buc Tuong Viet Nam - Cua Ra - Chay Lap Everyone will wear a safety belt to prepare to conquer the Buc Tuong Viet Nam, one of the most dramatic and exciting Son Doong expedition activities. Safety team will directly instruct climbing skills, monitoring and controlling safety belts to ensure safety during climbing. To reach the foot of the wall you will take a boat on the underground lake, but if the lake runs out of water you can walk through the fairly slippery muddy path. At the foot of the wall is a steel ladder about 18 meters high, you will climb this ladder with a safety belt. After climbing the ladder, you will move to climbing the rope about 35m to the top of the Vietnam Wall. This is a risky challenge but you can completely conquer it thanks to the support of the safety team. After lunch, you will leave the cave and cross the forest to return to the road where the Son Doong cave adventure ends.

- You need to be 18 or older  - During your trip, it is essential that you keep the environment clean and protect the sight of the cave.  - ALWAYS travel in group. It is best to always follow the instructions of your tour provider at all times. - NEVER forget the safety rules.

You cannot journey to Son Doong cave without your tour provider, since this site is protected by the government. You will also need to be guided and have the best experience in the discovery.  And again, Oxalis Adventure is the only tour provider allowed to provide the tour: Travel agency: OXALIS Length of trip: 4 days 3 nights Price: 3030 USD Contact: (+84) 232 3677 678 

1 - Can someone who cannot swim explore Son Doong cave in Vietnam? >> YES. During wading, the stream is only knee high, there is no mandatory swimming. If you need to swim, you will be equipped with a life jacket and instructions to ensure safety. 2 - Is a health check rigorous? >> NOT TOO RIGOROUS, If you can climb a 10-storey building without heavy breathing or dizziness. When signing up for a tour, you will have to declare your health so that the support staff has the best plan to support you. 3 - Is it difficult to have personal hygiene? >> NO. At each camping site, the tour provider will prepare a composting toilet (using rice husks to remove odors and decompose quickly). They will also provide hand gel to use before meals and after going to the toilet to avoid infection. 4 - Is there a place to take a bath in the cave? >> YES.. For the first and last night, you can take a bath at Hang En campsite. There are bathing places inside Son Doong camps but you have to go further to have water. 5 - Can I join a group if I buy the tour alone? >> YES. With 10 tourists per tour maximum, you can join the group if traveling alone when registering with the tour company. 6 - Where to eat and drink? >> The tour company will provide a diverse menu for visitors. If you want to bring more food, you must notify the tour company. 7 - If I don’t like to join a group tour, can I discover the cave on my own?

>> NO, you can only explore Son Doong through the units licensed to operate the tour.  Vietnam Son Doong cave is seen as the Great Wall of Vietnam will not let you down when taking an adventurous journey to here. Other amazing caves in Vietnam for an adventurous exploration in Vietnam. 

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27 Things to know before travelling to the Son Doong Cave in Vietnam

If you’re planning to participate in any cave tours around the world, Vietnam deserves to be on top of your list. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, in the central region of Vietnam is actually home to some of the world’s biggest, most astounding and rarest caves and cave systems ever seen and explored by humankind on Earth.

It would interest you to know that the World’s Largest Cave, ‘Son Doong Cave’, majestically rests in the glorious Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam.

With an effort to quench the thirst of curiosity that travellers have when planning to explore the Son Doong Cave, we’ve made a handy list of the 27 things you should know before travelling to the mighty Son Doong Cave in Vietnam:

Before the tour

1.  tour operator.

Oxalis Adventure , based in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam, is the official and only adventure tour operator in the world that conducts tours in the Son Doong Cave. The rights to visit Son Doong Cave have been awarded by the Vietnamese Government to Oxalis Adventure since 2013 till now. Oxalis is selected due to their professionalism, safety and environmental conservation efforts.

2.  Tour Price

Exploring the Son Doong Cave is a once in a lifetime experience and  Oxalis Adventure  sets the price of this glorious journey at USD 3000. The price includes accommodations before and after the trek, National Park fees; technical advisor, guide, safety assistant team; all meals, safety and camping equipment.

3.  Suitable time for the tour

The Son Doong Expedition still has plenty of availability throughout the 2023 season, and whilst your preferred date might be booked, just check the calendar to find the best available date for your Son Doong Cave Expedition. Many websites incorrectly state that Son Doong Cave is booked out years in advance, but since the new itinerary of the is changed (going through Son Doong Cave instead of going back), the Government has increased the number of guests allowed to visit the cave in one year, there are now plenty of places available. However, don’t leave it too long to make your booking as you might miss out.

Simply book your journey here:  https://oxalisadventure.com/tour/son-doong-cave-expedition-4d3n/ ;

Email us at  [email protected]  or reach our Son Doong adventure specialist directly at hotline:  +84 919 900 357.

4.  Duration & Season

The Son Doong Expedition pans out over 4 days and 3 nights in the flawless jungle and caves of the region. Keep in mind that there will be 2 days extra on the itinerary for logistical and important activities before and after the tour.

You can participate in the Son Doong Expedition anytime between January to August every year. There are no departures for Son Doong Expedition in other months, as Phong Nha might experience extreme weather conditions due to the rainy season.

5.  Nature of the tour

This is not a classic tour. A journey with Oxalis Adventure, to the Son Doong Cave, is in the form of an  Adventure Expedition , with numerous adventurous activities to enjoy. Despite the fact that there is plenty of sightseeing and rest involved, this expedition is considered to be quite challenging, physically and mentally. As long as you have the spirit to do it, you’ll enjoy every single moment on this adventurous journey in the World’s Biggest Cave.

6.  Local Registration

It is important to know that your passport will be collected on Day 1 of the expedition and will be returned to you once the tour ends. This is done for registering your entry to the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park authorities. Your passport will be kept safe and secure at the Oxalis office.

7.  Difficulty level

The Son Doong Expedition isn’t easy in any way; only physically active guests with regular trekking experience are recommended to participate in this expedition. However, we’ve had a majority of guests who found it quite arduous to finish, but upon completion of the Son Doong Expedition, they defined it to be an experience of a lifetime; it makes you realize how strong you really are and that every challenge is indeed all in the mind.

If you’re planning to join the Son Doong Expedition, we recommend you to have a training regime and stick to it, to be in good shape while on the journey. Your training regime should primarily be focused on cardiovascular exercises to build stamina and some body weight exercises to maintain reasonable strength.

8.  Age Eligibility

Only the individuals above the age of 18 years and physically active with regular trekking experience are eligible to participate in the Son Doong Expedition. We don’t technically have an upper limit on the age of a guest. We’ve had really fit senior citizens over 75 years in age and they conquered the Son Doong Expedition in spectacular fashion!

During the tour

9.  safety in the tour.

Oxalis Adventure  prioritizes safety at the very top. The Oxalis staff is highly trained and all the activities are conducted under the expert technical guidance and supervision of our British Cave Research Association members. Apart from this, all the tour guides, porters and safety assistants of Oxalis Adventure are meticulously trained in all safety and rescue activities and operations. You’re in the safest hands when doing the Son Doong Expedition.

10.  Equipment in the tour

All the equipment (safety & general) provided to you by  Oxalis Adventure  on the expedition, is of the highest quality and comes with international attestation. Oxalis uses only the best internationally acclaimed brands while operating adventure tours, such as Petzl, the world’s leading caving gear brand. All the harnesses, ropes, helmets, headlamps, karabiners, camming devices etc. are of top notch quality.  Given the challenging nature of the Son Doong Expedition, Oxalis never compromises on the quality at any point and provides and assists the guests with the best of appropriate equipment required to take on the Son Doong Cave.

11.  Distance Covered

While you’re on this expedition, you’ll be trekking for more than 25 km in the jungle and mountains, which includes caving for 9 Km that includes rope climbs, rocky terrain and scrambling (including a 90m climb up the calcite wall called the “Great Wall of Vietnam” inside the Son Doong Cave). There are also multiple surface and underground river crossings (10-50 m Wide River).

On every step of this long adventurous journey, you’ll be enchanted by unique sights and the beauty of the jungle along with the adrenaline pumping activities will make you forget all about exhaustion! Throughout the whole distance, you’ll be completely safe under the guidance of our professionally trained tour guide, safety assistants and of course the cave expert from The British Vietnam Caving Expedition Team .

12.  The Caves You Explore

On the Son Doong Expedition, you not only explore the World’s Largest Cave – Son Doong, but also the World’s Third Largest Cave – Hang En Cave. You also get to spend a night camping inside the Hang En cave. This is another reason that the Son Doong Expedition receives such popularity worldwide, as you get to be a part of the world’s biggest caves over a time span of 4 days and 3 nights!

13.  Technical Sections

As Son Doong is the world’s biggest cave, it has many parts that aren’t that easily accessible without some technical caving and professionally guided traversing. If you don’t have much experience in climbing or using ropers for traversing, don’t you worry;  Oxalis Adventure ’s professionally trained team will have your back at all times and help you breeze through such activities. Some parts of the expedition are fairly technical and the Oxalis team will assist you with all the necessary safety equipment and help you get through the technical sections with less difficulty.

