Paradise Cave & Phong Nha: Full-day tour from Dong Hoi

Two caves in one day: one you walk through, one you boat into

A full-day tour from Dong Hoi to Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave in the national park, with a Vietnamese or English-speaking guide, lunch, and all transport and entry fees included. Hotel pickup starts at 7:45 am from Dong Hoi or 8:45 am from Phong Nha village. The tour covers 75 km to reach Paradise Cave, Asia's longest dry cave, then returns via a 25-minute dragonboat ride through Phong Nha Cave's underground river.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Paradise and Phong Nha Caves

• Pick up from Dong Hoi or Phong Nha
• Drive to Paradise Cave
• Ride golf cart through jungle
• Climb to cave entrance
• Explore Paradise Cave interior
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Travel to Phong Nha Cave by dragonboat
• Explore Phong Nha Cave on foot and by boat
• Return to Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

Paradise Cave sits 75 kilometers from Dong Hoi inside Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. A golf cart carries you 1.6 kilometers through the jungle to the cave entrance, where a climb brings you to the mouth overlooking the mountainous region. Inside, the cave reaches 72 meters high and 150 meters wide, with white crystal stalactites and limestone formations that resemble natural pillars. The deeper sections are where the cave's scale becomes clear.

After lunch at a local restaurant in Phong Nha village (a traditional Vietnamese dish with vegetarian options available), you board a traditional dragonboat for a 25-minute ride to Phong Nha Cave. This one is a water cave: you travel by boat into the entrance, then walk 300 meters on foot through the interior before the boat returns you to the entrance. The cave's rock formations have been named the Lion, the Fairy Caves, the Royal Court, and the Buddha. Phong Nha also holds a second history: it served as a hiding place for supply bridges during the war, and later as a hospital, with weapons positioned at the entrance to defend the supply line from north to south.

The tour runs about 10 hours total. Your guide speaks Vietnamese or English. Pickup is included from your hotel in Dong Hoi (between 7:45 and 8:00 am) or from Phong Nha village (8:45 to 9:10 am), and you're dropped off at your hotel at the end. Bottled water, lunch, all entrance fees, the golf cart transfer, and the dragonboat ride are included. A first aid kit travels with the group.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village.
• air-conditioned van transport.
• Vietnamese or English-speaking guide.
• golf cart transfer through the jungle.
• entrance to both caves.
• dragonboat ride on the underground river.
• lunch at a local restaurant with vegetarian options.
• bottled water.
• all fees and taxes.
• first aid kit.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 24 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by your indochina travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see two different cave systems in a single day without arranging your own transport or navigation. The small group size and fixed schedule mean all three major stops (Paradise Cave, lunch, and Phong Nha Cave) fit inside one 10-hour day from Dong Hoi.

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Top questions

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.

What is the difference between Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave on this tour?

Paradise Cave is a dry cave you walk through on foot, with massive stalactites and limestone formations. Phong Nha Cave is a water cave with an underground river. You travel by dragonboat into the cave, walk 300 meters inside, then boat back out. The two caves show different geology and require different ways of moving through them.

Can I store my luggage if I'm arriving by train or bus?

Free luggage storage is available at the Dong Hoi office, or you can bring a limited quantity with you in the van. Contact the operator in advance if you need to store bags during the tour.

What time does the tour end and where am I dropped off?

The tour ends around 5:00 pm when you're dropped off at your hotel in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village, whichever is your pickup location.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour includes a climb to Paradise Cave's entrance with views of the surrounding mountains, a 1.6-kilometer golf cart ride through jungle, and a 300-meter walk inside Phong Nha Cave. The operator notes the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy, but is suitable for all other fitness levels.