DAY 1 – DONG HOI | ARRIVAL & PHONG NHA ORIENTATION
Fly or take the train to Dong Hoi — the coastal city of Quang Binh province and the gateway to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, approximately 50 kilometres inland. Transfer to your eco-lodge in Phong Nha village on the banks of the Son River. Afternoon orientation walk with your cave guide to a viewpoint above the Son River valley — karst mountains rising vertically from the flat river plain. A first swim in the Chay River, the clearest natural swimming water in the region, fed by underground springs from the cave systems above. Dinner at a riverside restaurant: central Vietnamese cuisine — banh canh thick noodle soup and nem lui grilled pork on lemongrass skewers.
DAY 2 – TU LAN CAVE SYSTEM | JUNGLE TREK & UNDERGROUND RIVER
The headline day. Depart at 7:30 AM by boat up the Chay River, then 4 kilometres of jungle trek through primary karst forest to the Tu Lan cave network. Enter the first Tu Lan cave through a swimming passage: headlamps on, wade into the underground river and swim through 200 metres of cave passage where stalactites touch the water surface. Emerge into a hidden valley — a doline, or collapsed cave ceiling — open to the sky and carpeted with jungle vegetation. Continue through the cave system: Hung Ton Cave with its vast underground lake, and Hung Ton Toi where the underground river is deep enough to swim. Lunch on a riverside sandbank inside the cave system. Trek back to the river for the boat return.
DAY 3 – DARK CAVE ZIP-LINE | PARADISE CAVE | CHAY RIVER KAYAK
A day of three very different experiences. Morning: Dark Cave — entered via a 400-metre zip-line above the Son River, plunging into the cave mouth above the waterline and swimming 300 metres underground to a chamber of mineral-rich mud. Kayak back out through the cave to the river. Midday: Paradise Cave — the longest dry cave in Asia at 31 kilometres, its main chamber 150 metres wide and 72 metres high. Afternoon kayak on the Son River from the Phong Nha cave entrance, paddling into the cave’s first 400 metres of underground river passage before returning downstream in golden afternoon light.
DAY 4 – JUNGLE TREK & OVERNIGHT WILD CAMP
Depart at 6:30 AM for a full-day jungle trek into the national park interior with the park’s wildlife biologist guide. Trek through primary rainforest with birdwatching stops on the ridgeline — the park’s 300-plus bird species include the rare Sooty Babbler found only in this karst system. A midday rest at a jungle waterfall fed by cave springs. Continue to the overnight camp: a riverbank clearing where the guide team sets up tents, a camp kitchen, and a fire circle. Camp dinner: com lam sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, grilled jungle vegetables, and river fish. Sleep to the sound of the jungle at night.
DAY 5 – RETURN TREK | DONG HOI | DEPARTURE
Rise at dawn for the jungle at its most alive: birds calling in the canopy, mist rising from the river, and the guide making coffee over the fire. Trek back to the national park entrance — approximately 3 hours at a relaxed pace. Transfer to Dong Hoi for a late morning flight or train to Hanoi, Da Nang, or Ho Chi Minh City. Optional extension: 2 nights at Son Doong Cave — the world’s largest cave, accessible to a very limited number of visitors per year through Oxalis Adventure. Sun DMC can assist with reservation logistics (advance booking of 12-18 months required).
Tour Inclusions
- 4 nights accommodation — 3 nights eco-lodge Phong Nha village (breakfast) & 1 night wild jungle camp (full board)
- Tu Lan Cave System full-day guided experience including all swimming equipment (Day 2)
- Dark Cave zip-line entry, mud pool & kayak return (Day 3)
- Paradise Cave boardwalk visit (Day 3)
- Son River kayak including Phong Nha cave entry (Day 3)
- Full-day jungle trek with wildlife biologist guide (Day 4)
- All camping equipment, setup, and meals at jungle camp (Day 4)
- All safety equipment: helmets, headlamps, life vests, dry bags throughout
- English-speaking certified cave and jungle guide throughout
- All national park entrance fees and activity permits
- All transfers by private vehicle within Phong Nha area
- Welcome dinner (Day 1) and farewell lunch (Day 5)
- 24/7 on-trip support from Sun DMC operations team
Tour Exclusions
- Flights to/from Dong Hoi — Visa fees — Travel insurance — Personal expenses — Son Doong Cave extension (separate pricing)
Practical Information
Best Time to Travel: February – August (dry season in central Vietnam; cave conditions optimal; avoid September–November when flooding can close some cave passages)
Minimum Pax: 2 pax (FIT); maximum 10 pax per cave group
Physical Level: Moderate to challenging — Tu Lan cave swim requires comfort in water; jungle trek is 15-20 km over two days on uneven terrain; no technical climbing required
Fitness Requirement: Reasonable fitness and swimming ability required for Tu Lan; non-swimmers can substitute with an alternative cave tour
Accommodation Tier: Eco-lodge (3-4 star) + wild camp — upgrade to Phong Nha Farmstay available upon request
Customization: Tu Lan overnight cave camping option available as alternative to jungle camp. Contact your Sun DMC account manager for NET rates.
Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Sapa 
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