About Son Doong Cave

Son Doong Cave is located in Tan Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province; Son Doong Cave is recorded as the most significant natural cave in the world. Located in the cave complex of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Son Doong cave is part of an underground system that connects seamlessly with about 150 different caves in Vietnam bordering Laos.

Son Doong Cave, with an estimated length of about 6.5 km, is more than 200 m high and 150 m wide, with sections up to 92 m wide and; a 244 m wide arch; with this site, you can build a 40-story building. More specifically, the cave also has a 2.5 km long river with fast-flowing water, giant stalactites, and stalagmite columns up to 70 m high.

To get to Hang Son Doong, you must take a long journey through the forest, wade through streams, through the village where the Doong people live, cross the steep slopes by yourself, and enjoy the magnificent beauty of En Cave. Here you can admire the majestic beauty of Son Doong Cave, hidden behind a layer of mist.

Son Doong Cave was ranked 8th out of 52 places by the New York Times on the list of places to visit in 2014.

Read more: Son Doong continues to be honored the world s most majestic cave by Insider

When and how much does it cost to explore Son Doong Cave?

Time to explore Son Doong Cave

If you intend to explore Son Doong, the best time is from February to April. This is the most beautiful time; the weather is shady and suitable for exploration trips.

Note, from May to August, this is a hot and humid period that makes this journey more likely to affect your health. At other times, it falls in the rainy season, so exploring Son Doong Cave is impossible.

Trip cost

According to Quang Binh's travel experience, the cost for a seven-day and six-night journey to Son Doong cave is 3000 USD, equivalent to about 65,000,000 VND.

The Oxalis company exclusively organizes this attractive tourist destination.

With each tour, there will be about ten tourists, but it needs up to 30 other people to accompany, including guides, helpers, cooks, cleaners, and some cave experts.

What to prepare to explore Son Doong Cave?

Clothes

It will help if you choose comfortable clothes, easy to absorb sweat and convenient for exercise. It will be pretty cold at night in the cave; remember to prepare some warm clothes.

Use comfortable, smooth shoes that do not cause discomfort when moving a lot. In particular, you need to equip shoes that can stick to rocks and climb mountains with high friction to ensure an uninterrupted journey in costumes and shoes.

Physical

In addition to equipment for costumes, fitness is the most crucial issue in your rather adventurous trip.

You need to follow the fitness regulations as instructed by the expert strictly.

Medical experts will ask questions to check whether your health suits the upcoming journey. You must answer honestly about your health to ensure the trip's safety.

Before starting the journey of discovery, visitors need to practice walking about 10 km/day, able to cross the hill about 200-300 m. This practice should last 3-6 months before going.

If you are in the city, practice climbing three floors in a row without rest or panting about 15 times a day to ensure your physical strength to participate in a beautiful trip to Hang Son Doong.

In addition, experts will teach you basic skills two days before the start of the journey. Take advantage of every experience from the experts; beneficial for your safety.

Son Doong Cave – A Journey to discover paradise caves

Before going to Son Doong cave, each tourist will be equipped with protective equipment when climbing, a safety belt.

You must be mentally prepared for a long walk to reach the cave. Visitors will be taken by the company's car to kilometer 39 - Ho Chi Minh Road, the exciting journey to explore Son Doong Cave will start from here.

From here, visitors move to Doong Valley, the village of the Van Kieu people; you will stop for lunch to prepare mentally to explore En Cave. Hang En will be the first overnight stay in this exciting journey. The next day, after breakfast, the days of exploring this magnificent cave begin.

The beauty inside the cave

Right from the moment you set foot in the cave, visitors will be overwhelmed by the magical space here, the deeper you go inside, the more you will go from surprise to surprise. The cave has a depth of 80 m, so you need to go to the bottom by rope, after passing a stream, waterfall, and more than 50 km of primeval forest road to reach the main cave.

The cave has a beautiful ancient forest, a fast-flowing 2.5 km long river, stalagmite columns up to 70 m high, and a mild and fresh climate. There will be no noise, no dust, no more hustle and bustle of life, here only people are embraced by the vast and beautiful nature.

Going deep into the cave, the expedition will quickly encounter cracks in the ceiling, like countless giant windows to receive sunlight entering the cave. This is also necessary to create an ideal environment for developing rich vegetation, an ancient forest inside the cave.

With more than 200 different species of flora and fauna, herbaceous plants such as echinoderm, moss, and some vines live on the rock surface and cave floor above the shrubs and small trees that grow tall and tight. 

If you are fortunate, you can admire the magical natural phenomenon in the cave. This beautiful natural phenomenon only appears a few times a year when the sun shines directly through the craters, creating a vague, beautiful scene unconsciously as if lost in the fairyland of the world.

Also read: ​Vietnam’s Son Doong cave listed among the most surreal places in the world to visit before you die​​​

Other essential notes when traveling to Son Doong cave

• The travel company will prepare all the furniture for eating, cleaning, and sleeping, so you don't need to bring any other travel belongings besides your personal belongings.

• You must be mentally prepared and healthy; bring a small backpack with a few sets of clothes, a camera, a toothbrush, sunscreen, and a water bottle. The carrier will carry your luggage.

• To ensure the trip's safety, visitors must absolutely comply with the regulations of the travel company.

• The tour company has prepared tents and portable toilets, so don't worry about this!

• Moving into Son Doong cave is only allowed to follow a small path guided by the guide, absolutely do not go any other way to avoid affecting the ecosystem in the cave.

• Do not touch any rock edges or young stalactites to ensure your safety and the natural beauty of Son Doong Cave. Hang Son Doong is still in the process of forming, experts cannot fully assess the security in the cave, so it is necessary to follow the instructions of the group's leader!

• When you see a snake or any other animal, do not play or chase, but quietly pass. The snakes in the cave are considered highly poisonous.

• Oxalis is the only company to exploit and lead tourists into Son Doong cave. You can't organize the tour but must register through the Oxalis travel company.

• You will have to turn back if you cannot guarantee to go to the cave entrance; if you do not comply with the regulations during the trip, you will also be forced to stop the journey and return. Visitors will not be refunded any previously paid expenses when forced to return.

This is considered the most expensive tour in Vietnam, but the number of registered visitors is enormous to see the unique attraction of this beautiful cave.

Also read: ​Tours to world’s largest cave fully booked throughout the year​​​

Coming to Son Doong Cave is an ordinary trip and a memorable journey to discover nature's masterpieces. Plan to conquer to see firsthand the majestic beauty of this unique cave in the world today!