Overview of Hang Va’s location, geology, and history
Hang Va is located in the core area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, in Phong Nha, Quang Tri province. The cave is about 4km from the km28 marker of QL15 and only 50 meters from the back entrance of Hang Son Doong.
This is a wet cave with a relatively young age of around 2–3 million years. Experts suggest that Hang Va and Hang Son Doong may have once shared the same fault line due to geological movements. The two caves also share an underground stream and may be connected through a small, challenging passage that links the lower level of Hang Va with the Passchendaele passage of Hang Son Doong.
Hang Va was discovered by Mr. Ho Khanh in 1992 during a forest expedition. The name Hang Va was given by Mr. Ho Khanh, based on the Va forest, a name that local people have long used to refer to the area. In 2010, the British Vietnam Caving Expedition team conducted a short expedition in Hang Va due to limited time. They returned in 2012 to survey, measure, and fully map the cave.
By 2016, Hang Va was officially approved for tourism, and Oxalis Adventure began offering the Hang Va Cave Exploration tour combined with Hang Nuoc Nut. In 2017, an Oxalis guide and safety assistant discovered a 150-meter-long dry passage connecting Hang Nuoc Nut with Hang Va.
In 2022, a BBC film crew carried out a 20-day filming project in the caves of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, including Hang Son Doong, Hang Va, Hang Nuoc Nut, and Hang En. Among countless surprises in the landscapes and geology of the cave kingdom, the crew was particularly impressed by the sight of thousands of tower-shaped stalagmites rising from a vast pool and reflecting on its clear surface. Stunning footage of the caves was featured internationally in Episode 6 – “Extremes” of the Planet Earth III series.
Unique experiences in the Hang Va Cave Exploration tour
The Hang Va Exploration Tour is ideal for tourists who have only two days in Phong Nha but are passionate about adventure, eager to discover the grandeur of underground nature, and ready to conquer challenging routes.
1. Trekking into the core area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park
Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park has long been famous for its diverse ecosystem, significant scientific and geological value, and for conserving thousands of rare plant and animal species. It has been recognized twice as a World Natural Heritage site. The 450-million-year-old karst system here is also known as the Cave Kingdom. It contains hundreds of caves with complex and majestic geological formations, many of which remain unexplored by scientists and explorers to this day.
The Hang Va Exploration Tour is one of the tours that allows tourists to venture deep into the core area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, exploring the rich ecosystem of the primary forest and the unique flora and fauna found only in caves.
Tourists will trek deep into a pristine valley surrounded by dense forest. Starting from the main road (KM28 on National Route 15), they will walk along forest trails, descend into the valley, and follow a stream flowing into the deep forest to reach the cave area.
Along the more than 5 km route, mostly under towering canopies, the pristine vegetation stretches upward from the narrow valley to catch the sunlight. Tourists may encounter many rare and endemic species of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, such as langurs, brown-shanked douc, and flying squirrels, as well as traces of animals like mountain goats and wild boars that come out to forage at night.
2. Exploring Hang Va and Hang Nuoc Nut
Over 30 years (1990–2020), driven by a passion for exploration and the study of underground nature in the Cave Kingdom of Quang Binh (now Quang Tri), experts have discovered more than 300 caves. Hang Va was surveyed relatively late, in 2012, but it amazed and delighted experts, including Howard Limbert, with its unique tower-shaped stalagmites and complex formations.
The Hang Va trekking tour also takes tourists to explore Hang Nuoc Nut, a cave formed by the underground flow from Hang Va and Hang Son Doong. Hang Nuoc Nut was discovered and surveyed in 2001. It is approximately 2.2 km long, with a stream running through the cave and flowing into the valley. In front of the cave entrance is a shallow stream with many large, slippery rocks leading to a small, dark cave opening. Inside, tourists will find a spacious cave chamber, a long and wide sandy area, towering stalagmites reaching the ceiling, and an underground stream branching into complex channels.
During the early stages of the Hang Va Exploration Tour (2016), these two caves were explored separately. However, in 2017, an Oxalis guide discovered a narrow passage connecting Hang Nuoc Nut to Hang Va. After surveying and confirming the passage was safe, the tour route was adjusted to pass through Hang Nuoc Nut and continue into Hang Va.
