Hang Son Doong (Mountain River Cave) Tours for tourists?
Replies: 13 - Last Post: Apr 1, 2013 1:20 AM Last Post By: oxalisvn
jump to
Hang Son Doong (Mountain River Cave) Tours for tourists?
Hey everyone,a friend and me heard a few weeks ago of this cave and did some research on the internet. The pictures are absolutely amazing!! We couldn't really find tour offers or if the cave is open for "normal" tourists.
Has anyone informations that could help us getting into that cave? Or at least tell us that it's impossible and should stop waisting time on that crazy idea and start to concentrate on all the other beautiful places in Vietnam.
Any infos are welcomed!
Thank you!
2
This group seems to be taking tours. Got no idea of cost or how good they are. http://www.sondoong-cave.com/category/son-doong-tours3
Don't know if you've heard of Paradise Cave which was in the January 2011 issue of National Geographic but it could be reached by car from Hue,http://www.shanti4evr.blogspot.com/2012/03/paradise-caves-in-vietnam.html
Regarding Hang Son Dong i've yet found reviews/images from the tours.
5
I'll be in Vietnam next week and I've got the same problem. Saw that National Geographic article too and would love to go! I just looked at http://www.oxalis.com.vn/GL/en/aboutus/215/ and it says,"The cave is not open for tourist at the moment, however we can organize tour to Son Doong cave if you are a researcher, institution, university or magazine/media agency."
Dang. I'd love to hear if there are any changes.
Edited by: Eyescream87
6
Thank you all for your replies.I read the same on the Oxalis page but on the next one, activetravel.asia they offer guided tours. I asked for the price but that is way offer my budget (999$ two prs. getting bit less when the group is bigger).
We'll buy a motorbike the next days, drive to the National Park and try to get as close to the cave on our own as we can. Maybe we're lucky and find some local guy who guides us through the park for a cheaper price.
8
I just returned from the area and according to the owners of the Phang Nha Farmstay who are quite reliable and have been to the cave (taken by the authorities for a "dry run"), but it is not yet open for visitors or tours. They said that a couple of companies were claiming to run tours but were in fact scamming people out of a lot of $$$ for the privilege of getting there and being turned back by officialdom. Sorry, I don't remember which companies were doing this. However, they did say that the cave would be open for tours soon but they had no date certain. They also said it would be a rather expensive tour but again had no details yet.9
For the ones who are interesred it any "news".Oxalis is the only group that offers offical tours but too expensive.
We started yesterday morning to the park and tried to get there with all the information we gathered. We made it to Swallow Cave ( En Cave) and stayed there overnight. The next morning we were heading north-west, where relating to the National Geographic map the entrance should be somewhere after 2 km. We found the location where the river disappears into the ground and then the cave. But after two hours we gave up searching as we couldn't find any paths, footsteps or entrances.
We had fantastic two days and saved the about 200$ that tour (to Swallow Cave) would normally cost.
11
I dont recommend you to do it yourself by 3 reasons: 1) If the ranger found you are unauthorized access, think about how much you have to pay for the fines? 2) It is very remote area (nobody, no phone, nothing), if any problem with snack/insect bite, how could you handle? 3) Why you want to take risk with your life safety?If you want to do Swallow cave or any cave in national park, please contact the national park or any travel agent that can arrange tour legally and the one who have proper gears for this trekking/caving.
13
The Government of Quang Binh Province has just allowed pilot tours to Son Doong cave, first tourist trip will be in the middle of May 2013 organized by Oxalis. This is 7 days trip including 1 days training and fitness test and 6 days in the cave. See detail here http://oxalis.com.vn/GL/en/aboutus/215/
