Phong Nha – Ke Bang Discovery 3 Days

At 8:00 am, our car and experienced tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Dong Hoi to begin an extraordinary day of cave exploration in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for containing some of the world’s most spectacular karst cave systems. The park’s name comes from Phong Nha Cave and the Ke Bang forest, and this vast protected area represents one of Earth’s most significant karst landscapes.

Your first destination is Paradise Cave (Hang Thiên Đường), recognized as the longest dry cave in Asia and one of the most spectacular caves accessible to tourists anywhere in the world. The journey covers approximately 75 kilometers from Dong Hoi, taking about 80 minutes through increasingly dramatic karst scenery where limestone mountains rise sharply from the plains, their slopes covered in dense tropical forest.

Upon arrival at the Paradise Cave site, you’ll be transported by electric golf cart for 1.6 kilometers from the main gate through pristine jungle, following a winding road that offers tantalizing glimpses of the towering mountains concealing the cave. The cart drops you at the base of a substantial stairway – approximately 524 steps that climb the mountainside to reach the cave entrance at about 200 meters elevation.

The climb, while somewhat challenging for those unaccustomed to stairs, proves absolutely worthwhile. Ascend at your own pace, pausing to catch your breath while enjoying spectacular views of the mountainous region surrounding the cave. The panorama expands with each upward step, revealing valleys carpeted with jungle, limestone peaks marching to the horizon, and glimpses of the winding road far below.

Finally reach the cave entrance and step into another world entirely. Paradise Cave was only discovered by accident in 2005 by a local man following a stream, and scientists who subsequently explored it declared it one of the most magnificent caves they’d ever encountered. The main passage extends for over 31 kilometers (making it Vietnam’s longest cave), though tourists typically visit the first kilometer, which has been equipped with boardwalks, lighting, and safety features.

The scale is simply breathtaking. The main chamber reaches heights of 100 meters with widths exceeding 150 meters in places – large enough to comfortably contain a 40-story skyscraper. Wooden walkways wind through this underground cathedral, allowing you to explore in comfort while protecting the delicate formations. Atmospheric lighting illuminates stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone formations of extraordinary size and beauty. Some formations resemble frozen waterfalls, others look like organ pipes or curtains, and many create shapes that spark imagination – local guides point out formations said to resemble elephants, Buddhas, and mythical creatures.

After your awe-inspiring exploration of Paradise Cave, descend the stairs (often easier than climbing) and return by golf cart to the parking area. Transfer to a local restaurant for lunch around 12:30 pm, where you’ll enjoy traditional Vietnamese dishes. The restaurant can accommodate dietary restrictions if you notify us in advance.

The afternoon brings you to Phong Nha Cave, one of the park’s oldest tourist caves and the site that gave the national park its name. Depart at 1:30 pm for the short drive to the Son River, where you’ll board a traditional dragon boat for an enchanting 25-minute journey to the cave entrance. This peaceful boat ride offers its own rewards: gliding along the calm river with limestone mountains rising dramatically on both sides, passing small fishing villages where life centers on the water, and spotting water buffalo cooling themselves in shallow pools along the banks.

Arrive at Phong Nha Cave’s entrance, where the Son River flows directly into the mountain. This is known as a “water cave” because an underground river runs through its entire length. Your boat glides inside, and you find yourself in a surreal world where the river becomes a corridor through the mountain. Boat lights illuminate spectacular rock formations on the cave walls and ceiling, shapes that local imagination has named “The Lion,” “Fairy Caves,” “Royal Court,” and “Buddha.”

After exploring by boat for approximately 300 meters inside the cave, disembark to explore on foot. Walk deeper into the cave through passages adorned with extraordinary stalactite and stalagmite formations. The shapes, colors, and textures of these limestone features create an almost otherworldly atmosphere, and the cool cave air provides welcome relief from Vietnam’s tropical heat.

Return to your boat for the journey back down the Son River to the dock. Transfer back to your hotel in Dong Hoi, arriving around 5:00 pm. The rest of the day is free at your leisure, perhaps walk through Dong Hoi town, relax at your hotel, or enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Note: If visiting between April and September, bring swimwear and a towel. Some visitors enjoy swimming in the cool cave waters when conditions permit.

Overnight in Dong Hoi.

Tour guide: English-speaking Guide 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at your hotel, meet our driver and tour guide at the lobby for today’s full-day adventure exploring two more natural wonders of the Phong Nha region. Today’s experiences offer a complete contrast to yesterday’s relatively gentle cave visits – prepare for active adventure and, quite possibly, getting muddy!

Your morning destination is Dark Cave (Hang Tối), which lives up to its name by offering a genuine spelunking experience rather than a illuminated tourist cave. The journey begins with an exhilarating 400-meter kayak paddle across the turquoise waters of the Son River. You’ll receive a brief kayaking instruction if needed, then paddle your own kayak (single or double) to reach the opposite bank where the cave entrance awaits.

