Dano does Vietnam - Phong Nha Cave

Phong Nha Cave is 7.7km long and contains 14 grottoes but just a small portion of the cave, around about 1.5 kilometer is available to be toured. 44.5km worth of passages throughout the cave have been surveyed and it was first explored and mapped out by the British Caving Association in 1990. Apparently only 3 people have ever been the whole way through it – more people have been to the moon!

The only way to get to Phong Nha Cave is by traditional dragon boat which will take you 6km along the Song Son river from the departure point at Phong Nha. Please note: the boat trip is non-negotiable and costs VND550,000 for up to 12 people including children. The cost is for the entire boat, I recommend talking with others in line at the ticket booth to get a group of people together to spread the cost out.

The ride to the cave takes 15 or 20 minutes. It’s a peaceful experience sliding slowly across blue-green waters, the village fades from view, replaced by karst walls and blanketing jungle flora. Several smaller caves are visible high up on the exposed limestone mountainsides. As the boat turns round one final bend, a massive rock wall appears in the distance and the cave opening comes into view.

As you approach Phong Nha Cave the skipper will cut the engine and, with the assistance of a deckhand on the bow, paddle relatively silently through the underground cave system. The way that they move the paddles intrigued me and I still have not worked out exactly how that particular motion translates into forward movement. The cave is tastefully lit up with colored lights and it’s a nice introduction for everything there is to come.

Before exiting the cave, each boat pulls to the side toward a small sandy beach. Passengers are able to depart and walk through the cave surrounded by 400 million-year-old sculptures.

After walking the last 100 meters toward the cave’s opening, a staircase leads out and up towards a dock where the boats reconvene for the trip back into the village.

A visit to Phong Nha Cave is a brilliant experience that you should not miss whilst in Vietnam.

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Peace out

Dano...

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