Phong Nha-Ke Bang

A karst national park home to Son Doong, the world's largest cave, plus Paradise Cave, Phong Nha Cave and the Dark Cave zipline — a mecca for caving enthusiasts.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park lies in Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam (the former Quang Binh Province was merged into it in 2025), right by the Laos border. It is one of the oldest karst landscapes in Asia and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2003. The park contains hundreds of known caves, including Son Doong, the world's largest, earning it the nickname "Kingdom of Caves." The traveler base is Phong Nha town (formerly Son Trach commune) on the Son River. There are two classic day trips: a boat trip into Phong Nha Cave combined with a climb up to Tien Son Cave; or the western route to Paradise Cave, the Dark Cave zipline and mud bath, and Mooc Spring, passing Eight Heroines Cave along the way. For more adventure, licensed operators run multi-day caving expeditions: two days in Hang En, one to four days in the Tu Lan cave system, and four days in Pygmy Cave and Son Doong. Bong Lai Valley east of town is ideal for cycling through the countryside. Seasons: February–August is peak season, with all caving tours running from April to August; September–December is the rainy season, when floods are common and many caves and boat services close. Summers are hot and humid, while the caves stay at around 20°C. Getting there: fly into Dong Hoi Airport (about 45 km from Phong Nha town) or take a train or overnight bus to Dong Hoi, then transfer about 1 hour by road; in town you can rent a motorbike or hire a car. A stay of 2–4 days is recommended. Note: always cave with a licensed team; bring non-slip shoes, quick-dry clothing and a dry bag; rural areas are mostly cash-only.

Top sights

• Paradise Cave – A dry cave about 31 km long. The first 1 km has boardwalks open to visitors, with vast, white stalactite columns earning it the name 'under…
• Phong Nha Cave – A water cave you enter by longboat along the mountain river. Stalactite formations line the underground river, making it the classic introd…
• Dark Cave (Hang Tối) – A zip-line into the cave, a headlamp to explore the darkness, a natural mud bath, and a kayak trip back. It is the most popular adventure a…
• Tien Son Cave – A dry cave halfway up the hillside above Phong Nha Cave, with delicate stalactites; tapping the stone columns produces a gong-like sound.
• Son Doong Cave – The world’s largest cave, with a primeval forest and clouds inside its chambers; access is only through a four-day, three-night official ex…
• Hang Én – The world’s third-largest cave, with a beach and lakes inside; two-day expeditions camp in the cave, making it a more affordable alternativ…
• Tu Lan Cave System – A cluster of more than twenty caves around Tan Hoa village; one- to four-day expeditions swim through underground rivers, and it was a film…
• Nuoc Mooc Eco Trail – Clear streams and wooden walkways through the forest, where spring water wells up from beneath the limestone; a place to swim and cool off…
• Phong Nha Botanic Garden – A primeval forest trail inside the national park, with a waterfall and rare plants. An easy jungle hike.
• Tam Co Cave (Eight Ladies Cave) – A memorial cave where eight young volunteer fighters died during the Vietnam War, beside Route 20 (Quyết Thắng Road) on the Ho Chi Minh Tra…
• Phong Nha Town & Son River – The gateway town to the national park, with piers, guesthouses and restaurants clustered along the Son River. Take an evening stroll by the…
• Bong Lai Valley – A pastoral valley east of Phong Nha town. Cycle or ride a motorbike through rice paddies and karst peaks, with farm stalls along the way fo…
• Hang Pygmy – The world's fourth-largest cave. Four-day expeditions camp in vast chambers and sinkhole jungles, suited to experienced hikers.
• The Duck Stop – A family duck farm in Bong Lai Valley where you can feed ducks, get a 'duck foot massage' and ride water buffalo. Phong Nha's most popular…
• Nhat Le Beach (Dong Hoi) – A city beach in Dong Hoi, the gateway city to Phong Nha, with long white sand and rows of seafood stalls. A convenient stop on the way in o…

Where to eat

• Pub With Cold Beer – A farm-style pub by the river in Bong Lai Valley, where you pick a free-range chicken to grill over charcoal, served wi…
• Bamboo Chopsticks Restaurant – A highly rated restaurant in central Phong Nha with bamboo-built interiors, serving Vietnamese-Western fusion dishes an…
• Phong Nha Family Restaurant – A small family-run restaurant in Phong Nha specializing in clay-pot dishes and Vietnamese pancakes, with generous porti…

Itineraries

• Central Vietnam: Phong Nha Caves, Hue & Hoi An – Head north from Dong Hoi to explore caves, then travel south across the 17th Parallel via Hue to the ancient town of Ho…