Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park is known for limestone karsts, tropical forest, underground rivers and caves. In 2025 UNESCO extended the transboundary World Heritage property to include Hin Nam No National Park in Laos.
For a first visit, choose the public Phong Nha Cave route. From the tourism centre, the boat takes about 30 minutes along the Son River; the route then follows roughly 1.2 km of underground river by boat with the engine switched off, followed by walkways through dry chambers. Allow about 2.5 hours. Admission is VND 150,000 per visitor; the round-trip boat is VND 700,000 per boat for up to 12 passengers. These are separate charges.
The cave is open daily. The tourism centre lists seasonal hours: 7:15–16:30 in summer and 7:30–15:45 in winter. Hours and access can change with weather and water levels, so check before setting out. The tourism centre and boat pier are in Phong Nha Commune, Quang Tri Province. Longer treks need separate planning and a guide; Son Doong is not part of the standard boat trip.
Route and fares: Phong Nha–Ke Bang Tourism Center. Photo: pen_ash, Unsplash; resized and converted to WebP.
