In the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a hidden gem of Vietnam is making its way beneath the surface: the stunning Paradise Cave, also known as Thien Dong, which means "Paradise" in Vietnamese. And that's no exaggeration. As you delve into its subterranean world of golden stalactites, endless ceilings, and wooden walkways winding through ancient formations, you understand why this place earned its name.
During my trip through central Vietnam, I decided to stop by this little-known but absolutely breathtaking spot. In this post, I'll tell you how to get there, what to expect, and why these caves were one of the highlights of my trip through Southeast Asia.
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Paradise Cave, one of the largest caves in the world
Paradise Cave It was the largest cave in the world until 2009, the year in which another one called was discovered Hang Son Doong in the same geographical area and which is considered the largest today.
But since the latter cannot yet be visited by conventional tourists (only specialists for the moment), Paradise Cave remains the largest that a common visitor can visit.
It is located inside the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National ParkTo allow tourists to visit the interior of the cave, a series of walkways approximately 1 km long were installed, with a lighting system that highlights the enormous stalactite and stalagmite formations.
If you like to discover unusual natural places like I do, don't hesitate to come and visit this cave.
Fortunately, Vietnam has many beautiful landscapes and unique attractions that we can visit, such as I told you in another article about Halong Bay for example.
During my trip through Vietnam, which began far north in the city of Sapa, I stopped off and made my way to various cities that I considered interesting, either for the city itself or for the attractions in its surroundings.
For this reason, since I was in the city of Ninh Binh, and my next stop was Hue, I decided to take a break in Dong Hoi and get to know this wonderful cavern.
Where are the Paradise Caves?
The Paradise Caves are located within the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, in the province of Quang Binh, to central Vietnam. You can base yourself in the village Phong Nha, which is about 25 km of the Park or as I did, in Dong Hoi, which is about 70 kmIt can be done by motorcycle, taxi, or organized tour.
Visit Paradise Cave from Dong Hoi
Many decide base yourself in Dong Hoi because it is located on the main route that connects northern Vietnam with the south. Phong Nha It is closer to the Park, but you have to leave the route to get there. Dong Hoi It doesn't have enough charm to justify a specific visit, but if you are going to the Park, it will be useful to stay there at least one night.
To get to Dong Hoi from the north, Ninh Binh For example, you can take a sleeping bus for $ 300,000 dong (outdated price). They depart at 9:00 pm and arrive at approximately 6:00 am.
In Dong Hoi City, you'll find many tour agencies selling tours that take you through the park and into the caves. This is certainly the most convenient and easy option, but it's also a bit more expensive.
The way to get to the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park from Dong Hoi it is in good condition and is paved.
If they are in backpacker plan If you're planning to explore on your own, the ideal option is to rent motorcycles. You'll find several shops and hostels with a wide range of motorcycles for rent.
In case you didn't know, both in Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia, it's common to see foreigners using motorbikes to explore different areas of each country, even if they don't have a license. It's a cheap and independent way to explore hidden corners without relying on private tours or public transportation that leave us far from the attraction.
In the article How to visit Doi Inthanon National Park In Thailand, I had told them how my first experience of my life was riding a motorcycle alone.
Visit Paradise Cave from Hue and Hanoi
Another option is to take the excursion from Hue, a little further south of Dong Hoi. Although it's a longer distance from the park, it's possible to go there and back in the same day, although I imagine it would take a long time.
From Hanoi There are also buses to Dong Hoi or Phong Nha Village (Son Trach). Travel time will likely be a couple of hours longer than from Ninh Binh.
What to do in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Within Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, there is not only Paradise Cave, but also 300 other caves with a total length of 70 kilometers, although the vast majority are not accessible. Among the best known are The Cave of Paradise, Black Cave, Hang Son Doong.
In addition, the park contains rivers, waterfalls, underground streams, and jungle. It's a truly natural environment.
– Visit caves with underground rivers
Many caverns and grottoes can be visited by boat, navigating through underground rivers. For this excursion, there are boats at the cave entrances. I don't have the updated price, but the amount is usually divided by the number of people occupant, with a maximum of 14 people. This means that the more people there are, the cheaper.
In addition to the cost of the boat, you have to add the entrance fee to each cave. Each one has a different price.
I couldn't do it because it was quite crowded with local tourists who took up the entire ship, so if you're on your own it might be difficult to do it.
- Estimated duration: approximately 2 or 3 hours.
– Trekking through Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
It involves climbing mountains with extreme slopes, reaching over 1,000 meters, which is a real challenge for climbers. I didn't do it either, as it takes more time than I had. You can't do everything in one day; you have to choose.
– Visit Paradise Cave, one of the largest caves in the world.
After arriving at the visitor center, a light hike through the forest or a ride in an electric cart awaits you. Then, a climb of approximately 500 steps to the cave entrance is well worth the effort.
Funny enough, the police officer who charged me for admission to the park didn't know any English. To tell me the fee I had to pay, he pointed at a sign and kept repeating, “You You You”. I spent 15 minutes like this trying to understand what he was trying to tell me with so much force 😀 (sometimes universal sign language can fail).
Once you enter the cave, you'll have to go down some stairs to a walkway, and surprisingly, you'll see a large cavity illuminated with artificial lights to show us how gigantic the interior is.
Upon entering, a breathtaking world opens up. Stalactites that look like crystal curtains, ceilings as high as 100 meters high, well-maintained walkways, and lighting that highlights every corner without ruining the mysterious atmosphere of the place. It's incredible.
