Phong Nha Cave was the first cave to be opened to the public in Phong Nha. It is 7.7km metres long and contains 14 grottoes. Scientists have surveyed 44.5km worth of passages throughout the cave. The cave was first explored and mapped out by the British Caving Association in 1990, and was the first cave to be opened to the public. Only 3 people have ever been the whole way through it – more people have been to the moon! There are some many impressive formations in this cave and it is the only cave open to the public that allows you to walk freely inside without being part of a guided tour. This means you can get close to the formations, view them from different angles and take some great photographs.
Phong Nha Cave is possibly still one of the most underrated tourist experiences in Vietnam. To get a full understanding of Phong Nha Cave, it is important to know some historical information prior to visiting. The best way to get this information is to head over to Easy Tiger Hostel, which holds a very useful information talk every day at 9am that is free for anyone to attend. In this information talk, the speaker provides a lot of information and historical background story that brings this cave to life! Going to see Phong Nha Cave having learned a little of the history behind this natural wonder makes it a vastly more unique and rewarding exercise. Sadly, there are no tour guides available at the cave or on the dragon boat that takes you to the cave, so it is wise to get the information before you visit.
The cave is located at sea level on the edge of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang massif and for this reason was accessible throughout history, with signs of activity dating back to before the Cham Empire, according to pottery and wall carvings. It also played a vital role in north Vietnam’s war effort against America and south Vietnam. It was first extensively explored by a team of British caving enthusiasts in 1990 but prior to this it appeared in tourism pamphlets in the Huế region from the early 20th century.
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 Tourism Centre, located centrally in Phong Nha Village. The boats depart regularly between 07:30 and 15:30 and the cost of the boat can be shared between up to 12 people, so if you’re travelling on a budget, try to find people to share with! That is another great thing about the 9am information talk at the Easy Tiger Hostel – the people who attend the talk can then sign up for boat sharing groups departing at 10:30 and 13:30, which may save you a few dollars. However much you are tempted, do not go to the location of the entrance of Phong Nha Cave by other modes of transport (bicycle, motorbike, or on foot) as the good people working at the cave will send you back to the Tourism Centre to get a boat instead.
A trip to Phong Nha Cave can also include a trip to Tien Son Cave. Tien Son Cave is located about 400m above Phong Nha Cave and is a much older cave. Visiting Tien Son will add a couple of dollars and a couple of hours to your Phong Nha Cave trip. A round trip to Tien Son Cave and Phong Nha Cave will take around 4-5 hours, while a round trip to just Phong Nha Cave usually only takes around 2-3 hours.
