Dong Hoi

Tours

07:30 - 08:00 AM: Begin your adventure with a convenient hotel pick-up from Dong Hoi. 08:00 AM: Guests will move from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha Village along the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. During the journey, the tour guide will share insights into the historical significance, strategic importance, and cultural value of this iconic route. 08:45 AM: Pick-up from your hotel in the scenic Phong Nha town area. 09:00 AM - Paradise Cave Exploration: Visitors begin the journey with a 1.6 km tram ride, followed by a short hike to the narrow entrance of Paradise Cave. Once inside, the cave reveals a vast, cool space with ceilings up to 60 meters high and widths of 120 meters. Conquering 500 limestone steps to enter Paradise Cave, a world-renowned wonder, be overwhelmed by the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites adorned with a captivating system of white LED lights. It's truly a masterpiece crafted by nature. Get lost in the magic of Paradise Cave as our knowledgeable guides share fascinating stories. Snap amazing photos and cherish the memories of this natural wonder. After two hours of exploration, the tour concludes with a return to the parking lot to move to Phong Nha Town to have lunch 11:30 PM - Lunch Break: Indulge in a unique local Vietnamese lunch experience in Phong Nha. Our menu features a variety of dishes made with the freshest local ingredients, catering to all palates, including vegetarians. Our chefs will create a memorable meal that showcases the best of Vietnamese cuisine. 01:30 PM - Journey to Phong Nha Cave: After enjoying lunch, visitors continue the journey to Phong Nha Cave. Here, visitors board a dragon boat to begin a 30-minute cruise on the poetic Son River, surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. • Sitting on the boat, visitors will feel the peace of the scenery, watching the riverside villages and listening to interesting story. The river leads to the entrance of Phong Nha Cave, where the magic of nature gradually reveals itself through the majestic and mysterious beauty of rows of stalactites and stalagmites. • Stepping inside, visitors will be overwhelmed by the shimmering beauty of the stalactite system illuminated under flashlight. Stone curtains, stalagmites, and stalactites shine like diamonds, creating unique shapes. The deeper you go, the more you will be amazed by the shoals, underground lakes and sparkling rocks, all creating a scene like a fairy tale world. • Marvel at the stunning stalactites and stalagmites, and listen to your guide's fascinating stories about the cave's formation. • Enjoy the amazing beauty created by nature. 04:30 PM - 04:45 PM: Your unforgettable journey concludes at the stunning Phong Nha Cave, followed by a drop-off at your hotel in Phong Nha town. 05:30 PM - 05:45 PM: Arrived in Dong Hoi city, ending the Phong Nha cave- Paradise Cave tour! Say goodbye and hope to see you again in the future. Thank you for choosing our company's services. Sincerely!

Departs: 8:00am from Dong Hoi, 9:00am from Phong Nha Depart from Dong Hoi and Phong Nha town on a scenic drive to Paradise Cave. Go on a short buggy ride, then explore the inside of this cave, known for its large stalactites and stalagmites. Eat lunch in a local Vietnamese restaurant, then go on a boat ride. Explore inside Phong Nha Cave, then return to Dong Hoi. Begin with a morning pickup in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha. Next, drive about 43 miles (70 km) to Paradise Cave. Arrive at Paradise Cave, a limestone cavern that was discovered by a local man in 2005. Travel in a buggy and walk for about 570 meters before you enter the cave to explore the interior. Relax at a resting site, then step inside Paradise Cave, also called Thiên Đường Cave. Marvel at the spectacular stalactites dangling down from the roof. Finish your visit to the cave, then travel along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and hear more fascinating facts about Vietnamese history along the way. Eat lunch at midday at a local restaurant and enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine. After eating, head to Phong Nha Cave, famous for its long underwater river. Ride a boat along the Son River, also called the Lipstick River, from the tourism center and enjoy the beautiful scenery on the journey. Spend some time inside the cave and appreciate its geological features. Look at some of the famous rock formations as well. Finally, exit the cave. Travel back to Dong Hoi to conclude your adventure.

