//
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam
Photo: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng is a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Quảng Trị Province, in the north of the Central Coast region of Vietnam. The park is 50 km north of Dong Hoi, around 450 km south of Hanoi.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
It costs 150,000 dong for the entrance fee to see Phong Nha cave and 80,000 dong for Tien Son, and 550,000 (2024) (360,000 in 2016) dong to rent a boat for up to 12 people to visit Phong Nha cave (2024). You can share a boat with other tourists that show up. Renting a boat is a requirement as there is no other way to get to the caves. Caves are exquisite and very large. Xuyen Son Ho is a 300 square metre lake located inside Phong Nha cave, part of the underground Phong Nha River. It was discovered in a survey in 2012.
Transportation can be negotiated to take you there from Phong Nha village. Buy a ticket at the hut under the sign off the road, then wander the bamboo bridges and paths along both sides of the river/rapids. Go back to see where the river springs up out of the ground. This is also on the road to the Thien Duong (Paradise) Cave.
Paradise Cave
Paved road off the main HCM Highway provides car, motorbike, and bus access. Buy 250,000 dong ticket to enter. Just after that, separate optional ticket for non-polluting electric golf cart to the base of the stairs if nice weather, walk along the new path of about 1.6 km instead. Approx. 500 stairs up to entrance of cave, another 100-200 stairs down inside. Stunning, tastefully lit cave features along 1.1 km of relatively new wooden pathways. It is about 70 km by road from Dong Hoi and takes about an hour and a half by motorbike. Some claim that this is among the most beautiful caves in the world.
Reputed to be the world’s largest cave by the British Caving Association. Only guided tour available but with group of limited persons. Tour costs USD3,000/person and requires 5 days and 4 nights. First group completed their exploration in early August 2013.
If your budget doesn't quite stretch to Son Doong cave, Oxalis also offer 1-4 day trips to Tu Lan and Hang En caves. They seem to have a monopoly on the overnight cave trips, but they do have good English speaking guides. Prices start around 5.5M dong, limited or no trips during the rainy season from September-December. Beware of tropical storms when visiting the Hang En cave, it is prone to flash flooding.
Dark Cave
A real adventure cave, still without the lights and large tourist groups to spoil the experience. Explore this spectacular cave on a National Park tour or independently, and after kayaking across the river, enjoy swimming through the cave with your headtorch leading the way, then explore a side passage. Hang Toi is a wonderful and very accessible example of the beautiful caves that are found throughout this region.
Discovered in 2016 by a local man, this cave has the potential to be the 2nd biggest cave in the world. The first tourists experienced this cave in 2017. Green Land Tours is the only company that offers access to each of the cave's two entrances. The tours are led by the man who discovered the cave and spent 2 years exploring it. The Ruc Mon Cave is named after the indigenous people who made a home at the entrance until the 1980s. The cave is 17 km long, with one entrance in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park and the other at the border of Laos. This cave has the potential to be the second biggest cave in the world, following the first biggest cave also located in a Phong Nha. One of over 300 caves in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, this cave is probably the least-explored of the many caves open to tourists.
Tailor-made tours in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, including group tours, daily departures.
Phong Nha Gecko Hostel and restaurant with Cycles bar. Phong Nha's brand new premiere hostel in Phong Nha tourist center - Great spot in town with many options of delicious Vietnamese & Western dishes.
Casual dining atmosphere with the best pizza and sandwiches in town. Very good, reasonably priced specials. Free delivery in town, take-away available on all dishes.
A great place to unwind after your day's adventure. And as the late hours approach quench your thirst with a cocktail at Cycles Bar open late every night.
Australian-run. Two night minimum stay, but they can point you at local homestays for a one-night stay. Offers a range of cave and local area tours and can be remarkably quick at replying to emails.
Restaurant on premises. Transport from Dong Hoi can be provided for 400,000 dong, or direct bus to the guesthouse from Hue is available through tour operators for 500,000 dong. Tours of the cave can be arranged starting at US$45.
Owned by the same folks as the Phong Nha Farmstay, but in the middle of Phong Nha town. 4-person dorms only. Offers the same tours as the Farmstay. Pool, live music, happy hours, draft beer and great food.
They do not allow independent bookings to stay at their resort. You must book through one of their pre-approved package tour providers.
Free Wi-Fi.
Phong Nha Gecko Hostel and restaurant with Cycles bar. 26 rooms with 65 beds. 6-bed male/female dorms, 10-bed mixed dorms, private rooms for the solo guest or a family.
Phong Nha Coco house is a special lodging in Phong Nha village, the house has two private rooms are fully equipped with private entrance. Come here you have chance escape from touristic area, staying in private house of a local included private kitchen, fridge, TV and WiFi.
Same business 2 locations in Phong Nha. The Central Town is a semi-private rustic dormitory. The other one in the countryside is a rustic resort with bungalow by the lake in Cu Lac 2 village, 2 km away.
By rail
Several arrivals and departures at Dong Hoi daily from as far away as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, only a few hours from Hue.
By bus
A local bus goes from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for less than 40,000 dong. It departs hourly from many bus stops around Dong Hoi.
By taxi
Taxis can be hired from hotels, resorts, airport or train station in Dong Hoi.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Dong Hoi · Regional · VDH
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Vietnam.
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to applying for a Vietnam e-visa. Step-by-step portal directions, photo rules, costs, 90-day multiple entries, and common pitfalls.
6 min read
Travel tipsExplore the rainy seasons in Asia month by month. Compare Southwest and Northeast monsoons, typhoon belts, dry island escapes, and travel dates.
8 min read
InspirationExplore the best places to visit in March across Japanese cherry blossoms, explosive Spanish fiestas, desert wonders in Jordan, and Irish music sessions.
7 min read
ItinerariesPlan your Da Nang and Hoi An trip with our central Vietnam guide. Explore My Khe Beach, Marble Mountains, lantern streets, and travel logistics.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.