SON DOONG CAVE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST NATURAL CAVES IN THE WORLD

Son Doong Cave is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in the world, it is located in the Central Delta of Vietnam. With its huge size and majestic landscape, Hang Son Doong has attracted the attention of many tourists and scientists from all over the world. With invaluable natural resources and special historical value, Hang Son Doong was announced by the exploration team with National Geographic magazine as the largest natural limestone cave in the world in 2009. In 2013, Hang Son Doong was recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest natural cave in the world. In this article, we will explore Son Doong Cave - a wonderful natural wonder of Vietnam.

Where is Son Doong Cave?

Son Doong Cave has coordinates 17°55'N and 106°14'E and is located in Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province. Son Doong Cave is located in the core area of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.

The cave is located close to the Vietnam-Laos border. Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, UNESCO recognized it as a World Natural Heritage twice. Son Doong Cave is located in Bo Trach district, Quang Binh Province.

Son Doong Cave was formed about 2-5 million years ago, when river water flowed through limestone that was buried along a fault line. The water eroded and created a giant underground tunnel under the mountains. In places where the rock is soft, the ceiling collapses to form sinkholes, which over time form giant cave domes.

The cave is 150 meters wide, more than 200 meters high, and nearly 9km long. The estimated capacity of Hang Son Doong is 38.5 million cubic meters (equivalent to 15,000 Olympic swimming pools). With the above data, Son Doong has now officially surpassed the world record of Deer Cave in Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia, becoming the largest, most majestic, and splendid natural cave in the world.

Why is it called Hang Son Doong?

Initially, the name Hang Son Doong was named after the person who discovered Hang Son Doong, Ho Khanh. Afterward, the experts asked for permission to change the name to Hang Son Doong because according to experts, Hang Son Doong is located in the Ha Doong region, in the land of Doong. Near this area, there is an ethnic village called Ban Doong, and Son means mountain.

Hang Son Doong was discovered and named that way until now.

Discover 5 wonders in Son Doong cave

1. Giant Son Doong cave

Son Doong Quang Binh is the largest natural cave in the world with a height of up to 200m.

Just setting foot at the entrance of the cave, every cold wind blowing in the cave will melt away the fatigue of the arduous journey of "crossing the forest and wading streams" that you have had to go through. The majesty and grandeur of the cave, the cool breezes, and the surrounding magical mist will certainly bring you a feeling of extreme excitement, both overwhelmed by the beauty of this place and hard to wait. I hope, want to explore this wonderful cave.

2. The giant stalactite system

Hang Son Doong attracts you because of its geological diversity in the special terrain of underground rivers and vast caves. If the stalactites in Phong Nha cave are magnificent, then in Son Doong the stalactite system is like powerful giants with stalagmite columns over 70m high (even taller than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France) and with all shapes and sizes created millions of years ago.

3. The world's largest cave pearl

In addition, people also discovered the world's largest cave "pearls" (jade covering a type of pearl-like seed under the sea, mainly composed of calcite) in Son Doong. Normally, these "pearls" are only about 1cm in diameter, but in Son Doong, they are as big as a baseball.

4. "Great Wall" of Vietnam

The "Great Wall" of Vietnam, also known as the "Vietnam Wall", is one of the biggest challenges for tourists who want to explore this place. It is a 90m high stone wall located right in front of Son Doong cave. There is no other choice, you will have to overcome that wall with ladders, ropes, and support from technicians if you want to continue your journey.

5. Garden of Eden underground

Not only famous for its huge size, the scenery inside Son Doong cave also creates an extremely majestic scene with mountains, rivers, and a forest with an extremely unique and diverse ecosystem.

Son Doong Cave has a primeval forest inside with many unique and rare species of flora and fauna. In particular, this place also has weather conditions that are completely separate from those outside. Coming to Son Doong cave means coming to unique and indescribably beautiful scenery.

Traveling to Son Doong Cave: Experiences and Notes

If you want to participate in the journey to explore Son Doong Cave, please note the following to have a smooth and safe trip:

Weather conditions and dress

Because Son Doong Cave is located in the Phong Nha - Ke Bang conservation area, the best tourist season to come here is from February to August every year. During this period, the weather here is quite cool and not too hot, favorable for exploring caves.

When entering Son Doong Cave, you will have to walk and cross many streams and wet areas. Therefore, prepare appropriate clothing and shoes to be able to move easily and comfortably.

Regulations to be followed in the cave

Son Doong Cave is a priceless natural heritage of Vietnam, so visitors need to comply with the following regulations to protect this place:

Do not arbitrarily create any shapes or write on any surface in the cave.

Do not destroy animals and plants in the cave.

Do not bring trash and unnecessary household items into the cave.

Complying with the above regulations not only helps protect Son Doong Cave but also helps visitors have a better experience when visiting this place.

Exploring Son Doong Cave: Journey into the Heart of the Earth

The only unit licensed to exclusively exploit the Son Doong adventure discovery tour is Oxalis Co., Ltd. Therefore, you need to contact this company directly if you want to explore Son Doong.

After arriving at the reserve, visitors will be guided and fully equipped with the necessary equipment for the journey to explore Son Doong Cave. Then, you will have to cross the streams and walk in the jungle to reach the entrance of the cave. This is not only a challenge for physical fitness but also an opportunity to admire the beautiful scenery of the mountainous areas of Quang Binh. Some sections in Son Doong have sections that require the use of specialized safety equipment to move safely without being too difficult.

Experience in trekking (hiking) and adventure travel is an advantage. The trip to Son Doong will take a lot of physical strength. You have to move continuously throughout the day, sleep in a tent, and go to the bathroom in a "field" room. Therefore, experience in trekking or adventure travel will help you adapt more easily to the trip.

Conclude

Above are the highlights of Hang Son Doong - a wonderful natural wonder of Vietnam. From formation to a unique ecosystem, from tourism experience to influence and protection, Son Doong Cave is not only an attractive destination for tourists but also a symbol of sustainable development in the industry. country's tourism. Hopefully, the above information will help you better understand the beauty and value of this cave, as well as be aware of protecting and developing tourism sustainably.