The most famous place to visit in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site to date is Phong Nha Cave and Tien Son Cave. They lie 50 km away from Dong Hoi. A ride on a Xe Om motorcycle costs roughly VND300,000 (USD15) per round trip. Taxi is available, too or Private car for 400,000VND each way.
There are now 3 more caves newly opened to the public in Phong Nha Ke Bang UNESCO World Heritage National Park.
1) Hang En (Swallow Cave) located deep in the heart of the Park. This cave can only be reached by a 2 day trek at the least, camping overnight in the Cave. Oxalis Adventure Tours take tours there by appointment. The trek goes through the park and actually visits Minorities in the Park that still lead a very traditional life.
2) The Dark Cave (Dark Cave) It's reached by either Composite 12 seat motor boat from either the Son Trach Boat station or the Tro Mong Ranger Station at the northern entrace to the Park located on the Ho Chi Minh Trail West. Entrance is 40,000VND per person including the boat or you can hire a Kayak to paddle to the cave.
3) Paradise Cave (Thien Duong) was discovered in 2005 and opened to the public in December 2010. It is very popular in Summer as Phong Nha Cave is. Best to go later in the day when the masses have headed back to Dong Hoi. This cave is visually spectacular. Entrance is 120,000VND and the optional Golf Carts with local driver are about 100,000-200,000vnd each per round trip depending on the carts size. There is a great Vietnamese Restaurant at the cave set in a beautiful setting against the surrounding rainforest.
Also of Interest in the Park are Eight Lady Cave (Hang Tam Co) which is an Historical Site, The Nouc Moc Eco Trail and Huge Cave/Spring (Nouc Moc), Hwy 20 (Duong Hai Moi), Ho Chi Minh Trail West (Duong Ho Chi Minh Tay) and of course the worlds biggest cave (Son Doong).
Info on these interesting sites and many more can be found by contacting Phong Nha Farmstay or Oxalis Adventure Tours, both located in the local area.
Maybe staying closer to the action would be better to get the most of your visit.
Phong Nha Farmstay is located 8km from the park entrance and Son Trach Village. We provides a safe, comfortable and relaxing place to unwind and reflect on the days exciting activities. Surrounded by rice paddies and farming hamlets it's got Restaurant, Pool and full Bar facilities with a room to suit all budgets.
There are many hotels in Son Trach Village just outside the Park surrounding the Famous Xuan Son Ferry Crossing (Pha Xuan Son) that starts Hwy 20 from the east. "Victory Road running through Phong Nha Ke Bang southwest to Lao. Some of the more reputable hotels are Thanh Dat and Xuan Son where rooms are cheap and staff are friendly.
Source: Tripadvisor.com
Doing a day trip from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha Cave.
Entrance ticket to Phong Nha Cave and Thien Son Cave is 40,000VND per cave. Boat Hire is 250,000VND and can take up to 14 people. If you wish you may be able to share a boat with some other people and off set the 250,000VND. English speaking tour guides are available but are few and far between. All these arrangements are available on the spot at the ticket office.
The tour takes about 3-4 hours for a ride along the river, a visit to a cave up in the mountain (Tien Son Cave) and a cave under the mountain(Phong Nha Cave). Depending on the Season the river water is very clean and is Turquoise in Color and the caves are beautiful. If you are pushed for time you may only want to Visit the bottom cave. It's the Phong Nha Cave.
Lunch can be taken in one of the local restaurants near the gate. Costs vary and menues in English and with Prices are hard to find.
The Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has the highest Primate Diversity of any where in SEAsia with 10 Species of Monkeys. If you plan on seeing the area properly though you may need more than a day trip from Dong Hoi. And a guide.There are Hotels in Xuan Son around the Ticket Office for the Boats and there is The Phong Nha Farmstay Retreat out of town 8km overlooking the park from the traditional farmland to the east.
Other places to visit are , The National Park Buffer Zone, Nan Trach Fishing Village approx 10km away from Dong Hoi, The Sand Dunes and Beaches around Nan Trach, Nhat Le Beach 3 km from Dong Hoi; Da Nhay Beach and Ly Hoa Beach 60km away; Bang Mineral Hot Spring 60 km away. Phong Nha Farmstay located approx 40km NW of Dong Hoi and organizes tours to all of the above mentioned locations and for more Info
Tags: hang en, hang son doong, ho chi minh trail, Paradise Cave, Phong Nha
