Phong Nha is a must-visit destination in Vietnam. Known for its dramatic limestone mountains and stunning cave systems, it is a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers. The Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, and other impressive caves such as Paradise and Phong Nha Cave. Additionally, the local cuisine is delicious and affordable, and the people are welcoming and friendly. Phong Nha is the perfect destination for a one-of-a-kind adventure in Vietnam. Check out 7 amazing things to do in Phong Nha Vietnam.
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How to get to Phong Nha
You can get to Phong Nha by train, plane and a bus. These are the closest public transport locations:
Traveling by plane
The closest airport to Phong Nha Ke Bang is Dong Hoi. There are direct flights from every major city in Vietnam. You can get your plane tickets at skyscanner.com. To get to Phong Nha from Dong Hoi, follow our instructions you can find further down.
Traveling by train
The nearest train station is in Dong Hoi. You can get here by train from many different destinations around Vietnam. You can book your train tickets at 12go.asia or use the links below:
Traveling by bus
In case you want to get directly to Phong Nha without having to change in Dong Hoi, try traveling by bus. You can find direct bus to Phong Nha from most of the tourist destinations around. Check 12go.asia for bus timetables and prices. You should also ask around at your accommodation or booking offices nearby. Most places in Vietnam will help you organise the transport to your next destinations. It might even be cheaper.
Getting to Phong Nha from Dong Hoi
If you travel to Phong Nha via train, flight or bus in some cases you will have to get to Dong Hoi first. Reaching Phong Nha from Dong Hoi is fairly easy. There are multiple options in various budgets.
- Public bus no. B4 – you can catch this bus at Dong Hoi bus station. It takes 1 hour and goes every hour between 5:30 and 17:30. Expect to pay around 40.000 VND.
- Minivan – your hotel will most certainly be able to organise a minivan for you. Expect to pay around 250.000 VND per person. It’s a good option if you arrive to Dong Hoi too late to catch the bus.
- Grab – the prices on Grab change a lot. You might be able to get a car for as low as 170.000 VND. It can be shared by up to 4 people.
Best time to visit Phong Nha
In order to get the most out of your Phong Nha visit come between March and August. This is also the dry season with the least rain and a lot of sun. If you come in the rainy season, many of the caves are so flooded it’s not possible to access them.
Things to do in Phong Nha
If you book any of the tours below, we will earn a small comission. You still pay the same.
1. Visit grandiose Paradise Cave
Paradise cave is probably one of the most famous and beautiful caves in Phong Nha area. No wonder. The number of majestic stalagmites and stalactites will keep you amazed during your entire visit. Paradise cave is 31km long. You can only explore 1-1.5km (my guess). There is a wooden bridge that will take you around the cave. If you feel more adventuruos you can join a 7km cave tour adventure. This will take you to the section of the cave which is not accessible for normal visitors.
2. Have fun at Dark Cave
Dark cave is not a typical cave experience. The price mentioned above includes activities such as Cave zipline, river zipline, kayaking, mud bath in the cave, thrill games and water games. In case you come with small kids they can enjoy children’s swimming pool. In order to get to the cave you must swim a little bit. So definitely wear a swimming suit for your visit. The only source of light in the cave is your torch. That is pretty exciting! You will be able to enjoy a mud bath here for 15-20 minutes. Once finished in the cave you can relax or have fun at Chay river.
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3. Take a boat ride to visit Phong Nha Cave
Price: 150.000VND + boat fee
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 4pm
Time to visit: count with 2.5h (+1h for Tien Son cave)
Appart from the entrance fee you will have to pay for the boat that will take you to the cave. The boat trip costs 360.000 VND (per boat) and can be shared with 12 passengers.
Phong Nha cave is another gem in the area. It’s 7.7km long. Tourists are only allowed to explore first 1500m. The cave has it’s own underground river. Reaching it takes 40 minutes by boat. The inside of the cave is dry and you do not need to use swimsuit here.
4. Experience true caving in Cha Loi Cave
Price: 70€
How much time to spend here: full-day trip
Cha Loi cave is a real caving experience! When we joined this Cha Loi cave tour by Netin travel we had no expectations. We were sooo surprised. The day starts with 1 hour drive from Phong Nha. Once you arrive to the cave area, you can change to long clothes (you will get wet!). You will receive a helmet, headlight and shoes. After a short walk you will reach the cave entrance. Cha Loi cave is full of narrow passages, sharp rocks, tunnels and breath-taking stalagmites and stalactites. Passing it is not a piece of cake but it’s so worth it! The best part for us was exploring the wet parts of the cave. It’s pretty scary to walk in waist-deep water in a dark only with your headlamp. If you want even more adventure check this 2 day trip by Netin travel.
5. Relax at Mooc springs
Mooc springs is a beautiful place in nature where you can relax on a sunny day. The water is quite fresh here. It’s actually divided into 2 areas connected by a beautiful bamboo bridge. The first area, Mooc, has a beautiful turquoise water with wooden bridge jump and kayak. The second area, Chum, offers a water slide and raft. Both areas also have children pool for your little ones. There is one restaurant with limited food options. They sell grilled meat but in huge portions (1 whole chicken etc.)
6. Visit the biggest cave in the world - Son Doong cave
Son Doong cave is the world’s largest cave with it’s own climate and ecosystem. In order to visit this cave you will need to book a tour with Oxalis adventure. It’s great tour company that provides professional high-quality tours in the area. Exploring Son doong will take you 6 days! The cave changes every day and has different seasons. The tour itself is very challenging. Keep in mind that it’s a lot of trekking. However, if you excercise or do sport activities regularly you shouldn’t have any troubles. The biggest highlight is the possibility to spend 3 nights camping inside the cave!
7. Explore on a motorbike
Rental Price: 150.000VND/day + fuel (1€/l)
Phong Nha national park offers incredible sceneries! You will be surrounded by the lush never ending greenery. Rent a motorbike and explore! The traffic is not at all as crazy as in other parts of Vietnam. You will be astounded by majestic limestone hills scattered around the country. Stop by in local villages and marvel at the color of Song Con river. You can rent a bike at the place where you’re staying or ask around in the town.
Where to stay in Phong Nha
If you want to be close to restaurants and life we recommend staying in Phong Nha town. There are multiple options for every budget. If you prefer to be surrounded by nature in a peaceful area, we recommend Karst Villas (book here). They offer cozy little houses with incredible views! A great bonus is their beautiful swimming pool area. Karst Villas also have a restaurant with delicious food for great prices! You can get everything you need here (even bike and bus tickets).
Where to stay
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Where to eat in Phong Nha
- Treehouse cafe – coffee, pizza, pasta anad more
- Bamboo cafe – good breakfast and even better coffee
- Ganesh – amazing Indian restaurant