A complete guide to phong nha

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Phong Nha is an adventurer’s paradise. Millions of years of flooding have chiseled out the world’s largest caves, meandering rivers entwine ancient karsts, and jungle-cladmountains lend an otherworldly atmosphere.

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Colossal caves may be the main draw, but linger a little longer and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park will revealhiking trails, countryside lanes, and rivers perfect for kayaking. Although this is vietnamyounglions.vn’s vị trí cao nhất adventure destination, Phong Nha is still in the early stages of development. Now is the time khổng lồ come. The caves are pristine, the locals are friendly, and you’ll feel like you have the wilderness all khổng lồ yourself.

Top things to bởi in Phong Nha
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Camping and Caving

Caves in Phong Nha range from the tame khổng lồ the tremendous. For conservation reasons, local authorities restrict access to lớn the larger caves. Some tour companies have exclusive rights to take travellers inside certain caves, while others are mở cửa to all. Son Doong looms large as one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, but don’t let that overshadow the allure of Phong Nha’s other treasures.

TIP: It"s worth noting that many of Phong Nha’s caves are inaccessible during rainy season (from October to lớn December.) Try lớn visit at other times of the year if you can.

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Son Doong

Son Doong is the world’s largest cave, with stalagmites that compete in height with London’s Big Ben. An expedition to Son Doong takes four days with camping spots mix up on scenic parts of the trail. This is the most challenging & costly expedition in the area, & often booked out months in advance.

Tu Lan

The Tu Lan cave system lets you wade, swim, climb and crawl through a seemingly never-ending network of tunnels. If you enjoy floating down underground rivers & burrowing through tight passageways, this is the cave system for you. Tours of Tu Lan range from one-day moderate trips to full-on, four-day expeditions.

TIP: Parts of the 2017 blockbuster Kong: Skull Island were filmed in & around the Tu Lan cave system. Watch the movie for a taste of the scenery that awaits.

Hang Va and Nuoc Nut

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Famous for their striking stalagmites and picturesque rock pools, Hang Va & Nuoc Nut are ideal for a two-day tour. The trip is short but challenging, as you’ll need khổng lồ navigate razor-sharp rocks and clamber over karst passes lớn access the caves. Hang Va is undoubtedly the highlight, especially from January lớn March when the rock pools are at their fullest.

Pygmy Cave

Exploring Pygmy Cave, the world’s fourth largest, involves a challenging three-day expedition complete with abseiling và climbing. En route you’ll swim underground rivers in Tiger Cave và wade through jade-coloured ponds in Over Cave. If you haven’t the time or budget for Son Doong, Pygmy Cave provides a great alternative at a fraction of the price. For tours of Pygmy Cave, visit the Jungle boss website.

Hang En

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A moderate, full-day trek through the national park brings you khổng lồ Hang En, the world’s third largest cave. Expeditions in Hang En include an overnight stay out in the jungle or at the cave entrance, beneaththousands of darting swallows.

TIP: For expeditions to Son Doong, Hang En, Tu Lan, Hang Va và Nuoc Nut, you’ll need to lớn book tours directly withOxalis. Try to tương tác them in advance to avoid disappointment.

Phong Nha Cave & Paradise Cave

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Phong Nha Cave and Paradise Cave are the most popular attractions in the national park. Both of these are enjoyable, straightforward half-day tours, easily booked via your hotel. The entry khổng lồ Phong Nha Cave features a journey along the river, while in Paradise Cave, a series of wooden walkways lets you explore safely. If you’re travelling with kids, both of these caves will allow them khổng lồ join the fun.


Other Activities in Phong Nha

Kayaking

For an alternative way to see Phong Nha Cave, try a kayaking tour away from the crowds. Hang Toi, just a few kilometres away, also presents a fun selection of activities, including kayaking, swimming và zip lining. Planning your own kayak adventure? Oxalis andVictory Road Villas rent kayaks for independent trips along Phong Nha’s picturesque river.

