Things to do in Phong Nha Vietnam / Čo vidieť v Phong Nha

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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Flights – Skyscanner

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Visa – iVisa

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Bus/train – 12go.asia

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Vacation –  Expedia

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Hostel – Hostelworld

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Hotel – booking.com

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:

Phong Nha (map)

Dong Hoi (map)

Dong Hoi (map)

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.

  1. 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
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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TIP: Don’t forget to get your visa before your Vietnam trip!

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

Price: 250.000 VND for adult, children under 1.3m 125.000 VND, children under 1.1m free Opening hours: 7 am – 4 pm Time to visit: 2 hours

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.

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TIP: To get to the cave entrance you need to walk 1.5km. In case you want to skip the walk you can take a ride in an electric buggy car. The price is starting from 60.000 VND one way. From the place where the buggy will drop you off you need to climb lots of stairs. It is a bit demanding but doable.

2. Have fun at Dark Cave

Price: 450.000VND for adults, 150.000VND for children (0.9m-1.3m) Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm Time to visit: expect 2-2.5 hours

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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NOTE: The zipline at Dark cave is the longest zipline in Vietnam. It’s length is 400m.

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. 

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TIP: You can combine Phong Nha Cave with visiting Tien Son cave. The entrance fee is 80.000VND and combined both ticket for both caves is 400.000VND (12 people). You will need 1 hour to visit Tien Son cave.

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

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TIP: You can also bring your gopro or a camera. The guide will have a dry bag. Do not come in bikini!
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NOTE: You can explore the caves by yourself if you rent a motorbike. If that’s not for you  join some of the day tours that cover all the caves mentioned above.
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5. Relax at Mooc springs

Price: 180.000VND adults and  children under 1.3m 100.000VND, additional 80.000VND for adults to swim in the brown area Opening hours: 8am – 4pm Time to visit:  1-2h

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.)

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NOTE: You need to wear a life jacket in order to swim. They will not allow you to enter without.

6. Visit the biggest cave in the world - Son Doong cave

Price: 3000$ Time to visit:  6 days

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!

Son Doong cave
Son Doong cave, photo by Oxalis Adventure

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).

Karst Villas Phong Nha
Karst Villas, Phong Nha

Where to stay

If you book anything through the map we will earn a small comission and you still pay the same. Thank you!

Booking.com

Where to eat in Phong Nha