Son Doong Cave

Overview
The Son Doong Cave in Vietnam is the biggest cave in the world. It’s over 5 km long, has a jungle and river, and could fit a 40-story skyscraper within its walls.

Location
Located in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam, near the Laos–Vietnam border.

Characteristics
Stretching more than five kilometers (three miles) long and reaching heights of 200 meters, the main cavern of Hang Son Doong is large enough to house an entire New York City block.

The eco-system inside Hang Son Doong is as unique as it is large, and it even has its own localized weather system. Rare limestone cave pearls are scattered in dried pools, and the largest stalagmite ever found stands 80 meters tall.

Collapsed ceilings have created openings known as dolines, allowing foliage to grow inside the cave. Microscopic organisms thrive in the darkness.

History
Sơn Đoòng cave was found by a local man named Hồ Khanh in 1991. The whistling sound of wind and roar of a rushing stream in the cave heard through the entrance as well as the steep descent prevented the local people from entering the cave. Only in 2009 did the cave become internationally known after a group of cavers from the British Cave Research Association conducted a survey in Quang Binh from 10 to 14 April 2009. In 2013 Son Doong was opened to the public for the first time.

Tour
Only one Expedition Company: Oxalis currently has permits to enter the cave for tourism purposes. Permits are required to access the cave and are made available on a limited basis, with 800 permits available for the 2017 season, which runs from February to August.

Cost: $3000