Tiếng Việt
Sơn Đoòng Cave is a bucket-list destination for adventurers eager to embrace the wonders of nature and explore the unknown. As the largest cave in the world, Sơn Đoòng beckons with its awe-inspiring scale, drawing explorers to uncover its mysteries and marvel at its natural beauty.
The World’s Largest Cave
Sơn Đoòng Cave, located in Tan Trach Commune, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam, holds the title of the largest known natural cave in the world. Situated within the expansive Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng Cave System, it connects to over 150 other caves near the Vietnamese-Laos border.
Measuring 150 meters in width, over 200 meters in height, and stretching nearly 9 kilometers in length, Sơn Đoòng’s sheer size is unmatched. The estimated volume of the cave is 38.5 million cubic meters—equivalent to 15,000 Olympic swimming pools.
With these staggering dimensions, Sơn Đoòng surpasses Malaysia’s Deer Cave in Gunung Mulu National Park, which is 122 meters high, 174 meters wide, and 4.1 kilometers long, cementing its position as the largest cave in the world.
The Discovery of Sơn Đoòng Cave
Formed between 2 to 5 million years ago, Sơn Đoòng was carved out by the flow of river water cutting through limestone, creating an enormous underground passage beneath the mountains.
The cave remained hidden from the world until 1991, when Hồ Khanh, a local man, accidentally discovered it while seeking shelter from the rain. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that an expedition by the British Cave Research Association (BCRA) visited the area, and Hồ Khanh had the opportunity to reveal the cave’s existence. Following the discovery, the BCRA confirmed that Sơn Đoòng was indeed the largest known cave in the world.
The Journey to Conquer Sơn Đoòng
Embarking on an expedition to Sơn Đoòng is not for the faint of heart. It requires excellent physical preparation and advanced bookings, as the tour is exclusively operated by Oxalis Adventure, the only company authorized to guide visitors into this magnificent natural wonder.
The current price for a Sơn Đoòng tour is 3000 USD (around 70,000,000 VND) per person. Tours are available from January to August, with approximately 13 to 15 tours per month, each limited to 10 guests (18 years or older). Every tour is supported by a team that includes a cave safety expert, a tour guide, 5 safety assistants, 2 chefs, 17 porters who carry your belongings and camping equipment, and a forest ranger.
The full expedition lasts 4 days and 3 nights, consisting of 17 km of jungle trekking, 8 km of cave exploration, 800 meters of steep climbing, and 90 meters of rope climbing, including the daunting “Vietnam Wall”.
Exploring Sơn Đoòng is a challenging and physically demanding experience, requiring both stamina and endurance. Adventurers with prior trekking and outdoor experience will have an advantage, but even for those new to the sport, the opportunity to explore the world’s largest cave will push you to your limits.
This extraordinary journey is an opportunity to break personal boundaries, discover nature’s awe-inspiring beauty, and conquer the most massive natural cave on Earth. It’s an adventure that very few get to experience—a chance to surpass your limits and achieve something unimaginable.