On this expedition, you won’t be required to rappel or abseil. However, there is an 80 m descent into the cave which is done through a zig-zag hike down and rock climbing in small portions, with appropriate safety equipment and under the support of our trained team; no previous experience? No problem!

14.  Swimming

Swimming is not a requisite for the Son Doong Expedition, as there are no required swimming sections. However, you have the option to take a dip and enjoy a swim at the  Hang En cave – the world’s 3rd largest cave .

15.  Food on tour

You won’t believe it until you see the scrumptious spread laid out in front of you. Each Son Doong Expedition is conducted in the company of two local Vietnamese chefs, along with a team of assistants to prepare the best meals you will try in Vietnam; all the meals are prepared daily and maintain the highest level of freshness.

We all love Vietnamese food, but when you are enjoying delicious Chicken or Pork BBQ with Lemongrass and chilli at your campsite, sitting underground, miles away from civilization, after a big day trekking, it’s an experience you will never ever forget. The chef team is fantastic and always tries and caters to anyone with food allergies or special requirements. You name it, they have dealt with it!

16.  Overnight camping

There are hardly any cave tours in Vietnam where you get to camp inside a cave. However, on the Son Doong Expedition, you’ll get to spend your nights camping inside caves with 3 different campsites; Hang En campsite, Son Doong Camp 1 and Son Doong Camp 2. You will be provided with a high quality tent, equipped with two mattresses, one pillow and a sleeping bag to make sure you sleep comfortably on your adventure. You would love to learn more about the amazing overnight camping tours in Phong Nha as well!

17.  Composting Toilets

At the campsites, you’ll be using composting toilets, which is an environmentally conservative method. A composting toilet works in a way that all the human waste gets decomposed and becomes a fertilizer in a matter of some months. Everything that is taken into the jungle and cave is returned back out the same way. The composting toilets are also cleaned and taken out on a regular basis, in order to maintain the standard of hygiene. And if you happen to receive a nature call when not at the campsite, the tour guide will guide you to the nearest and most appropriate spot in the jungle; it’ll be a memorable experience, as you’ll have a toilet with the best view in the world!

18.  Luggage

All your packed luggage that you’d require at the campsites will be carried safely by the Son Doong Expedition porters of  Oxalis Adventure  in advance and will be kept secure at all times. All the luggage that you decide to actually carry yourself while trekking should just consist of basic items like sunscreen, water (filtered water provided by Oxalis) etc. This is recommended so that you can maximize your trekking and caving experience without having to worry about carrying a heavy load. Besides that, if there’s any luggage you don’t wish to tag along, you can keep them at the Oxalis Adventure headquarters storage, where it’ll be kept safe in a personal locker.

19.  Valuable Items

Oxalis recommends not carrying valuable items like jewelry or money on the expedition, as there might be a possibility of such items getting damaged or lost during the trek through the jungles. It’s advised to keep such items in the safe lockers provided at the Oxalis office storage space.

20.  What to wear

It is recommended to wear full sleeve t-shirts and long pants (preferably quick dry), along with non-waterproof trekking shoes that drain water easily, on this expedition. This is to protect yourself from factors like sunburn, rashes, thorns, poison ivy, insects etc.) To learn more about the details of what to carry, kindly check the packing section on the Oxalis website.

21.  Wildlife

Owing to the fact that Son Doong Cave is an ecosystem in itself, there is a certain kind of wildlife in and around the cave. However, it’s highly unlikely for you to come across anything that’s dangerous. While on the trek, you might encounter some geckos, butterflies, beautiful bugs or snakes (highly unlikely). Inside the cave, you can hear bats flying around. The Oxalis staff will keep you safe and share knowledge with you about special flora and fauna seen along the way.

22.  Using a drone/flycam

You’ll only be only allowed to use a drone inside the National Park if you have a clearance certificate from the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province government, Vietnam Ministry of National Defense and the government of Vietnam. Unless you’re a professional & licensed, attempting to get a drone inside Son Doong Cave isn’t recommended.

23.  Electricity and external communication

While you’re on the Son Doong Expedition, you won’t have access to any electricity and your communication devices like phone, tablet etc. will be completely out of network coverage for 4 days and 3 nights; kindly inform your close ones about this in advance, so as not to cause any distress. Oxalis staff will be carrying a satellite phone that’s only used in emergency situations.

24.  Son Doong is a cave that built a village and changed lives

You should know that by being part of the Son Doong Expedition, you’re not just doing another adventure tour; you become part of a legacy. Since the day Oxalis Adventure was associated with Son Doong, the lives of the locals of Phong Nha have changed for the better. Son Doong Cave is not just another cave, it’s a blessing of nature and also a world in itself that’ll make you believe in the extraordinary.

After the tour

25.  other activities in phong nha.

Son Doong Cave is located in Phong Nha National Park, in Central Vietnam. Phong Nha is rapidly becoming an adventure hub in Asia, thanks to the Son Doong Cave, and there is now a range of other caving tours offered in the area. Tu Lan Cave System – where you will find yourself swimming through river caves and camping in some of the most pristine jungle valleys complete with stunning waterfalls. Many trekking enthusiasts usually combine a Son Doong Expedition with jungle trekking and caving tours to Tu Lan to get their added jungle and trekking fix.

If you wish to stick around in Phong Nha and relax after your Son Doong Expedition, you can check out  What to do in Phong Nha  for more information!

26.  Live like a local

Phong Nha is now home to over a 100 accommodations that are close to the gorgeous Son River, the surrounding rice fields and hidden valleys. These accommodations are not too fancy, but you won’t find anything like it in Vietnam, as the people here are what really set Phong Nha apart – you will be greeted with smiles and friendly faces no matter where you stay. You might even be lucky enough to find yourself staying in a homestay run by one of the Son Doong porters!

27.  Beaches and Seafood

Thinking where you can just lay back and chill after your Son Doong Expedition? Just a 45 minute drive from Phong Nha, Dong Hoi City (where you will fly into and out of when visiting Phong Nha), has some of the best seafood in Vietnam. This city is famous for having some of the most exotic seafood available in the country, along with two gorgeous beaches; the Nhat Le beach and Bao Ninh beach. Check out the top best dishes in Dong Hoi that you cannot miss!

The World’s Largest Cave, ‘Son Doong Cave’ and its most-wanted jungle trekking & cave expedition is the dream of every true adventurer and nature lover, when it comes to cave tours in Vietnam or around the world.

Check out the availability for this expedition today for your 2023 journey: https://oxalisadventure.com/tour/son-doong-cave-expedition-4d3n/

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Packing list and Cave Expedition to Son Doong, World’s Largest Cave – [Updated for 2022]

Tucked away in the middle of Central Vietnam’s jungle is a nondescript entrance to the world’s largest cave, a cave so massive that it could fit multiple full sized airplanes and 40 story skyscrapers. Inside the cave is a mystical world unlike any other – complete with its own ecosystem, climate, and even clouds.

Here’s some basic information about us and our trip!

Month of our expedition: March Age: late 20s Physical preparations: Rock climbing, 4000-footer hikes in New Hampshire, lots of squats!

Porters are hardworking humans, not robots!

Your belongings that do NOT go in your day pack must be under 6kg

In my daypack, I had my camera gear, a couple of wet wipes, my cell phone, long sleeve shirt, some small drybags, and my ID. Oxalis will provide a helmet and a water bottle. I did not ned to carry any snacks, first aid supplies, etc. They’ll take care of all that for you.

Everything else goes into a clear plastic bag that cannot be more than 6kg/13lbs.

To keep things organized in that plastic bag, I used these lightweight packing cube s. I believe I had 5 or 6 cubes in total.

I believe my plastic bag was about 3kg / 7 lbs.

Below is a list of literally everything I packed. If anything I wrote on this guide helps you, even a little, click on an Amazon link and buy something. I get a tiny kickback, and I’m going to buy bubble tea with it… or save up for my next adventure 🙂

This is from the first doline in Hang Son Doong. See the tiny white light in the upper middle of the frame? That’s the headlamp from one of our porters!

Son Doong Packing Tips

Nicole’s Backpack

Here’s the Osprey backpack that I loved using. sprey Sirrus 24L Day Hiking Pack for Women . (Here’s same one for men )

I love the quality of Osprey and specifically chose one that had a ventilated tensioned mesh backpanel. It was lightweight for 8+ hours of trekking, but large enough to carry my photography equipment. Even though I was sweating like crazy, my back never felt disgusting. The hip belt was also great for weight distribution so my shoulders never got tired. The women’s version was ideal because of the thinner straps.

Jason’s Backpack

Jason’s father had gone on the expedition a year before we did and they all used this waterproof backpack . Jason borrowed it from his father.

Though it didn’t have the mesh back panel like mine, the one feature I did envy was that it was completely waterproof via the roll-top access on the top. No pockets on the inside, but he didn’t really need it. It was super lightweight and easy to pack inside of another back when we traveled from the US to Vietnam.

Both bags are 24-25L, which I’d recommend as the perfect capacity.

