Golden stalactite and flowstone formations inside Paradise Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang
Photo: Edgardo W. Olivera from Montevideo, Uruguay / CC BY 2.0

Central Vietnam · caves

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang is a UNESCO-listed karst park with about 300 caves, 45 to 50 km from the city of Dong Hoi (now in Quang Tri province). You pay per cave, not at a park gate: Phong Nha cave is 150,000₫, Paradise Cave 250,000₫ and Dark Cave 350,000₫ in 2026 listings. Son Doong, the giant, is an expedition run by one operator for US$3,000.

What is Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park?

Phong Nha-Ke Bang is a limestone national park in central Vietnam, protecting one of the world’s two largest karst regions. It covers about 857 km², holds around 300 caves and grottoes, and was inscribed by UNESCO in 2003. The nearest city is Dong Hoi, which has an airport and a train station. Since the 2025 provincial mergers the park sits in Quang Tri province, not Quang Binh.

Most visitors come for a day or two of caves, plus the river, zip-lines and jungle. A very few come for Son Doong. Older pages spell it “Phong Nga”; the town and park are Phong Nha.

Phong Nha Cave

Phong Nha cave is the one that gives the park its name. It is 7,729 m long with 14 chambers and an underground river, and you see it by boat from a dock near Phong Nha village. The ticket is 150,000₫ in 2026 listings, and the boat is hired by the boat, shared among the group, with the fee set by the province. Boats go in until the lit, walkable section, then you can walk through the cave to a large chamber of formations.

Tien Son Cave

Tien Son is next door, with a staircase and a stalactite-hung chamber with Cham inscriptions. It costs 80,000₫ in 2026 listings and combines easily with Phong Nha.

Paradise Cave

Paradise Cave (Thien Duong) was found in 2005 and runs for about 31 km. A boardwalk lets you walk the first section among large formations without a guide. The ticket is 250,000₫ in 2026 listings. Many visitors consider it the most beautiful cave in the park.

Dark Cave

Dark Cave is the adventure option: a zip-line over the entrance, a swim, and a mud bath inside, with a guide required. It costs 350,000₫ in 2026 listings, and many visitors pair it with the Paradise Cave. Wear swimwear and bring a change of clothes.

Son Doong Cave

A local farmer, Ho Khanh, stumbled on the entrance in 1991 and couldn’t find it again until 2008. British cavers led by Howard Limbert then explored it, and Son Doong is the largest known cave passage in the world: over 5 km long, up to 200 m high and 150 m wide. Visits are now possible: Oxalis Adventure runs guided expeditions.

The price is US$3,000 per person, which includes the permit and park fees, accommodation, meals, equipment and insurance. The season is January to August, groups are limited to 10, and you spend several days trekking and camping, including nights inside the cave. You need real fitness (Oxalis asks for recent overnight trekking experience). Around 1,000 people a year can go, and slots are reported sold out into 2027, so plan a year ahead. If that’s out of reach or out of season, Phong Nha and Paradise caves give you a very good day.

Getting to Phong Nha

Dong Hoi is the gateway. The airport has domestic flights, and the station is on the Reunification Railway. From Dong Hoi it’s about an hour by road to Phong Nha village, where most guesthouses sit. From Hue allow four to five hours by road. Hanoi is about 500 km north. Our page on domestic flights covers the airlines that serve the central coast.

Hire a motorbike in Phong Nha village if you are experienced, or book a car with a driver for the day. Tour buses run from Dong Hoi and Hue as well.

When to go

March to August is the dry season and the best time. From September to December heavy rain can flood roads and close caves, and Son Doong is shut. Check the weather forecast a few days before you travel.

Practical tips

  • Bring cash, since cards aren’t reliable at cave ticket offices.
  • Wear shoes with grip and bring a light jacket for the cool caves.
  • Dark Cave and Son Doong require guides.
  • Book the Phong Nha boat early in the morning to avoid queues.

FAQ

Questions travellers ask us

How much does it cost to visit Phong Nha-Ke Bang?

There's no single park ticket. In 2026 listings you pay per cave: Phong Nha 150,000₫, Paradise 250,000₫, Dark Cave 350,000₫ and Tien Son 80,000₫, plus boat hire for Phong Nha. Cash is the safe way to pay. A day covering two caves comes to roughly 750,000₫ per person with a motorbike and lunch.

Can tourists visit Son Doong cave?

Yes, only on a guided expedition. Oxalis Adventure is the only operator licensed, groups are capped at 10 people and the price is US$3,000 per person. The season runs January to August, and departures are reported booked through the end of 2027, so reserve far ahead.

What is the best time to visit Phong Nha?

March to August is the best window, with dry weather and the clearest caves. The wet season from September brings rain, flooding and some cave closures, and Son Doong is not open then.

How do I get to Phong Nha from Hanoi, Hue or Saigon?

Fly to Dong Hoi airport (opened 2008) or take the train to Dong Hoi station, then travel about an hour by road to Phong Nha. It's about 500 km from Hanoi and four to five hours by road from Hue. There's no town in the park, so stay in Phong Nha village.

Is Son Doong the biggest cave in the world?

It is the largest known cave passage by cross-section: more than 5 km long, around 200 m high and 150 m wide. A local farmer, Ho Khanh, found the entrance in 1991, and British cavers led by Howard Limbert surveyed it in 2009. Other caves are longer.