Cave and jungle adventures, Phong Nha-Ke Bang

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park with its enormous cave systems. Direct flights operate from Hanoi to nearby Dong Hoi, or you can travel overnight by train, it's then just a 1-hour drive to the national park, where you can stay in comfortable accommodation. 

The park is a treasure trove of ancient cave systems, some believed to be over 400 million years old. These underground chambers are truly awe-inspiring, with massive heights and lengths, stunning stalagmites, underground rivers, and crystal-like stalactites that resemble glass pillars. Above ground, the park is equally impressive, covering nearly 900 square kilometres of untouched forest and tropical jungle. It is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, primates, reptiles, and a variety of birds.

Thien Duong (Paradise Cave) and Phong Nha Cave are the main caves you’ll be here to explore. Paradise Cave, which opened to visitors in 2011, is situated deep in the National Park and extends for an incredible 31 kilometres. Accessible via a wooden walkway, this enormous underground space is filled with gigantic stalagmites and other majestic formations. It's no surprise that experts consider Paradise Cave to be one of the most spectacular caves in the world.

Son Doong cave is so big that entire rainforests have sprawled into the caverns open to the jungle above. It looks like the stuff of dreams and has been used as a backdrop for various Hollywood blockbusters. Permits to explore Son Doong are few and far between and you need to be pretty intrepid to visit, adventurous couples and families with older children’s may wish to arrange a 2-day expedition to camp overnight in Hang En, the world's third biggest cave.