Caves in Vietnam For the Best Caving Experience

Son Doong Cave is not just the biggest cave in the world, it is also one of the longest caves in the world. Located in the heart of the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in the Quang Binh province, these caves are open only to a few people, every year. The Son Doong Cave is so large, it has forests inside it and an entire weather system of its own. The only tour operator allowed to conduct cave expeditions of this cave is Oxalis Adventure Tourism. The total trek duration is four days and three nights, in addition to the two days stay at local hotels before the trek.
Cost: VND 68,700,000 per person (approx. USD 3000 per person)
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Best Time: January to August

The Grand Cathedral like the entrance of the Paradise Caves beckons you inside. With its vaulted ceiling and spectacular stalactites, this cave lives up to its name. Paradise cave is 31 kilometres long, making it one of the longest caves in the world. Out of the 31 kilometres, the maximum distance that the public is allowed up to is 3.5 kilometres deep. In the rainy season when the water level is high, the expedition is up to a distance of 2 kilometres. 
Cost: (3.5 km) VND 2,650,000 per person, (2 km) VND 1,800,000 VND per person
Difficulty: Beginner
Best Time: January to August

The Tu Lan Caves, though not as large as the Son Dong Caves, has the most number of adventure activities among the caves of Vietnam. These spectacular caves have behemoths of stalagmites, accompanied by large limestone karsts. The cave is continuously irrigated with rivers and lakes.Aactivities include swimming, dark cave exploration, climbing, rappelling and zip lining. The expedition takes 4 days and 3 nights,
Cost: VND 15,000,000 per person
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (swimming compulsory)
Best Time: February to August

Hang En Cave, the third largest cave in the world, will make you feel like you've been transported straight into a Disney movie. Located deep inside Phong Nha Ke Bang, this caves is surrounded by limestone mountains, jungle canopy and the gushing Rao Thuong River. The cave entrance is a slit in the cliff. The narrow trails continue for a long distance, terminating at an aquamarine lake with sandy beaches. This 2 days 1-night trip includes swimming in the lake inside the cave, so packing your swimming gear is essential.
Cost: VND 1,100,000 per person
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: December to August

The Dau Go Cave (Wooden Stake Caves) is the largest and most beautiful grotto in the Halong Bay area. Located about 6 kilometres from Bai Chay Wharf in Halong, this cave is 27 meters above the sea level. Inside the cave is a huge space with the size of 5,000 square meters. The height of the dome is 25 meters. Stalagmites and stalactites of various shapes may be found within, illuminated with mysterious lights to give off an ethereal appearance. The caving experience is just a day trip and the activities involve rock climbing and cave exploration.
Cost: Boat to the Caves: VND 1,500,000, Entrance: VND 30,000 per person
Difficulty: Easy
Best Time: January to October

'Tam Coc' literally translates into three caves. Tam Coc is a collection of three caves - Hang Ca, Hang Giua and Hang Cuoi. Each of these caves is submerged in the Ngo Dong Rivers and hence do not have floors. They can only be reached by boat from the mainland. Hang Ca cave is the first cave and the largest of the three. It is 127 meters long and its entrance is 20 meters wide and 2 meters high.There are a number of 'sampans' or small boats available from Pier Van Lam. The entire cave exploration in the boats takes about four hours.
Cost: Entrance: VND 55,000 per person, Boat to the Caves: VND 150,000 VND
Difficulty: Easy
Best Time: January to October

The entrance to the Hang Va caves seems nondescript, unimpressive even, but one step inside the cave will leave you breathless. The entrance is surrounded by cliffs on all sides. Upstream after about 350 meters, the narrow cave opens up into a spectacular chamber. The chamber consists of numerous dry gour lakes, partially filled water, out of which pops out conical calcite rocky structures. This region is called the 'Tower of Cones'.The entire expedition to the Hang Va caves takes 2 days and 1 night and includes swimming and rappelling.
Cost: VND 1,200,000 per person
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (Swimming Compulsory)
Best Time: February to August

The Phong Nha Caves were among the first caves to be discovered in Vietnam, and one of the most-visit caves here. There is much variation in the topography of the cave, making it a delightful spot for caving in Vietnam, though only the first 1.5 km of the total 44 km is open to tourists. It is one of the few caves in Vietnam where you can find native wildlife, preserved in the sanctuary at the entrance of the mysterious cave. One must enter the cave by boat, sailing over the Son River that flows through this cave system.
Cost: Entrance: VND 300,000 per person, Boat cost: VND 360,000 (accommodates 14 passengers)
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Best Time: October to December

Nuoc Nut Caves provides the perfect opportunity for serious amateur cavers who are just starting off, to get a taste of the intense caving Vietnam's caves can offer. The Nuoc Nut caves are located right in the centre of a valley surrounded by cliffs. Once through the cave, you have to wade 500 meters, then scale a 15-meter high wall, after which you will find yourself at a stalactite lake. The expedition is for one day an includes swimming and relaxing on the sand.
Cost: 800,000 VND per person
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Best Time: January to June