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General Info Phong Nha
Phong Nha is a destination which is not included in every travel itinerary. This is because it requires more travel time than most destinations in Vietnam. Maybe that is also the reason why you can still experience an almost untouched landscape.
The main reason to visit Phong Nha is of course its’ enormous cave system, consisting of hundreds of caves which include the world largest cave (Hang Son Doong) and the longest dry cave in Asia (Paradise cave). The center of Phong Nha itself is not much more than a street with guesthouses and hotels. If you want a more unique experience and are a big nature fan, it is worth to search for an accommodation further away from the center like Phong Nha Lake House Resort.
North of the main street you can find Phong Nha cave. You can easily reach this cave by foot and is a great cave to visit when you arrive in the afternoon or still have a morning to spend in Phong Nha. Most other caves are about half an hour drive from the center and can be visited by joining a tour or renting a motorbike. When you rent a motorbike, you can visit several caves and the botanic garden in one day by making a 65km loop trough Phong Nha National park. If you want an adventures caving experience, have a look at Hong Tai cave, also referred to as the dark cave.
If you got enthusiastic reading about Hang Son Doong cave, I am afraid I have to disappoint you. There is only one organisation permitted to operate a limited number of tours in this world largest cave and you will have to book this tour at least one year in advance. However, there are great alternatives for big cave fans who want to have an extraordinarily experience. This includes a jungle trek, river crossings and sleeping in the entrance of the world’s third largest cave (Hang En). Visit the Oxalis website for more information about these tours.
Note: A large investor is planning to build a cable car construction to the world largest cave, which can bring sever damage to its’ cave system. We would greatly appreciate if you want to take the time to sign this petition to protect this UNESCO heritage site.
How to get there
From Hanoi to Phong Nha
- Bus – costs: 250.000 VND (€9), duration: 10 hrs
- Train and bus – 11 hours, 637.000 VND (€23,50), duration: 11 hrs
- Flight – costs: 1.000.000 VND (€), duration: 6 hrs
From CatBa to Phong Nha
- Via Tam Coc: 420.000 VND (€15), duration: 12 hrs
- Via Hanoi: 470.000 VND (€17), duration: 14 hrs
From Ninh Binh to Phong Nha
- Bus: 220.000 VND (€8), duration: 7 hrs
- Train: 483.000 VND (€18), duration: 9 hrs
From Hoi An to Phong Nha
- Train and bus: 270.000 VND (€10), duration: 9 hrs
- Bus: 250.000 VND (€9), duration: 16,5 hrs
From Hue to Phong Nha
- Bus: 150.000 VND (€5,50), duration: 4,5 hrs
- Train and bus: 165.000 VND (€6), duration: 4,5 hrs
From Dong Hoi to Phong Nha
- Bus: 60.000 VND (€2), duration: 1-1,5 hrs
- Taxi: 500.000 VND (€19), duration: 1 hour
My favourite accommodations in Phong Nha
- €15 or less Thao Nguyen Hotel
- €15 to €30 Phong Nha Rustic Home
- €30 to €50 Phong Nha Lake House Resort
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