7:30AM - 8:00AM: You will be picked up at your hotel in Dong Hoi. 8:45AM - 9:00AM: You will be picked up at your hotel in the Phong Nha Village area. Your adventure starts with a jungle buggy ride in Phong Nha National Park. Hike to Paradise Cave's entrance, and gape at towering chambers and glittering stalactites. Explore 1-kilometer-long eco-friendly walkways. Afterward, have lunch at a local restaurant with vegetarian options available. Next, cruise the turquoise Son River by dragon boat. Enter the historic Phong Nha Cave, a Vietnam War relic. Drift 1 kilometer by boat, then explore further on foot. This day trip packs natural wonders and wartime history! Take a couple of hours to see the cave. This cave is called a water cave, and is famous for its rock formation which has been given names such as the "Lion", the "Fairy Caves", the "Royal Court", and the "Buddha". You will be taken back to your hotel. 3:30PM - 4:00PM: Tour ends in Phong Nha 4:45PM – 5:30PM: Tour ends in Dong Hoi

Itinerary: 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM - Departure: Sovaba Travel picks you up at locations such as hotels, train stations, and Dong Hoi Airport. For customers arriving early from morning trains and buses, we will pick you up at Sovaba Travel's office to rest and relax before departure. 8:00: AM - Start: Depart from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. The first trip will take you to Paradise Cave, one of the largest dry caves in Asia, also known as the "Underground Royal Palace". 9:00: AM - Paradise Cave Exploration: Visitors begin their journey to Paradise Cave with a scenic 1.6-kilometer tram ride, followed by a gentle walk up the mountainside. Hidden behind a modest, narrow entrance lies a breathtaking underground wonderland, vastly opening to reveal ceilings soaring between 40 to 60 meters high, and stretching as wide as 120 meters across. Inside, the air feels refreshingly cool—an inviting escape from the summer heat of Quang Binh. Guided by wooden stairways illuminated softly by LED lights, travelers enter a magical realm often called an "Underground Royal Palace." The cave mesmerizes with magnificent stalactites and stalagmites that form incredible shapes—some resembling blooming flowers, delicate tree sprouts, or even cascading waterfalls frozen in stone. After spending about two hours exploring these stunning natural masterpieces, visitors retrace their steps, carrying home unforgettable memories of Paradise Cave’s surreal beauty. 11:30 AM - Lunch Break: After visiting Paradise Cave, you will be invited to a restaurant in the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park area to have lunch with local specialties, in a peaceful and airy space. 1:30 PM - Adventure at Dark Cave (Choose Your Experience) At Dark Cave, you can choose one of the following adventure packages: Option 1: Basic Water Activities Experience (For guests who prefer water-based fun without extreme activities) - Enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and swimming in the Chay River. - Relax and immerse yourself in the peaceful surroundings. - Excludes zipline and mud bath activities. Option 2: Full Adventure Experience (For thrill-seekers who want to explore every aspect of Dark Cave) - Experience the longest double-wire zipline in Southeast Asia, soaring over the Chay River. - Enter Dark Cave, equipped with headlamps, to explore its mysterious interior. - Enjoy a natural mud bath inside the cave, known for its therapeutic benefits. - Participate in kayaking, swimming, and short zipline activities on the Chay River. 4:30 PM - Return to Dong Hoi city: End of the tour, Sovaba Travel's car and tour guide will take the group back to Dong Hoi city. We say goodbye to you and look forward to welcoming you to the next travel programs. 5:30 PM - Arrival: Arrived in Dong Hoi city, ending the Paradise Cave - Dark Cave tour!

7:30AM - 8:00AM: You will be picked up at your hotel in Dong Hoi. 8:45AM - 9:00AM: You will be picked up at your hotel in the Phong Nha Village area. Explore the natural wonders of Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave on a guided tour from Dong Hoi or Phong Nha Town. Discover the longest dry cave in Asia and see the natural legacy of the world and a relic system of the historic trail Ho Chi Minh. Start your day with pickup from your hotel in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha Town and travel to Paradise Cave. Discovered by scientists of the British Caving Research Association in 2005, the cave is 31 kilometers long, making it the longest dry cave in Asia. With naturally primitive features, Paradise Cave looks like a landscape painting, making it very attractive to visitors. According to spelunkers, the deeper one journeys into the cave, the more one feels the wells of heavenly clarity all around. See a series of white crystal stalactites resembling glass pillars and many other spectacular formations. Have a good lunch at a local restaurant to enjoy local and authentic Vietnamese food with vegetarians options. Continue to Phong Nha Cave, a natural legacy of the world and a relic system of the historic trail Ho Chi Minh. Learn how it collaborated with Xuan Son Ferry to create a route supporting the battleground of South Vietnam during the Vietnam-American War. Today, this place has become the first section of the Ho Chi Minh trails. You will be taken back to your hotel. 3:30PM - 4:00PM: Tour ends in Phong Nha 4:45PM – 5:30PM: Tour ends in Dong Hoi

Itinerary: 04:30: AM - Pick up The bus will pick you up at your hotel and depart for Dong Hoi City. The travel time is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. 08:00: Arrive at Sovaba Travel Office in Dong Hoi, Quang Binh province. You rest and relax for about 10 minutes, drink water, and prepare for the journey to explore two famous caves. The van will take you to Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. Get ready to explore one of the world’s most renowned natural wonders. 09:30: AM - Paradise Cave Exploration: Visitors begin their journey with a 1.6 km tram ride, followed by a short hike to the narrow entrance of Paradise Cave. Once inside, the cave reveals a vast, cool space with ceilings up to 60 meters high and widths of 120 meters. Wooden stairs guide you through this "Underground Royal Palace," showcasing magnificent stalactites and stalagmites illuminated by soft LED lights. The cave's natural wonders, including formations resembling flowers, trees, and waterfalls, leave visitors in awe. 12:30: PM - Lunch Break: After visiting Paradise Cave, you will be invited to a restaurant in the National Park area to have lunch with local specialties, in a peaceful and airy space. 01:30: PM - Journey to Phong Nha Cave: • After enjoying lunch, visitors continue their journey to Phong Nha Cave. Here, visitors board a dragon boat to begin a 30-minute cruise along the green river, surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. • Sitting on the boat, visitors will feel the peace of the scenery, watching the riverside villages and majestic limestone mountains in the distance. The river leads to the entrance of Phong Nha Cave, where the magic of nature gradually reveals itself through the majestic and mysterious beauty of rows of stalactites and stalagmites. • Stepping inside, visitors will be overwhelmed by the shimmering beauty of the stalactite system illuminated under flashlight. Stone curtains, stalagmites, and stalactites shine like diamonds, creating unique shapes. The deeper you go, the more you will be amazed by the shoals, underground lakes and sparkling rocks, all creating a scene like a fairy tale world. 04:00: PM - Return to Dong Hoi: Guests board the vehicle to return to Dong Hoi City. 05:00: PM - Arrival in Dong Hoi: The bus will pick you up and continue the journey back to Hue. 08:30: PM - Arrival in Hue: You arrive in Hue, end of the tour.

Departs: 8:00am from Dong Hoi, 9:00am from Phong Nha Next to Phong Nha, Dark Cave is the most popular tourism site in the area. It was first discovered in 1990 and opened up not long after that. The Dark Cave is the smaller version of the Son Doong Cave. The reason for the name is that there is no artificial light installed inside the cave and with its total length of 6 kilometers it’s nothing but darkness! Moreover, the rocks inside the cave are dark, some gray some black. With this tour, you will have new experiences: ziplining, rowing the kayak. Moreover, the cave is home to many lakes, with a water temperature of about 18 degrees. Inside the cave there are many unique things to see and experience! There is a natural mud bath at the end of one of the narrow passages and there are many ancient fossils to be found. The fossils are over a million years old! The natural mud bath is very good for the skin, and compared to a mud-bath in a spa this is just a fraction of the price. Paradise cave or (Hang Thien Duong) was found by a local man named “Ho Khanh in 2005”. The cave was researched by British Cave Research Association with total length of 31,4km and was considered as the longest dry cave in Asia. The cave has been formed over 300 million of years based on scientist’s prediction with wonderful formations. It looks like a secret city hidden underground and is attractive to visitors. You can go further 7000 m to enjoy the secrets inside the cave (paradise-cave-7000m-adventure) Tour Itinerary: 07:30 – 08:00 Our car and tour guide will pick up guests in Dong Hoi and transfer to Paradise Cave – the longest dry cave in Asia (located in Phong Nha – Ke bang National Park’s core zone). It is approximately 75 km from Dong Hoi and a 1h20 minute drive). -OR –08:45 – 9:00 Our driver will pick you up at your hotel in Phong Nha village, then transfer you to Paradise Cave – the longest dry cave in Asia (located in Phong Nha – Ke bang National Park’s core zone). You will then be taken by golf cart (1.6 km) from the main gate through the jungle, to where you will then climb to the mouth of the cave; a climb that boasts spectacular views of the mountainous region around the cave. 12:00 Lunch at Dark Cave restaurant. Here you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dish. Vegetarian option available. Please contact us in advance if you have any dietary restrictions and we will do our best to accommodate you. 13:00 Visit Dark Cave (located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park). Participate in the many adventure activities: mud bath, zip-lining, swimming, kayaking, adventure course, caving etc. 17:00 Depart back to Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village. Tour ends and you will be dropped off at your hotel. * Please be sure to bring: swimwear and towel. Lockers for your belongings will be provided with a 50,000 deposit which will be refunded upon the return of the locker key. * Using the zip-line requires you to be between 40-90 kg. No exceptions.

