Paradise Cave in Quang Binh

The formation of Paradise Cave

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Due to its unique topography, the Central Coastal region of Vietnam lies within a narrow strip squeezed between the Truong Son Mountains and the East Sea. While the East Sea would seem an ideal outlet for drainage, the beaches here are all situated atop sand dunes, forming thousands of ponds because of the area’s distinctive natural conditions—namely, the northeast monsoon winds and the system of dykes and rivers. This causes the lowlands to become natural water-retaining basins.

In contrast, the southern regions of Vietnam experience relatively stable and moderate rainfall throughout the year. The area from Hue to Quang Binh and Quang Tri, adjacent to the Bach Ma Mountains, suffers from extreme weather patterns, resulting in exceptionally high rainfall—among the highest ever recorded globally. For instance, during the record-breaking flood in October 2025, a staggering 1,739 mm of rain fell within just 24 hours on October 27. By comparison, the total rainfall for the entire year of 2024 in London, UK, was only 1,242.1 mm.

It is precisely this proximity to the Bach Ma Mountains that explains the sudden and intense rainfall in the region.

Over thousands of years, these repeated floods have shaped one of the world’s largest and most unique cave systems.

Unlike Phong Nha Cave, which features an underground river system, Paradise Cave (Dong Thien Duong) is dry, with no subterranean rivers, but its stalactites and stalagmites are considered the most beautiful among the caves. Visitors explore Phong Nha by boat, whereas Paradise Cave is completely dry and can be traversed entirely on foot.

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Depart from Hue

Early morning departure from Hue for Quang Binh Province with a stop at the Ben Hai River and Hien Luong Bridge situated in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The 5km (3mi) strip of land on either side of the Ben Hai River was established after the first Indochina War and functioned as the division line between North and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

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Enjoy Paradise Cave

Enjoy a boxed lunch en route to the impressive Paradise Cave. Discovered in 2005, the 31km (19miles) long cave is the largest and considered by many to be the most beautiful cave in the Phong Nha - Ke Bang area. Surrounded by forested karst peaks, this remarkable cave system features cathedral-like spaces with colossal stalagmites and glimmering stalactites which led early explorers to name it “Thien Duong” (Paradise) Cave.

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Return to Hue in the early evening.

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NOTES

• Suggested time: 07:00
• Tour duration: 11 hours
• Grade: Easy.

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Discover about our DMZ Tour - Another Captivating Experience of Ancient Hue

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