Son Doong Cave Vietnam reveals a magnificent natural landscape and unique beauty that will leave you in awe upon your visit. To make your exploration of Son Doong Cave more complete and meaningful, the experiences and guides shared in this article will be extremely helpful!
Introduction to Son Doong Cave in Vietnam
Son Doong Cave (Hang Son Doong) reveals a magnificent natural landscape and unique beauty that will leave you in awe upon your visit. To make your exploration of Son Doong Cave more complete and meaningful, the experiences shared in this article will be extremely helpful!
Where is the Son Doong Cave
Son Doong Cave is located in Quang Binh Province, central Vietnam, inside Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a remote area in Vietnam that has many untouched jungle areas with tropical rainforests and vast limestone mountains. However, the area is very far away from today’s modern world and is extremely isolated.
It takes about 70 kilometers to travel from Dong Hoi City. When you visit the cave, you must first get to Phong Nha village, and there’s a long hike through a very thick jungle and sometimes very steep, rocky, and dangerous terrain that you must complete before reaching the cave itself. This hiking journey gives visitors a great feel for the wilderness and how remote and isolated the cave is.
History of the Son Doong Cave
According to scientists, Hang Son Doong was created through the process of erosion from an underground river that created it approximately 2 million years ago, making the cave a valuable geological resource with regard to the historical development of the Phong Nha – Ke Bang region.
In 1991, Ho Khanh stumbled upon Son Doong Cave in Vietnam, which is now recognized as the largest cave in the world by volume. After this discovery, however, the cave was not widely known until an expedition was organized in 2009 by the British Cave Research Association.
The exploration of Son Doong Cave is now regarded as one of the most physically and mentally challenging and unique adventure tours in the world. Beyond being another adventure, it allows visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in nature while exploring the vast beauty of Vietnam.
How Big Is Son Doong Cave?
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Cave length: nearly 9km
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Cave vault height at its highest point: 200m, width: 150m
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Volume: approximately 36.8 million m3 (equivalent to 15,000 Olympic swimming pools)
As mentioned before, Son Doong Cave is the world’s largest cave currently recognized. There are rooms within the cave that are larger than most cities’ blocks, and could also hold a city’s tallest building or a large airplane. Son Doong contains many large caverns, multiple rivers, and even skylights; inside of it, there are more miles of ‘underground world’ than any other cave found on this planet.
Hang Son Doong means “Mountain River Cave”, as stated before; this cave has an underground river flowing through it to this day. Because of its size and ecosystem, and also due to the majestic scenery that it contains, it symbolizes all that is wonderful about nature.
Son Doong Cave and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Son Doong Cave belongs to Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, which has one of Southeast Asia’s most valuable karst formations. The area protected by UNESCO consists of ancient limestone mountains, thick tropical forests, underground rivers, and an incredible variety of plants and animals. Son Doong Cave Vietnam, is just one of many unique features in this complex natural environment that is a major source of geologic, ecological, and conservation value worldwide.
International Recognition and Global Awards
Since its first exploration in 2009, Son Doong Cave has been a magnet for exploration, science, and the worldwide press. Its sheer size and beauty have given it the opportunity to achieve world records and become one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.
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The Guinness Book of World Records and The International World Records (2003): The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Son Doong Cave as being the largest natural cave by both volume & size in 2013. After that, it was also confirmed by the World Records Association (WRA) and the World Records Union (WRU) as the first cave to hold all three.
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UNESCO Heritage Site: Hang Son Doong is part of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which was officially designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 due to its important geological features as well as the huge diversity of plants and animals in this amazing cave.
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2014: Son Doong Cave was named one of the top 52 tourist spots worldwide by the New York Times.
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2015: ABC News’ Good Morning America aired live from Son Doong, displaying its splendor to a worldwide audience. National Geographic glimpsed inside Son Doong’s chambers through a 360-degree photo series.
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2019: DJ Alan Walker chose Hang Son Doong as the backdrop for his million-view music video on YouTube, “Alone P.II.”
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2020: Son Doong was named one of the world’s top 20 exceptional natural wonders by Business Insider.
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On April 14, 2022, Google Doodle honored Son Doong Cave on its search page in 17 different nations.
Supernatural Wonders inside Son Doong Cave
Visiting Son Doong Cave is more than just visiting a cave; it’s an experience of discovering another world hidden deep below the surface of the earth. Inside Son Doong cave, you will find an astonishing underground environment formed by water, the passing of time, and geology; in addition to rivers, large open chambers, areas filled with light, forests, and numerous other wonders that simply defy explanation. As you explore the cave’s many areas, you will be treated to some of nature’s greatest creations, with every part being unique from the next.
Underground River System
The Son Doong Cave was created by an underground river system that continues to flow through it today. For over 150 million years, this system has eroded the rock to create large passageways and smooth limestone corridors that are characteristic of the cave. During the tour, guests will cross and travel along the paths created by the river, viewing the significant water impact on the cave’s formation on the way to observing the vastness of Son Doong.