The cave's interior is 31 km long, but you can only walk along the designated walkways, which are 1 km long.
The lights aren't as intrusive as in other caves, which seemed more like a circus than a natural setting. They blend well with the surroundings, dim, and highlight the stalactites.
As you go deeper, you will see a multitude of rock formations, with giant stalactites and stalagmites emerging from all sides.
Everything is huge in there.
It struck me that most of the people touring the cave were Vietnamese, a lot of domestic tourism. It seems that foreigners ignore it or, since it's not so close to them, forget about it.
How long does the visit to Paradise Cave last?
The tourist part covers 1 km cave (perfectly equipped with walkways), but there are longer exploration tours, for the more adventurous, that take you much further in. The standard tour takes you between 1 and 2 hours, depending on how much you stop to admire the place.
Practical tips for visiting Paradise Cave
- Schedules: Open every day, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Entrance: It costs around 250,000 VND (about 10 USD in 2025).
- What to bring: Comfortable shoes, water, and light clothing (the temperature drops inside the cave).
- No food or drinks allowed inside, so it's better to go light.
Is Paradise Cave worth visiting?
Absolutely. Although Phong Nha is famous for other caves such as the Phong Nha Cave wave Hang Son Dong (the largest in the world), Paradise Cave is the most accessible, impressive and magical for those who don't want to embark on complicated expeditions but still want to feel like they're exploring another planet.
Where to stay in Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park
I decided to base myself in the city of Dong Hoi, where there are many accommodations to choose from. I stayed at the Anh Linh Hotel, which seemed to have a good location and you could also rent motorcycles right there.
But they can also stay in other towns or cities in the area. Son Trach For example, it is a small town very close by that has grown in recent years.
When is the best time to visit Paradise Caves?
The Best time to visit Paradise Cave in Vietnam It is during the dry season, which goes from February to August.
- March to May: warm but not extreme weather, clear skies and green landscapes.
- June to August: Hotter, but ideal if you want to explore other caves or rivers in the area (Phong Nha-Ke Bang).
Avoid if you can:
- September to November: season of heavy rains, risk of flooding in the area (Phong Nha is prone).
- December and January: Less rain, but it can be cool and foggy, limiting visibility and experience.
Travel anecdote
I'm going to tell you about a curious incident that happened to me when I tried to leave the park, after I'd already finished exploring everything. To change the route I took, I decided to return to Dong Hoi by taking a different route, one that runs through the interior of the vast park.
Using my phone's GPS as a guide, I took an alternate route. From my phone, the route didn't seem any longer than the one I'd taken, but as I continued, the road continued to climb.
I was getting higher and higher. There were no more cars or tours anywhere. It was slowly getting dark. The temperature was dropping further and further. Clouds appeared. The humidity created a mist on the road, where I gradually began to see less and less.
The minutes ticked by, and my desperation grew. Would this road take me back? Would I have enough gas to get back if I kept pushing the bike? If my cell phone died, where would I go?
All around me was jungle, loneliness and fog.
Just as I considered turning around and going back, I heard another motorcycle coming up behind me. It was a lone Vietnamese man, emerging from the fog at full speed.
The man's appearance caught my attention. He had nails that were about 10 cm long... I swear. He looked like Scissorhands.
He slows down and starts walking alongside me. He asks me in basic English where I was going. We slow down, and I show him the route I was following on my phone.
The man burst out laughing. I looked at him with a "what's up" expression, and he explained (in his own way) that it was too far to get there. He asked me to follow him, saying his house was nearby because he worked at the park. He told me he'd give me fuel and that I could spend the night there.
Indeed, his house was nearby. We arrived in a few minutes. He gave me gas and invited me in while he spoke some nonsense in Vietnamese. A little while later, two more men arrived on motorcycles and greeted me excitedly. Apparently, they lived there too.
They insisted I stay there that night. They invited me to eat and offered me a roof over my head, all supposedly in a good mood.
The truth is, the whole situation seemed quite bizarre to me. I'm from a country where bad things happen all the time, and the first thing that came to mind was distrust, especially with those nails that looked like knives on each finger, hahaha.
I wanted to get out of there. Go back to my familiar, warm hostel. So I explained to them as best I could that I had to go back because I was leaving very early the next day... which was true. After some insistence, they finally understood and said goodbye with laughter.
Most likely, nothing was going to happen; they were inviting me with good intentions. But I'll never know. Nor do I regret it. At that moment and in that place, I didn't feel at all comfortable staying there alone with those three strange men.
Another mishap on the way back
Already relieved to have gotten out of that situation, I returned along the familiar path hoping to return without any further unforeseen incidents... or not?
Bad luck for me. My motorcycle tire got a flat halfway there, just as I was leaving the park. I still had about 50 km to go to Dong Hoi, and it was already dark.
Luckily, there were several small houses in what seemed to be a typical roadside town. Asking neighbors if anyone could help me, they directed me to a nearby garage.
There are plenty of motorcycle repair shops in Vietnam. Breakdowns and punctures are very common on motorcycles, as there are so many of them and they're in such poor condition, and punctures must be common.
The good man puts a patch on the tire in 15 minutes and I'm back on the road.
It was around 10 pm, pitch black and with the rain pouring down on me, until I FINALLY managed to get to the hostel in Dong Hoi
At last!
It was a very long and tiring day, but full of surprises. I'll never forget it.
