Paradise Cave & Phong Nha Cave tour from Dong Hoi: Private guide

Paradise Cave is the longest dry cave in Asia, and you walk 31 kilometers of it in a single day.

A private day tour from Dong Hoi explores Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave, two major attractions in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Hotel pickup at 7:30 AM includes an English-speaking guide, electric buggy transport through the jungle, a 25-minute dragon boat ride into Phong Nha Cave, traditional Vietnamese lunch, and all entrance fees. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours and ends with return drop-off at your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Paradise Cave4h · entry included
2. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park4h · entry included

Explore Paradise and Phong Nha Caves

• Pick up from hotel in Dong Hoi
• Drive 80 minutes to Paradise Cave
• Ride electric buggy through jungle
• Climb to cave entrance with scenic views
• Explore Paradise Cave formations
• Lunch at local restaurant in Phong Nha village
• Drive 25 minutes to Phong Nha Cave
• Take traditional dragon boat into cave
• Walk 300 meters inside Phong Nha Cave
• Return by boat from cave
• Return to Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

Paradise Cave, discovered in 2005 by the British Caving Research Association, stretches 31.4 kilometers and holds the title of Asia's longest dry cave. You start with a pickup at your hotel in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village at 7:30 AM, then drive 80 minutes to the national park's core zone. An electric buggy carries you 1.6 kilometers through the jungle to the cave entrance, a climb that opens onto views of the surrounding mountains. Inside, stalactites and stalagmites rise up to 72 meters high and spread across passages up to 150 meters wide, their white crystal formations shaped like natural pillars and other sculptural forms.

After exploring Paradise Cave, you'll have lunch at a local restaurant in Phong Nha village, where the kitchen prepares traditional Vietnamese dishes with vegetarian options available. The afternoon takes you to Phong Nha Cave, a water cave fed by an underground river. A 25-minute dragon boat ride carries you into the cave, then you walk 300 meters on foot to see rock formations named after their shapes: the Lion, the Fairy Caves, the Royal Court, and the Buddha. The cave also holds historical weight. It served as a secret shelter during the war, hiding floating bridges that supplied the Ho Chi Minh trail at night, and later functioned as a hospital. The scarring visible on the cave's exterior marks the bombing that followed its discovery.

Your private guide speaks English throughout the day. The tour includes drinking water, all entrance fees, the electric buggy rides, the dragon boat, and return transport to your hotel by 5 PM. The itinerary suits travelers of all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for anyone with spinal injuries or pregnant travelers.

What’s included

• Private car pickup from your Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village hotel.
• English-speaking private guide for the full day.
• electric buggy transport through the jungle to Paradise Cave.
• entry to both Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave.
• 25-minute traditional dragon boat ride into Phong Nha Cave.
• traditional Vietnamese lunch with vegetarian options.
• drinking water throughout the day.
• return hotel drop-off.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 38 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cyclo Travel & Leisure

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup at 7:30 AM means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to the national park, and the private guide and boat are yours alone for the day, so the pace stays yours and you're not waiting for a group to gather.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is Paradise Cave from Dong Hoi, and how long does the drive take?

Paradise Cave sits 75 kilometers from Dong Hoi city in the core zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, approximately 80 minutes by private car from your hotel.

What happens inside Phong Nha Cave after you arrive by boat?

After the 25-minute dragon boat ride into Phong Nha Cave, you walk 300 meters on foot to view the rock formations, then the boat returns you to the entrance.

Is lunch included, and are there vegetarian options?

Lunch is included at a local restaurant in Phong Nha village, where the menu features traditional Vietnamese dishes and vegetarian choices are available.

What time does the tour start and end?

Hotel pickup begins at 7:30 AM, and the tour ends with drop-off at your hotel around 5 PM, making it an 8 to 9 hour day.

Does the price cover entry to both caves?

Yes, all entrance fees to Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave are included in the tour price, along with the electric buggy, dragon boat, guide, and lunch.