Beneath the Surface: Caves in Vietnam
There’s something about subterranean spaces that inspires an almost mythic sense of awe, and Vietnam’s impressive cave network evokes an especially intense sense of wonder at the power of nature.
Vietnam’s limestone karst landscape is punctuated with many hidden caverns; cloaked in greenery, they jut from emerald waters, or sit flanked by terraces of rippling paddy fields, offering voyages of exploration for those who feel intrepid enough to step inside. Within their deep, winding interiors are stunning geological formations including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and colourful mineral deposits that have formed in darkness over thousands of years.
Exactly how and where you delve beneath the surface is up to you: take a junk boat around the coast, board a sampan to drift along a river, kayak into dark corners, or clamber up to hidden entrances. Discover what lies inside, kitted out with only a head torch and the thrill of stepping into the unknown…
At Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long, on the north eastern coast of Vietnam, follow in the wake of traditional junk boats that have sailed these waters for hundreds of years. Cruise between the greenery-topped karst rock formations that rise vertiginously from calm bays, exploring sheltered beaches and caves.
Hop on a sampan to discover the Ben Dang River near Ninh Binh in northern Vietnam. The inland waters are surrounded by rolling greenery, interrupted by limestone karsts. On foot and by small boat, navigate the waters that run through the caves, taking in stalactite formation and glimpsing shafts of sunlight through holes in the cavern ceilings.
Phong Nha-Ke National Park in central Vietnam is renowned for its stunning karst landscapes, extensive cave systems and rich biodiversity. Get kitted out with a head torch and caving equipment before plunging on foot into the dark interior, wading through water as your torch illuminates the impressive rock formations above.
Lan Ha Bay & Bai Tu Long
Situated respectively to the south and north of the famous (yet rather crowded) Halong Bay, these two lesser-known coastal waterways offer the chance to explore the region’s picturesque scenery at a more leisurely pace, with far fewer other boats navigating the waters alongside you.
Starting from a traditional junk, paddle out in a kayak to explore caves secreted between the jagged limestone islands. Enjoy a swim in the emerald waters, head ashore to quiet villages (some floating above the water) and relax on sandy beaches in secluded bays.
Ninh Binh
Sometimes referred to as ‘Halong Bay on land’, the rivers that run through the northern province of Ninh Binh are studded with looming limestone formations that interrupt the lush landscape. The crowds head for Tam Coc, but we prefer the quieter, less pressured environs of the Ben Dang River.
Take a leisurely sampan journey between impressive rock formations and caves carved naturally from the stone. At Thien Ha Cave, shafts of sunlight pierce the gloom as you explore on foot, and at times you’ll need to step into a small boat to follow the grotto’s internal waterways...
Phong Nha
Central Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke National Park has, at its heart, the extraordinary Hang Toi, or Dark Cave. This offers just what it says on the tin: a trek through an increasingly dark and eerie space, heading ever-further underground. The full extent of the cavern was only mapped by the British Cave Research Association in the early 1990’s and has been open to tourists since 2011.
As you step out of your kayak, the cave's entrance looms ahead, inviting you to venture in. There’s no lighting, so a head torch and caving gear for exploring on foot are essential. Follow sandy underground pathways as your senses gradually adjust to the cool, dimly lit environment, wading through water and navigating sections of cool, muddy terrain. All around you, illuminated in the torchlight, discover an otherworldly landscape of stalactites hanging like ancient chandeliers and stalagmites rising from the cavern floor.
