A Hiking Guide to Paradise Cave and Dark Cave in Phong Nha

Paradise Cave Hike Itinerary

Paradise Cave is an impressive limestone cave that was only recently discovered in 2005. It is said that the cave extends for more than 31 km, with the highest point reaching around 72 meters in a large cavern that can accommodate an entire football field and more.

Paradise Cave is definitely an impressive cave to explore and one that is pretty accessible. The first kilometer of Paradise Cave is accessible to regular visitors, and if you are not sure about going caving, you can stick to visiting this section of Paradise Cave only.

For those who are looking to visit Paradise Cave and hike deeper into the Dark Cave, the trail continues off the well-lit first section, and it goes on for around 7 km until you arrive at the secret cavern. The trail continues on, but for the Paradise Cave and Dark Cave tour, the journey ends there, and you will have to backtrack to exit the cave.

I went on a shared group tour, and there were five of us together with one awesome and hilarious caving guide. We were picked up from Phong Nha and transported to the ranger office in front of Paradise Cave to be fitted with caving gear.

We were given a helmet, a military-style jacket and pants, a pair of boots, and a headlamp, and off we went into the Paradise Cave. The tourist section of the cave already had me surprised by the sheer beauty of all the rock formations found inside.

The first section of Paradise Cave is extremely well-lit, with well-maintained wooden boardwalks that took us around some of the most beautiful rock formations out there.

To think that it took more than a million years for all these rock formations to be as they are today is mind-blowing. Each rock formation has a signboard that explains what the formation resembles, but my guide told us that it was all bull and that more exciting things awaited us in the Dark Cave.

After we are done with the tourist section, our guide led us across a boundary and into the darkest and deepest area of the cave. Now, let the fun begin!

With our headlamps, we walked through the dark cave step by step, marveling at the sheer scale of some of these caverns. One of them was so massive that my guide told me it could fit an entire sports stadium inside.

Some of the rooms in the cave were so big that our guide told us to close our eyes and start running at full speed for 10 seconds, which we did, and we barely made it halfway to the end of the room.

Along the way, we saw some really incredible rock formations, from a massive stalactite to a giant sandstone dome that glittered as we moved our headlamps around.

After about 2 hours, we eventually arrive at our destination: the secret cavern with a giant daylight hole on the roof of the cave, dripping water from the rain that accumulated in the forest above.

It was quite a sight to behold. We had lunch there and swam around the little rainwater lake inside the cave to freshen up for about an hour before we started making our way back to the entrance.

It was a hell of an adventure and a great way to do something unique in Vietnam that isn't all about taking the perfect Instagram photos in places like Hoi An, etc. If you are looking for a great adventure to do in Vietnam, going caving at Paradise Cave is definitely worth considering.

Where to Stay in Phong Nha?

Budget

Central Backpackers Hostel - Phong Nha

Dorm | $

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👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Lucky Homes

Double Room | $$

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High-End

Son Doong Bungalow

Double Room | $$$

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How To Get To Phong Nha?

You can easily reach Phong Nha via trains from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, where you will then have to catch a bus to Phong Nha. Since Phong Nha is located right in the middle of the country, traveling from Hanoi to Dong Hoi by train can take about 9 hours.

You can also fly from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi Airport, which should take about 1.5 hours and cost around the same as the sleeper train.

Once you arrive at either Dong Hoi Airport or Dong Hoi Train Station, you can then take a taxi to Dong Hoi Bus Terminal and catch a bus to Phong Nha. You can also organize a pick-up service from your hotel, or you can organize a private transfer separately.

How to Get to Paradise Cave?

If you are planning to only visit the first section of Paradise Cave, you can rent a motorbike from your accommodation and drive directly to the cave.

If you are looking to hike into the Dark Cave, which goes beyond the first section of Paradise Cave, you are going to have to go on an organized tour.

I highly recommend this Paradise and Dark Cave tour that can help organize all the logistics and preparations needed to get to Paradise Cave, including caving gear.

What to To Know Before Hiking Paradise Cave and Dark Cave?

• The first section of Paradise Cave does not require any preparation or a guide to visit, as you will be walking on wooden boards on a designated path the entire time.
• The Dark Cave that lies beyond the first section of Paradise Cave is only accessible via an organized tour, and they will provide you with all the gear that is more favorable for going caving, such as boots, military-style clothes, a helmet, and a headlamp.
• The cave can get very muddy, slippery, and wet, so be sure to keep your camera gear safe with you while hiking. A regular bag should be fine, but just in case, pack a bag cover for an extra layer of protection for your camera gear.
• The Dark Cave hike takes around 2 hours, one way, and you will arrive at the secret cavern where you will have your packed lunch, go for a swim, and hike back the same way. The trail's difficulty is moderate, but the condition of the trail, since you will be walking on a slippery and muddy path most of the time, makes it quite challenging.
• If you are not very active, you can still visit Paradise Cave and stick to the first section of the cave, which isn't physically demanding at all. If you are active and looking for a challenge, the hike inside Paradise Cave is perfect for you.

What To Pack for Paradise Cave and Dark Cave?

For visiting the museum section of Paradise Cave, you do not need to pack anything, as it is a simple stroll around the cave on a wooden board, and it should take around an hour to explore.

Caving gear for Dark Cave, on the other hand, will be provided by the tour, and that includes clothes, helmets, boots, lunchboxes, and water. Other things you might want to pack are cameras, a bag cover, extra snacks and water, and swimsuits if you wish to swim in the secret cavern, and that is it.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: 12go is a great place to look for bus and train schedule and buy tickets online in Southeast Asia that would otherwise not have been available in English online.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Backpacking in Vietnam

Are you looking for more information about traveling in Vietnam? Here are a few more articles that can help you with your trip to Vietnam:

• Looking for a complete travel guide and itinerary for Vietnam? 2-Week Itinerary for Vietnam.
• Are you planning to travel to Vietnam as part of a big Southeast Asia trip? Check out our 3-month backpacking itinerary for Southeast Asia.
• Planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh City and not sure where to begin? Here are the Explore Ho Chi Minh City: 13 Best Things to Do and Places to Visit.
• For a complete itinerary for Ho Chi Minh City, check out: 3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City: A Backpacking Itinerary.
• Looking for the best street food to try in Ho Chi Minh City? Check Out Saigon Street Food: 11 Incredible Places to Eat & Drink.
• Looking for things to do in the ancient port city of Hoi An? Here are the 10 Best Things to do in Hoi An.
• Hoi An is known for its beautiful lanterns that illuminate the entire town at night. If you want to see what it is like in Hoi An at night, check out: The Colorful Lanterns Of Hoi An's Ancient City
• Ninh Binh is only an hour away from Hanoi, and it is a great place to escape from that bustling city and be among nature. Here is the 8 Best Things to Do in Ninh Binh.
• If you love mountains, cool breeze, and rice terraces, you are going to love Sapa. Here is the 9 Best Things to Do in Sapa.
• Not convinced by my words about Vietnam? Here are 33 photos that will inspire you to visit Vietnam now.
• You can see all my Vietnam-related articles on my Vietnam Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.