07:30 – 08:00 AM: Your adventure begins with a pick-up from your hotel, homestay, train station, or airport in Dong Hoi city. 08:00 AM: We head to Phong Nha town along the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. Along the way, your guide will share insights into the history and culture of this iconic route. 08:45 AM: For guests staying in Phong Nha town, we will pick you up directly to start your adventure. 09:00 AM: Upon arrival at Dark Cave, prepare for an unforgettable experience! Begin with an exhilarating flight over the Chay River on Southeast Asia’s longest double-rope zipline. Once you arrive at the cave, you will be equipped with a headlamp to explore its captivating darkness, unveiling its hidden wonders. You can also enjoy a rejuvenating mud bath deep inside the cave, or participate in kayaking and other water activities. Choose one of the three exciting options to customize your adventure: Option 1: This option offers the chance to experience basic water activities at Dark Cave, but does not include the mud bath or the 400m zipline.(Visit Phong Nha Cave in the afternoon) Option 2: Experience the thrill of the 400m zipline across the Chay River, followed by a relaxing mud bath inside Dark Cave. Enjoy kayaking and water games for a refreshing experience. (Visit Phong Nha Cave in the afternoon) Option 3: Take a scenic boat tour from Phong Nha Cave to Dark Cave. Once at Dark Cave, enjoy ziplining, kayaking, and water games, but please note the mud bath is not included in this option. 11:30 AM: After your thrilling adventures, enjoy a well-deserved lunch at a peaceful restaurant in the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. 01:30 PM: Arrive at Phong Nha Cave, one of the world’s most fascinating natural wonders. Start with a scenic dragon boat ride along the Son River, enjoying views of riverside villages and towering limestone peaks. Inside the cave, be amazed by the shimmering stalactites and stalagmites, and explore the underground river and unique rock formations. 04:00 – 04:25 PM: After a day full of adventure and natural beauty, we’ll take you back to your hotel or homestay in Phong Nha town. 04:30 – 05:00 PM: Arrive in Dong Hoi city, bringing your unforgettable journey to a close. This tour offers the perfect balance of adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty, making it ideal for both nature lovers and thrill-seekers alike!

07:30 - 08:00: You will be picked up at hotel in Dong Hoi 08:45 - 09:00: You will be picked up at hotel in Phong Nha We drive you to the Dark Cave. Participate in the many adventure activities: long zipline, swimming, kayaking, adventure course, water zipline,… The venture into the cave in the dark for cave exploring and mud bathing. 12:45 Lunch at local restaurant. Vegetarian option available. 13:30 Take a 30-minute ride up the river to Phong Nha cave via traditional dragon boat. Inside the cave, the driver will turn off the motor to admire the cave’s splendor. You will then explore 300m further into the cave on foot. Tour ends and gets visitors back to hotel. 16:00 Drop back Phong Nha Area 17:30 Drop back Dong Hoi city Area

The Dark cave is an adventurous and action- packed experience. Visiting this cave includes harnessed zip lining over a turquoise river, swimming into the mouth of the cave (lifejackets included), walking through the dark with only the head torch on your mining helmet to illuminate the way, floating about in the buoyant mud baths deep in the cave, washing clean with a swim in the lake inside the cave, then kayaking back across the river to test your strength on the hanging obstacle course and open ziplines. The Dark cave is named as such because it is one of the few caves that has had no artificial lighting installed. The cave is comprised of mostly basalt, in addition to limestone. Basalt is a black, hard rock; also contributing to the cave’s name. Phong Nha cave or the “river cave” is situated along the historic Ho Chi Minh trail and stands as a relic system of the American/Vietnam war. This cave was actively used to aid the route supporting the battleground of South Vietnam. Safe from the routine bombings, it was used as a place to hide secret floating bridges that would be brought out at night and placed over the river to help trucks get supplies to the south. It once served as a hospital, with weapons installed at the entrance. Today, this area has become the first section of the ever popular Ho Chi Minh Road, as it showcases as lush, mountainous landscape. Visiting this cave includes a 6km dragon boat ride up the turquoise Son river and into the cave where you can marvel at the cave’s magnificient structure. Drift 1km into the cave before exploring 300m on foot. Tour Itinerary 07:45 - 08:00 You will be picked up at hotel in Dong Hoi or in Phong Nha from 08:45 -09:00 and drive you to the Dark cave. Participate in the many adventure activities: longzipline, swimming, kayaking, adventure course, water zipline,… The venture into the cave in the dark for cave exploring and mud bathing. 12:45 Lunch at local restaurant. Vegetarian option available. 13:30 Take a 30 minute ride up the river to Phong Nha cave via traditional dragon boat. Inside the cave, the driver will turn off the motor to admire the cave’s splendour. You will then explore 300m further into the cave on foot. 16:00 – 17:30 Tour ends and gets visitors back to hotel.