Dry Bags within the backpacks

Even if your bag is already waterproof, doubling up and putting your essentials in a colorful drybag is a good ideas so that moisture doesn’t creep in and ruin everything. Even though Jason’s backpack is 100% waterproof, he still utilized some of the small drybags for camera equipment.

Pro tips for dry bags

• Get different colored ones so that you can separate stuff appropriately!
• The fancy ones ( like this one ) has a window in it so that you can easily see what’s inside.
• They make heavy duty ones for scuba diving and boating, but if you’re using them within a backpack, the lighter weight ones are perfectly fine.

Here are the drybags that I used and loved

2L drybags ones are great for batteries, Sd cards, phones, etc. I had three of these 4L drybags are great for cameras and lenses. I had three of these as well.

Clothes to pack for Son Doong Expedition for women

I get a lot of e-mails about clothing, specifically for women, so here’s exactly what I packed, with links to everything!

Let’s start with the most important. I brought four pairs (total) of these lightweight socks . Some prefer medium weight socks , but it’s already a thousand degrees in the jungle. Yes, they are more expensive than other socks, but here’s why they’re necessary:

• Merino Wool and lightly cushioned – Any adventure-goer will know about merino wool.
• Hugs perfectly at the ankle and arch of foot – These are performance socks for comfort.
• Calf height – Pull them all the way up!
• No blisters – I can’t say the same for. the rest of my trekmates…
• Pull your socks all the way up and tuck your pants INSIDE of the socks. This way, sand, dirt, and LEECHES don’t find their ways inside.
• Put these socks on. Put your shoes on. Then go into your bathtub and SUBMERGE your foot up to as high as you can. Then go outside and. walk a mile. BREAK THEM IN!
• Each day, the socks will get wet within 10 minutes. You could probably get by with 2 pairs total if you wanted to.

I brought 5 shirts in total.

• (2) sleeveless tanks with built-in bras
• (2) t-shirts
• (1) long sleeve shirt

What to look for in shirts

• Quick dry – This is a must, because you’re either wet from the jungle or from your sweat.
• Breathable and sweat wicking – Self explanatory

For me personally, I love tank tops with built in bras. I find them comfortable for any sort of athletic and adventure activities.

I am in love with these tank tops with built in bras . I could wear them all day.

This long sleeve shift was excellent for the campsite in the mornings. I wore it daily because it was chilly when we woke up, but never chilly enough for a fleece. I carried with me in my day bag, but never used it.

• Wear one of your t-shirts as a sleeping shirt. On the last day, wear this shirt to trek.

Fleece / Outerwear

Light fleece – I never wore this fleece . Never took it out. I wish I didn’t bring it at all.

I brought 3 pairs of pants in total. I. did not pack shorts.

• Wear one of your pants as pajama pants. On the last day, wear this pair of pants to trek.
• I liked pants/leggings that tapered off at the ankles like these ones so that I could wear my socks OVER my pants. This way, so that leeches wouldn’t crawl up my legs. My husband had regular pants, and he just tucked them into his socks.

Shoes for Son Dong and Hang En

I brought two pairs of shoes: Canyoneering trekking and a pair of flip slops.

I had 5:10 Canyoneering boots, which were the best and highly recommended by Oxalis. They were out of stock for women, so I just sized down and purchased men’s shoes.

Before we left for the trek, there was a safety briefing and intro night at the farm stay. Many porters mentioned that I would love my 5:10s, and they were right. There are some steep parts, and I was happy to be able to trust my shoes so much.

What to look for in trekking shoes

• NOT waterproof – It’s important that the shoes can drain
• Ankle support – For some of the jungle treks, river crossings, and scrambling, having good support was helpful, but not necessary.
• Avoid Gore-Tex – They’re great in other situations, but not this ones.
• Excellent grip – There are parts in the cave, where you just need to trust your shoes. Soft and sticky rubber soles are best.

I brought one pair of underwear for each day – 6 in total. 5 pairs in total.

It was really nice to change into a clean and dry pair of undies when we got back to the campsite. I really liked these undies. Do not bring cotton. It’s not going to dry, and it won’t feel very nice.

E-mail me if you want to talk more about lady things. My time-of-the-month hit during the beginning of the trek. If I can do it, so can you.

Oxalis reminds their guests to be respectful of the staff, porters, and modest culture. I chose to leave the bikini at home and brought one simple swimsuit – Either one of these would be just fine: one piece or tankini .

Climbing/Adventure/Camping

Sleeping Bag Liner

At 4.6 ounces, this silk sleeping bag liner made sleeping so comfortable. Oxalis does a great job cleaning and labeling your bag, tent, sleeping bag so that you always get the same one, but having this just made me feel so much cleaner after a day of humid trekking.

Biodegradable Wet Wipes

I want to recommend these wipes to everyone. These are MUST HAVEs.

Jason and I shared one pack. They’re BIG wipes. We used two wipes each in the morning to freshen up (face, neck, arms, legs) and two at the end of the day before crawling back into sleeping bags.

Reminder: There are zero shower or bathing opportunities.

If you wanted to bring one full pack, you could share with your trekmates. They will love you for it.

• Hypoallergenic & Unscented 
• Eco friendly – 100% biodegradable and start to decompose after 28 days
• Not-So-Fun fact: Baby wipes contain plastics and can take up to 100 years to degrade.

I didn’t shower or bathe for the entire trip except for the one swim.

This t owel set came with three towels – a full bath one, a medium one, and a small face towel. I brought the middle one, and it was more tha enough.

You want to look for:

• Small (15 inches x 20inches.. or even smaller)

Seeing as this was a trip of a lifetime, I wanted to make sure that I had the best camera for Son Dong and Hang En.

I love mirrorless cameras. They’re small, powerful, and pack a punch. Both the below cameras have incredible dynamic range.

The Sony A7R III was great for its resolution. We made some large prints, and they’re stunning.

• Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 – If it’s in your budget, you’ll want this. GO WIDE. You’ll want to shoot wide to capture the grandeur of the scenery. 2.8 was ideal to let in as much light as possible when going handheld. Here’s the f/4 version, its less expensive little brother.
• Sony 85mm f/1.4 – I’m a portrait photographer, so I loved having this with me.
• Sony 24-105mm f/4 – This is a fantastic versatile travel lens that Jason loves.

I have four of these SD cards . The Sony A7 III and A7R III both have dual SD card slots, so two were always in the camera. and two for backup.

This Peak Design tripod is lightweight and beautifully designed. I love how quickly the legs extend out and the easy locking mechanism. It always feels secure.

Pre-moistened lens wipes

Bring these lens wipes so that your glass will always be clean! They’re useful for phone cameras too.

Battery Pack

Grab a small Anker Portable battery pack , probably enough to recharge your phone once or twice. You won’t have any service in the middle of the Central Vietnam Jungle, so if you put your phone on airplane mode, it’ll likely last for 2-3 days without a charge.

What NOT to pack

• Dry shampoo/Shampoo/Conditioner – I didn’t bathe at all, and you probably won’t either. I believe there’s only one spot on night #1 that has bathing water. I just tied my hair back in a French braid and left it for a few days. Again, get these wipes !
• Soap – I brought a small bottle, but again I didn’t bathe at all. I did take wet nap baths daily, and it was awesome. Don’t bother with soap.
• Deodorant – I am less prone to body odor. I’ve been told it’s because Eastern Asians have fewer apocrine sweat glands. The daily  wipes   kept me clean. However, there was one person on our trip that was a little stinky, and I wish this person took up my offer of these wet wipes. I’d find an eco-friendly small bottle if you’re prone to be stinky.
• First Aid Kit – The safety assistants have everything and a kit will always be within earshot of you. Don’t bother bringing your own bandages and whatnot. If you have specific medicine, go for it.
• Talcum Powder – I brought a small ziploc, but again… it wasn’t needed. When we got back to the campsite, my wet socks and shoes would come off. I’d use these wipes to wipe down my body and my feet, and then I’d wear flip flops so that my feet would dry.
• Water bottle – I had brought a few 1L Platypus Ultralight water bottles, but at the start of the trip, they give you a 1.5L water bottle and it’s much easier to refill that. Do NOT bring a camelback. The mouthpiece will likely get wet during one of the river crossings, and there’s a high chance of you getting sick from the Central Vietnam Jungle rivers.
• Food & Snacks – The tour provided an abundance of amazing food and snacks. I was shocked at how delicious everything was. I’m a HUGE snacker, and feel like I’m constantly eating. There was plenty of fruit, salty snacks, sweet snacks, crackers, etc. My KIND bars and CLIF bars went completely untouched.
• Shorts – I brought a pair, but it was too cold at night.
• Hiking sticks – Utterly useless. You’ll need your hands to scramble. This is my biggest regret. I left them at the farm stay and didn’t even bring them on the trek. I found a stick and had fun carrying that, but even that wasn’t needed.
• Tent – Oxalis provided the most glorious tent I’ve ever slept in.
• Sleeping bag & Pillow – Extremely comfortable and clean. They’ll label your name on it, so that you get the same mat, pillow, and tent each time. I did really like my silk sleeping bag liner, though.
• Sleeping mat – I’ve never slept with such luxury in tents before. It was so comfortable.
• Bug spray – It’ll probably be useful when you’re at the farmstay, but I had packed it in my 6kg pack, and never used it at all.
• Gloves – Oxalis will provide for you.

