Son Doong occupies the third line of the ranking yielding only to the Inca Trail, a famous hiking tail to Machu Picchu in Peru, and the cult Burning Man music and arts festival in Nevada, the US.
A 9 km cave system is recognized by several reputed bodies including UK-based Guinness, Hong Kong based Association World Record and US-based World Kings the world's largest. First discovered by a local in 1991, the cave was first explored only in 2009 and opened to tourists in 2013, so it is definitely one of the most recent wonders in the world to explore. The journey to the depths of the cave is rather strenuous and requires a compulsory guide. The number of visitors who can enter the cave is stricktly limited. One of the major tour operators offering guided expeditions into the caves informs that less than 300 slots remain available for 2019 – hurry up or reserve your visit in the 2020 waiting list.
The cave is located near Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park. From Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh your best bet to hop onto a direct flight to Dong Hoi, some 40 km away. Dong Hoi sits on the Reunification railway line, so direct trains from the both cities are also available.
Son Doong Cave in Vietnam Named Dream Destination–2019
News in Asia
Lonely Planet has named the vast cave system of Sơn Đoòng Cave in the central province of Quảng Bình in Vietnam one of five dream destinations in 2019. Rightfully so!