Paradise Cave in Central Vietnam is one of the most famous in the country. Locally known as Thien Duong Cave, we already knew from the pictures that we were in for an awesome adventure. However, we didn’t yet realize what type of trek we were really in for! There are many large caves in Vietnam, but this one in Phong Nha is truly not to be missed. Join us as we take you through our afternoon exploring Paradise Cave and breakdown everything to know before you go.

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Getting to Paradise Cave in Vietnam

Motorbike: From Phong Nha village it’s about an hour ride to Paradise Cave. Going by motorbike will give you incredible views of the surrounding nature and mountains of the area. This is how we got to Thien Duong Cave and highly recommend it!

Taxi/Private Car: If you’re not one to ride motorbikes you can always hire a car to take you to Paradise Cave in Vietnam. Book a driver through your accommodation who will take you, wait, and bring you back to town for a set rate.

Group Tour: There are several group tours to all the large caves in Vietnam including Paradise Cave. Choose a single tour of the cave, or make it part of a larger group tour. Booking this is easy through your hotel, or at one of the tour companies in Phong Nha such as Jungle Boss.

5 Facts About Paradise Cave

Believe it or not, Paradise Cave was not discovered until 2005 by a local man. The British Cave Research Association then came to explore it in full and announce their findings. Although only a small portion can be seen by the public, the true length of the cave is 31 km (19.2 miles) This makes it the longest dry cave in Asia! If you take an official guided tour you can explore Thien Duong Cave for another 7 km (4.3 miles) The normal walkway portion is only 1 km, but still amazing to see. The height of Paradise Cave in Vietnam goes up to 72 meters (236 feet) and in some spots reaches 150 meters (492 feet wide). Did you know Phong Nha is also home to the largest cave in the world? Hang Son Doong is nearby to Paradise Cave, but you’ll have to sign up a year in advance to explore this one!

Tickets and Tour Information

Once you arrive at the entrance there’s an area for parking and general information. You have to pay a fee of 5,000 VND to park your bike so make sure to have small bills on you. You’ll then buy your tickets at the main gate and grab a map of the area. The tickets to Paradise Cave in Vietnam cost 250,000 VND, and it should take you between 2 and 3 hours to explore.

From the ticket counter you can either walk to Paradise Cave jump off point, or pay 60,000 VND to take the shuttle. The day we were there it was extremely hot so the walk up to the entrance felt like it took forever! From the ticket counter it’s about a 20 minute walk to the start, and then another 20-25 minute climb up a ramp that zig zags its way to the top.

There’s also a set of stairs which we find out after are a more direct route with a steeper incline than the ramp. While the walk is shaded from the jungle the heat can still be intense. Try to visit early in the morning if possible and pack lots of water. There is a rest stop about half way up and place to buy drinks (and ice cream!) before entering the cave.

Traveling Deep into Paradise Cave in Phong Nha

At the top of the stairs there are about two dozen long benches to rest. Here you’ll see a hole in the mountainside with stairs leading down into the darkness. Honestly, it looks pretty spooky at first! We knew it was about to be a long climb down when we saw people coming up out of the cave completely winded and heading right for the benches to sit down.

Once you climb down the first set of stairs and disappear through the rocks you’ll be absolutely blown away at first sight. Paradise Cave opens up into a glorious presentation of rock formations, and the sheer size of it is enough to impress any traveler.

Exploring the Planked Walkways

Thien Duong was the first large cave in Vietnam we visited and it did not disappoint. The cool air of the cave was refreshing after hiking to the entrance in the hot afternoon sun. Take your time walking down the long steps and enjoy this incredible feat of nature.

The wooden walkways extend for 1 km through the cave and you’ll return the same way once you reach the end. It is almost unbelievable that you are underground when you see the shear size of the cave! Also, it’s crazy to think once you get to the end of the walkway it really continues much deeper into the earth.

After all this make sure to save some energy for the way back. You’ll will have to climb back up the long stairs you took into the cave. Paradise Cave was our favorite in Phong Nha and we hope you enjoy your visit, too!

Have any questions on Thien Duong Cave, or have any other recommendations for visiting large caves in Vietnam? Leave us a comment at the bottom of this post!

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Where To Stay In Phong Nha National Park

Ultra Luxury (High End) – Victory Road Villas – Set right on the river, these beautiful villas are the most luxurious place to stay in Phong Nha National Park. Each room is built with western design and a flair of local tradition, making it the perfect boutique experience to complete your trip.

Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – Phong Nha Farmstay – This one of a kind accommodation is located just outside of town in a secluded part of Phong Nha. Here you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, on-site restaurant, and free bicycles.

Travel Couple (Longterm Travel) – Diep Le Homestay – This was where we stayed before our journey to Phong Nha Cave! Diep Le gives you a front row view at breakfast to the gorgeous river, and also has rooms facing the mountainside to the back. The staff is super friendly and is more than willing to set up any activities or tours for you.

Hostel Life (Budget) – Central Backpackers Hostel – If hostels are your thing then you’ll love the atmosphere at Central Backpackers! The property features hammocks, a pool, full bar, and is the perfect jump off point to all the famous caves in Vietnam.

For more places to stay in Phong Nha National Park you can explore the latest prices here!

*By booking through our website we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This allows us to continue our travels and keep providing great content to our readers! You can also bookmark this link for all your future stays*

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