Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(adult/child 50,000/25,000d, boat 300,000d; 7am-4pm)
The spectacular boat trip through Phong
Nha Cave is a highly enjoyable experience, though quite touristy, beginning in Son Trach
village. You cruise along the Son River past bathing buffalo, jagged limestone peaks and
church steeples to the cave's gaping mouth - Phong Nha means 'Cave of Teeth', but the
'teeth' (stalagmites) by the entrance are long gone. Then the engine is cut and you're
transported to another world as you're paddled through cavern after garishly illuminated
cavern.
Hang En
This gigantic cave is very close to Hang Son Doong. Getting here involves a trek through
dense jungle, valleys and the Ban Doong minority village. You stay overnight in the cave
or minority village.
Tours (4,600,000d per person, minimum two people) here are run by Phong Nha-Ke
Bang National Park rangers.
CAVE
Sleeping & Eating
There are a dozen or so guesthouses (all 200,000d) and cheap eateries in Son Trach vil-
lage.
Easy Tiger
( 052-367 7844;
www.easytigerphongnha.com
;
Son Trach; dm 160,000d; )
Owned by the
Farmstay crew, this great new hostel has comfortable dorms, a great bar-restaurant area, a
pool table and excellent travel info. A swimming pool is planned.
HOSTEL
$
Thanh Dat
( 052-367 7069; Son Trach; r 250,000d; )
On the main drag in Son Trach, this is the
most welcoming locally owned place. Rooms are clean and it's owned by a family who
speak some English.
GUESTHOUSE
$
Phong Nha Farmstay
( 052-367 5135;
www.phong-nha-cave.com
;
Cu Nam village; r 500,000-900,000d, f 1,500,000d;
)
The Farmstay has views overlooking an ocean of rice paddies and smallish but
neat rooms, with high ceilings and shared balconies. The bar-restaurant with pool table
has tasty Asian and Western grub (meals 40,000d to 120,000d) and a gregarious vibe.
Tours are outstanding. It's in Cu Nam village, 9km east of Son Trach.
GUESTHOUSE
$$
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