Village
First-timersHostels, bars, tour offices and the cave boats, by the river.
Phong Nha village guide
Things To Do In Phong Nha
A village beside a national park of limestone mountains and caves on a scale found nowhere else, including the largest cave in the world, with river boats, ziplines and mud baths.
41
Hostels in the city
9.0
Average, from 8,684 reviews
Largest
Cave in the world, Son Doong
31 km
Paradise Cave
2003
Joins UNESCO
The kingdom of caves
Phong Nha is a small village at the edge of Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of limestone mountains riddled with some of the largest caves on earth. Son Doong, the largest cave in the world, was only fully explored in 2009.
Most visitors explore the caves open to the public, from boat trips to muddy adventures, and cycle the farmland of the Bong Lai valley.
Three days is right.
Where to stay
Phong Nha village, by the Son River, has the hostels, bars and tour offices, and the boats to Phong Nha Cave leave from its pier. The Bong Lai valley, a short ride away, has farmstays among the rice paddies and is quieter.
Bong Lai valley
FarmstaysRice paddies and farms, a short ride from the village.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 11 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Phong Nha
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, holds some of the largest caves on Earth. Phong Nha Cave, reached by boat from the village pier, is the classic: you are rowed deep inside along an underground river. Paradise Cave is about 31 kilometres long; the first kilometre is open on a wooden boardwalk past huge, lit formations. Dark Cave is the adventure option, with a zipline in, a swim through the cave, a mud bath and kayaks back.
Son Doong, the largest cave passage in the world, can be visited only on a multi-day expedition with the licensed operator, which costs thousands of dollars and books out a year or more ahead. Hang En, the third-largest cave in the world, is a more affordable overnight trek, with camping on a beach inside the cave. Tu Lan cave system has swimming through flooded caves.
Above ground, cycle or scooter through the Bong Lai valley, past farms, rice paddies and small family-run stops. The Botanic Garden in the park has jungle walks and a waterfall.
Free things
Free things to do in Phong Nha
Cycling the Bong Lai valley and the countryside around the village is free, and many guesthouses lend bicycles.
The riverside in Phong Nha village is free to walk, and the karst scenery along the roads into the park costs nothing to see. Every cave charges an entry fee.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Phong Nha
Phong Nha's food is simple: rice dishes, noodle soups and grilled meats in village restaurants, and the farmstays cook family-style dinners. Pork from the valley farms, and fish from the river, are local staples.
The Bong Lai valley has farm cafés and stops where you can eat and drink on the way.
A meal is €2 to €5.
Nightlife
Going out in Phong Nha
Phong Nha village has a handful of backpacker bars, busy in the evening with people swapping cave stories, and some hostels have pool tables and happy hours.
It is a small place; most people are in bed early for the next day's caves.
A beer is €1 to €2.
Getting around
Getting around Phong Nha
Dong Hoi, about 45 minutes away, has the nearest airport and railway station, on the main north–south line; taxis and minibuses run to Phong Nha. Sleeper buses stop in Phong Nha village on the way between Hanoi or Ninh Binh and Hue.
In the area, rent a scooter or bicycle, or join tours, which include transport to Paradise Cave, Dark Cave and the jungle treks.
Costs
What Phong Nha costs
Phong Nha is cheap to stay in, but the caves cost money. Dorms start around €5 and a careful day is €18 to €30, before cave trips.
Phong Nha Cave, Paradise Cave and Dark Cave each charge entry fees of a few euros to around €20 for Dark Cave's activities. Overnight trips to Hang En cost a few hundred euros; Son Doong expeditions cost several thousand.
The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 30,000 VND to the euro. There are ATMs in Phong Nha village.
Safety
Staying safe in Phong Nha
Phong Nha is safe, but the caves need care. Wear shoes with grip, follow guides in Dark Cave and on treks, and do not leave the boardwalks.
From September to November, floods can close caves and roads; check before travelling, as heavy rain can strand the village for days.
Emergency: 113 police, 115 ambulance, 114 fire.
Day trips from Phong Nha
Vast caves, an overnight in the third-largest, and the valley by bicycle.
Paradise Cave
A vast cave with a kilometre of boardwalk past its formations.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Cave expeditions run in the dry season.
12 May – 7 Nov
Phong Nha: Morning Primate Watching Tour
Experience the thrill of observing wild primates in their natural habitat at Phong Nha-K Bng National Park, a must-visit for nature lovers, photographers, and…
15 May – 10 Nov
Full-Day Phong Nha Cave Tour
Embark on an exciting journey to Phong Nha in Quang Binh Province, where a thrilling boat cruise on the Son River leads to the…
15 May – 10 Nov
Phong Nha Adventure Tour: Cave, Jungle & Hidden Experiences
This event offers an immersive exploration of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park's Botanical Garden, where attendees can marvel at diverse flora, fauna, and…
Hostels
Where to stay in Phong Nha
The top-rated places to stay in Phong Nha right now, live from Hostelworld.
Village House
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Tropical Valley Homestay
Dorms from €5 a night
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Phong Nha Tuan Garden House
Dorms from €4 a night
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Green Riverside Cosy Home
Dorms from €5 a night
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Phong Nha An An Homestay
Dorms from €6 a night
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Sustainable
Thien Thanh Hotel
Dorms from €7 a night
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Sustainable
Central Backpackers Hostel - Phong Nha
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Hugo Homestay Phong Nha
Dorms from €3 a night
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Phong Nha Amanda Homestay
Dorms from €4 a night
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Phong Nha Hahaland
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Green Land Backpackers Hostel
Dorms from €3 a night
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When to go
March to August. September to November is the flood season.
Jan
Cool
Feb
Tet
Mar
Caves open
Apr
Excellent
May
Good
Jun
Hot
Jul
Hot
Aug
Hot
Sep
Floods begin
Oct
Floods
Nov
Floods
Dec
Rainy
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in dong locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes cave tours.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Phong Nha travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Can I visit Son Doong?
Only on a multi-day expedition with the licensed operator. It costs several thousand dollars and books out a year or more ahead.
Which cave should I see?
Paradise Cave for scale, Phong Nha Cave for the boat ride, and Dark Cave for adventure. Hang En if you can do an overnight trek.
How do I get there?
Via Dong Hoi, 45 minutes away, which has an airport and a station on the main line, or by sleeper bus from Ninh Binh, Hanoi or Hue.
How many days do you need?
Two or three: one for Paradise and Dark Cave, one for Phong Nha Cave and the valley, and more for an overnight trek.
When is the best time to visit?
February to August. From September to November, floods can close caves and roads.
Is it safe?
Yes, with guides and good shoes. Do not leave the boardwalks, and check the flood situation in autumn.
Can I get around without a tour?
Yes, by scooter or bicycle to Paradise Cave, Dark Cave and the valley. Treks and expeditions need a guide.
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