You can explore more tours from Ftrip:
- Spectacular Ha Long Bay (Daily Tour)
- Vietnam photography tour
- Vietnam Holiday Package 2023 (17 Days)
In 1999, a Quang Binh man named Ho Khanh found a cave entrance that he couldn’t enter. Only upon his return in 2009, accompanied by British experts, did he find a cave system - one of the largest in the world, one that could fit a block of New York City with 40-story skyscrapers, or a Boeing 747 airplane. He named it Son Doong Cave, meaning “cave behind the mountain of Doong Village”, but sources have dubbed it “mountain river cave”.
Son Doong is a soluble cave, formed by water dissolving limestone over hundreds of thousands of years. It is estimated to be 2 to 5 million years old. Today, a large and fast river rushes through the cave system. In the rainy season, some areas are completely impassable. The ceiling has collapsed in some parts, letting light in and allowing plants (similar to the forest outside the cave) to grow. However, artificial lighting is still needed for sightseeing and safety.
For the steep-but-worthwhile price of USD 2500 per person, a maximum of 10 tourists at a time can embark on a 4-day-3-nights trip through this underground paradise. They will travel with a party of up to 27 international tour guides, cave experts, porters, chefs, safety assistants, and rangers, using safety equipment and regulations imported from Europe. The price also includes forest environment fees, airport pickup, a two-night hotel stay, and food before, during, and after the excursion - including three meals a day plus snacks in the cave, prepared by chefs onsite.
The National Geographic website has a stunning and informative 360-degree tour of the cave, documented by Martin Edström. In 2019, astonished drivers found that the cave system was even larger than previously thought, as they found a tunnel that connects it to another enormous cave, Thung Cave.
Founder & Photography Guide
Specialties: Culture, landscape, portrait, hiking, active and adventurous tour
Besides my unlimited passion for traveling, a professional tour guide for over a decade, I have been taking photographs since sitting at Hanoi of the University of Culture in the early 2000s. Photography started as a hobby but it was seriously taken due to my work relations and my significant passion for the beauty of our world, especially in Southeast Asian parts such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
Within a few years of taking photographs, my works began to be recognized by many reliable international publications such as AFAR Travel, The Times, and The Daily Telegraph newspaper. In addition, I continuously add to my growing profile by winning numerous major awards: 3rd Position of The Independent Photographer 2018, 1st Position of Amateur Photographer of the year 2018, Grand Prize Winner of the AFAR Travel Photography 2019, and a Gold Award of San Francisco Bay International Photography 2020.
I photograph a wide variety of subjects, from travel to landscapes to street scenes. I enjoy documenting the East’s rich cultural heritage and its land soaked in glorious sunrise or sunset light in remote and secluded spots. And, I am very happy to share my knowledge and experience with you. You can visit Luminousvietnamtour to explore tour!
