However, getting to the cave itself is not easy. Luckily, anyone is able to experience the mysteries of Hang Son Doong. Vietnam really truly is so unique in every aspect, that we recommend you stick to ground transportation.Ī thrilling journey through dense forest, crossing rivers, and sleeping under the stars… You may miss out on a lot of interesting sights on the way. Taking a flight may save time, but it is not flexible, nor is it fun. Vietnam Airlines is the only airline that offers these routes, and there aren’t many options within a day. You also have the option to take a bus from Ninh Binh, one of the more common routes to take. To cut down on time, you can book flights from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi, and from there you can take a bus to Phong Nha. These buses also run at night, so you will wake up fresh and ready for your once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The bus takes about 10 hours and will cost you just about $15 USD. There is also the train, the Reunification Express, that allows you to sleep comfortably, but make sure you book in advance.įrom Hanoi however, the distance is much shorter, 496 kilometers (308 miles), and from here you can take a single-journey sleeper bus. It’s about a 1,250 kilometer (777 mile) journey from HCMC, so it may take you a while by bus, but it’s actually not that bad when you make multiple stops in between. To get to Phong Nha, you can either make your way downward from Hanoi or upward from Ho Chi Minh City. In one chamber, you will also find the largest stalagmite known to man. You’ll hear the sounds of birds and macaque monkeys echo off the limestone and all this in harmony with the soft gurgle of the river inside. Through these dolines, sunbeams creep through dense foliage. These are sections of collapsed limestone ceiling, creating an opening of sorts. Not to mention the large creepy crawlies that are reminiscent of early times. The whole system is much, much bigger, that it contains its own thriving ecosystem – a jungle home to a variety of wildlife, an underground river, and even a localized weather system that creates its own clouds. The main cavern of Son Doong is so massive that it could fit an entire New York City block inside. This means that if you’re one of the lucky few to be able to venture inside, you will enter a world that has been left devoid of humans and virtually unchanged for millions of years.Ī cave so large, it creates its own clouds The cave was also discovered just about 25 years ago in 1990. However, Son Doong cave, nestled within these peaks, is relatively young, only about three million years old. It is here you will find Hang Son Doong, or Mountain River Cave, a mammoth of a space that stretches for over three miles (five kilometers) and reaches heights of 650 feet (200 meters).įormed during the Cambrian-Permian geological era, the karst system found in Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park is around 400-450 million years old and is the oldest in Asia. The thought of avoiding leeches and other slimy creatures initially intimidated me, but they weren’t as difficult to evade as I had originally anticipated.Quang Binh province in Central Vietnam is home to UNESCO protected Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park – a vast, mostly untouched land of lush forest, sprawling rivers, and mysterious caves. We trekked in and out of caves, scaled rock walls, climbed ropes, and buckled into full-body harnesses. The next five days were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. We hopped on a five-hour train to the Dong Hoi train station and were picked up by a car that would take us to our homestay, the location where our safety introduction session would be held. We flew from Boston to Newark, to Hong Kong, to Ho Chi Minh, and finally to Da Nang. I picked up some trusted Petzl helmet and headlamp gear, as well as crucial Sea To Summit drybags and a silk sleeping bag liner. On indoor workout days, I did hundreds of burpees and weighted squats with kettlebells. We completed training treks in the bitter New England winter. My husband and I purchased the recommended canyoneering shoes. Piece by piece, the preparations for the expedition came together. My spot wasn’t reserved yet, but I had a soft hold, pending that my application was accepted. I had memorized my credit card number, so that was easy. One day, when my Gmail was open by chance, I saw the email was there.
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