Discover Dark Cave – Chày River
The entrance of Dark Cave opens directly to the Chay River, near the northern gateway of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. From the western branch of the Ho Chi Minh Road, the large entrance of Dark Cave is already visible, concealed behind an ancient fig tree.
Discovered and surveyed by explorers from the British Royal Cave Association in 1990, this is both a dry cave and a river cave, with a total length of 5,258 meters. The rear entrance of Dark Cave leads to the pristine Sinh Ton Valley, a remote area that few have had the chance to visit.
Unique geology and biological discoveries
The stalactites in Dark Cave are not as grand or diverse as those in other caves; however, they represent ancient formations and serve as a prime example of the geological processes in Phong Nha—Ke Bang National Park. Through geological research and the study of mollusk shell fossils found in Dark Cave, scientists have demonstrated the geological evolution and the uplifting of the seabed that shaped the limestone mountains of Phong Nha—Ke Bang has seen them today.
Dark Cave has been the site of numerous new species discoveries for science in the 21st century. Currently, the Singapore Natural History Museum still displays a specimen of a completely new crab species discovered in Dark Cave. Additionally, Hatinh Langur, a rare primate listed in Vietnam’s Red Book, is often spotted in the area around the cave entrance.
Unique experiences at Dark Cave – Chay River
Today, Dark Cave and Chay River combine to form an attractive and unique destination with a special allure for visiting Quang Binh. There are numerous services for visitors to enjoy, including:
Zipline Adventure and Exploring Dark Cave
A 400-meter double zipline, exclusively for tourists over 1.3 meters tall and weighing at least 40 kg, allows visitors to soar over the water and cross the Chày River to the entrance of Dark Cave. A wooden pathway, extending over 100 meters, leads visitors deeper into the cave.
Inside, you’ll encounter a massive ancient stalactite covered in moss and ferns. Here, your guide will share the fascinating story of a peculiar “walking” plant species discovered by scientists. These plants are believed to have moved from the external environment into the cave’s interior, adapting and thriving on the ancient stalactite formations with the help of wind currents.
Experience true darkness
At the end of the wooden bridge, you will need to equip yourself with a life jacket, helmet, and headlamp to enter the realm of eternal darkness, where the beam of your headlamp cannot reach the ceiling of the cave. This is likely the reason the cave is named Dark Cave.
The deeper you go, the denser the darkness becomes, accompanied by a gentle coolness emanating from the rocky walls. You’ll have about 20 minutes to immerse yourself in the smooth, natural mud pools created by the water flow. It’s recommended to avoid using skincare products when enjoying the mud bath, as the natural mud here already takes care of your skin.
Experience on the river
Ziplining, swimming in the river, kayaking, or immersing yourself in the emerald-green waters during the summer days provides an indescribable sense of tranquility. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a traditional platter with specialties from Phong Nha. It is recommended that you pre-order the dishes to avoid waiting long after participating in the river activities.
From February to September is the best time to experience the Chay River – Dark Cave. However, except for a few periods affected by heavy rains, from the end of November to January, you can still visit Dark Cave and experience some services here.
If you’re not participating in a tour organized by a travel agency, visitors can simply come here and purchase tickets for the service packages recommended by the ticket staff. Before using the services, you will be provided with information about the dress code, safety regulations, and environmental protection guidelines. However, it’s best to do some research beforehand to prepare additional items such as swimwear, a waterproof phone pouch, sunscreen, and towels.
Information and ticket prices
Ticket prices for services at Chay River – Dark Cave
- Full-service ticket price: 450,000 VND per adult or Children from 1.3m tall and weigh 40-90kg. (Includes 400m double-cable zipline, river zipline, Dark Cave exploration, mud bath in the cave, kayaking, water slide, and other river activities).
- Standard experience ticket price: 270,000 VND per adult. (Includes: river zipline, 400m double-cable zipline, water slide, kayaking, and river activities).
- Children under 1.3m are not allowed to use the zipline or participate in adventure games and kayaking with adults.
- Children under 1m can only use the children’s pool.
Note: Ticket prices may vary depending on high and low seasons.
The opening hours for visitors are from 8:00 AM, and ticket sales stop at 4:00 PM. Therefore, to have a full-day journey in Phong Nha, you can visit Paradise Cave first and then head to Chay River – Dark Cave (about 6km away). Alternatively, you can visit Phong Nha Cave in the morning and then continue your experience at Dark Cave, with the distance from the Phong Nha Tourism Center ticket counter to Dark Cave being about 15km.
How to get to Chay River – Dark Cave
To visit Dark Cave, tourists can travel by car or motorbike, both are convenient options. From Dong Hoi City, follow the Ho Chi Minh East branch road for about 50km, then turn onto the Ho Chi Minh West branch and drive another 5km to reach Dark Cave. If you’re coming from the North, from Ha Tinh, once you get to the Dong Duong junction, you’ll see signs directing you to the Ho Chi Minh West branch. The route is quite scenic, with many places to stop for photos, making this journey an unforgettable experience.