That’s all I’ve got! Have any questions? Drop me an e-mail below.

Plenty of scrambling

On the first night, we camped in Hang En Cave, the third largest cave in the world.

Here’s our new Australian/South African friend, Jonavan, pulling us in the inflated raft

Our master chef is making us spring rolls

We started our morning with a bowl of pho and fruits. My favorites were the dragonfruit!

Throughout the five days, there were over 30 river crossings. Our socks and shoes were constantly soaked.

This is the tiny entrance to Hang Son Dong Cave

Naturally formed cave pearls. Some of them were the size of baseballs!

Special thanks to Sea To Summit , LensProToGo , and Petzl for sponsoring incredible gear for this cave expedition!

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Ultimate Coffee Date: May 2023

Duck Stop in Phong Nha

Son Doong Cave Expedition with Oxalis: What To Expect

• Filed under Travel Tuesday

May 23, 2023

Guess who’s finally back with a Travel Tuesday post!?!?!? (The last one I wrote was back in December 2022 so this is kinda big news for me.) I recently returned from a ~2-week trip to Vietnam! The main reason for this trip was to go on the Son Doong Cave Expedition — we ended up adding a few more caving trips to our overall itinerary because whyyyy not.

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For the record, this is not a sponsored post (…although if Oxalis Adventure would like to sponsor a future tour for me, I’d be more than overjoyed because I really loved my experience with them, hence my raving about this).

Son Doong Cave Expedition with Oxalis Adventure: What To Expect

The 6-day, 5-night tour costs $3000 USD (US Dollar), or 72,000,000 VND (Vietnamese dong). $3k is definitely a hefty price (at one point, this sum could’ve fed me for a good 5 years !), so what’s included?

• VAT fee (10%)
• Entrance Fee + Environment Service ($600)
• Management Fee/Supervision ($20)
• We didn’t end up utilizing this since we took an overnight bus from Hanoi + had another multi-day tour booked the day afterward.
• The porters will carry up to 7kg’s worth of your stuff, so our day packs were very, very light.
• Transportation to/from Phong Nha National Park
• 1st night at the Son Doong Bungalow
• 3 nights in the cave with tents (can choose to stay in a single or a double)
• Last night at the Chay Lap Farmstay
• Prepared meals (welcome dinner after the safety briefing/overview on the first night, breakfast/lunch/dinner for all the days that you’re camping, as well as a gala dinner at the farmstay when you return + snacks in between)

This is the lunch we had on day 1 at the village before we trekked over to Hang En (the first cave)!

• I bought a pair of trekking shoes on sale before I left, but they ran small and I ended up with 2 still-numb toes + 1 very black toenail after an 8 mile hike the weekend before our trip in my attempt to “break em’ in.” Quite fortunately, if you don’t have suitable trekking shoes, you can loan a pair of army boots from them as long as your shoe size is between sizes 36-46 (EUR). They are pretty minimalistic with no real arch support (they’ll stick in a little insole for you). Wear thick socks to prevent blisters. I have pretty flat feet and wore them daily for 2 multi-day tours (~7-8 days total) and didn’t get a single blister, but YMMV.
• Camping gear (tent, sleeping mat, pillow, sleeping bag, camp slippers, water bottle, water pump/filters, semi-dry bag, first aid kit )
• We bought additional travel insurance through World Nomads just in case!

Hot food on a cold rainy morning = the best. <3

My brother first read about Son Doong back in 2013 and has wanted to explore it ever since. When he asked me if I’d be interested in going too, in what universe would I have said no?!

Only 1000 people are allowed to visit each year + each group is comprise dof a max of 10 guests! Spots fill super quickly — we filled our applications out back in 5/2022 and hoped for the best!

The Son Doong Expedition’s difficulty level is 6 (hard). The scale is based on an average fitness level, so you definitely don’t have to be a marathon runner/mountaineer to be able to complete this. I wrote that I’d climbed Half Dome , Rose Peak , and the Rae Lakes Loop Trail and was good to go/didn’t find any aspect of it to be very difficult. It’s in your best interest to fill the form out correctly because they can and will turn people back if they don’t seem like they can handle it.

Atop the “Wedding Cake” in Son Doong!

The trek consists of:

• When we went, it was pouring rain on the first day so everything was extra slippery. There were also a bunch of river crossings, the highest of which was about waist-deep for me. The last day included climbing down a ton of sharp rocks in the jungle, so we kept our helmets on throughout until we’d passed all of them.
• 800m (~2625 feet) of steep climbing + 8 km (~5 miles) of caving (involves a good amount of scrambling — harnesses provided for via ferrata + knotted ropes also available at the especially steep locations)
• Last day also includes 90m (~295ft) steep climb (up the “Wall of Vietnam) from the bottom of the cave passage to the top!
• Swimming (optional – lifejacket required)

Weather/Climate

Tours run from January to the end of August every year. (Rainy season is intense so it’s not safe to operate tours during that time.)

I asked Tha (our tour guide) when his favorite time of year was + he said each season has its own benefits. From what I gather, February is a great time if you really want to capture the ethereal sunbeam photos from inside the cave but temperatures are pretty cold then (especially in the cave). In the summer months, the swimming in the lakes in the cave is likely super refreshing, but trekking in the jungle will be freakishly hot. April/May is when it’s not overwhelmingly hot, things are all blooming or green in the jungle, and mist starts settling in various parts of the cave — I’m glad we went when we did (mid-May)!

The above (turning people back) is mainly due to safety concerns. I really appreciated how much emphasis they placed on safety. Rescue have to be done on foot and could take hours. There is no wifi/reception and no path for a car, let alone even a bike. Several years back, one of the safety assistants cut out leg holes in their pack so that he could carry one of the guests back to civilization after she injured her leg!)

At one of the river crossings!

Our caving expert did have a satellite phone in case of emergency (which our group fortunately did not have to utilize), and the staff can also communicate via walkie talkie across longer distances if needed. The safety assistants were also super proactive/attentive and any time the thought of “Oh, this looks like it could be slippery,” even crossed my mind, one of them would magically appear in front of me to either lend me a strong arm to hold onto or to advise me on where to put my feet, if needed.

• Have you ever been to a cave?
• Do you think you’d ever go camping in a cave (or on the Son Doong Cave Expedition?!)? I’ll be back next week with more on my actual experiences!
• Anything you’d want to know about this trip?
• Isn’t it good that we didn’t decide to watch The Descent before going on this trip? (…We did that prior to going on a caving tour in West Virginia and really should not have. I will write about that hopefully-soon too!)

Related Posts

• asia , family , hiking , hobbies , national parks , nature , outdoors , travel , travel tuesday , vietnam

Permanent link to this article: https://www.fairyburger.com/son-doong-expedition-tour-with-oxalis-what-to-expect/

35 comments

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• Linda on May 23, 2023 at 9:18 am

This is SO amazing! Thank you for sharing this experience! Captivating, interesting, and so exciting!

• Farrah on May 26, 2023 at 12:43 am

Thank you!!! :D It was such a fun trip!!

• Jess Drake on June 28, 2023 at 5:48 pm

Hi! I would really like to do this trip! I am a fit and healthy 65yr old – does that matter? I own and ride horses and do all the physical jobs that is entailed in the keeping of horses. I walk my dogs twice daily around our 69 acres of land. Would I be allowed to go?

• Farrah on July 1, 2023 at 12:59 pm

• Jess on July 1, 2023 at 1:10 pm

Yes I’m currently talking to one now but he is asking me if I’ve on any hiking or trekking which I haven’t- just walking, lots of, on different terrains. Not sure he’ll think that is acceptable 🤔

• ShootingStarsMag on May 23, 2023 at 10:33 am

I do not have the physical ability to do this, but that’s exciting you were finally able to go and had a great time. I can’t wait to hear more!

• Farrah on May 26, 2023 at 12:55 am

The daily mileage actually wasn’t too bad, although the hiking through the jungle part in pouring rain + leeches was not what I was expecting, hahaha. Minus the leeches though, it was really fun! :D …More to come next week!

• Ashley on May 24, 2023 at 5:02 pm

I’ve been to a number of caves but none that look like Son Doong. Loved the photos and great insights you shared. I think the price is quite reasonable for all that is included. Thanks for sharing all the details.

• Farrah on May 26, 2023 at 1:03 am

• Elyse on May 24, 2023 at 7:09 pm

I looked at doing this last year while in Vietnam, but just didn’t have enough time! Looks absolutely incredible though, definitely do it next trip. Thanks for including all the prices too

• Farrah on May 26, 2023 at 1:12 am

• Brittney on May 24, 2023 at 8:08 pm

Wow, this looks like quite the trip. I don’t know if I could ever do something like this, but this seems like the perfect trip for the super adventurous.

