Son Doong – the world’s largest cave in Vietnam

Son Doong Cave is the world’s largest natural cave in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh province, Vietnam.

In 1991, a local man named Ho Khanh found Son Doong Cave when he heard the whistling sound of the wind and the roar of a rushing stream from the entrance. However, not until 2009, it was officially discovered by the British Cave Research Association. The cave has been opened to the public since 2013.

Son Doong Cave is more than 5 kilometres long (3.1 miles), 200 metres high (660 ft) and 150 metres wide (490 ft). With these numbers, the cave is five times larger than nearby caves likePhong Nha Cave and Hang En, according to Haward Limbirts – the member of the British Cave Research Association team. Accordingly, Son Doong cave overtook Deer Cave in Malaysia to take the title of the world’s largest cave.

The cave contains some of the tallest known stalagmites in the world, which are up to 70 m tall. Behind the Great Wall of Vietnam, there are pearls found inside the cave with the large size of baseballs.

It is estimated that Son Doong cave was created 2-5 million years ago by the river water eroding away the limestone underneath the mountain, where the limestone was unstable. The ceiling collapsed and created huge skylights.

This cave is near the Vietnam-Laos border. It is very deep and has a big lake inside. Jungles emerge from inside the cave, misty clouds enveloping the whole scene, and fossil passages were considered the proofs of the cave’s ancient existence.

To reach Hang Son Doong, tourists have to first go on foot across the Ban Doong ethnic minority village. The only village located inside the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park with the population of less than 40 people.

The cave carries the overwhelming beauty and grandeur, which attracts numerous explorers, photographers, and tourists.