Dong Hoi: Paradise Cave & Phong Nha Boat Tour
Two caves in one day: Paradise Cave's 300-meter climb and a dragon boat ride into Phong Nha's underground river.
You're picked up from your hotel and driven to Paradise Cave, where you climb through Asia's longest dry cave system and explore stalactites and stalagmites for three hours. After lunch in Phong Nha village, you take a dragon boat into Phong Nha Cave along the underground river, walk 300 meters inside, and return by boat. The full day runs about ten hours including transport, meals, and all park fees.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Paradise and Phong Nha Caves
- Pick up from Dong Hoi or Phong Nha hotels
- Drive to Paradise Cave (80 minutes)
- Ride golf cart through jungle (1.6 km)
- Climb to cave entrance with mountain views
- Explore Paradise Cave
- Lunch at local restaurant in Phong Nha village
- Drive to Phong Nha Cave (25 minutes)
- Boat ride into Phong Nha Cave
- Walk 300 meters inside cave
- Return by boat from cave
- Return to Phong Nha Village
- Drop off at Dong Hoi hotels
- Paradise Cave Entry included 4h
- Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Entry included 4h
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup and dropoff in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village, transport by air-conditioned minivan and golf cart through the jungle, entry fees to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a professional English-speaking guide, traditional Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant (with vegetarian options available), the dragon boat ride to Phong Nha Cave, bottled water throughout the day, and all activities inside both caves.
Times
- Every day 07:30
Before you book
Operated by Phongnha Discovery Tours
Prices and times updated 16 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The minivan picks you up between 7:35 and 8:00 AM from your hotel in Dong Hoi, or at 8:30 if you're staying in Phong Nha village. The drive to Paradise Cave takes about 80 minutes, and you'll spend the first part of the morning riding a golf cart 1.6 kilometers through the jungle before the real climb starts. The mouth of the cave sits high enough that the views of the surrounding mountains open up as you approach. That's when you realize why people call it Paradise Cave, the longest dry cave in Asia.
Inside, you walk through stalactites and stalagmites for about three hours, moving deeper into the cave system. The guide points out the rock formations and explains how the cave formed, but mostly you're just walking and looking. By noon you're back down and heading to lunch at a local restaurant in Phong Nha village, where they serve traditional Vietnamese dishes: vegetarian options are available if you ask when you book. After eating, you have about an hour to rest before the second part of the day starts.
At 1:30 PM you board a traditional dragon boat for a 25-minute ride to Phong Nha Cave, which is a water cave built around the world's longest underground river. The boat takes you into the cave mouth, and then you climb out and walk about 300 meters on foot through the passages. The rock formations have names like "Lion" and "Fairy Caves" that the guide will mention. The boat brings you back out, and by 4:00 PM the tour ends. If you're staying in Dong Hoi, the driver drops you at your hotel around 5:15 PM after the 75-kilometer drive back.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see two major caves in one day without arranging transport, park entry, or a guide yourself: the fixed schedule and included pickup mean you show up at your hotel and the rest is handled.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 17 years); Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (2 to 3 years).
How long is the drive from Dong Hoi to Paradise Cave?
About 80 minutes. The cave is 75 kilometers away. If you're staying in Phong Nha village instead, pickup is at 8:30 AM and the drive is shorter.
What's included in the tour?
Hotel pickup and dropoff, transport by minivan and golf cart, entry to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, English-speaking guide, lunch at a local restaurant, dragon boat ride to Phong Nha Cave, bottled water, and all activities.
Can I get a vegetarian meal?
Yes. Let the operator know when you book and they'll arrange a vegetarian option at lunch.
How much time do you spend inside Paradise Cave?
About three hours walking through the cave system, starting at 9:15 AM after the golf cart ride through the jungle.
Is the dragon boat ride included?
Yes. The 25-minute boat ride to Phong Nha Cave and the return trip are both included. You also walk 300 meters inside the cave on foot.
What time does the tour end?
The tour ends at 4:00 PM in Phong Nha village. If you're staying in Dong Hoi, you're back at your hotel around 5:15 PM.
What should I wear?
The tour runs in all weather, so dress appropriately for rain or heat. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the cave climbs and jungle paths.
Dong Hoi: Paradise Cave & Phong Nha Boat Tour
8h · EN
from US$ 55 per person
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