• Farrah on June 4, 2023 at 5:15 am

• Karen on May 25, 2023 at 1:37 pm

Wow, this sounds incredible. What a wonderful adventure. Were there places in the cave where you needed to squeeze through?

• Farrah on May 26, 2023 at 1:15 am

• Hannah on May 26, 2023 at 1:52 pm

This looks like such an incredible experience! Nature is just fascinating! The wedding cake is super cool. Thanks for sharing!

• Farrah on May 27, 2023 at 9:28 pm

Isn’t it!? It felt like a whole ‘nother world in that cave! They have lots of fun names for the structures in there! :]

• Discover Portugal on May 28, 2023 at 8:18 am

Wow what an experience! I’ve been to some other caves in Vietnam but this one looks so spectacular! I’d love to visit.

• Farrah on May 31, 2023 at 9:43 pm

It was such an amazing experience! :D I’d love to check out more of the caves (+ more places in general) in Vietnam!!

• A Capone Connection on May 28, 2023 at 2:52 pm

This looks like such a fun adventure. I love the picture of you on top of the “wedding cake”. I want one like that! Thanks so much for sharing!

• Farrah on May 31, 2023 at 9:48 pm

• Nancy on May 28, 2023 at 6:39 pm

Oh wow! What an experience! I’d love to see the camping setup. I’ll bet it was crazy dark in there. Thanks for giving us a taste of this adventure.

• Farrah on June 4, 2023 at 1:43 am

• Rhonda Albom on May 30, 2023 at 3:57 am
• Farrah on May 31, 2023 at 9:45 pm

Yeah, this one was definitely farrrr from making anyone feel claustrophobic! It was hard to really process just how ginormous it was!

• Denise on May 30, 2023 at 10:45 am

Your Son Doong Cave Expedition looks really cool! I usually shy away from caves, but I think I’d like this one!

• Farrah on May 31, 2023 at 9:49 pm

• Susan on May 30, 2023 at 8:48 pm

What an incredible experience! Definitely adding this to my list – another great reason to make a return trip to Vietnam. I appreciate their focus on safety, things could go south pretty quickly on a trip like this.

• Farrah on May 31, 2023 at 9:52 pm

Yay! I hope you get to go sometime!! It absolutely could’ve gone badly in so many ways on this trek — I felt super safe the whole time! <3

• Camile Dionne-West on June 5, 2023 at 4:43 pm

I’m booked for February 2024. Your advice is super useful. Working out so much to get ready. I DONT want to be turned back. I’ll be 63 when I go, I’m in good shape for my age, but I’m not 30 anymore.

• Farrah on June 9, 2023 at 10:35 am

Ahhh, you got this! Have so much fun!! I hear the lighting in the cave in February is extra beautiful!! (But cold, so def pack layers!) they have a really great packing list and info on what to expect, but I’ll be putting together a post on what I brought and other things I learned on the way soon! Hopefully that will be helpful as well. :]!

• Josy A on June 27, 2023 at 12:36 pm

OMG Farrah this looks incredible! I mean it sounds hard, but totally doable (especially with light bags- what luxury!) That amazing food must have made it feel like you were glamping!

• Farrah on June 30, 2023 at 5:57 pm

Forreal! I thought it would be a lot harder but it was a really enjoyable experience (other than the leeches, hahaha) and I didn’t feel it was that difficult. I’ve never eaten this well on a camping/backpacking trip!! *-*

• Nicole Pham on October 23, 2023 at 10:10 pm

You mentioned crossing a waist deep in the river. Then what happened after the crossing? You stopped to change or continued the trekking in wet clothes/wet shoes?How many river crossings in total? Thanks in advance for your answers :-)

• Farrah on November 6, 2023 at 1:16 pm

Hi! Sorry that I didn’t see this comment til now — we just kept trekking in wet clothes since we were walking through a torrential downpour in the jungle anyway. I lost track of how many river crossings we did in total but there were a good amount (maybe 15-16-ish? I remember about 5-6 of them being big crossings and the rest weren’t bad)!

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Son Doong Day 1 – Through the jungle to Hang En

After a series of plane rides from Seoul to Hanoi and finally to Dong Hoi I was picked up by Oxalis for my trip into Son Doong, the world’s largest cave.  From Dong Hoi it was about an hour ride to Phong Nha; the home of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a remote jungle wonderland filled with more amazement than I could possibly have imagined.

Waking up the next day we took our last showers and made sure everyone’s pack was set for the 7 day trip deep into the rain forest.  45 minutes later we were pulling off the newly paved road; we only passed a solitary motor bike and 1 other van on this secluded highway.

The crew (From L-R) Thanh – Vietnamese Tour Guide, Julian, Alex, Kate, Chris, Deb – British Tour Guide, Sheena, Toby, Mr. Khanh – discovered Son Doong, Howard – British Tour Guide, Carla, Me

Before long we saw our porters mixed with a few jungle folk along the side of the road.  One last gear check and into the jungle we went!  The hike began on a narrow path with a steep hill to our left.  A few uphills were interspersed along the way as we gazed in awe at nature’s beauty surrounding us.  Within minutes mother nature had swallowed us whole.

Trekking through Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Ranger Mr. Phuoc

Our first water break came at our last peak of today’s path.  All 11 of us (Sheena, Carla, Katie, Chris, Alex, Julian, Toby, Howard, Deb, Myself & Thanh – an English speaking Vietnamese guide) let the porters and Phong Nha people stroll onward while we relaxed int eh shade and began to get to know each other.

Taking one more water break, we eventually reached the bottom and our first of many river crossings.  Wading in just above our ankles was refreshing and everyone splashed around cooling off in this 35°C, feels like 42°C heat.  The now leisurely hike included multiple water breaks in between a dozen river crossings over pleasantly flat terrain.  Unfortunately Gortex doesn’t let water out either which meant I was sloshing around for the rest of the day.  Good thing I prepared with wool socks!

Approaching a minority village in the middle of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

A minority village in the middle of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

By midday we reached a remote Phong Nha village.  Well, actually its a family of 32 with a few buildings and a school.  They invited us into their home to enjoy some midday shade and tea as our guides translated their tribal language and taught us about their farming lifestyle and local culture.  We were even promised a song on the journey back!

Their farmland was quickly devoured by the jungle as our journey restarted.  Still relatively flat yet full of rivers the trek managed to grow wearisome as we dreamed of lunch surrounded by the vibrant jungle mountains.  Along the trail Howard pointed to the ridge in the distance.  “That’s tiger territory.”  He said informing us that they find the same tracks of the brilliant feline with an injured paw so they know its flying solo.

2 more breaks and it was our first mealtime!  Our chefs had sliced veggies and laid out quite a spread for our “make our own hot dog lunch.”  The individually wrapped precooked franks were actually labeled as “baguettes” but with a little cucumber, tomato, cheese and chili sauce it made a delicious jungle picnic.

om nom nom nom nom

The last leg of our first day was quickly approaching.  Around the next bend Howard mentioned the faraway mountain with an obvious rock face.  Underneath that overhang was the entrance to Hang En where we would spend our first evening.  The trail began sporting tall grasses in between wading back and forth across the river.

While it was actually a few kilometers we seemed to arrive moments later and began donning our cave gear.  Helmets were strapped on with headlamps attached while everyone put on bright orange gloves to protect against the jagged rocks.  We quickly crossed the last river which brought us to our first series of bouldering.  After a few dozen rocks the cave suddenly expanded into a vast cavern.

The entrance to Hang En in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Hang En in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

On our right far below us lay a sandy floor surrounded by glorious pools.  To the left the boulders continued climbing upwards eventually ending in a massive exit to the dense jungle above.  We climbed 3/4 of the way up for a photo op while our porters finished setting up the tents and prepped dinner.

Campsite 1 in Hang En in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

A second entrance to Hang En in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Soaking in the breathtaking view of this massive scene it was hard to believe that this monstrosity wasn’t even the main event!  Tomorrow we would enter Son Doong, the world’s largest cave which was so remote we had to spend the night in Hang En’s beautiful foyer.  We headed back down and reached the bottom to unpack and enjoy a leisurely evening of swimming in the clear blue waters and getting to know each other over our first tastes of rice wine.

Vietnam – a land of new friends and amazing adventures

Son doong day 2 – jungle & descent, you may also like, 2nd interview, 2nd offer, still no letter of..., top 10 travel photos of 2015 #9, 40 before 40 – a bucketlist, presenting at taiwan’s google for education, aialik glacier kayaking with alaska geographic, psuedo strike day 1, taroko gorge – shakadang trail & the eternal..., night hiking bukaksan take 2, my old hagwon closed, hwe bibimbap and a cable car ride, 12 comments.

Reading your post, I really miss my trip to Son Doong last April! 🙁 It was really challenging but I was so happy to make it to the end 😀 Hope you had a great time in the cave!

I already want to go back to Phong Nha! It was certainly a challenge but well worth it. I had such a great time!

