In the heart of the hundreds-of-millions-year-old limestone mountains of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, there is a natural wonder often described by visitors as an “underground palace”: Paradise Cave. Its giant stalactites, shimmering stone curtains and vast chambers make every first step inside feel unforgettable. Paradise Cave is not only a famous tourist attraction, but also an important site for geology, ecology and local heritage.

Where is Paradise Cave and how do you get there?

Paradise Cave is located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, in the Phong Nha area of the new Quang Tri Province. From Dong Hoi city centre, it is about 65–70 km away; from Phong Nha town, it is about 23–28 km.

You can reach Paradise Cave from several starting points:

• From Dong Hoi city: around 65–70 km via the western branch of the Ho Chi Minh Road, taking about 1.5–2 hours by car or taxi. This is a convenient option for travellers flying into Dong Hoi before heading to the national park.
• From Phong Nha town: around 23–28 km, taking about 45 minutes by motorbike or car. This is a popular choice for travellers already staying in Phong Nha.

After buying your ticket at the entrance, the visit includes a short but enjoyable journey:

• Electric buggy: about 1.6 km through the forest.
• Uphill walk: about 500 m to reach the cave entrance.
• Inside the cave, visitors follow a 1 km wooden walkway, one of the longest wooden walkways inside a cave in Viet Nam.

If you choose the deeper 4 km or 7 km adventure tour, you will leave the wooden walkway and continue through rocky slopes, underground streams and soft sandy sections to reach the “Skylight” area, one of the highlights of the adventure route.

Why is Paradise Cave famous?

Paradise Cave is famous for its length of more than 31.4 km, chambers that can be up to 150 m wide, large dry-cave spaces and impressive stalactite formations. It is often known as one of the longest dry caves in Asia and is one of the most popular attractions in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang World Heritage Site.

A  trip inside Paradise Cave

Paradise Cave ticket prices 2026

Discovery history and outstanding values of Paradise Cave

When was Paradise Cave discovered?

Local people had known about Paradise Cave for a long time, and it was recorded in materials about the potential and development of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. A major turning point came in 2005, when the British Cave Research Association (BCRA) carried out a survey. The team mapped the cave, measured its length at 31.4 km, and named it Paradise Cave because of its remarkable beauty.

• 2011: Paradise Cave officially opened to visitors with a 1 km wooden walkway, becoming a highlight on the Quang Binh tourism map.
• 2019: the cave was further recognised in Asia for its unique stalactites and stalagmites.

Today, Paradise Cave is one of the best-known caves in Phong Nha – Ke Bang and an important example of how people continue to explore and understand the natural world.

Impressive scale

• Length: 31.4 km, often known as one of the longest dry caves in Asia.
• Width: some chambers are up to 150 m wide.
• Height: many domes are up to 100 m high, large enough to fit a 30-storey building.

Geological value

Paradise Cave was formed through the weathering and dissolving of limestone in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang karst area, a landscape that is more than 400 million years old. It is part of the Vom Cave system, a complex network of underground rivers and dry caves where water has retreated and left behind spectacular rock formations.

Inside the cave, stalactites and stalagmites appear in many shapes: some resemble palaces, some look like royal thrones, while others suggest statues, birds or terraced fields. This variety is why many researchers and visitors call Paradise Cave an “underground palace”.

Stalactite formations inside Paradise Cave

Distinctive ecosystem

On the adventure routes, visitors may see life in the dark cave environment, including bats, cave spiders, blind fish and unusual insects. The forest outside the cave is also home to many rare species in the national park, including Ha Tinh langurs, white-cheeked gibbons and endemic birds.

In 2012, scientists described an endemic cave scorpion named Vietbocap thienduongensis, also known in Vietnamese as the Paradise Cave scorpion. It was discovered inside Paradise Cave and belongs to the family Pseudochactidae. The species was identified and named by Đình Sắc Phạm from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology, together with Wilson R. Lourenço from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.

Paradise Cave scorpion, a species new to science

What should you prepare before visiting Paradise Cave?

• Clothing: trainers or hiking shoes with good grip; light, comfortable clothes that absorb sweat well.
• Personal items: a light jacket, as the cave temperature is usually around 18–22°C; a small bottle of water; and a personal torch if needed.
• Safety notes: do not touch the stalactites, do not litter, and follow the instructions of site staff and guides.
• 7 km adventure tour: good fitness is required and the minimum age is usually 16. The tour operator provides a helmet, headlamp, life jacket, gloves and meals. You only need to prepare your fitness, confidence and a sense of adventure.

When is the best time to visit?

• Best season: from March to September, when the weather is generally dry and travel is more convenient. Even when it is hot outside, the cave remains cool.
• Rainy season, from September to the following March: heavy rain may occur and some routes in the national park may be closed. Check official updates before travelling.
• Special experience: early morning or late afternoon can bring beautiful natural light around the cave entrance.

The impressive beauty of Paradise Cave

Useful notes when visiting Paradise Cave

Wear shoes with good grip, light clothes and a thin jacket, as the cave is usually cool at around 18–22°C.

Walk gently and keep your voice low to preserve the peaceful atmosphere inside the cave.

Do not litter and do not bring food into the cave.
Do not touch, scratch or write on the stalactites, so the heritage can continue to exist for millions of years.
Avoid using flash photography too often to help protect the cave environment.
Every responsible step helps preserve this underground palace for future generations.

Paradise Cave tours