National Parks to Visit in 2026: Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Vietnam

The park is home to some of the world’s most significant caves, including Son Doong and Hang Én (often cited as the world’s third‑largest cave), Paradise Cave, Phong Nha Cave, Dark Cave, and a growing list of newly opened systems such as Va, Nuoc Nut, and the Tiger Cave network. While visitors can book multiday trips to explore and even sleep in the caves, more approachable experiences also await, including riverboat and boardwalk tours in Phong Nha and Paradise Caves, mud baths in Dark Cave, or single-day guided hikes with local companies like Oxalis Adventures, which was involved in the first survey of Son Doong in 2009.

Beyond the caves, the park protects a picture-perfect stretch of Vietnam’s iconic karst mountains, dense jungle, and twisting rivers. Non-spelunking activities can range from boat trips, to swimming and kayaking, to hikes, to protected waterfalls and botanical gardens.

Many trips to Vietnam focus on its colorful cities, nightlife, and food, but Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, in the central part of the country near the border with Laos, has more of an eco-adventure feel. Lodging options range from the riverfront guest rooms at higher-end Phong Nha Mountain House to more budget-friendly Tropical Valley Homestay Villas, starting at about $20 per night. And once you’ve had your fill of exploring the national park, Vietnam’s small size and great train infrastructure makes it easy to head north to destinations like Ha Long and Bai Tu Long bays, or south to places like Hue or Hoi An. While the park is still relatively uncrowded, it is becoming more popular, and you may need to book bucket-list trips like Son Doong camping adventures a year or more in advance.

How to reach Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Traveling through Vietnam is easy, though most rail lines are along the coast. Fly into either Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, then take the train (or fly) to Dong Hoi. From there, it’s about an hour by car to Phong Nha. Tours are also available, and many hotels can arrange transportation to and from park entrances and tour meeting points.