Phong Nha Dark Cave – What to Do There? Local Tips

You can’t miss Phong Nha Dark Cave if you’re into adventures. 

Besides the largest caves in the world like Son Doong and Hang En, which require high endurance and stability, there’s Dark Cave at Phong Nha that’s more of a choice for families, kids, and trekking beginners. 

Let’s dig into what’s interesting about Dark Cave that you don’t want to miss!

What is Dark Cave

Being a part of the largest cave system in Vietnam – Phong Nha Cave, Dark Cave has been attracting thousands of tourists every month, being the most-visited cave in all. 

Dark Cave is 5,558m long and 80m high with 2 entries – 1 front that leads to Chay River and 1 back that leads to the forest. The cave is covered with basalt stones, formed from the rapid cooling of lava from 400-500 million years ago, in black color and limestone – the signature of those caves in Phong Nha. 

Source: PhongNhaExplorer

Thanks to the protection of the local government, there are no artificial lights installed inside the cave to preserve the true experience of travelers. That’s why Dark Cave is ideal for those who crave the feeling of being in real nature and experiencing wildlife. 

Let me tell you this. Don’t worry about the budget, or if you have very limited time in Vietnam, Dark Cave is the highly-recommended option to escape from the city. Not too far, not too expensive, and easy to discover, why don’t you give it a shot?

History of Dark Cave 

Back in the American war, the locals used Dark Cave as a bomb shelter to hide away from the Americans. 

The Royal British Cave Association re-discovered the cave in 1992 and named it “Dark”. The locals then recognized the potential of promoting Dark Cave as a destination for worldwide travelers. 

To make the experience more intriguing and easier to access, a 400-meter-long double zip-line was built as the bridge to get to Dark Cave in 2014. 

Why is It Named “Dark Cave”?

The name “Dark Cave” kind of explains the story behind it. Once discovered in 1992, it was totally dark, like the feeling of closing your eyes. 

It was likely that you could see the darkness moving. There was no artificial lighting, and no natural light could go inside. The rock color is mostly gray or black, enhancing the cave’s darkness. 

To keep the travel unique and wild, Dark Cave is kept away from the colorful lights you usually see in other caves. 

Where is Dark Cave?

Dark Cave belongs to the ecosystem of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh – a province in Northern Central Vietnam. From Da Nang and Hoi An, it takes nearly six hours to reach Phong Nha Dark Cave by car. If you depart from Hue city, the total journey to the cave takes four hours.

The main entrance of Dark Cave is on the Ho Chi Minh Highway West, and you can find the guide saying “Zipline to Dark Cave”. 

Source: Petrotimes

How to Travel to Dark Cave

You can choose to reach Dark Cave by car, motorbike, or even book a tour. Because Dark Cave is 75 km away from Dong Hoi City, you might need to consider and prepare everything carefully before the trip. 

From Dong Hoi City, you can either go northwest on Highway 16 or follow the route to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. 

Map embedding

In case you join the Dark Cave tour, you won’t have to worry about food, timing, or getting lost. One more thing you can do is to see what people say about Dark Cave on Tripadvisor. That way, you can have more references to decide on. 

When to Discover Dark Cave

April to early July is the ideal time to enjoy Dark Cave to the fullest. You can join all activities like zip lining, kayaking, swimming, hiking, limestone watching, and mud bathing during those months.

Avoid the stormy and rainy season (from September to March of the following year) if you plan to discover Dark Cave because it’s very slippery and dangerous. 

What’s inside Dark Cave?

Nowadays, travelers love to chill out in natural getaways, where they can 100% blend in and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature. Dark Cave is undeniably one of the options on your bucket list as there’s hardly any human trace here.

Start with the zipline, and you will reach Chay River before getting to the mouth of Dark Cave. You will be equipped with head torches to see the path inside the cave. 

The light will gradually fade when you get deeper. At the same time, the guide might tell you to turn the torches off so you can get used to the darkness. 

The spectacular parts that you can find in every limestone cave are the stalactites in different shapes, lengths, and colors. The color of stalactites changes following the mineral content that forms them. Some stalactites are even covered with green moss because of the high humidity.

Besides those, there are underground rivers, a natural lake – Thuy Tien, which you can swim across, and a mud bath where you can relax.

Additionally, the Dark Cave area is home to several animals, from bats and swallows to the rare Hatinh Langur – a highly threatened species in Vietnam. 

Source: thestar.com.my

What to Do at Dark Cave

Traveling to Dark Cave, you don’t just finish after visiting the cave. There is a range of exciting activities you don’t want to miss. In addition to those listed below, there are other activities for families or groups of friends that you can find on-site. 

Adventurous Zipline over Chay River

The 400-meter zip line leading you to Dark Cave is the longest zip line in Vietnam. This is one of the most preferable activities for those who are into extreme games. 

Source: PhongNhaExplorer

Since it’s heading down to the Chay River, you might feel that you’re floating in the air, falling down into the river. Believe me, the excitement that it brings is indescribable to all travelers. 

Don’t panic if you’ve never tried zip-lining before. There’s a security team to guide and arm you with safety appliances. Just relax and enjoy the nature that surrounds you. 