3. Admiring the waterfall curtains and geology of Hang Va
Hang Va is a relatively young wet cave with a strong active underground stream and countless water outlets emerging from the lower cave walls, creating water-filled paths and bright white waterfall curtains.
The lower level of Hang Va features a layered flowstone system cascading like a majestic waterfall, with multiple tiers pouring from the cave ceiling. Unlike the vertical flowstones of the Vietnam Wall in Hang Son Doong, the flowstones in Hang Va are shorter and highly curved, forming large arches. The final layer of stalagmites, hovering about 2 meters above the cave floor, offers tourists a perfect spot for striking photos.
4. Traversing the flowstone system by horizontal rope
Due to the cave’s unique terrain, with undulating flowstones and walls rising from low to high level, a path leads up to the upper cave level. Tourists wear safety harnesses and use horizontal rope techniques, gripping a rope fixed horizontally to navigate around large stalagmites. This flowstone slope and horizontal rope section is one of the most exciting activities on the Hang Va Exploration Tour.
5. Exploring the tower cone in the giant gour
The upper level of Hang Va features a system of a rimstone pool up to 2 meters high, containing thousands of cone-shaped stalagmites with complex structures and remarkably uniform sizes, leaving a strong impression on cave explorers.
The stalagmites here have very intricate formations, with the tallest reaching about 2 meters, matching the height of the pool’s surrounding gour. To this day, even though explorers have surveyed, collected samples, and brought scientists to study Hang Va’s geology, the exact process behind the formation of these unique and numerous stalagmites remains unexplained.
According to cave experts, there are two possible ways this world’s most unique tower-shaped stalagmite pool could have formed. The first is that the raft cones and tower cones were created by drops of calcium carbonate-rich water falling from cracks in the cave ceiling into the pool. The carbonate crystals crystallize on the water’s surface and are then pushed down to the pool floor by subsequent drops of calcium carbonate from above. Over time, the layers of carbonate crystals build up, forming each individual tower-shaped stalagmite.
The second hypothesis explains the formation of tufa towers and geysermites. These formations are usually submerged in the pool and only become clearly visible when the water level drops. They may form when underground streams carrying calcium carbonate rise to the surface, and the higher temperature inside the cave causes the carbonate crystals to crystallize, creating the cone-shaped structures.
6. Camping in the pristine valley
On the Hang Va trekking tour, tourists spend one night camping in a valley within the core area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. At the campsite, tourists rest in individual tents equipped with insulated pallets, mattresses, pillows, and sleeping bags, and enjoy a hot meal prepared by local chefs.
In the morning, tourists may hear the calls of wild animals such as langurs and, if lucky, catch glimpses of wildlife moving through the treetops.
Ideal time to visit Hang Va
The ideal time for trekking to explore Hang Va is from January to August, when the weather is dry with little rain, making it favorable for outdoor activities. Each season also brings its own distinctive changes to the scenery both in the jungle and inside the cave.
– January – March: January can be a bit chilly due to winter cold fronts, with temperatures ranging from 18–23°C. From late February to the end of March, it gradually warms up, and there may be some sunny days.
– April – May: The weather becomes dry and sunny, and this is the time when the forest vegetation begins to sprout. Tourists may see many wildflowers in bloom.
– June – August: While there may be hot days, most of the trekking route is under forest canopy, keeping it relatively cool. Cave temperatures range from 22–25°C.
Since Hang Va is a wet cave with a relatively strong underground stream, the period from September to December may be affected by heavy rains. Tourists who wish to explore during this time can consider other cave tours such as Hang En, Hang Tu Lan, and Hang Tien.
How to register for Hang Va Cave Exploration
Currently, Hang Va is operated by Oxalis Adventure, a leading adventure travel company in Vietnam. Tourists wishing to join the Hang Va Cave Exploration need to book in advance through the Oxalis website, select an available departure date, and complete the booking by filling out the registration form.
The Hang Va Cave Exploration tour has a moderate difficulty level (Level 3) with a total route of 15 km, including 7 km inside the cave and several rope-climbing sections with safety equipment. The tour is limited to 10 tourists per trip, and participants must be aged 16–70, in good health, regularly active in sports.