Giant Caverns and Chambers
Hang Son Doong features some of the largest underground “rooms” found anywhere in the world. Due to their large size, these caves could house high-rise office buildings, large hotels, and even entire urban city blocks. One large section of the cave is often referred to as the Vietnamese Great Wall by explorers; it is an enormous limestone rock that goes through the cave and serves as a dramatic and unique dividing line. Visitors walking through the caves experience a unique sense of awe regarding how immense and incredible these caves are.
Jungle Inside the Cave
Son Doong’s underground jungle is an astonishing feature found deep within the cave itself. Sunlight comes into the cave because of large openings created when the cave ceiling collapses, as well as through natural roof openings. These two factors allowed trees, vines, moss, and many types of vegetation to grow naturally.
This area of Son Doong has been referred to as a “lost jungle” because of its isolated environment, separate from other jungle environments in high humidity, temperature, and the richness of biodiversity found within cave systems across the globe.
Light Holes and Natural Skylights
The cave has enormous amounts of its roof, either collapsed or created skylights, which generate natural access to light, creating beautiful beams cascading into the cave’s dark environment. The skylights have created an iconic location of Son Doong due to the mixing of light, mist, and fog, resulting in a surreal setting like no other.
Furthermore, because there is abundant sunlight flowing through these skylights, there is enough light and moisture allowing for the existence of trees and plant life inside the cave, causing some to refer to Son Doong as being comprised of 3 distinct environments: cave, jungle, and underworld.
Unique Rock Formations
Son Doong Cave is also famous for its unique and rare geological features. When you visit this cave, you can experience its endless beauty as it offers giant stalagmites, cave columns, and unique limestone features, among others. Some of its unique and outstanding features include the “cave pearls,” which are spherical formations of minerals and can be identified as giant pearls within the cave. These unique features are scarce in the whole world and can be regarded as among the unique treasures of Son Doong cave.
Unmissable Experiences when Visiting the Son Doong Cave
After admiring the incredibly unique images of Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh, you can participate in many exciting activities during this trip to create unforgettable memories.
Camping Beneath the Ceiling of Earth’s Largest Cave.
Camping in Son Doong Cave, which is close to a skylight, can be a wonderful experience to relax in a serene and natural environment. Waking up with sunshine pouring down from above through the cave’s ceiling can provide a person with a wonderful connection with the majestic and pure landscape of Son Doong Cave.
Swimming in Hidden Lakes and Underground Rivers
Visitors swim in underground rivers and lakes at Hang Son Doong. The cave has crystal clear waters, so visitors enjoy swimming as much after their long trek each day as they do before or while they are there. This type of enjoyable activity creates a stress-free atmosphere where one can experience the stillness of the beautiful cave water.
Capturing Unforgettable Photos in a Prehistoric World
Photographing the massive stalactites, primitive forests, and sun rays that shine down from above is a truly unique opportunity to take breathtaking shots of these unique formations. The unique beauty of Son Doong’s interior is reminiscent of a scene from a film – it evokes visual and emotional memories that exceed the usual viewing experience.
Viewing the Night Sky from the Surface of Earth
Those camping along the rim of the cave and able to see through the cave’s openings can enjoy a very unique stargazing adventure! In addition to being able to view the stars while lying in the darkness of a cave opening, you also get to appreciate the beauty of our planet from many miles below, where light pollution doesn’t hinder your experience.
Listen to the Silence and Echoes of Nature
In the cave system of Son Doong, when tourists are inside the cave, they are surrounded by deep silence from which only the sounds of nature remain. This special sound condition creates deep calmness and meditation in the minds of tourists, helping them find the pure beauty of nature in the cave system.
How to Travel to the Son Doong Cave
Visiting Hang Son Doong is a completely different experience from visiting other tourist sites. This is because Son Doong Cave is a protected site, and because of its location and environment, visiting the cave is a carefully controlled process. There are rules that tourists must follow when visiting the site to preserve this natural wonder.
From Other Cities to Phong Nha
The small town of Phong Nha is the major entry point for tourists to visit the cave. It is the base for all expeditions to Son Doong Cave in Vietnam.
From Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or other cities, tourists can travel to Quang Binh by air, train, or bus. There are direct flights to Dong Hoi Airport. From Da Nang, tourists can travel to Dong Hoi by train, bus, or plane, and then continue their journey to Phong Nha. From Phong Nha, all tours to Son Doong Cave are arranged, as tourists are not allowed to enter the cave individually.
Son Doong Tour Regulations
Solo travel to Son Doong Cave is not allowed due to safety concerns, and therefore access to the cave can only be obtained via an authorised expedition with a registered tour operator.