Love to share this with anyone who love SD! Chris Miller went to SD just a week after ours, he took amazing photos, hope your guys can share with friends too https://www.facebook.com/nz.chris/media_set?set=a.10152349406221760.1073741843.658281759&type=1

Nice entry man. Fellow Hang Son Doong alumni living here in Seoul as well. I went the first week of July and our expedition also had Thanh (awesome guide/friend) and Deb. Easily the best thing Ive ever partaken in. World class tour and experience. Thinking about a second round in February when the conditions are prime for photography. We should link up and swap stories man….. Ive got some photos as well at http://www.nogravebutthesea.org/

Patrick, It’d be great to meet up. Where in Seoul do you live/work? Thanh was such an amazing guy and it was awesome watching Deb work. Couldn’t agree more that its the best thing I’ve ever done.

Good luck going again in February, I hear they have a 5 year waitlist now. My hope is to head back and see some of the other caves/do Hang En again.

Wow, just checked out your photos! Simply amazing. I hope mine turn out as nice; looks like you did a great job with the lighting and I’m jealous of the sun beams in the first doline

[…] nature’s alarm clock began to ring as soon as light shone through Hang En’s massive entrance above us; with any luck we’d arrive at Son Doong by this afternoon but as the chorus of […]

[…] Son Doong Day 1 – Through the jungle to Hang En […]

[…] Take an overnight adventure into Hang En or Tu Lan […]

[…] Take an overnight adventure into Hang En or Tu Lan […]

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Son Doong Expedition Tour

Experience the wonder of nature with the son doong expedition, the son doong expedition is a renowned 6-day and 5-night cave exploration adventure in quang binh, vietnam. it offers a unique opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring landscapes and ever-changing terrains of the world's largest cave. with massive stalactites, stalagmites, underground rivers, and a thriving forest inside the cave, guests can experience the beauty of nature like never before. this expedition has received recognition from prestigious sources, including uk national geographic and british daily mail, for its remarkable adventure and stunning campsite..

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6 days / 5 nights, *prices vary based on departure season.

the itinerary

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DAY 1: Phong Nha – Safety Briefing

Upon arrival in Dong Hoi City, you will be picked up by VNXpedia staff and transferred to Son Doong Bungalow in Phong Nha. A safety briefing is mandatory for all participants, where you will meet the tour guide, safety expert, and other guests. You will need to bring your trekking shoes and personal backpack for a suitability check, and helmets and water bottles will be provided. After the briefing, you will enjoy a welcome dinner before preparing for the upcoming adventure.

DAY 2: Doong Village – Hang En Cave

The Son Doong Expedition begins with guests packing their belongings in a provided bag, which will be transported directly to the campsite. After breakfast and storing luggage at the VNXpedia Office, guests will depart by bus to the drop-off point within Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. A 3-hour trek through river crossings will then bring guests to the stunning Hang En Cave, their campsite for the first night. It is important to note that guests must adhere to safety and conservation regulations and may be asked to return if they face difficulties or pose a risk to themselves or the group.

DAY 3: Son Doong Entrance – Campsite Doline 1

After exploring Hang En Cave and admiring its stunning exit, the journey continues towards the entrance of Son Doong Cave. This leg of the trek involves multiple river crossings and a final steep hill leading to the cave entrance. As guests approach the cave entrance, they will feel a rush of cold air due to the temperature difference. Inside the cave, the vast passages and impressive formations will come into view. After descending further and crossing the river, guests will reach the first campsite of Son Doong, known as the Level Playing Fields. A delicious dinner will be served to end the day.

DAY 4: Garden Of Edam – Campsite Doline 2

On this day of the Son Doong Expedition, participants will face challenging climbs, navigate through small cave passages, and use ropes and ladders to reach Doline 1, also known as "Watch Out for Dinosaurs." This section of the journey offers breathtaking views and opportunities to marvel at the gigantic sunbeams penetrating the cave. Lunch will be served at the picturesque "Green Gours" area. Afterward, the group will continue to the delicate and beautiful "Garden of Edam" at Doline 2, where panoramic views of the forest and unique plant life can be enjoyed. Another delicious dinner will be served to end the day.

DAY 5: The Great Wall Of Vietnam – Son Doong Exit - Chay Lap Farmstay

Start your day with a revitalizing cup of coffee before embarking on the next thrilling chapter of your Son Doong Expedition. After breakfast, you will be equipped with safety gear and receive a comprehensive safety briefing to prepare you for the exhilarating ascent of the Great Wall of Vietnam, a highlight of this extraordinary caving adventure. Additionally, you may come across cave pearls, a captivating formation found within the cave.

DAY 6: Chay Lap Farmstay - Dong Hoi

According to your schedule, you have the option to arrange for transportation to the airport or train station in Dong Hoi City after breakfast. Alternatively, you can choose to spend more time exploring the Phong Nha area before your departure. Please note that check-out time is before 12:00 noon. If you wish to extend your stay, please inform VNXpedia's sales staff in advance. They will be able to assist you with any additional arrangements.

your accommodation

Campsites on the tour

One of the factors that makes the Son Doong Expedition unique and attractive is the campsites. The British Daily Mail voted Hang Son Doong for the most impressive campground in the world in 2017. Visiting Son Doong Cave. You will have the opportunity to spend 3 nights camping inside caves, which makes the Son Doong Expedition tour the best caving expedition tour in Vietnam and the world.

– Bespoke travel lets you take our inspirational cues and craft them into your personalized, private trip.  – Collaborate one-on-one with our Experience Designer and Expert to put together your tailor-made trip.

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WHAT CLIENT SAY ABOUT US

Wonderful experience in the Mekong Delta with the authenticity of rural life and folk culture.

“I had a wonderful experience in the Mekong Delta with the authenticity of rural life and folk culture. I participated in activities such as fruit harvesting and visiting traditional craft villages. The honesty and affection of the people here really made a strong impression on me and created an experience close to Vietnamese country life.”

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Hoi an – celebrating ancient beauty and peace.

“Hoi An is an ancient city with unique architecture and vibrant old town. I enjoyed exploring the traditional old houses and feeling the typical peaceful atmosphere. The surrounding art shops and cafes also create a cozy and romantic space. It was truly a memorable memory of my trip.”

BO Y BORDER – HOI AN – DA NANG – HUE –VINH MOC TUNNELS – LAO BAO BORDER

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Phu quoc – a resort paradise on the sea.

“Phu Quoc Island is a wonderful beach paradise with stunning landscapes and peaceful space. I had a great time relaxing on the beach, enjoying fresh seafood and participating in fun activities like surfing and scuba diving. This is truly a great place to relax and unwind after days of exploring Vietnam.”

PHU QUOC YOGA AND MEDITATION RETREATS

Sofia Ivanova

Saigon – a wonderful blend of history and innovation.

“Saigon is not only a dynamic economic center but also a diverse destination with rich history and culture. I experienced the vibrant atmosphere of this city by visiting historical sites and enjoying diverse cuisine. This is truly an interesting and memorable experience.”

Hans Mueller

Vietnam – the country of natural miracles.

“I fell in love with the wild and majestic beauty of Vietnam. From lush green mountains to long beaches, I have witnessed the wonderful diversity of nature. Ha Long Bay and Da Lat are both must-see destinations, each bringing me a magical and unforgettable experience.”

HA NOI – HA LONG – NINH BINH – PU LUONG YOGA AND MEDITATION

Erik Andersen

Hanoi – blend of history and modernity..

“Hanoi is a fascinating destination with a perfect blend of historical heritage and vibrant modernity. I enjoyed exploring the old town and enjoying delicious local dishes. Ancient architectural works such as the Temple of Literature and Sword Lake contain many interesting stories about Vietnam’s history and culture.”

HA NOI – SA PA : Yoga retreats

Pierre Lefebvre

Vietnam – a wonderful journey of warmth and unique cultural experiences.

“I had a wonderful adventure in Vietnam. The people here are extremely friendly and enthusiastic, creating a warm and familiar feeling. I had the opportunity to participate in unique cultural activities and enjoy great cuisine. Vietnam is a must-see destination for those who want to experience unique Asian culture.”

Saigon – Mekong Delta Culinary Tour Package 5 Days

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Lotussia Travel

Son Doong Cave Expedition 7 Days

Son Doong Cave Tour will take you into the heart of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Vietnam, on one of the most thrilling adventure tours in the world. Join this ultimate adventure, you’ll explore the entire length of Son Doong Cave…

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Product Description

Son Doong Cave Tour will take you into the heart of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam, on one of the most thrilling adventure tours in the world. Join this ultimate adventure, you’ll explore the entire length of Son Doong Cave, Hang En Cave as well as visiting the Ban Doong ethnic minority village deep in the jungle. Imagine trekking straight into the depths of the world’s largest cave on an expedition unlike any other. A cave that can fit a 747 flying through its largest cavern, a foreign landscape, with enormous stalagmites and statuesque stalactites, hanging from the ceiling and rising from the ground like an alien species.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Day 1: dong hoi – phong nha ke bang national park..

Arrive in Dong Hoi by no later then the afternoon of day 1 where you will be met by our local guide and transferred to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. You’ll be dropped off at the Saigon Phong Nha Hotel where you’ll have the rest of the day to rest, relax and wander around the village. At 5:30 pm you are required to meet in the hotel restaurant where you’ll meet your cave experts and guide team for your safety briefing and equipment check.

