Phong Nha-Ke Bang caves: the complete 2026 guide
Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park holds 472 surveyed caves in the karst mountains of central Vietnam — including Son Doong, the largest cave on the planet. Entry runs from ~$3 to a ~$3,000 expedition.
Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park packs 472 surveyed caves into the karst mountains of central Vietnam. This is where you find Son Doong, the largest cave on the planet. The park earned UNESCO status in 2003 and has since become one of Vietnam's headline natural sights — a proper detour off the beach trail.
Four caves are open to the ordinary visitor: Phong Nha (a boat ride along an underground river), Paradise (31 km of stalactites), Dark Cave (a 400 m zipline plus a mud bath underground) and Tien Son (a smaller chamber next to Phong Nha). Entry runs from 80,000 VND (~$3) to 450,000 VND (~$18). Son Doong is a different world: about $3,000 for a 6-day expedition in groups of up to 10.
The park sits in Quảng Trị province (Quảng Bình until the 2025 merger), 4–5 hours by bus from Hue. Give it two days at minimum to see the essentials. Coming from Hanoi, the easiest route is a domestic flight to Dong Hoi airport, then a bus or taxi on to the park.
This guide is about the caves themselves — which to pick, what entry costs, how to get there and where to sleep. For the village, food and everyday logistics there is a general Phong Nha guide; and if the caves are one stop on a bigger wild-Vietnam trip, see Vietnam's national parks and adventure activities.
Which caves to visit — an overview
- Phong Nha Cave (Động Phong Nha): Underground river by boat, entry 150,000 VND (~$6)
- Paradise Cave (Động Thiên Đường): 31 km of stalactites, entry 270,000 VND (~$10) with buggy
- Dark Cave (Hang Tối): 400 m zipline, mud bath, kayaking, 450,000 VND (~$18)
- Son Doong (Hang Sơn Đoòng): Largest cave on Earth, $3,000 (80 million VND) for a 6-day / 5-night Oxalis expedition
| Cave | Type | Entry | Time | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phong Nha | River, by boat | 150,000 VND (~$6) + boat | 1.5 h | Everyone, the classic |
| Paradise | Dry, stalactites | 270,000 VND (~$10) with buggy | 2–3 h | Nature lovers |
| Dark Cave | Adventure | 450,000 VND (~$18) | 3–4 h | Adrenaline seekers |
| Son Doong | Expedition | $3,000 | 6 days | Those ready to splurge |
The three main caves (Son Doong aside) come to about 870,000 VND (~$33) in entry tickets. Add transport and food and a single day at Phong Nha runs 500,000–1,000,000 VND (~$20–40).
Phong Nha Cave — the underground river
Động Phong Nha is the cave that gave the park its name. The trip starts with a boat ride along the Sông Son river: 30 minutes through a scenic valley between karst peaks, then the boat glides straight into the cave mouth.
The underground river stretches about 14 km. Boats take you 1.5 km in — past stalactites, grottoes and rock formations lit in shifting colours. On the way back the boat pulls up at the dry Tiên Sơn cave (Tien Son), a 45-minute walk through halls of calcite columns.
Prices
| Ticket | VND | ~USD |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (adult) | 150,000 | ~$6 |
| Boat (up to 12 people) | 750,000 | ~$29 (split among the group) |
| Tien Son (add-on) | 80,000 | ~$3 |
| Children under 1.3 m | free | — |
A boat seats up to 12. If there are just two of you, you either pay for the whole boat or wait for a group to fill up. In practice finding companions is easy, especially in the morning. Prices here and below are a guide: the park publishes no official price list, and each cave sets its own rules for children. Check at the ticket desk.
Paradise Cave — the stalactite palace
Động Thiên Đường is about 31 km of underground halls, one of the longest dry caves in Asia. The first kilometre is walkable on a lit wooden boardwalk.
The scale is staggering: a towering vault, stalactites and stalagmites in limestone around 400 million years old. The lighting shifts between turquoise, gold and white. It feels like stepping onto a sci-fi film set.
What I regretted most was not bringing my DSLR here — I was afraid of getting it muddy in the Dark Cave. Don't repeat my mistakes: be sure to bring the best photo and video gear you have to Paradise CaveShivanaut, Vinsky Forum, 2016, translated by VietnamSpot
Prices
- Entry (adult)buggy included270,000 VND ≈ $10
- Children (1.1–1.3 m)145,000 VND ≈ $5.5
It is 1.6 km from the car park to the cave entrance. You can walk (30 minutes through pleasant forest) or take the electric buggy (5 minutes). After the buggy there are still 500 steps up. No special fitness needed, but it is hard on bad knees.
Fast Track — no queue at the border
5–10 minutes instead of an hour in the immigration queue
from$11per passenger
Dark Cave — zipline and mud
Hang Tối is the most adventurous of the accessible caves. You enter by a 400-metre zipline over the Chay river.
