Son Doong Cave – great place to see in 21st century
Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh province recently overtook numerous world-renowned destinations to top the list of the 25 great places to see in the 21st century by US-based Smithsonian magazine.
Son Doong Cave in the central province of Quang Binh recently overtook numerous world-renowned destinations to top the list of the 25 great places to see in the 21st century by the US magazine the Smithsonian.
The magazine described Son Doong cave in Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park as big enough to “accommodate the Washington Monument” and “fit a pair of Boeing 747s side by side”.
“The cave is more than five miles long—about five times longer than its nearest competitor for the world’s longest, Deer Cave in Sarawak, Malaysia,” it wrote. “A shimmering blue river runs through it. Most spectacularly, a jungle flourishes under shafts of sunlight in stretches where the ceiling fell in long ago”.
The Smithsonian list also includes Cern, the God particle laboratory in Switzerland, a space line in New Mexico, a gorilla national park in East Africa, the perfect place for watching stars in Chile and ice caves in Alaska.
Son Doong Cave, which scientists believe was formed 2-5 million years ago, was first discovered by a local resident in 1991.
In 2009, a group of British scientists from the British Cave Research Association prepared the cave for public access in a limited capacity, after extensively surveying the area.
Son Doong is at least 6.5 kilometres long, 200 metres wide and 150 metres high. Its largest chamber is a whopping 250 metres tall.-VNA
The People’s Committee of central Quang Binh province said the registration for tours of Son Doong cave, one of the world’s largest caves, in 2016 is now open, limited to 500 visitors.
Son Doong Cave in Vietnam’s central Quang Binh ranked first in the list of the top 10 incredible beauties hidden in caves selected by a US travel advisory website.
Central Quang Binh province earned more than 22 billion VND (over 1 million USD) in the first half of this year alone from tours into Son Doong, the world’s largest cave.
A moderately adventurous tour to explore Va and Nuoc Nut Caves within the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park were officially launched on August 16.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Inside the Son Doong Cave (Photo: Ryan Deboodt)
