Hang Én Cave
The third-largest cave in the world — a 2-night camping trek inside the same Phong Nha river system as Sơn Đoòng, at 12% of the price.
Hang Én is the third-largest cave in the world by volume, sitting upstream from Sơn Đoòng in the same river system inside Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng National Park. For most fit travellers it is the best cave experience in Vietnam at a sensible price.
What it is
A river cave 1.6 km long with three entrances, a vast chamber 100 m tall, and a sandy beach inside where you camp. National Geographic put it on the cover of their March 2011 issue. The cave was used by Ban Doong villagers (an isolated ethnic minority hamlet) as a shelter for generations before the British mapping team formally surveyed it in 1995.
The trek
A 2D1N or 3D2N expedition with Oxalis Adventure, the licensed operator:
| Day | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Phong Nha drive (45 min) to trailhead; 10 km hike with river crossings; reach Ban Doong village; continue to Hang Én camp | Camp inside cave |
| Day 2 | Explore further chambers; swim in cave river; return 10 km out | Lunch at trailhead, back to Phong Nha 17:00 |
The 3-day variant adds a night in Ban Doong village with the Bru-Vân Kiều ethnic minority and a longer cave exploration.
What you see
- 10 km of valley jungle trek with multiple river crossings.
- Ban Doong — a 30-person village reachable only on foot.
- Vast cave entrance arch (around 100 m wide and 120 m tall).
- Internal sand bank where you sleep.
- A round skylight in the cave roof letting in cathedral-style light beams.
- Cave-river swimming inside the third chamber.
How to get there
Fly or train to Đồng Hới (DHO). Transfer 50 km to Phong Nha town where Oxalis is based and the trek begins. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet and Bamboo all serve Đồng Hới from Hanoi and HCMC.
When to go
January to August is the operating season. The cave river floods in monsoon (September–December). March to May is optimal — dry, warm, jungle still green. June–August is hot.
Cost and what's included
- 2D1N price: $370 per person (2026).
- 3D2N price: around $480 per person.
- Includes all meals from Day 1 lunch onwards, camping gear, sleeping bag, headlamp, helmet, park permit, porters, and one night's hotel in Phong Nha before the trip.
- Excludes flights and tips (~$30 per trekker).
Fitness requirements
You need to be able to walk 10 km on uneven ground with elevation changes, cross rivers up to thigh-deep, and use rope handholds on short steep sections. No technical climbing. Oxalis screens at booking but the bar is significantly lower than Sơn Đoòng.
Booking timeline
Hang Én sells out faster than people expect. Book 2–4 months ahead for the dry season; 1 month is workable in summer. Direct via oxalisadventure.com.
Practicalities
- Bring quick-dry trekking gear; your feet will be wet for the river crossings.
- The cave beach where you camp is sandy and comfortable.
- Tipping porters is expected — they carry your food, tents and personal bag.
- Photography is allowed.
- No mobile signal from the moment you leave the trailhead.
Honest take
If you cannot afford or fit Sơn Đoòng, Hang Én is the answer. The cave is genuinely vast, you sleep inside it, and the trek in is one of the prettiest jungle walks in central Vietnam. $370 sounds expensive for a Vietnam activity but it is excellent value compared to anything similar in the world. The 3-day version with Ban Doong is the choice if you want extra cultural depth. Combine with a day at Paradise Cave before or after.
Related: Sơn Đoòng expedition · Paradise & Phong Nha caves · Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng NP · Phong Nha town
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