Day 2: Phong Nha – Hang En Cave.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel at 8:00 am with your guide before departing at 9:00 am for the first leg of the expedition. After a 45 mins drive along Road 20 of the Ho Chi Minh Highway you’ll reach your trekking point, where you’ll start trekking for approximately 1 hour downhill through the forest, which is quite steep at times. Walk for half an hour along a small stream to the minority village of Ban Doong, which is a real highlight for many on this expedition. Learn more about this unique ethnic group of people and enjoy lunch beside a small river. After this point, you will be in the sun all afternoon with about 2 hours along a river, with very little shade. You’ll cross the river many times and so will have wet feet for the whole day. In the summer, the water is only usually knee deep, but gortex boots will fill and hold the water so are not recommended. You’ll then reach the entrance to Hang En Cave, home to thousands of swifts. Here you’ll be given your headlight and helmet and trek/bouldering approximately 20-30 mins to your campsite inside the cave. The group should arrive at camp by 3:00 pm where you can enjoy swimming and washing within the underground river. Dinner will be served at the spectacular campsite with numerous photographic opportunities. Anyone who is unable to complete any stage of this first day comfortably will be turned around to Phong Nha and cannot join the expedition. No refund will be offered.

Day 3: Hang En Cave – Son Doong Cave.

You’ll again begin your day with breakfast at around 8:00 am. You’ll be in for a very tough day today so its best to enjoy a big breakfast, as you’ll need your energy! Start your trek at 9:00 am through Hang En Cave for about 30 mins to reach the magnificent exit, made famous by many a photographer over the past few years. You’ll scramble down to the river valley and then it’s an hour’s walk through the river, so your boots are going to be wet for most of the day and it is unavoidable! You’ll then start climbing a big hill with a couple of rope sections where you’ll need to pull yourself up, and in one point strap into a safety line. You’re then at the entrance of Son Doong Cave where you’ll enjoy lunch and countdown to your big journey underground! With your safety harnesses, you’ll then start the 80 m descent into the cave by making a number of short climbs, using ropes and safety lines and with your guides’ assistance. There is no rappelling or abseiling involved. You’ll then enjoy a few more climbs and bouldering to reach the first and second river crossing inside the cave, which is no more than knee-to-thigh deep depending on the water levels. You should have a wash here, as it will be the last place before reaching your first campsite in Son Doong Cave! On your way to the first campsite in the first large passage of the cave, you’ll have to be extra careful as there are a number of big drops along a rocky path before reaching one of the most spectacular views: Hand of Dog and daylight streaming through the cave thanks to the first doline! You will then scramble down to your campsite and have the afternoon to soak up the views and rest your weary bodies. You’re in for another big meal with your team before turning in for the night. There are no washing facilities on this day.

Day 4: Son Doong Cave Trekking.

Your day begins with a hearty breakfast with your team before a 9:00 am departure towards your second campsite in Son Doong Cave! You’ll start with some rocky climbs, which are quite steep in some places, as you reach the first jungle within the cave at Watch Out For Dinosaurs. After a short break you’ll be trotting down the rocky path to reach the enormous Green Gours! A light lunch is provided with an incredible backdrop of the first doline. If you are lucky you may even catch some sunbeams, which make for truly spectacular photographs! It is then an easy walk through the cave past gigantic formations and plenty of cave pearls towards the light of the second doline and main jungle within the cave. Follow the path past the beautiful foliage reaching towards the light, to reach the underground jungle, unlike anything you could experience on the planet! Cross the jungle for around 45 mins to reach the steep and sometimes slippery path down to your second campsite within Son Doong Cave. After a short rest at your campsite, you are back on your feet and heading deeper within the cave towards the Great Wall of Vietnam! You’ll pass through a very large dry passage with huge stalagmites and great views back to the second doline. Many new creepy crawlies have been discovered within this passage including white spiders, fish, woodlouse and shrimp species! You will reach at this point a very large beautiful underground lake, where you’ll then paddle to reach the Great Wall of Vietnam, or you will find a muddy pit for hundreds of meters, at which you will need to trudge your way through to reach the wall. It is entirely optional if you wish to go further and reach the actual wall, as you will get very dirty in the mud and there are no bathing facilities on this day at camp (pack plenty of wet wipes if you decide on the plunge!). You’ll again enjoy a fantastic dinner with your team and enjoy an evening of games and entertainment, or simply relax and enjoy the views at what is quite possibly the very best campsite in the world! Quick note, you may use a pair of dry boots on this day, as aside from the mud there are no water crossings!

Day 5: Son Doong Cave – Hang En Cave.

After refueling with another hot breakfast you’ll pack up camp and start heading back to the first doline, with a slightly different route through a small oxbow passage above the underground river with a very steep drop, where you will need to use a rope and safety line. Once you have reached your first campsite, you’ll have time for a short break before climbing down to the ancient fossil passage, where you will witness 350 million year old coral fossils! Enjoy a small wash in the pools and a hearty lunch before climbing up to the National Geographic viewpoint. You will then descend back to the main passage, cross the river twice and proceed to climb up to the entrance, again strapped in with your harness and safety lines. At the entrance of Son Doong you’ll have a chance to enjoy a small break and some snacks, before heading back towards the river valley, where you can enjoy a deserved wash! Walk along the river back to Hang En for your final evening and celebration with porter team at this underground campsite.

Day 6: Hang En Cave – Phong Nha Ke Bang – Dong Hoi.

Wake early and after breakfast start your 10 km trek back to Road 20. You’ll follow the river along the valley and back through Ban Doong Village. You will enjoy lunch along the way before starting on what is quite a difficult climb back up the mountain for the last hour of your big adventure! Cold drinks await you at the top of the hill before a 45 mins drive back to Phong Nha. You can then enjoy a well deserved wash and either swim in the pool or enjoy the beach. There is also a good spa at the hotel if you would like to treat your body with some pampering! You’re then free to grab dinner at any time you want with a voucher you’ll be provided. Please advise the hotel of your departure time on the following day upon check-in so they can arrange your transfer back to the airport or train station.

Day 7: Departure .

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and your transfer to the airport will be arranged by the hotel reception. End of tour.

Vietnam private tours

Lotussia Travel is a Hanoi tour operator offering a wide selection of multi-activity holidays in Vietnam. Options include countryside cycle, biking, road cycling, jungle trek, trekking homestay, mountain hiking, peaks climbs, motorbike, scouter touring, camping, caving expeditions, kayaking, boat trips, cruise, street food, sightseeing, culture tours. Most of our trips are private customized, and specially designed for small group tours, family vacations. The itinerary above – Son Doong Cave Tour is only a sample that can be further customized to fit your requirements better. Just follow it or contact us for designing your perfect adventure in Phong Nha national park, Vietnam.

• Son Doong Cave
• Ben En National Park
• Mau Son Mountain
• Vietnamese rice pyramid dumpling

Additional Information

Itinerary disclaimer.

Occasionally our tour itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travelers’ comments and our own research. The information given in this itinerary may be slightly different to that in the service proposal. It’s very important that you print and review a final copy of your itinerary a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans. If you have any queries, please contact us . We are here to help you!

Please note that while we operate successful trips in Vietnam throughout the year, some changes may occur in our itineraries due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary from time to time.

Depending on the proposed option (semi-guide tour or all-inclusive package tour), the price may include the following services. Please bear in mind Lotussia Travel is specialized in tailor-made trips. Trip cost vary depending on group size and other details.

• Car transfers.
• Local tour guide. The English-Speaking guide is provided by default. Other language may be available upon request (with extra charge).
• Entrance fees.

Unless required most of the following services are usually not included in our tour price.

• Flight/Train tickets.
• Accommodation.
• Tour leader.
• Local porter(s).
• International travel insurance.
• Personal expenses.

Our tour guides speak English or French. They hold a university degree in tourism and national license as a guide. If you wish to send a tour leader along with any group, he or she can fully rely on the knowledge and experience of our local guides.

Remote treks are always accompanied by a local representative to deal with permits and authorities and manage the porter team. They speak the local dialects, know the cultural traditions and give tips on suggested behavior in fragile ecological areas and tribal communities. For some itineraries, the role of tour leader and representative is combined.

Our drivers don’t speak English. It’s possible that a few of them might know some basic words, such as telling time, stop, and lunch. If you’re looking for effective communication throughout the journey, we highly recommend booking a tour guide.

Trip routes

Principally, Lotussia Travel requires all the trip associates to know the destinations well by any means of traveling or enquiry to the local suppliers to figure out all the relative details of any trip. For adventure tours such as jungle trekking, mountain hiking, sea kayaking, river rafting or biking, cycling tours, Lotussia Travel will never add any new routes into available schedule until survey or pre-view it.

Accommodation

Lotussia Travel carefully choose all the hotels, guest-houses or home-stays based on service quality, location, and characteristics, doing best to make the accommodations in the remote small places as comfortable as possible. Please bear in mind that hotels in Vietnam might not be in the same standard in other country. Generally hotels in major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Hoian, Hue…are much better than hotels and guest-houses in mountainous areas.

