Phong Nha Cave tour from Dong Hoi: Dark Cave and boat trip

Trek through Dark Cave, then boat into Phong Nha's underground river and cathedral chambers

A full-day small group tour from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, 50km away, combining two caves in one trip: Dark Cave with trekking, zip-lining and a mud bath in the morning, then a 25-minute boat ride into Phong Nha cave to explore 1,500 meters of the world's longest wet cave, filled with stalactites and stalagmites lit by colored lighting. Hotel pickup, lunch at a local restaurant, an English-speaking guide, and all park fees are included. The tour runs about nine hours and returns you to your hotel by 4pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Dark Cave and Phong Nha Cave

• Pick up from hotel in Dong Hoi
• Trek in Dark Cave with gear
• Enjoy zip-line, mud bath, swimming
• Lunch at local restaurant in Phong Nha
• Boat trip to Phong Nha Cave
• Explore 1500m of Phong Nha Cave
• Return to Dong Hoi or Phong Nha hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Dong Hoi hotel between 7:45 and 8am (or 8:45–9:10am if you're staying in Phong Nha village). The drive covers 50km to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, known for its geological formations and cave systems. Dark Cave comes first: you'll trek inside wearing protective gear and a helmet with a flashlight, moving through passages before emerging for zip-lining, a mud bath, and a swim in a cool spring. Activities that break up the morning and let you experience the cave environment rather than just walk through it.

Lunch happens at a local restaurant in Phong Nha village around 12:30pm, giving you time to rest before the afternoon's main event. At 1:30pm you head to Phong Nha cave itself, a 25-minute boat ride up the Son River. The cave stretches 7,729 meters total, but the tour explores 1,500 meters of passages filled with stalactites and stalagmites in dozens of shapes. Colored lighting inside makes the formations look otherworldly: the cave's scale and the boat journey through its chambers are what make this cave famous across the region. By 4pm you're back at your hotel in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha.

The group stays small, and your guide speaks English throughout. You get bottled water during the day, and all entrance fees, taxes, and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle are covered. The only thing to arrange separately is any alcohol you want to bring.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• an English-speaking guide for the full day.
• entrance fees to both Dark Cave and Phong Nha cave.
• protective gear and flashlight for Dark Cave trekking.
• zip-lining and mud bath at Dark Cave.
• the 25-minute boat ride up the Son River.
• lunch at a local restaurant in Phong Nha village.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (8 to 80 years) · Child (under 8)

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Myanmar Private Day Tours

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Dong Hoi means you don't need a car or a driver. The tour collects you in the morning and returns you by afternoon, so it works whether you're staying in the city or in Phong Nha village itself.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

10 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 8).

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 exactly do you do inside Dark Cave?

Dark Cave involves trekking through passages with protective gear and a helmet-mounted flashlight. After exploring the cave itself, you can zip-line, bathe in mud, and swim in a cool spring pool: activities that are part of the morning's Dark Cave experience.

How long is the boat ride into Phong Nha cave?

The boat ride up the Son River to Phong Nha cave takes about 25 minutes. Once inside, you spend a couple of hours exploring the 1,500 meters of passages the tour covers, seeing stalactites, stalagmites, and the underground river that runs through it.

Is lunch included, and where do you eat?

Lunch is included at a local restaurant in Phong Nha village around 12:30pm, giving you a break before the afternoon boat trip into Phong Nha cave.

What makes Phong Nha cave so well-known?

Phong Nha cave holds several world records, including the title of longest wet cave in the world. The 7,729-meter cave is filled with stalactites and stalagmites in varied shapes, and the colored lighting inside creates a striking visual effect as you move through the passages by boat.

Does the tour include hotel pickup, and what time does it start?

Hotel pickup is included. The tour picks you up between 7:45 and 8am if you're staying in Dong Hoi, or between 8:45 and 9:10am from Phong Nha village hotels. The tour returns you to your hotel by 4pm.