Walking và Hiking

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The scenery in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is lượt thích nowhere else in vietnamyounglions.vn. If caving doesn’t appeal, hiking is a rewarding way khổng lồ encounter Phong Nha’s lush landscape. Organised hiking tours are the best way to explore, as local experts will take you along hidden trails unknown lớn other travellers. If you love wildlife, consider a night tour, or pay a visit khổng lồ animal rescue centres on a two-day hiking eco-tour. Jungle quái vật is one of the đứng đầu hiking tour outfits in the area.

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TIP: Don’t be scared lớn get your feet wet! The best hiking & cycling routes pass through rivers and streams -- bring appropriate footwear.

Cycling và Motorbike Tours

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Go deeper into the countryside as you navigate narrow lanes, crisscross rice paddies, & traverse streams. Many hotels provide không tính phí bicycle rentals for riding around town. To see more of the countryside, head towards the Ho bỏ ra Minh Highway lớn Bong Lai Valley. This picturesque area is trang chủ to farms, viewpoints & swimming holes. It’s a 15-kilometre loop through peaceful pastoral scenery.

If you’re an avid cyclist, try taking on the paved roads of the national park -- just be sure to have a proper mountain bike, map and plenty of water. For a more engaging experience, book a cycling tour with local guides who can show you unmapped paths and introduce you to farmers and villagers. Feeling leisurely? A motorbike tour will let you take in the scenery without breaking a sweat.

TIP:Phong Nha Adventure Cycling is geared up for quality bicycle tours with good mountain bikes & expert guides. Hai’s Eco Tour also offers motorbike trips with licensed local drivers.

Practical Tips for Visting Phong Nha

Where to lớn stay in Phong Nha

Phong Nha is a fantastic place khổng lồ soak up the beauty of vietnamyounglions.vn’s countryside. The best option for nature lovers is booking a boutique homestay, farmstay or villa in the rice fields — just outside of the town. Here you’ll be immersed in rural life và wake up to lớn beautiful views each morning. Phong Nha town also has a handful of accommodation options khổng lồ choose from, including easy-going hostels & humble riverside guest houses.

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Restaurants in Phong Nha

Most homestays and guest houses offer their own menus for guests, which is handy after a day of outdoor adventure. In Phong Nha town you’ll find small, family-run restaurants cooking vietnamyounglions.vnese & Western dishes. Head khổng lồ Coffee Station for a tropical smoothie bowl or locally grown coffee, savour a sundowner at Momma D’s Rooftop, or try the barbecue thực đơn at Chao Restaurant.

TIP: For a real farm-to-table culinary experience, take a bumpy ride or scenic boat trip to The Pub with Cold Beer – a Phong Nha attraction in itself.

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Transport to Phong Nha

Flying is the most comfortable way lớn reach Phong Nha. There are daily domestic flights to Dong Hoi Airport from Hanoi & Ho bỏ ra Minh City, và several weekly flights from Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Dong Hoi can be reached by train on the main Hanoi – Ho bỏ ra Minh đô thị railway line. Nearby destinations are Hue & Danang (Hoi An) to lớn the south and Ninh Binh lớn the north. Check the train schedule on thevietnamyounglions.vn Railway trang web or book your train tickets online in advance.

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Overnight sleeper buses (VND 300,000) leave from Hanoi to lớn Phong Nha daily. Travel time is about 9 hours one way. There are also several mở cửa buses to lớn Phong Nha each day from nearby cities such as Hue (VND 150,000) & Danang (VND 200,000). You can usually buy bus tickets at your accommodation or from travel agents the day before departure.

Bus from Dong Hoi lớn Phong Nha- Local buses run from Dong Hoi lớn Phong Nha for as little as VND 35,000 a seat. The ride is between 45 to 90 minutes, và buses run hourly (except noon) from 5am khổng lồ 5pm. Chú ý that the bus terminals are a few kilometres from the train station & airport. If you need to you can get there via taxi or motorbike taxi.

Taxi from Dong Hoi to lớn Phong Nha- You can save time by taking a taxi directly lớn Phong Nha (VND 400,000) from the airport or train station in Dong Hoi. If you’re travelling on a budget, look for people to chia sẻ a taxi with when you arrive.

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