Lotussia Travel take dinning as an indispensable experience to clients since it is an important part in Vietnamese culture. Therefore, Lotussia Travel will not intend take clients to the most expensive restaurants but non-touristy local ones which offer delicious, local food, with nice or interesting atmosphere. The restaurants might be simple in the country but LOTUSSIA Travel guarantee is sanitary and cleanliness. Or even on our trek, we encourage our cook offer client food with new tastes from day to day. During adventure itineraries to mountainous or remote areas, there is sometimes no choice for hotel and restaurants. We will try our best to bring you the best taste of local food.

As the tap water in Vietnam is undrinkable, Lotussia Travel recommend clients to drink bottled water throughout your trip, or boiled water on treks. Lotussia Travel offers bottle water all the day, and soft drinks like Cola, Sprite or Vietnamese Tea or if possible juice in restaurants (if mentionned in itinerary). This is not automatically included in the packages. In simple restaurant or on camping, Lotussia Travel offers boiled water, instant coffee or juice, wrapped milk (Details are confirmed in bottom of your itinerary).

Transportation

In most destinations of Vietnam, all the roads are well paved though the traffic is quite messed up like in Hanoi, Hai Phong… We use proper vehicles, car, minibus or coach in good condition based on the size of the groups. We use 4WD only on the rough road where the other vehicles could not pass through or based on clients requirement on overland journeys or treks. For cycling itineraries, we usually use our support minibus or minibus with support truck. For sea kayaking, river rafting trips, diving packages we use standard boat as support. Detailed information is provided on our service proposal.

We use drivers who are native or local of each travel destination and maintain good safety records for all trips. Most of our drivers can speak English but a little bit. This is just enough to understand basic words such as “time of departure”, “stop”, “restaurants”, “hotels”…If you want to learn more about Vietnamese culture and information about sightseeing sites, booking a tour guide is highly recommended.

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Backpacking Through a Cave in Vietnam

Forget higher—go deeper. the greatest adventure in asia is a real-life lost world hidden inside son doong, the planet’s largest cave..

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People usually don’t believe me when I tell them the best place I’ve ever camped is underground. They would if they could see it: Vietnam’s Son Doong is the biggest cave in the world, and unlike the pitch-black ratholes of your claustrophobic nightmares, it’s more like a canyon with a ceiling. Its walls glitter with minerals and tower higher than 40-story skyscrapers in places, and a 747 could fly through its largest chambers. In scale and experience, it’s a whole subterranean world.

Overhead, stadium-size skylights called dolines admit enough light to sustain jungle trees growing 100 feet tall. Monkeys, birds, and flying foxes flit from the treetops. A fast-flowing river leads to travertine lagoons and soft-sand beaches perfect for pitching tents.

The way to Son Doong (literally, “mountain river cave”) begins at a trailhead in Phong Nah-Ke Bang National Park , in the central part of the country where karst mountains carpeted in rainforest roll like waves at the border with Laos. We hike along and across the giant teal rivers that sculpt amphitheaters out of limestone on the way to our first campsite in Hang En, the park’s third-largest cave. From there, 2 miles of muddy hiking deliver us to Son Doong.

A local hunter named Ho Khanh discovered—but never entered—the cavern in the 1990s and kept it mostly to himself. It wasn’t until 2009 that British researchers Deb and Howard Limbert, investigating rumors of one cave larger than all the others, convinced Ho Khanh to show them the way. The Limberts worked with locals to form a guide service to take backpackers inside.

When I arrive, I can see why Ho Khanh never thought to enter. Son Doong’s entrance is a menacing cleft that blows the ferns and vegetation as it exhales damp air.

We spend four days inside, scrambling through chambers that have never seen sunlight, hiking past funhouse water formations and stalagmites the size of office buildings. We clip into guide wires and cross a teetering bridge over Rao Thuong, the river at the heart of the cave system.

Our porters in sandals jog past the sections we scramble, beating us by hours to set up camp in sand beside the river. By the time we arrive, the tents are positioned at the perfect angle to watch a skylight sunset. Eerie shades of purple mute the cave walls and pocket forests while we change out of wet layers. About the time I’m dry, the pork is sizzling and the lead guide Bambu slams a local Huda beer into my hand .

Cynics say there’s nothing new under the sun. But as Son Doong proves, there’s still plenty to be discovered where the sun can’t reach. 

Trip Planner

Getting There From Hanoi, a 12-hour sleeper bus or train gets you to Phong Nha. Season February to August (rivers become impassible afterward) Guide Six-day tours of Son Doong are extremely limited; book a year or more in advance. Oxalis  is the only outfitter allowed in the cavern. Full-service trips cost $3,000. Total cost $4,000 (includes flight from Los Angeles, ground transportation, and lodging)

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Ruby franke’s disgusting diaries: satan ‘possessed’ kids so ‘mommy blogger’ whipped them, shaved heads.

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The sadistic abuse former Utah YouTube mommy blogger Ruby Franke meted out to two of her young children — shaving their heads, starving them, dousing them with dirty mop water, making them stand outside barefoot in the desert heat for hours and forcing them to wear adult diapers — has been laid bare in her just-released diaries.

The children were gripped by “Satanic chaos,” Franke, 42, wrote in the partially redacted journals, adding she punished the kids, identified as “R” and “E,” because she believed they were “possessed” by the devil.

The handwritten journals are filled with religious fanaticism.

The youngsters were punished even more if they balked at any of their mother’s abuse, she wrote.

Franke, who once whipped her children with a belt, was convicted of child abuse and sentenced to 30 years in prison last month along with her friend and business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt.

The influencer ran the popular YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” about her life with her husband and six kids in Springville, Utah.

She and her husband separated in 2022 and Franke began spending much of her time in Ivins, Utah with Hildebrandt, a controversial mental health coach.

They launched a video channel from Hildebrandt’s home where they lived with Ruby’s two youngest, a 12-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl.

Franke was arrested in August when her emaciated 12-year-old son managed to escape from the house and ring a neighbor’s doorbell asking for help.

He was covered in wounds, with duct tape around his wrists and ankles.

The children were frequently denied food and water as well as beds to sleep in, prosecutors said.

They had to lift and carry boxes up and down stairs, do wall sits for hours, and do work outside in the “extreme summer heat” barefoot, among other forms of abuse.

“If you can engage a weak minded soul in a physical activity of obedience you can begin to break the bond Satan made w/ the weak,” Franke wrote in one journal entry.

One day in April 2023, her son, then 11, refused to do “wall sits.”

As a result, according to the journal’s timeline, the next day the child was told to stay outside, even to sleep, and only come inside to use the bathroom and shower.

Franke referenced the “devil” or “possession” in her journals, once writing that one of her kids, “R,” “refuses to work. Screams. Has hair shaved off.”

“It is [the boy’s 12th] birthday and he doesn’t even know what month it is,” Franke wrote on July 10. “… I told [the boy] that he emulates a snake. He slithers and sneaks around looking for opportunities when no one is watching.”

The next day, Franke began by writing it was a “Big day for evil.”

“(R) was told to stand in the sun w/ his sun hat/ He is defiant, ‘No.’ I tell him a couple more times. (R), or should his say his demon, stays in the shade.'”

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“The investigation found that religious extremism motivated Ms. Franke and Ms. Hildebrandt to inflict this horrific abuse,” the Washington County Attorney’s Office said about the case. “The women appeared to fully believe that the abuse they inflicted was necessary to teach the children how to properly repent for imagined ‘sins’ and to cast the evil spirits out of their bodies.”

She wrote more than once about her children’s “deviant” behavior and that they were “spawns of Satan.”

“They are both furious their selfish sinful lifestyle is being intervened upon,” Franke wrote.

Franke also wrote about her kids “stealing water” and depriving them of food, and said she “cut more (hair) off E’s head. We doused her w/ water in the dog wash.”

She also described how she forced her son to bake in the sun and prodded him with a “cactus poker” whenever he tried to move into the shade. 

After allowing him out of the heat, she doused him with “old mop water,” writing: ‘It’s hot outside. ‘It feels good, doesn’t it?’ Yes.”

“The devil doesn’t like when you get your subject from anger to truth,” she wrote.

In another entry, she wrote that poking her kids “is a strategy/ technique,” and (R) “seems to respond to poking, pouring cold water, towel whip.”

Franke referenced Hildebrandt frequently in the diary, claiming her kids stop being “possessed” around her, then “act up” once alone.

Hildebrandt was also sentenced to 30 years behind bars as she was arrested alongside Franke.

Shocking photos released at the same time as the journals showed the two kids were painfully thin, with infected cuts on their legs and bruises and scratches all over.

They also had duct tape around their arms and feet.

In their search of Hildebrandt’s home, cops Police found also a tiny safe room in the basement locked from the outside, rope used to tie up the children and adult diapers.

Bodycam footage shows the moments police discovered the 9-year-old girl hiding in a room in the basement of the home.

The cops gave her a pizza and patiently spent a long time coaxing her out of her hiding place.

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