Phong Nha Caves Guide 2026: Son Doong, Paradise Cave and More

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park contains over 400 known caves in a 400-million-year-old karst system. The caves range from accessible tourist sites to extreme multi-day wilderness expeditions. This guide covers all the main options.

Son Doong Cave

The world’s largest known cave. Son Doong’s main chamber is 5km long, 200m high, and 150m wide. It has two “dolines” — collapsed roof sections — that allow a subtropical jungle ecosystem to grow inside the cave. The cave has its own weather, including clouds and rainfall in the main chamber.

Access: Only via Oxalis Adventure Tours (the permitted operator). Maximum 1,000 visitors per year. 4-day expedition camping inside the cave. Porters, guides, ropes, and all equipment provided.

Price: Approximately $3,000 USD per person. Book 12–18 months in advance at oxalisadventure.com.

Physical requirements: Moderate fitness. No caving experience required. The expedition involves 25km of walking, some rope work, and sleeping inside the cave on two nights.

En Cave (Hang En)

The third largest cave in the world and the approach cave to Son Doong. A 2-day expedition camping inside the cave’s enormous beach section (a sandbar inside the cave). Significantly more accessible than Son Doong but still remote wilderness.

Price: Approximately $300–350 USD per person, 2 days. Through Oxalis.

Why visit En over Son Doong: When Son Doong is fully booked (most of the year), En Cave provides an extraordinary cave experience at a fraction of the cost. The cave entrance and the internal sandbar camping experience are exceptional.

Tu Lan Cave System

A network of 5–7 caves connected by rivers and jungle, accessible on 1–4 day expeditions. The Tu Lan experience combines swimming through cave passages, jungle trekking, and cave swimming pools. Very different character from the sightseeing caves — actively physical and wet.

Price: $150–$500 USD depending on duration, through Oxalis. The 2-day Tu Lan is the most popular.

Who this is for: Travellers who want an adventure cave experience without the 12-month wait and $3,000 cost of Son Doong.

Paradise Cave (Thien Duong)

The most impressive accessible tourist cave in the park. 31km long; 1.5km open to general visitors. The formations — white calcite columns and flowstone — are exceptional at this scale.

Entry: ₫350,000 ($14). Park shuttle to cave entrance included. 30km from the village. No guide required for the standard section.

Phong Nha Cave

The original national park cave. River boat access on the Son River (₫250,000 per boat plus ₫150,000 park entry). A large river cave with good formations. The boat trip on the Son River is itself scenic.

Best for: Those wanting an easy cave experience without hiking.

Dark Cave (Hang Toi)

Adventure-oriented cave with zipline, swim, mud bath, and kayak return. ₫450,000 ($18). Accessible by bicycle from the village. The mud pool section is the highlight — mineral-rich cave mud at a consistent temperature.

Pygmy Cave, Valley Cave, and Others

Multiple smaller caves in the park are accessible through Oxalis and local guide operators on half-day treks. Prices: ₫200,000–400,000 ($8–16) per person.

Booking advice

Paradise Cave, Dark Cave, Phong Nha Cave: Buy tickets at the park entrance or through guesthouses. No advance booking required except during Vietnamese holidays.

Son Doong, En Cave, Tu Lan: Book through oxalisadventure.com. Son Doong requires 12+ months advance. En Cave and Tu Lan can sometimes be booked 2–4 months ahead.