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Jul 18, 2019 / 13:50

CNN lists seven of Vietnam’s best cave experiences

Vietnam already has a worldwide reputation for its food, beaches, ancient history and diverse landscapes. And, over the past decade, it`s also emerged as one of the world`s leading destinations for caving.

CNN, a US news television channel, has picked seven best cave experiences in Vietnam.
According to CNN, one of the best caves in Vietnam to be explored is Son Doong and En Cave. Son Doong currently stretches across 38.5 million cubic meters (about 1.35 billion cubic feet), so big that it even has its own jungle inside.

 
Son Doong Cave
Son Doong Cave
Following a recent discovery of an underwater tunnel that connects Son Doong with neighboring Thung cave, it could be an additional 1.6 million cubic meters larger than previously thought.
On the first day, travelers hike through the jungle for about an hour before stopping for lunch in the village of Ban Doong.
After a few more hours of trekking, CNN advises travelers to set up camp inside En Cave (the third largest in Vietnam) where they can swim in underground rivers and refuel with Vietnamese cuisine.
In addition, “Va Cave and Nuoc Nut are the best caves in Vietnam that you have to visit” CNN wrote. A two-in-one combo, Oxalis also offers two-day tours of Hang Va and Nuoc Nut caves.
“On the first day, you'll take a two-kilometer trek to Nuoc Nut cave, where an incredible underwater river awaits inside. A 100-meter swim through the river passage connects you to the entrance of Hang Va cave, where travelers camp for the night”, according to CNN.
CNN also picked Tu Lan Cave System as one of the best cave in Vietnam. Comprising more than 10 caves in Quang Binh province, the Tu Lan Cave System has skyrocketed in popularity since starring in 2017 blockbuster "Kong: Skull Island."
"A lot of people come because of the movie, but they find that the scenery is even more beautiful than they imagined," says Howard Limbert, a British renown speleologist who has explored these caves extensively.
"All the campsites are near lakes or waterfalls, so it's brilliant for swimming in the warm weather. On our Tu Lan tours, you go through one cave entrance, exit into another part of the jungle then back into another cave," according to Limbert.
Foreign tourist arrivals to Vietnam in the first six months of 2019 are estimated at 8.5 million, up 7.5% year on year, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO).