Hang En Cave
After trekking through the jungle for several dozen kilometers on the way to Son Doong Cave, trekkers first reach the incredible Hang En Cave and its stunning beach, where they camp. As the third largest cave in the world, Hang En features a chamber over 120 meters tall and 140 meters across. The sheer size of the cave has created its own ecosystem, complete with a jungle, a beach, and its own microclimate.
Son Doong Cave
The main passage of Son Doong Cave is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume, measuring 38.4×10^6 cubic meters (1.36×10^9 cu ft). It extends over 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) in length, with dimensions of 200 meters (660 feet) in height and 150 meters (490 feet) in width, making its cross-section twice that of the next largest passage, Deer Cave in Malaysia. The cave stretches approximately 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) and features two large dolines—areas where the cave ceiling has collapsed. These dolines allow sunlight to penetrate, fostering the growth of trees and other vegetation within the cave. Among its notable features are some of the tallest known stalagmites in the world, reaching up to 70 meters tall.
Due to its immense size, it's impossible to capture all of Son Doong Cave from a single vantage point. The cave is so vast that it generates its own weather patterns and mist. In several photographs, our porters served as models and held fill lights to illuminate the cave’s massive walls and enveloping fog. For a better understanding of the cave's layout, refer to this map and National Geographic’s series of 360° panoramas taken both inside and outside the cave.
Paradise Cave
Paradise Cave, also known as Thien Duong Cave, is a stunning show cave located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam. This park is also home to Son Doong Cave (the largest in the world) and the remarkable Hang En Cave. Paradise Cave features an impressive height of around 72 meters (240 feet) and a width of 150 meters (500 feet).
While approximately 31 kilometers of the cave have been explored, tourists are permitted to visit only the first kilometer. Despite this limitation, the cave's dramatic lighting highlights its magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, showcasing the natural purples and yellows that adorn its walls.