Upon arrival at Dark Cave, don your provided safety equipment: a helmet with headlamp and a life jacket. Leave behind any belongings that shouldn’t get wet (secure lockers are available). Then begin wading into the cool water at the cave entrance and venture into the mountain through passages that become progressively darker until your headlamp provides the only light piercing the absolute blackness.

Navigate through the cave by wading, sometimes swimming, and occasionally walking on slippery rocks, following your guide who knows the route by heart. The sense of adventure builds as you venture deeper, until you reach one of Dark Cave’s most unique and entertaining features: a massive chamber filled with therapeutic mineral-rich mud.

Here, abandon any concerns about staying clean! Strip down to swimwear and join other visitors in coating yourself with the slippery gray mud, believed by locals to have healing properties for skin conditions. What follows is pure, uninhibited fun – slipping, sliding, mud-wrestling, and creating memories accompanied by laughter echoing through the cave chamber. It’s an experience utterly unlike anything you’ll encounter at conventional tourist attractions.

After thoroughly enjoying the mud bath, wash clean by swimming in the crystal-clear underground lake that fills another section of the cave. The cool water provides an incredibly refreshing experience after the mud fun. For those seeking additional adventure, Dark Cave also offers an optional zipline across the river – an exhilarating way to arrive at or depart from the cave entrance, soaring high above the water.

Emerge from Dark Cave thoroughly refreshed and energized, though likely looking slightly bedraggled. Return by kayak across the river and shower at the facility’s changing rooms before continuing to lunch at a nearby restaurant.

The afternoon takes you to a completely different but equally beautiful natural attraction: Nuoc Mooc Stream (Suối Nước Mọc). While less internationally famous than the region’s caves, this pristine freshwater stream is beloved by Vietnamese visitors and those in-the-know travelers seeking peaceful natural beauty.

Nuoc Mooc flows through dense jungle, creating an emerald-green ribbon described by locals as “a glittering green silk scarf stretched across the forest floor.” The stream’s water maintains exceptional clarity and a refreshing coolness year-round, fed by underground springs that emerge from the limestone karst.

The ecosystem here remains largely pristine, with massive trees providing shade, exotic birds singing from the canopy, and the predominant sounds being flowing water and rustling leaves. Wooden walkways and bamboo bridges allow you to explore without damaging the delicate environment, winding along the stream banks and crossing back and forth to offer different perspectives.

Spend your afternoon enjoying this natural paradise however you wish: relax in hammocks suspended over the water or between trees, wade in the shallow pools, kayak gently downstream, or swim in deeper sections. The water temperature stays refreshingly cool but not cold, perfect for cooling off from Vietnam’s tropical heat. Some visitors bring books and spend hours reading in hammocks, while others prefer swimming and exploring every pool and eddy.

The combination of exercise and relaxation, adventure and peace, makes this a perfect day balancing different types of nature experiences.

Note: Today’s activities include mud bathing, swimming, kayaking, and optional zip-lining. Bring swimwear, a towel, and clothes you don’t mind getting muddy (or plan to swim/wash in them). Waterproof bags for phones and cameras are highly recommended.

Return to your hotel in Dong Hoi by late afternoon.

Overnight in Dong Hoi.

Tour guide: English-speaking guide 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy some free time to discover the city of Dong Hoi on your own before the standard hotel check-out time at 12:00 pm. Dong Hoi, the capital of Quang Binh province, offers several options for your final morning.

You might stroll along the Nhat Le River waterfront, where locals gather for morning exercise and coffee. The riverside promenade offers pleasant views of fishing boats, the iconic Nhat Le Bridge, and life along the water. Alternatively, visit Dong Hoi Market for final souvenir shopping or simply to observe daily life as vendors sell fresh produce, seafood, and local specialties.

History enthusiasts might visit the Quang Binh Gate and ancient citadel remains, or the Tam Toa Church, a French colonial-era building that survived American bombing during the war. The Bao Ninh Beach, located just a few kilometers from town, offers a final opportunity to dip toes in the South China Sea if time permits.

Check out of your hotel by noon. The tour officially ends here, and we’re happy to assist with your onward adventures. Whether you’re continuing south to Hue and Hoi An, north to Ninh Binh and Hanoi, or departing from Dong Hoi Airport, we can arrange appropriate transfers (additional services not included in the basic tour but available upon request).

We hope you depart with wonderful memories of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park’s natural wonders – from the ethereal beauty of Paradise Cave to the adventurous fun of Dark Cave and the peaceful serenity of Nuoc Mooc Stream.

Tour guide: English-speaking guide
Meals: Breakfast