Discover Son Doong – The World’s Largest Cave in Vietnam
THE DISCOVERY OF SON DOONG
You might have heard on the news about the epic limestones and a glimpse of the prehistoric sight of Son Doong Cave – the largest cave in the world that has yet to be fully discovered. It is located in Quang Binh Province, which is also home to a UNESCO-recognized wonder such as Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam.
The entrance way inside the World Natural Heritage Site – Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. Source: Cong An Nhan Dan Newspaper.
Not until 1990 that a local farmer named Ho Khanh first discovered this captivating shelter during a thunderstorm. Later on, his report reached the British Caving Research Association (BCRA) and led to an 18-year discovery after the exact location was nowhere to be found regarding Ho Khanh returnings. By 2010, people contended that Son Doong was the largest ever discovered cave in terms of the size of its cross-section, which spread headlines over the entire world over its appearance.
The underground river inside Son Doong Cave is truly a masterpiece. Source: Vinpearl
It reaches 200 meters in height, with a volume of 38.5 million m3. The Cave Expedition team with the National Geographic magazine announced that Son Doong was the largest natural limestone on the planet in 2009. 5 years later, the Guinness World Records Organization recorded it as the world’s largest natural cave.
Son Doong Cave has a magnificent ecosystem and natural landscapes which are recognized by scientists and biologists around the world. With its large scale volume, the cave has yet to be fully explored, thus many are still drawn to its dynamic source of life forms. There are wide sections that can accommodate skyscrapers or a Boeing to fly through besides streams, waterfalls, and primeval forests.
The epic ecosystem has made the giant cave an exclusive wonder to visit. Source: Collected.
With such a gigantic extent, Son Doong has a particular weather system, where the temperature is around 22-25 degrees Celsius in summer and 15-20 degrees Celsius in winter. It is always lower than outside from 8-12 degrees Celsius in the summers due to the effect of lack of sunlight, damp atmosphere, and difference in air pressure, causing airflow. The cave is compiled with huge formations of stalactites, skylights openings, ancient fossils, and unique species.
With those features, Mother Nature has created a very interesting ecosystem inside Son Doong Cave that is nowhere else to be seen. Its uniqueness is well-known because of the hidden underground world inside. With various complexes, primeval rain forests plus a diverse ecosystem and underground river have lured adventurous travelers to come to the destination.
TOURISM INSIGHTS OF SON DOONG
Approved by the authorities of Quang Binh, the Son Doong Expedition Tour operated by Oxalis Adventure has drawn enormous attention to the giant cave of the province.
Son Doong Cave has contributed to the promotion of Quang Binh as the highlighted tourism destination. With various types of expeditions of the cave nowadays, adventurers must be qualified regarding physical fitness and follow the safety protocols at all times to have a great trip. Regular involvement in constant trekking is a must-have activity throughout the journey. So if you truly are an adventurous seeker, make sure to keep your health in the best condition to ensure an enjoyable experience inside the world’s largest cave.
The magnificent landscapes inside Son Doong Cave leaves any visitors speechless. Source: Phong Nha Locals.
Due to the weather conditions and for the travelers’ safety, Son Doong Cave is only operated from January to the end of August every year. The number of visitors allowed to the cave is limited to 1000 as provincial authorities seek to protect the cave from overcrowding.
The fantastic landscape inside the magnificent cave chamber has been filled with stalagmites formations since the millennium age. Specific campsites inside the cave are designed to let natural light in, where you can see sunbeams light up the cave. Exploring the cave without artificial lighting is impossible, therefore, each tour has a solid team of staff to guard security protocols, assistants, cooks, guides, and much more.
Specific campsites inside the cave are designed to let natural light in, where you can see sunbeams light up the cave. Source: Phong Nha Locals.
An exceptional journey in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and various other spectacular caves is waiting for you to explore further in the center of Quang Binh, Vietnam. Don’t hesitate any longer and make your way to explore the largest cave on the entire planet, Son Doong Cave. Without a doubt, this remarkable visit will leave you with an impeccable experience that is nowhere to be found.
Besides Son Doong Cave, there are many more beautiful stalagmites inside other cave at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam.
