$3,120 (79.500.000 ₫)Son Doong
Hang Sơn Đoòng
The biggest cave on earth, with its own jungle, river and weather inside. The bucket-list trip everyone has seen on 60 Minutes.
StrenuousRead the guide →
Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park · Central Vietnam
Phong Nha Tours
Your honest guide to the Phong Nha caves and the best Phong Nha tours, from an $11 self-guided walk to a $3,000 Son Doong expedition. Real prices, every route into Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, and a plan you can actually book.
- 400M+ years
- the oldest karst in Asia
- 7 great caves
- from a $11 walk to a $3,000 expedition
- 1 honest guide
- real prices, updated quarterly
Real prices
Every fee in dollars and dong, checked and dated. No vague 'affordable'.
Every cave, every route
From Son Doong to the boat cave, and how to get here from any city.
Honest opinions
What's worth it, what to skip, and the crowds and scams nobody warns you about.
Made by people who go
Written from the ground, not rewritten from other blogs.
Start here
The Phong Nha caves
From a gentle boardwalk to the world's biggest cavern, these are the Phong Nha caves worth knowing, with what the Phong Nha cave tours cost and whether each one is worth it.
$3,120 (79.500.000 ₫)
$310 (7.900.000 ₫)Hang Pygmy
Hang Pygmy
Camp deep inside one of the planet's biggest caves, with abseiling and an underground river. The smart Son Doong alternative you can actually book.
ChallengingRead the guide →
$11 (270.000 ₫)Paradise Cave
Động Thiên Đường
The prettiest cave you can see without a guide or a big budget. A lit boardwalk leads into enormous, jaw-dropping chambers.
Very easyRead the guide →
$345 (8.800.000 ₫)Hang En
Hang Én
Sleep on a beach inside a vast cave and wake to thousands of swifts pouring out at sunrise. The single most-loved moment in Phong Nha.
ModerateRead the guide →
$6 (150.000 ₫)Phong Nha Cave
Động Phong Nha
The original river cave that named the park. You glide in by dragon boat along an underground river, past lit formations.
Very easyRead the guide →
$18 (450.000 ₫)Dark Cave
Hang Tối
A full afternoon of fun: a 400m zipline over the river, a natural mud bath, kayaking and headlamp caving.
EasyRead the guide →
Not sure which one?
Tell us your budget, fitness and days. We'll pick your cave.
Most people bounce between four blog posts trying to choose. Our cave finder asks five quick questions and points you to the right Phong Nha cave tour, with the price and how to book.
Getting here
How to reach Phong Nha
Quick truth first: Dong Hoi is the gateway city with the airport and train station, and Phong Nha town (Son Trach) is about 45km further on. Here's the run from each major city.
Hue → Phong Nha
210 kmA tourist bus or a private car. Both take about 4 to 4.5 hours.
See all options →Da Nang → Phong Nha
312 kmSleeper bus (7 to 8 hours) or the train to Dong Hoi plus a short transfer.
See all options →Hanoi → Phong Nha
500 kmFly to Dong Hoi (about 1h15) for speed, or take the overnight train to sleep through it.
See all options →Ninh Binh → Phong Nha
420 kmAn overnight sleeper bus, or the train to Dong Hoi.
See all options →Dong Hoi → Phong Nha
45 kmThe local bus B4 if you're counting pennies, or a quick private transfer.
See all options →Hoi An → Phong Nha
340 kmSleeper bus from Hoi An direct, or a private car via Hai Van Pass.
See all options →Ho Chi Minh City → Phong Nha
1100 kmFly to Dong Hoi (about 1h45), then 45km transfer. Don't try the bus.
See all options →Vinh → Phong Nha
290 kmSleeper bus or train. Allow most of the day.
See all options →Why trust us
We say what's worth it and what to skip, because we're not selling you one tour.
The big sites either have no prices or can't be honest about operators. We give you the real numbers, the honest verdict, and a quick way to enquire when you're ready. Then we point you to the right people to book with.
Ready to plan it properly?
Tell us your dates, your group and what you're into. We'll send back a real plan for your Phong Nha tour, with caves, transport and where to stay, and connect you to the right operator.