Unexploded ordnance is scattered throughout the fields and jungle, putting thousands of lives at risk every single day. The Quang Binh province has long been one of the poorest regions in the country, and was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War. The scale of the operation is phenomenal, and this ensures everyone’s safety and welfare, along with the preservation of the cave, is looked after with expert precision.īesides the fantastic experience and unique beauty of this adventure, the journey to Hang Son Doong has resulted in a growing industry that has improved the lives of many – tourism. It’s an adventure like no other.ĭespite the physical demands guests are perfectly cared for, two caving experts, three local guides, two chefs, two park rangers and 20 porters join every expedition. Once inside hikers are expected to abseil, climb, crawl and swim through underground rivers to arrive at the end of the cave. Involving two days of intense jungle trekking and river crossings to reach the entrance, nights are spent camping inside the cave and the nearby Hang En, now known to be the third largest cave in the world. The journey to Hang Son Doong is not for the faint-hearted. Microscopic organisms thrive in the darkness. Rare limestone cave pearls are scattered in dried pools, and the largest stalagmite ever found stands 80 meters (262 feet) tall.Ĭollapsed ceilings have created openings known as dolines, allowing foliage to grow inside the cave. The eco-system inside Hang Son Doong is as unique as it is large, and it even has its own localized weather system. Tours run once per week between February to August per year. Only 10 customers per departure are permitted. Limiting the tour to only one operator has protected the cave from mass development. In 2013 Hang Son Doong was opened to the public for the first time, with the adventure tour company Oxalis running the exclusive five-day expedition. Stretching more than five kilometers (three miles) long and reaching heights of 200 meters (650 feet), the main cavern of Hang Son Doong is large enough to house an entire New York City block. He noticed clouds and the sound of an underground river gushing from a large hole in the limestone, and reported his findings to the British Caving Research Association (BCRA), who were stationed in Phong Nha at the time.Ĭampsite in the cave: Hang Son Doong expeditions are physically demanding. Translated as Mountain River Cave, it was first discovered in 1990 by Ho Khanh, a local farmer who was seeking shelter from a passing storm in the jungle. More people have stood on the summit of Mount Everest than have witnessed the surreal beauty inside these enormous chambers. Located in the heart of the UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam’s Quang Binh province, Hang Son Doong is one of the most captivating destinations that can be experienced in Southeast Asia. We continue on, stepping deeper into the void that is considered by some to be the largest cave in the world. The prehistoric atmosphere made the reference obvious. That’s what we called this place when we first discovered it,” caving expert Howard Limbert, elaborates. The shrill call of birds and macaque monkeys echoes off the limestone, drifting in from the unseen world beyond the skylight. A spectacular sunbeam starts to creep down the side of the serrated cliffs. Water drips from a gaping scar in the ceiling over 100 meters (328 feet) above us. I smile at our guide’s warning and enter the lush jungle growing inside Hang Son Doong, a 3-million-year-old cave in the central part of Vietnam.
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