If your kids are small, there’s a small pool right on Chay River for them to have some fun with other kids. 

Source: phongnhakebang

Get “Dirty” in the Mud Bath

At the end of the discovery, you will reach the mud bath. In the very silence, you can hear the sound of a mud fight followed by the echoes in the large cave. 

Source: PhongNhaDiscovery

As mud contains some essential minerals, it’s really good for health and skin, especially for exfoliation. Take time to dip in the bath, rub mud on your body, and let your legs relax in the cold mud.  

Go Kayaking on Chay River

Following the mud bath experience, more fun will be added to your trip if you go kayaking on the Chay River, as the water here is clear and calm.

Watch the wild nature around you, surf along the river, and feel at peace. 

If you’re traveling with your family, your kids can certainly join you in the kayaking experiences. I’m sure they will scream in joy.  

Dark Cave Entrance Fees

The entrance fees to Dark Cave vary following the tourist season. 

Ticket Type	Details	Entrance FeesHigh Season | Apr-SepLow Season | Oct-Mar	Additional information
Chay River – Dark Cave Package (For Adults)	Swim in Chay RiverKayak on Chay RiverZipline on Chay RiverZipline to Dark CaveSafety appliances included (life jacket, head torch, helmet)	High Season: VND 450,000Low Season: VND 299,000	Travelers below 40kg or above 90kg are not allowed to zipline.
Children Package (1.1m – 1.3m tall)	Swim in Chay RiverKayak on Chay RiverChildren pool accessSafety appliances included (life jacket, head torch, helmet)	High Season: VND 150,000Low Season: VND 110,000	No ziplining is allowed
Children below 1m	Children pool access	Free

Other Caves at Phong Nha

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is reputed for the cave system that comprises the first and the third largest caves in the world. 

All of those caves are currently open for tourists. If you decide to stay in Quang Binh Province, take a look at the caves below, so you can combine them with the trip to Dark Cave. 

Son Doong Cave

How big is Son Doong Cave? Well, Son Doong is the largest cave on the globe.  There’s a rainforest inside with biodiversity that will blow you away. People compare its height to a 40-story skyscraper, so you can imagine how enormous it is! 

Source: itourvn

To preserve the ecosystem inside and the pristine beauty of Son Doong Cave, the only authorized tour operator to the cave is Oxalis Adventure. 

It might take up to 3-4 days to travel and stay inside the cave, and you must train your physical strength and endurance to prepare for the tour. 

Hang En or En Cave

Ranked the second largest cave in Vietnam and the third largest cave on Earth, En Cave is home to the swallows, translated as “En” in Vietnamese. 

You might feel a bit familiar with how the cave looks as it was featured in “Pan” with Hugh Jackman in 2015. 

Source: Cinemavine

One interesting fact about En Cave is that there’s a campsite right at the entrance. Additionally, ethnic groups such as Bru Van Kieu and Ban Doong in the surrounding villages used to shelter inside during storms. 

Source: departful

Imagine how amazing it is to camp in a cave under the stars in the jungle. The tour to En Cave might last for 2 days.

Paradise Cave

You might be wondering why it’s called “Paradise Cave”. It’s because of how extraordinary the limestone has been formed inside. Upon the moment it was discovered, cave explorers couldn’t stop being amazed by the beauty of the stalactites and stalagmites inside.

Source: Wikipedia

It was recently opened to the public in 2010. Paradise Cave’s much easier and more popular for tourists as the way in is built internally for traveler access with the lighting system. 

Phong Nha Cave

Last but not least, you can’t opt out of Phong Nha Cave – Cave of Teeth. Right at the moment you reach its entrance on a boat, the heat is taken away. 

As you go further inside, the denser the stalactites are – forming huge teeth. The limestone has been formed into different shapes, such as the “Lion”, the “Fairy Caves”, and the “Buddha”.

Source: Roughguides

Even though the cave is 7,729 meters long with a 13,969-meter underground river, travelers can only look at the first 1,500 meters. 

A special thing about Phong Nha Cave is that it was recognized as one of the most beautiful caves on the globe by the Royal British Cave Association for the 7 following reasons: 

• Longest underground river
• Most beautiful underground lake
• Highest and widest entrance
• Widest dry cave
• Most beautiful sandbank and reef
• Most magnificent stalactites and stalagmites
• Longest water grottoes

Reading up until here, you can see how worthwhile visiting Phong Nha Cave is, right?

Tips for Visiting Dark Cave

Back to Dark Cave: Here are some top tips you should keep in mind before traveling to this cave.

• Check the weather before your trip.
• Bring your cap, sunglasses, and sunscreen for health and skin protection. 
• Wear your socks during swimming because you might step on rocks and edges.
• Start your trip early in the day so that you don’t have to rush later. 
• Always keep your lifesaver and other safety appliances on during your trekking.
• Keep the destinations and environment clean by not leaving anything behind after your trip. 

Travel Hassle-free with Phoebe and Besties!

Adventures always await you to break your boundaries. Hiking, ziplining, kayaking, swimming, and mud-bathing – a whole bunch of energetic activities in one at Dark Cave. 

Are you ready for the ride? Take some time off, give yourself some self-time, and put Dark Cave as your destination for a holiday!

Frequently Asked Questions