After the zipline comes a swim through the underground river (in a life vest), a squeeze through narrow passages by headlamp, and a mud bath inside the cave. The mud is natural, not the spa kind you get in Nha Trang. You finish with a kayak on the Chay.
What the ticket covers (450,000 VND / ~$18)
- Zipline (400 m)
- Cave exploration by headlamp
- Mud bath inside the cave
- Kayaking
- Zipline back over the river
- Rope bridge
- Gear and guide
Son Doong — the largest cave on Earth
Hang Sơn Đoòng is about 9 km long by the expedition’s estimate, up to 200 m high and 150 m wide. Inside there is jungle, a river and even its own climate, complete with clouds. A local found it in 1990, and it has been open to expeditions since 2013.
How to get in
The only licensed operator is Oxalis Adventure. The package runs 6 days and 5 nights — the trek and cave itself take 4 of those days, with a briefing day at the start and a transfer day at the end — and costs $3,000 (80,000,000 VND) per person, with English-speaking guides. Groups go in with up to 10 people.
Booking takes years, not months: according to Oxalis, as of September 2026 the 2027 season is sold out and only a few places remain for 2028. The season is January–August; in the rainy months the cave floods.
What the ~$3,000 includes
- Jungle trekking and river crossings
- Camping (inside the cave and at the exit)
- Meals, gear and porters
- A guide and an expert caver
You do need to be fit: up to 14 km of trekking a day over rough ground. Age limits are 18–70.
How to get to Phong Nha
From the major cities
| From | How | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hue | Bus | 4–5 h | 150,000 VND (~$6) |
| Da Nang | Bus | 6–7 h | 200,000–250,000 VND (~$8–10) |
| Hanoi | Train to Dong Hoi + bus | 10–12 h | from 500,000 VND (~$20) |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Flight to Dong Hoi (VDH) | 1.5 h | from 1,000,000 VND (~$40) |
Đồng Hới airport (VDH) takes flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. From the airport to Phong Nha it is 45 km, a taxi of 200,000–300,000 VND (~$8–12).
Book buses on 12Go Asia or Baolau — fixed prices, online payment by card, English-language sites.
Where to stay
Phong Nha village is small but has enough. Hostels from 150,000 VND (~$6) a night, guesthouses from 300,000 VND (~$12), hotels from 500,000 VND (~$20). Restaurants serving Vietnamese food average 80,000–150,000 VND (~$3–6) a meal.
Which area suits which caves: where to stay in Phong Nha.
A 2–3 day itinerary
Day 1: Phong Nha + Tien Son
Morning — the boat along the Phong Nha underground river (1.5 hours). After lunch — Tien Son cave (45 minutes). Evening — dinner in the village, sunset over the river.
Day 2: Paradise Cave + Dark Cave
Morning — Paradise Cave (2–3 hours). Lunch. Afternoon — Dark Cave with the zipline and mud (3–4 hours). You come back wet and happy.
Day 3 (bonus): motorbike loop
Rent a motorbike (100,000 VND / ~$4 a day) and ride the park roads — karst peaks, rice fields, local villages. Stop at the park's botanical garden. A calm day after two active ones.
FAQ
$3,000 (80,000,000 VND) per person. The package is 6 days / 5 nights, with the trek and cave itself taking 4 of those days. Oxalis Adventure is the only operator, and English-speaking guides are included. Groups of up to 10, aged 18–70. According to Oxalis, as of September 2026 the 2027 season is sold out and only a few places remain for 2028. Season runs January–August. This is not a day trip — it is a full expedition with camping and trekking.
A Hue → Phong Nha bus takes 4–5 hours and costs around 150,000 VND (~$6). Night buses run too. Book it on 12Go Asia. The alternative is renting a motorbike and riding Highway 1A (210 km, 4–5 hours).
Two days minimum: day one for Phong Nha Cave plus Tien Son, day two for Paradise Cave plus Dark Cave. Three days is ideal — the third for a motorbike loop, the botanical garden and local villages. Son Doong is a separate 6-day expedition.
One cave — Paradise Cave, the most spectacular stalactites. Two — add Dark Cave (the unique zipline experience). Three — add Phong Nha (the classic boat trip). Whatever you do, do not skip Paradise Cave.
January–August is the sweet spot: warm, dry and every cave open (Son Doong included). September–November is the rainy season, when some caves close due to flooding. December is cool and wet.
For Phong Nha and Paradise Cave, no — anyone can manage. Paradise has 500 steps, but you set your own pace. Dark Cave needs basic swimming ability (a swim across the underground river). Son Doong is serious: up to 14 km of jungle trekking a day.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang is one of those places worth a detour off the beach trail. Three days among underground rivers, stalactites and ziplines and you will see a completely different Vietnam. Pair it with the imperial capital — Hue is 4–5 hours away by bus.
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