Camping Son Doong cave at three stunning stops
Exploring Son Doong, the world's largest cave in Quang Binh province, is a one-of-a-kind adventure. Apart from the challenging trek and breathtaking sights inside the cave, the camping spots during the journey make a lasting impression.
In 2017, Britain's Daily Mail heralded Son Doong cave's campsites as the most impressive in the world.
Howard Limbert, a British cave expert, called En Cave camp "the best in the world."
Every morning, sunlight fills the cave, creating a magical atmosphere like something from a fairy tale. This enchanting sight usually happens between December and February because of the tilt and movement of the Earth and Sun.
Additionally, the camp provides an amazing view of the stars on cloudy nights.
The campsite is about 700 meters from the cave entrance, tucked inside a cave that rises 140 meters high and stretches 200 meters wide. With a sandy area and a calm blue lake, visitors can enjoy a swim just steps away from their tents. You might even spot monkeys and langurs playing near the cave entrance.
Sinkhole Camp 1 serves as the second overnight stop. The sinkhole formed where the cave's ceiling partially collapsed, creating a natural skylight.
This campsite is about 5 kilometers from the entrance of Son Doong cave.
The campground and a shared living area are located on a sandy area next to the sinkhole wall. On cloudy days, visitors can see clouds moving above them from this spot.
Sinkhole 1 is more humid and cooler than En Cave, making it feel cold and damp. Clothes and belongings might have trouble drying here, and can get even wetter just by being there.
Just 50 meters from the camp is an underground river, where the temperature ranges from 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. Visitors need to wear a life jacket to explore this hidden river.
Sinkhole 2 camp is larger than Sinkhole 1.
It stretches 175 meters wide and rises 250 meters high from the sinkhole's opening. Inside, there's an old forest called the Garden of Eden, with trees up to 40 meters tall.
Sinkhole 2 is where the journey in Son Doong cave ends. After spending a night there, visitors take a 30-minute walk and wade through a river to reach the exit point called the Vietnam Wall.
In a cave environment like Son Doong, water often collects on the ceiling during rainy periods. Due to the natural formations and structure of the cave, this water sometimes flows down the walls like small waterfalls. And since the waterfalls are on the cave's ceiling, on rainy days, campers can watch waterfalls flowing from above right from the campsite, and they won't cause any trouble below.
Located on a flat area covered with fine sand, away from rivers and streams, Sinkhole 2 is safe during unexpected floods. It gets plenty of light from the wide cave entrance.
Summer temperatures are usually between 22 to 25 degrees Celsius, and in winter, they range from 16 to 20 degrees Celsius.
All camps feature eco-friendly toilets that refrain from discharging waste into water sources or caves. Waste is put in special containers with rice husks that dry and deodorize.
Tents come in different sizes for one or two people. They are equipped with insect-proof screen doors, double-layer mattresses, sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows. Under each tent, there's a waterproof mat to keep things dry. The camps also provide food, drinks, and snacks.
TB (according to VNE)