Son Doong Cave: expedition, permit and fitness
Son Doong Cave is visited through a licensed expedition with health and trekking assessment, rather than an independent sightseeing ticket. Oxalis is the only licensed operator. The published participation range is 18 to 70 years, with good fitness and trekking experience required. The permit forms part of the organised expedition process.
Son Doong was found locally by Ho Khanh in 1990 and scientifically explored in 2009. Those events mark different stages in its history. Today's practical distinction is between a demanding expedition and the accessible visitor routes described in our Phong Nha Cave guide and Paradise Cave guide.
Package duration and published price
The Son Doong package lasts six days and five nights overall, including four days and three nights of expedition. Keep the whole package clear in your travel calendar: describing the trip simply as four days leaves out its arrival and departure arrangements. The package duration is the useful basis for coordinating onward transport.
The published price is 3,000 USD per person, with a parallel published price of 80,000,000 VND, read on 14 November 2026. These are the operator's own currency quotations, rather than a conversion between equivalent sums. Taxes, expedition services, the 600 USD entrance and environmental charge, and the 20 USD park administration and supervision charge are included. Those fees are already inside the package price.
Compare cave trips
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Paradise Cave and Chay River activities
- Paradise Cave entrance and buggy
- Kayaking, SUP and water games
- Lunch at a local restaurant
Dark Cave entry, the 400 m zipline and mud bath require the Full option; life jackets are mandatory for water activities. Some hotel returns cost extra.
Check availability →
Phong Nha and Paradise with boat and buggy
- Paradise Cave entrance and buggy
- Phong Nha Cave entrance and boat
- Lunch at a local restaurant
Check pickup availability and surcharges for certain dates when booking.
Check availability →Other cave days around Phong Nha
This general Phong Nha selection concerns local visits. Son Doong and Hang En require their own expedition booking process; the regional day-trip widget is not an expedition ticket.
Season and booking process
Son Doong's published expedition season is January to August. Start with that window, then the fitness assessment and the intended departure, rather than arranging a self-guided arrival at the cave. The booking process requires health and trekking information, review by the operator and payment; submitting an enquiry alone is not a final booking confirmation.
Phong Nha weather matters beyond a month label. Rain and high water can affect cave access, while a published expedition season describes an offered programme rather than a general opening order for every cave. Our season and weather guide separates the different cave calendars. For arrival logistics, use the Dong Hoi to Phong Nha guide.
Hang En: trekking and a cave camp
Hang En is a guided two-day, one-night trekking and cave-camp trip for participants aged 16 to 70 with good fitness and trekking experience. Its route description includes roughly 25 km of mountain and river trails, 3 km of cave passages and 650 m of elevation gain. The overnight format still involves sustained walking.
The published Hang En price is 358 USD or 9,500,000 VND per person for departures from 15 November 2026. These are parallel operator prices and include taxes, entrance, environmental and administration fees. For clear seasonal planning, use December to August. September departures need date-specific confirmation rather than an assumption based on the month.
Hang En does not require swimming according to the expedition FAQ, but river crossings remain part of the route. That distinction matters for anyone comparing water confidence with walking fitness. The cave-camp photograph illustrates tents in a cave chamber, rather than a prescribed camping sequence for Son Doong.
Tu Lan is a different cave system
Tu Lan lies near Tan Hoa and has different water requirements from Hang En. Basic swimming ability is required, with provided life jackets worn for cave swimming. Tu Lan is a separate expedition programme with its own swimming requirements. Family-specific exceptions also belong to their own products.
Phong Nha trip planning works better when the expedition, cave camp and ordinary visitor routes stay distinct. Choose the experience and physical requirements first; then arrange the appropriate number of days and arrival plan. Our day-trip comparison covers the local sightseeing combinations separately.
Questions about Son Doong and Hang En
How many days should I allow for Son Doong?
6 days and 5 nights cover the complete Son Doong package, including 4 days and 3 nights of expedition. Use the complete package for your travel calendar. The expedition days alone leave out arrival and departure arrangements, while participation also requires fitness and trekking assessment through the licensed organiser.
Are the Son Doong permit-related fees extra?
No. Son Doong's published 3,000 USD package already includes the 600 USD entrance and environmental charge and the 20 USD park administration and supervision charge. The parallel 80,000,000 VND price is a separate published currency quotation. Adding those included fees again would misrepresent the package budget.
Does Hang En require swimming?
No. Hang En's expedition FAQ says swimming is not required, although river crossings remain part of the trek. Good fitness and trekking experience are still necessary for the two-day route. Tu Lan has a different requirement: basic swimming ability and the use of provided life jackets for cave swimming.