Currently, Oxalis Adventure is the only tour operator authorized by the Vietnamese government and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park management to organize tours to Son Doong Cave. This means that all travelers must go on a tour with Oxalis Adventure, and no other tour operators or individual tours are permitted.
Son Doong Cave Tour Experience
As mentioned, currently, only Oxalis Adventure is licensed to provide tour services for cave exploration tours. The number of people on each tour is maximized at 10, and the number of tours that can take place each year is very limited, thus making the tour unique and sought after.
What You Will Do During the Son Doong Cave Tour
This journey will take you through ancient forests, over rivers, and into massive cave systems, and you’ll camp overnight inside the world’s largest cave. This adventure offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore uncharted areas of our planet.
Experienced guides will accompany the journey and will also have the help of local porters, cooks, and safety assistants. The equipment to be used will include helmets, torches, tents, and ropes. Meals and refreshments will also be provided.
Tour Price Range
The current cost of the Hang Son Doong tour in 5 days and 4 nights is about 3,000-3,500 USD/person, considering the size of the cave, safety, and other requirements. It is considered a high-end adventure travel cost, making it one of the most expensive cave tours in the world.
Health Requirements
Individuals with heart or respiratory problems, claustrophobia, or a fear of darkness are not recommended to undergo this tour. Another criterion that needs to be met is a health and fitness test. Trekking experience and physical fitness are also requirements, as this expedition involves daily treks of 8-10 km through rugged forest and river terrain.
Limited Slots and Booking Process
Due to limited availability and high demand, it is recommended that you book at least six months to one year before your visit. This is particularly true during peak season, which runs from January to August, as most expeditions are fully booked during this period.
Guests may book directly on the official Oxalis Adventure website, as it is the only company permitted to organize tours to Son Doong Cave. In addition, guests may also book through travel agencies associated with Oxalis, such as Vietnamtour.in, to simplify the booking process.
Best Time to Travel to Son Doong Cave
It is recommended that the best time to visit Son Doong Cave ranges from January to August every year, which coincides with the dry season when there is minimal rainfall, and it is safe to explore the cave.
During the rainy season, which ranges from September to December, there are no tours conducted because of the risk of flooding and the challenging trekking conditions.
Things You Should Remember Before Visiting Son Doong Cave
Visiting Son Doong Cave is a unique and special experience, but it is also necessary to prepare and be aware of many important things before undertaking a journey to this unique Vietnamese cave.
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First, it is necessary to understand that Son Doong Cave is a protected heritage site, and tourists need to respect all rules and regulations while visiting this unique destination. It is necessary to understand that tourists need to respect all rules and regulations while visiting this unique destination.
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Physical and mental preparedness is also a must. The place is remote and natural, far from modern facilities and comforts, and one should be prepared to live in primitive conditions with no comfort and no connection whatsoever with urban life. This trip demands flexibility, patience, and a sense of respect for nature.
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Weather conditions may change at any time, and itineraries may be adjusted for safety considerations.
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Travelers must also have the right state of mind: humility, awareness, and responsibility. Visiting Son Doong does not mean conquering nature; it means living with nature, learning from nature, and leaving behind nothing.
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The Son Doong Cave tour is not recommended for children. Based on the extreme environment, physical requirements, safety standards, and expedition conditions, the Son Doong Cave expedition is exclusively designed for adults and experienced adventure-seekers. The majority of Son Doong Cave expeditions have strict age and health requirements, and children are not allowed to participate in the expedition.
Where to Stay near the Son Doong Cave
You cannot stay near Son Doong Cave because it is located deep inside the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, which has no hotels or resorts. All tourists have to stay either in Phong Nha town or Dong Hoi City, which is located in Quang Binh Province.
If you want to go on Son Doong Cave tours, Phong Nha is the best place to stay because it has many hotels and resorts that are close to nature and provide the best comfort and natural environments, such as:
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Nguyen Shack Retreat Resort
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Phong Nha Farmstay
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Heritage By Night Hotel
If you want to stay in a place that has better comfort and modern amenities, you can choose to stay in Dong Hoi City, which has many hotels and resorts with better amenities, such as:
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Meliá Vinpearl Quang Binh
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Muong Thanh Luxury Quang Binh
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Celina Peninsula Resort
Staying at Phong Nha or Dong Hoi will allow you to go on Son Doong Cave tours with ease and provide you with the best place to rest and relax before and after the tour.
Conclusion
Son Doong Cave has emerged as a unique and rare symbol of how nature, conservation, and human responsibility can coexist with each other. Son Doong Cave is not just a place; it has come to represent a whole new concept of traveling, where exploration and conservation go hand-in-hand with a sense of respect and responsibility towards nature.
For all those inspired by the story of Son Doong Cave, Vietnam has a lot more to offer in terms of exploration and discovery. Let Vietnamtour.in assist and guide you in your exploration and discovery of Vietnam beyond Son Doong Cave.
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