Phong Nha is a small river village at the edge of a national park full of caves, some of them among the largest on earth. Most of the karst scenery people go to Ha Long for is here too, on land, with far fewer boats and a fraction of the cost. You base yourself in the village, rent a scooter or bicycle, and visit one or two caves a day: Phong Nha Cave by boat, Paradise Cave on foot, Dark Cave with a zipline and a mud swim. Give it three nights; four if you add a guided wild-cave day.
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When to go
March to August is the dry season, with dry roads and every cave open; June to August is hot and busy. September to February is wet. October and November are typhoon months, when caves close after heavy rain and the park sometimes shuts for one to three days. January to March can be cold and drizzly.
Phong Nha right now and the next 7 days
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Phong Nha on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Phong Nha · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
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Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Phong Nha in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Phong Nha Cave by boatHalf day · ₹700 each · 150,000 dong entry plus the boat, 700,000 dong per 12-seat boat. Join others at the jetty to split it.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Paradise Cave (Động Thiên Đường)2-3 h · ₹900 each · 270,000 dong with the buggy from the car park; open 7 am-4 pm. A kilometre of boardwalk through vast chambers. Arrive at opening.
- 10:30Dark Cave (Hang Tối)Half day · ₹1,200 each · About 350,000 dong for zipline, kayak, headlamp caving and a mud bath. Some sources quote up to 450,000; check at the gate.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Tú Làn wild-cave day with Oxalis1 day · ₹6,650 each · 2,000,000 dong all in: guide, lunch, gear, entry fees. About 150 m of swimming in an underground river. Ages 16-70.
- Lunch on the way
How to get to Phong Nha
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Sleeper bus Cheapest
₹1,200About 250,000-450,000 dong depending on standard, cabin or VIP berth. Most buses arrive at 3-5 am, so book a bed for the night before.
Train + local bus
₹1,900Soft-sleeper berth about 400,000-700,000 dong on dsvn.vn, plus about 40,000 dong for the B4 local bus from Đồng Hới. The last B4 leaves around 5:30 pm.
Flight + transfer
₹5,000Hanoi flights about 600,000-1,500,000 dong one way. No public bus serves Đồng Hới airport; a taxi to Phong Nha is about 450,000-550,000 dong for the car.
Local bus B4 Last leg
₹135About 35,000-50,000 dong. Runs roughly every 30-60 minutes from 5:30 am to 5:30 pm. A taxi is 350,000-500,000 dong.
Getting around once you're there
Rented scooter
₹650About 150,000-250,000 dong a day from most guesthouses. Paradise and Dark Cave are 20 km out on the Hồ Chí Minh road; this is how most people get there.
Bicycle
₹250About 50,000-100,000 dong, sometimes free at hostels. Fine for the village and Phong Nha Cave; Paradise Cave is about 40 km return.
Xe ôm (motorbike taxi)
₹500About 100,000-200,000 dong to Paradise Cave. Agree the price first. Grab does not work here; ask your guesthouse to call a driver.
Car with driver, return
₹1,500About 400,000-500,000 dong for the car from the village to Paradise Cave and back.
Where to stay in Phong Nha
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Dorm
₹430/nightAbout 120,000-130,000 dong a bed. Big backpacker hostels with pools and free cave briefings. February to April runs 20-40% higher.
Homestay
₹1,600/nightAbout 440,000-520,000 dong for a double. Many rent scooters and arrange the Đồng Hới pickup.
Hotel
₹2,500/nightAbout 730,000-760,000 dong for a double. Air-con matters from May to August.
Farmstay
₹4,000/nightAbout 1,200,000 dong for a room. Quiet, with a restaurant; you will need a scooter or pickups.
What to eat, and what it costs
Local rice or noodle meal
₹150About 25,000-70,000 dong at village eateries. Point at what others are eating.
Tourist restaurant dish
₹400About 50,000-200,000 dong on the main strip, often with river views.
A full day of three meals
₹500About 100,000-250,000 dong if you eat where locals do.
Bánh mì and fruit for the cave day
Check priceFood near Paradise Cave is limited and dear. Buy in the village before you ride out. Price not confirmed.
Things to do in Phong Nha
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Phong Nha Cave by boat
₹700150,000 dong entry plus the boat, 700,000 dong per 12-seat boat. Join others at the jetty to split it.
Paradise Cave (Động Thiên Đường)
₹900270,000 dong with the buggy from the car park; open 7 am-4 pm. A kilometre of boardwalk through vast chambers. Arrive at opening.
Dark Cave (Hang Tối)
₹1,200About 350,000 dong for zipline, kayak, headlamp caving and a mud bath. Some sources quote up to 450,000; check at the gate.
Tú Làn wild-cave day with Oxalis
₹6,6502,000,000 dong all in: guide, lunch, gear, entry fees. About 150 m of swimming in an underground river. Ages 16-70.