How to Get to Hang Va
To begin the trekking journey to Hang Va, tourists need to travel to Phong Nha, Quang Tri province (formerly part of Quang Binh). Tourists from other provinces can travel by plane, train, or sleeper bus to Dong Hoi, then take an Oxalis shuttle, taxi, or bus to Phong Nha. Some sleeper buses, such as Hanh Luyen (from Hue and Da Nang) and Hung Long or Queen Camel (from Hanoi), go directly to Phong Nha.
From Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An, tourists also have the option to use Oxalis’s private car to travel to Phong Nha.
Detailed information about transportation options, routes, and travel instructions is provided in the article How to get to Phong Nha.
On the morning of departure, the Oxalis shuttle bus will pick up tourists from their hotels in Phong Nha and gather at the Oxalis Home office. After receiving safety instructions from the guide, the group will check in their luggage, sign a release form, and then the shuttle will take tourists to KM28—the starting point of the trek.
Hang Va Cave Exploration tour itinerary
The Hang Va Cave Exploration tour lasts 2 days and 1 night. On the early morning of departure, the Oxalis shuttle will pick up tourists from their hotels in Phong Nha and gather at the Oxalis office. After receiving safety instructions from the guide, the group will check in their luggage, sign a liability waiver, and then the shuttle will take tourists to KM28—the starting point of the trek.
On the first day, travelers will trek about 4 km through the primary forest to reach Hang Nuoc Nut. The group will have lunch at the cave entrance. After that, they will pass through a narrow cave entrance, enter the spacious cave chamber, admire the stalagmite formations, and pass through Hang Nuoc Nut to reach Hang Va.
The expedition team will swim across the underground river of Hang Va to reach the cave entrance and then rest at the campsite. A hot dinner will be prepared and served by local chefs. After the meal, the expedition group can relax together, share stories, enjoy herbal tea, and take in the nighttime forest scenery.
On the second day, after breakfast, the team continues with a descent into the cave, trekking through corridors filled with countless underground streams forming waterfall curtains, and traversing ropes to reach the upper cave level. A rimstone pool over a meter wide and numerous tower cones will come into view, where tourists will hear the story of Hang Va’s discovery and exploration history from the pioneering cave experts.
Hang Va has a rather complex structure, and the stalagmite systems on both levels have unique features rarely found elsewhere, allowing tourists to take impressive photos. After exploring the beauty of Hang Va, tourists will trek along a different route back to the main road, where the shuttle vehicle will be waiting.
Sustainable tourism development at Hang Va
Following international and Vietnamese trends in sustainable development, the local government of Quang Tri province (formerly Quang Binh) aims to develop eco-friendly tourism alongside the conservation of the region’s rich forests, seas, and caves. Oxalis Adventure is one of the pioneering companies in promoting sustainable tourism, enhancing visitor experiences and services while actively protecting the environment and preserving nature.
Oxalis prioritizes hiring and training local workers, helping create jobs for many families and providing opportunities for career advancement. Dozens of initial staff members started as porters, later selected for training as safety assistants, and supported in their studies to become professional guides.
Oxalis’s adventure tours have invested in composting toilets, water filtration systems at campsites, and provide reusable and hygienic items such as water bottles, bowls, plates, and cups. Tourists’ tents are also equipped with insulated pallets, double-layer tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, and pillows, all cleaned after each use, along with many other environmental protection measures.
Tourists participating in the exploration tours are also encouraged to help protect the environment by:
– Not littering in the forest or inside caves.
– Avoid using shampoo, body wash, or soaps containing chemicals when bathing at the campsite or inside the caves.
– Following designated paths and not touching the stalagmites inside the caves.
Hang Va in Phong Nha stands out with its tower-shaped stalagmite in the rimstone pool and some of the world’s most unique geological structures. It is a place where tourists can explore the wonders of nature while satisfying their passion for conquering rare trails and terrains.
After the exciting Hang Va Cave Exploration tour, tourists can relax at Chay Lap Farmstay, enjoy the peaceful countryside, go kayaking on the Chay River, and easily visit many other famous tourist attractions.
