Phong Nha Cave – An irresistible tourist destination in Viet Nam

Phong Nha Cave is a cave in the limestone mountains of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. Known as an attractive and famous destination of Quang Binh Tourism, the cave has been put into tourism operation since 1991. After going upstream Son River, tourists will visit Phong Nha Cave with a magnificent system of stalactites with 7 outstanding criteria. Here, visitors can choose either of Phong Nha tours: 1,200m Phong Nha Cave tour or Phong Nha  4,500m Son Ho tour.

Quang Binh Travel Experience

Now, let’s learn about Phong Nha in detail

Where is Phong Nha Cave?

Located in Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province, about 45km to the northwest of Dong Hoi city, Phong Nha Cave is part of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. From Dong Hoi to Phong Nha, visitors will be walking on the legendary Truong Son road. After arriving at the Phong Nha tourist center, tourists will go upstream Son River to visit Phong Nha. Named as the “Thien Nam first cave” of Vietnam, sheltered by tropical forests, it is the first place that’s put into operation and ready to welcome tourists in Phong Nha Ke Bang.

The name “Phong Nha”

People often call Phong Nha Ke Bang Cave. The name of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is also derived from this name. However, Phong Nha Cave is just like many others in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.

Cruising on the poetic Son River, visitors come to experience and admire the beauty of Phong Nha

According to scientists, the weathering process to form caves in Phong Nha happens naturally 250 million years ago. The main topography of Phong Nha – Ke Bang is limestone mountains and dirt mountains. The average height of the cave is 600 meters with the narrow and vertical walls. Phong Nha cave is located in the southeast part of Ke Bang limestone massif in a strongly weathered limestone area, an area of about 10,000 km2, extending 200 km to the north of the Truong Son mountain range, and through to Laos. Inside this limestone massif, there is underground water.

Visit Phong Nha by Kayak in the tour 4500m

The visible flows of the Son, Trooc , Chay, Rao Thuong originates from small streams. When they head to En cave, the large stream flows underground into the limestone mountains to form caves. Local people mainly lives along the Son river. People around here often provide boat service for tourists visiting Phong Nha Ke Bang.

Phong Nha where the wind passes through the teeth

With a length of 7,729m, a depth of 83m, a height of 50m together with many small and large minor caves including Bi Ky cave, Tien cave and Cung Dinh cave. This is a type of a water cave that flows underground in the mountain bed with many typical stalactites. Legend has it that the stalagmites hanging at the mouth of the cave make its poetic name “Phong Nha”, which means “Wind through the teeth”. That’s how the name Phong Nha  starts to go around. Phong Nha stalactites are considered rare and beautiful because they took millions of years to form.

Inside Phong Nha

Unique cave stalactites

Phong Nha is known for its unique rock formations named after natural shapes. Tourists feel like entering the wonderland, when watching shapes such as  “Lion”, “Unicorn”, “Attending the royal court”, “Palace” or “Buddha statue”. After flowing about 19km underground under the Truong Son range, the river appears at the mouth of the cave with a very blue color in the dry season and especially the red alluvium in the rainy season. Visitors can also explore the formation of stalagmites and stalactites in some of the 14 caves inside. Going inside about 1km is Bi Ky cave, a side branch located deep in the cave about 600m from the cave entrance. It is said that sometime from the 9th to the 11th century, Cham people chose this cave as a place of worship.

Canoeing in the cave

Stalactites in the cave are of diverse and different shapes, creating curiosity for visitors

After dozens of scientific investigations by the Vietnamese, French, and British, etc Phong Nha cave still remains mysterious.

At present, many caves in Phong Nha Ke Bang are put into tourism operation. However, Phong Nha Ke Bang Cave is still the top choice of tourists. Phong Nha tour is both suitable for many age groups and poetic when going down the Son River to explore this cave.

You can watch the video exploring Phong Nha from the cave entrance and go deep inside for the best visualization.

7 Best of Phong Nha Cave

Phong Nha Cave is blessed with 7 outstanding criteria recognized by the world:

1. The longest water cave (Vom Cave-28km)
2. The highest and widest cave entrance
3. The most beautiful wide sand and rock beach
4. The most beautiful underground lake

5. The most magnificent and magical stalactites

6. The longest underground river in Vietnam (13,969 m)

7. The largest and most beautiful dry cave.

Sightseeing ticket price

Now you can visit Phong Nha cave for the first 1.2 km. If you want to explore more, you can register the Xuyen Son Ho adventure tour or a Phong Nha 4500m tour. With 2 discovery tours, visitors can choose the one that best suits them.

Phong Nha tourist ticket prices are as follows:

• Adults: 150,000 VND/1 person.
• Boat price: 550,000 VND/12 guests. (Round-trip Phong Nha boat ticket)

Phong Nha Tour Package

You can go to Phong Nha Tourist Center by yourself, then buy a boat and sightseeing ticket to visit the cave. Currently we offer Phong Nha 1-day tour and  pick you up from Dong Hoi city or Phong Nha center. The tour includes visiting Thien Duong Cave or Mooc Spring . Visitors can also choose a combining tour Chay River and Dark Cave .

Phong Nha Tours pick you up from Dong Hoi Quang Binh from 8 am and drop you off at hotels at around 5 pm.

• Phong Nha – Paradise Cave 1 day tour : Tour price 1,050,000 VND / person
• Phong Nha – Mooc Spring Tour : Tour price 1,050,000 VND / person
• Visiting General’s grave and visiting Phong Nha : Tour price 1,050,000 VND / person
• Xuyen Son Ho 4,500m
• Phong Nha Ke Bang Tour 2 days 1 night
• Cha Loi Cave System 2 day 1 night Adventure

Please contact us to enjoin the most professional Phong Nha Tour. If you want to visit other landmarks in Phong Nha Ke Bang, we  can offer you different tour options. The beauty of Phong Nha Ke Bang are waiting for visitors to discover and experience.

Beautiful Phong Nha images awaiting you to discover

1 Frequently asked questions about Phong Nha

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