Quang Binh is a Vietnamese province located in the country’s north-central region, and it is known for its many caves, its beautiful mountainous interior, and its white-sand beaches. Inland, you can find Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, well known among tourists and home to a large number of caves and caverns that can be visited.
If you are going to travel to Vietnam and plan to visit the former city of Hue, consider spending a few days in Quang Binh, as it is only a few kilometres away.
If you are passionate about nature and geology, this visit is almost a must. At OneMoreDestination.com, we can prepare a tailor-made tour so you can explore Quang Binh at your own pace. Click here for more information.
Quang Binh Province
Quang Binh Province has a population of around 1 million, a predominantly monsoon climate and, given its varied terrain—beach, mountains, etc.—it boasts great biodiversity.
Of the province’s 8,000 square kilometres, around 5,000 are forests and jungle. It is also one of the Vietnamese provinces with the lowest GDP per capita in the country. This has not, however, prevented Quang Binh from becoming one of the preferred destinations for tourists looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities and mass tourism.
In Quang Binh, almost all attractions are related to the landscape and nature, with the area’s large number of caves being especially famous.
Below we will introduce the main attractions in Quang Binh in case you decide to visit the area.
Nature, geology and a few beaches
Quang Binh Province is geologically important because the area contains two of the largest karst regions in the world (with more than 300 caves and grottoes). Of the approximately 300 caverns, only 20 have been visited and explored by Vietnamese and British teams.
The previously mentioned Phong Nha-Ke Bang Nature Park was created to protect this important geological area, whose caves have a total underground length of approximately 70 km.
Some of these caves also hold several world records, such as the cave with the longest underground river in the world, the cave with the largest interior chamber, and the cave with the longest passage.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, quickly becoming a major tourist attraction in the area.
Most important caves in Quang Binh
As mentioned, there are hundreds of caves and grottoes within Phong Nha-Ke Bang Nature Park, although only some of them can be visited. The most important are the following:
Phong Nha Cave
Phong Nha Cave is 7,729 metres long and contains 14 grottoes, as well as an underground river 13,969 metres long. While scientists have studied 44.5 kilometres of passages, tourists are only allowed to explore the first 1,500 metres.
Phong Nha Cave was officially discovered in 1899 and was even used as a hospital and weapons store during the Vietnam War.
Phong Nha Cave is the one that contains the longest underground river in the world, the Son River, which runs for approximately 20 km underground before emerging at the cave entrance.
The cave is so large that it even has its own wildlife, especially fish adapted to living in total darkness. Around the entrance, you will find numerous animals that, for a few hours a day, take shelter from the heat inside the cave.
The cave is also famous for its many rock formations, with names such as the Lion, the Fairy Cave, and the Buddha.
From kilometre 1.2 onwards, we are no longer exposed to artificial light and enter the cave’s dark zone, making for a truly impressive experience for those who dare to venture in.
At OneMoreDestination.com, we can arrange a guided visit with a professional guide specialising in speleology.
Paradise Cave
Paradise Cave, or the Paradise Grotto, is especially well known for its attractive formations and its spectacular size.
Paradise Grotto is located around 200 metres above sea level, with an impressive maximum height of about 72 metres and a maximum width of close to 150 metres. The stalactite and stalagmite formations found by the first explorers are undoubtedly among the most spectacular in the world.
You can explore the grotto on a guided tour or on your own. At OneMoreDestination.com we recommend the first option. As for getting around inside the cave, you can either walk or rent an electric vehicle (similar to golf buggies).
The lighting makes Paradise Cave one of the most impressive grottoes in the world.
Son Doong Cave
Son Doong Cave is located in the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It is one of the latest grottoes to be added to the list of visitable caves in Quang Binh Province: it was discovered in the 1990s by a local shepherd, who later forgot how to get there, then rediscovered in 2009 and opened to the public in 2013.
Son Doong Cave is important because it is—worth noting—the largest cave in the world, carved over millions of years by the Rao Thuong River.
The total length of the cave is about 7.5 kilometres, and it contains the tallest stalactites in the world—reaching a staggering 70 metres—as well as a maximum ceiling height of 200 metres. To visit Son Doong Cave, you must go with a guide specialising in speleology, who will lead you to the difficult entrance (hidden by dense jungle).
Son Doong Cave has not even been explored 100%.
Tien Son Cave
Tien Son Cave is located very close to the previously mentioned Phong Nha Cave. Tien Son Cave is the perfect addition to visit after Phong Nha Grotto.
Discovered in 1935, it is one of the oldest known caves, with more than 35 million years of history.
Although, compared with other caves in the area, its size is not as spectacular—the ceiling never exceeds 25 metres in height—it is a very interesting grotto to visit because it is particularly well adapted and prepared for the public.
There is a walkway that allows you to tour the cave very comfortably, so it is a very good option if you are visiting with children or older people.
Hang Toi Cave, or Dark Cave
Hang Toi Cave is also known as Dark Cave, and it offers a somewhat different experience compared with visits to other caves in the area.
To begin with, access to the cave is via a zip line. Inside, there are no artificial installations, and if you are going to enter, be prepared to immerse yourself in murky water, get covered in mud, and walk through caverns equipped only with a torch or headlamp.
Inside the cave you can also enjoy natural mud baths. Dark Cave has two entrances, and some tours consist of entering through one access point and exiting through the other.
It is undoubtedly an experience only for the most adventurous.
The beaches of Quang Binh
Nhat Le Beach
After a few days of geographic and speleological exploration through the jungle, Nhat Le is the perfect place to switch off and enjoy one of the least-known—yet no less beautiful—beach areas in the entire China Sea.
Many Vietnamese families choose Nhat Le for their holidays, and it is also a destination that attracts surfers and kitesurfers.
Relaxing, sunbathing, and enjoying local fresh fish are the best options in Nhat Le.
Bao Ninh Beach
Located very close to Dong Hoi, the capital of Quang Binh, Bao Ninh Beach is separated from the city by the Nhat Le River.
It is an endless beach that is much less touristy than Nhat Le and is the ideal destination if you want to enjoy the beach while avoiding the crowds.
Would you like to enjoy Quang Binh on a tailor-made trip? Contact us and we will organise your days in Quang Binh during your time in Vietnam.