Scooter ride along the Hồ Chí Minh road, west branch
₹650Karst and jungle scenery on a quiet highway branch. The price is the day's scooter hire.
Nước Moọc spring
₹330About 100,000 dong; swim in clear spring pools in the forest. Kayaks about 50,000 dong an hour. Too cold for some in the wet season.
Day trips and next stops
Đồng Hới and Nhật Lệ beach
₹135B4 local bus
Huế
₹600Sleeper bus or minibus, 4-5 h
Đà Nẵng and Hội An
₹1,000Sleeper bus, 6-7 h
Hanoi
₹1,200Overnight sleeper bus, 9-10 h
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- May to November is tropical storm season (UK FCDO). In October and November caves close after heavy rain and the park can shut for a few days. Check the forecast before you book.
- Sleeper buses from Hanoi drop you at 3-5 am. Book that night's bed so you can check in.
- The B4 bus stops at about 5:30 pm and no bus serves Đồng Hới airport. Late arrivals need a taxi; fix the fare first.
Ways to spend less
- The Phong Nha Cave boat is priced per boat, not per person. Wait at the jetty for others and twelve people split 700,000 dong.
- Take the Đồng Hới train plus the B4 bus instead of a hotel transfer; it costs a tenth as much.
- Book Tú Làn and other wild-cave tours in Phong Nha village, not in Hanoi or Hội An, where agents add a markup.
Before-you-go checklist
Phong Nha in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Phong Nha?
Apr–May is the best time. March to August is the dry season, with dry roads and every cave open; June to August is hot and busy. September to February is wet. October and November are typhoon months, when caves close after heavy rain and the park sometimes shuts for one to three days. January to March can be cold and drizzly.
How do I reach Phong Nha?
Sleeper bus: Hanoi (HAN) → Phong Nha, 9-10 h, about ₹1,200 one way. Train + local bus: Hanoi → Đồng Hới (Reunification Express), then B4 bus to Phong Nha, About 10 h + 1 h, about ₹1,900 one way. Flight + transfer: Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City → Đồng Hới (VDH), then taxi, 1 h 15 m + 1 h, about ₹5,000 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Phong Nha cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹3,900 on a shoestring, ₹6,600 mid-range or ₹13,500 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is sleeper bus (Hanoi (HAN) → Phong Nha) at about ₹1,200 each way.
How many days do you need in Phong Nha?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Phong Nha Cave by boat, Paradise Cave (Động Thiên Đường), Dark Cave (Hang Tối), Tú Làn wild-cave day with Oxalis without rushing.
Is Phong Nha good for families or solo travellers?
Phong Nha works best for solo, couples, groups. Solo travellers find it easy and cheap.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Phong Nha?
Easier than most of rural Vietnam: the village has a fully plant-based restaurant, Phong Nha Vegan, by the river, and hostels and farmstays cook vegetarian on request. Elsewhere ask for 'đồ chay' (vegetarian food) and check that broths are not made with fish sauce.
Will my phone and cards work in Phong Nha?
Buy a Vietnamese SIM before you leave Hanoi. Expect patchy signal inside the park. Hostels and some hotels take cards; cave gates and eateries mostly do not. Bring dong. Most cave ticket counters want cash.
Guides for Phong Nha
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO: no 'advise against' areas listed on the summary; tropical storm season May-November; updated 21 Sep 2026
- phongnhakebang.vn OfficialPark management board site; contact bqlpnkb@quangtri.gov.vn (park now under Quảng Trị province)
- news.tuoitre.vnPhong Nha Cave entry VND150,000; 12-seat boat VND700,000 per trip; park visitors Q1 2026 (155,000)
- vietnamspot.ruParadise Cave VND270,000 adult incl. buggy (checked Sep 2026), hours 07:00-16:00, scooter hire 150-200k, car return 400-500k, address in Quảng Trị
- oxalisadventure.comTú Làn 1-day VND2,000,000 incl. entry fees, guide, food, gear; ages 16-70; ~150 m underground swim
- vietnamtourism.comHanoi sleeper bus/train/flight prices and times, Huế and Đà Nẵng buses, Đồng Hới local bus 40k and hours, local scooter/bicycle/xe ôm prices, no Grab
- vietnamtourism.comDark Cave VND350,000 package; dry season Mar-Aug; rainy-season and Oct-Nov typhoon closures; cash at counters
- junglebosstours.comPrices checked Sep 2026: dorm 50-340k (typical 130k), homestay double 440-520k, hotel 730-760k, meals 25-70k, B4 bus 35-50k, airport taxi 450-550k, no airport bus
- vietnamspot.ruEasy Tiger dorm ~120k, private from ~430k (Sep 2026); farmstay ~1.2M; Feb-Apr +20-40%
- wanderlog.comPhong Nha Vegan Restaurant exists in the village by the river
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Preparetavalise.com · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Preparetavalise.com · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Edgardo W. Olivera from Montevideo, Uruguay · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: BacLuong · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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