Phong Nha Cave tour from Dong Hoi: Longest underground river

The longest underground river in Southeast Asia runs through Phong Nha Cave.

A guided day tour from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha Cave and Tien Son Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, with hotel pickup, a dragon boat ride upstream on the Son River, lunch and cave admission included. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and departs at 7am. Your guide speaks English or Vietnamese throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park3h · entry included
2. Quang Dien District1h 30m

Explore Phong Nha and Tien Son Caves

• Pickup from hotel or station
• Boat ride on Son River
• Explore Phong Nha Cave
• Climb to Tien Son Cave
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Return to Dong Hoi city

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Dong Hoi hotel or the airport at 7am. You'll board a dragon boat at 8am and travel upstream on the Son River, passing the riverside village of Làng Trằm Mé where you'll see daily life unfold along the water. By 9:30am you're inside Phong Nha Cave itself (the longest water cave in Southeast Asia), where the boat carries you past limestone cliffs, stalactite formations named the Fairy Lady Cave and the Royal Palace, and the underground river that carved the whole system over thousands of years.

At 11:30am you climb over 500 steps to reach Tien Son Cave, a separate cavern with its own distinct stalactite patterns. The two caves sit side by side in the national park but feel entirely different once you're inside them. After exploring, you return to the boat station and eat lunch at a local restaurant with regional specialties. The return drive to Dong Hoi takes the afternoon, and you're back by early evening.

Your guide speaks English or Vietnamese and stays with the group the whole way. The tour includes two bottles of water per person, travel insurance up to 20,000,000 VND per incident, and an air-conditioned vehicle for the road portions. Public transportation options exist nearby if you prefer to arrange your own way to the meeting point.

What’s included

• Dragon boat tickets on the Son River.
• admission to both Phong Nha Cave and Tien Son Cave.
• lunch with local specialty dishes.
• an English or Vietnamese-speaking guide for the full day.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport from Dong Hoi.
• two bottles of bottled water per person.
• and travel insurance covering up to 20,000,000 VND per guest per incident.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesUp to age 90

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by SOVABA TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide who knows both caves and the river in depth, and prefer joining a group on a fixed schedule rather than piecing together separate activities.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

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 Tien Son Cave known for?

Tien Son Cave is called the "fairyland" for its beauty and sits as a twin creation alongside Phong Nha Cave. The stalactite formations inside differ significantly from those in Phong Nha, giving each cave its own character despite their proximity in the national park.

Does the tour include lunch, and what kind of food is served?

Yes, lunch is included at a local restaurant near the Phong Nha boat station. You'll eat a selection of local specialty dishes from the Quang Dien District area, though the specific menu is not detailed in advance.

Can I arrange my own transportation to the starting point instead of hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour price and departs at 7am from hotels, train stations, or Dong Hoi airport. If you're arriving early from a morning train or bus, Sovaba Travel's office offers a place to rest before departure. Public transportation options are available nearby if you prefer to meet the group independently.

What should I know about the climb to Tien Son Cave?

Reaching Tien Son Cave requires climbing over 500 steps. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.