Hang Son Doong

Mountain River Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Phong Nha - Ke Bang tourist complex, Quang Binh province. Binh Lu Commune, Phong Tho District. Near Hue, 50km northwest of Dong Hoi. 500km south of the capital, Hanoi.
Open:	All year after appointment, weather permitting. Sep to May recommended. [2011]
Fee:	Per person USD 750. [2011]
Classification:	Karst cave.
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=7,300m. Main Passage: L=2,500m, W=91m, H=180m. Biggest chamber: W=175m, H=350m.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Hang Son Doong, Tel: +84-, Fax: +84-,
Last update:	$Date: 2012/01/15 07:16:44 $

History


1991		discovered by Ho Khanh from Phong Nha village.
2009		first explored by British Cavers.

Description

Hang Son Doong (Mountain River Cave) is the world's largest cave passage. The huge passage is 180m high, 90m wide and 2.5km long. Some parts of the passage are even 175m wide. This makes it bigger than the former first, Gua Payau (Deer Cave) in Malaysia.

The cave is a very recent discovery, even for the locals. It was first discovered in 1991 by Ho Khanh from Phong Nha village. But the locals never entered the cave, because the entrance emitted a frightful wind and noise. He then worked as a guide for a British caving team and showed them the entrance on their 2009 expedition. The British cavers entered the rather small entrance, at least under Vietnamese conditions, which is "only" 10m high and 30m wide. After the entrance the passage opened. In the first year they surveyed 6.5km of the huge passage, without reaching the end. The team had to return the next year to complete the survey of this cave.

After the trip report was published the cave soon became known as the biggest cave of the world. Actually a stupid term, as it does not explain in which category it is biggest. Hang Son Doong is 7.3km long, Mammoth Cave in the U.S.A. is 590km long, so it is not the longest cave. What it is, it is the biggest cave passage, which means a subterranean riverbed with a certain width and height which continues with comparable size for some elongation.

Between the two exits there are two sections with a collapsed ceiling. The debris from the collapse blocks the passage and forms a huge dam. The first is called Watch Out For Dinosaurs and contains an impressive waterfall, which flows only after a rain during dry season. The biggest doline is 175m wide and 350m high and was named Garden of Edam. There is a patch of jungle on the floor which gets enough light because of the size of the doline.

The cave is accessible only during dry season. During monsoon the huge passage fills with water and becomes a crushing river. The watermarks are visible high up the walls.

Many people obviously think the cave was open to visitors, because its discovery was published widely. There are publications with glossy pictures, which produce the wish to see it with ones own eyes. But the cave is not developed as a show cave and not really suitable for semi wild tours. There are numerous difficult and dangerous sections which require experience and special equipment. And actually it is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and so it is protected by law. The best way to see the cave is on the great pictures of the National Geographic Society.

Nevertheless the cave was now opened on demanding three day caving tours run by local guides. The cave entrance in the middle of the National Park is reached after an arduous nine-hour trek trough dense jungle. It is almost impossible to find without a guide. The two nights are spent in En Cave, about two hours from Hang Son. So there is one day with about 7 hours for the exploration of the cave.

Hang Son Doong

Mountain River Cave

Useful Information

History

Description

See also