The caves in Vietnam are renowned as masterpieces offered by nature, possessing a majestic and mysterious beauty.
While discovering Vietnam, you will be captivated by the magnificent caves of this Southeast Asian country. The caves in Vietnam are natural treasures of striking beauty, renowned worldwide for their majestic grandeur and mysterious aura. Nestled in the heart of spectacular landscapes, these underground formations amaze with their imposing dimensions and unique geological formations.
Each cave tells an ancient story shaped by the whims of time and the forces of nature, offering visitors an unforgettable journey through stalactites and stalagmites sculpted with artistic precision. Come explore these underground wonders with us in the article below.
1. Son Doong Cave – Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park
Son Doong Cave with its incredible beauty, which is the longest cave in the world
Discovered in 1991 in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Son Doong Cave quickly became famous worldwide due to its wild and mysterious beauty. This place is internationally renowned not only for being the largest cave in the world in terms of surface area but also because of its age of over 3 million years and its extremely rich ecosystem.
It features an impressive diversity of underground ecosystems and vegetation. In particular, the species living here are often blind and have white or transparent bodies. Exploring Son Doong Cave is definitely one of the most exciting activities in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.
This cave is distinguished by its giant stalagmite walls (over 80 meters high), a primary forest inside, sunlight penetrating the environment, an underground vegetation carpet, and an infinite underground river, which is difficult for tourists to fully explore.
Son Doong Cave has officially become the first and only site in the world to be recognized by the three world record organizations to date: Guinness World Records (based in the United Kingdom), the World Records Association (based in Hong Kong), and the World Records Alliance (based in the United States and India). This cave offers exploration and adventure tours. However, to participate in these tours, one needs to be in good health.
2. Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) – Ha Long Bay
Surprise Cave (Vietnamese name: Sửng Sốt) is considered a masterpiece of nature, being one of the most exceptional caves in the Ha Long Bay cave system. True to its name, “Surprise,” this place leaves a strong impression on those who visit due to its unique beauty.
Sung Sot Cave in Ha Long Bay
Upon entering the cave, visitors are overwhelmed by the vast and sparkling landscape offered by nature. In the first chamber, one can admire the hanging stalactites, making the cave seem even more otherworldly. Moving into the second chamber, which is twice the size of the first and covers an area of about 600 square meters, the spectacle continues.
The ceiling of stalactites in this chamber has been heavily eroded, featuring numerous elevated windows about 40 meters above the cave floor. However, this also ensures better ventilation inside the cave.
Ascending to the top, the cave reveals a completely different landscape. There is a clear blue lake, picturesque views of mountains and water, diverse vegetation, and the resonant sounds of birds, offering the most wonderful experiences to adventurous travelers.
3. Mua Cave (Dancing Cave) – Ninh Binh
As one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam, Mua Cave is a famous tourist destination located in Ninh Binh. Part of an ecological tourism complex, Mua Cave is surrounded by vast green rice fields at the foot of rolling mountains, creating a stunning natural landscape.
View of Mua Cave from above
To reach the entrance of Mua Cave, one must climb nearly 50 steps that extend along the summit of Ngoa Long Mountain. From there, you can leisurely admire the spectacular natural scenery, not only of Mua Cave but also of the Trang An Landscape Complex. You will need to overcome a quite demanding journey to ascend to the cave entrance, including irregular rocky steps around the summit of Ngọa Long Mountain.
What makes Mua Cave one of the most famous caves in Vietnam is not only the inner beauty of the cave itself but also the natural landscape that can be admired from the heights along the path to the summit.
4. Huong Tich Cave – Hanoi
Huong Tich Cave is located at the heart of the Huong Son National Tourist Site, in My Duc district, 70 km southwest of Hanoi, and is considered one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam.
The overall view of Huong Tich Cave resembles a dragon’s head holding a pearl, with a stalagmite at the center of the cave – called Dun Gao – representing the dragon’s tongue. Large stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling represent the dragon’s teeth, while a small round and pretty mountain, visible from the cave entrance, represents the precious pearl.
Huong Tich cave in Hanoi
Inside the cave, one can discover familiar scenes of daily life such as trees made of gold and silver, stacks of hay and rice, sows and their piglets, and even a maternal breast from which water drips day and night.
Huong Tich Cave is linked to Buddhist worship; according to legend, Bodhisattva Quan Am brought her staff to this southern place to reside. Therefore, every early spring, tens of thousands of Buddhist devotees come on pilgrimage here, making this place one of Vietnam’s sacred sites.
5. Nguom Ngao Cave – Cao Bang
Among all the caves in Vietnam, in Cao Bang, Nguom Ngao Cave (Vietnamese name: Ngườm Ngao) is perhaps one of the most pristine and least affected by human activity. Located just about 3 km from Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave was formed 300 million years ago.
Nguom Ngao Cave in Cao Bang, one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam
The cave has three main entrances: Nguom Ngao, Nguom Lom, and Nguom Ban Thuon. On the natural rock walls, fascinating formations have been sculpted, such as the waterfalls, column, sacred toad, and stone xylophone, among others.
Notably, the stalactites here have a distinct color compared to other caves due to limestone mixed with numerous impurities. In the future, Nguom Ngao Cave promises to be a major tourist attraction in Cao Bang and is definitely one of the must-see caves when traveling to Vietnam.
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