The first couple to have their wedding photos taken in Son Doong Cave.

Son Doong Cave is a proud wonder of Vietnam. Since its opening to the public, Son Doong Cave has offered many extraordinary stories about nature as well as wonderful experiences for explorers. And recently, Mr. Vu and Ms. Uyen Ly became the first couple to have their wedding photos taken in Son Doong - the world's largest natural cave.

Mr. Vu said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, his and his wife's plans for a honeymoon abroad were postponed. Not wanting to waste time, they decided to go on a road trip to explore Central Vietnam. They started from Ho Chi Minh City, traveling through Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Thua Thien - Hue, and finally stopping in Quang Binh.

To make their trip even more fulfilling, Mr. Vu and Ms. Uyen Ly traveled by car, bringing along camping gear, a specialized paddleboard and paddle, and a folding bicycle. The couple stopped at various locations, visiting scenic spots, enjoying local cuisine, and engaging in sports and physical activities with the locals (cycling, running, swimming, rowing) to prepare for the physically demanding exploration of Son Doong Cave.

Sharing about the wedding photos taken in Son Doong, Vu said: "We knew there were many beautiful spots to take pictures in the cave, so we discussed what special outfits we could wear to create lasting memories. Since our previous wedding studio photoshoot had to be canceled, we decided to bring our wedding dresses to take some commemorative photos. For us, wedding photos don't need to be overly elaborate; they're about capturing a memorable milestone. Therefore, taking pictures in the world's largest natural cave, in a special place like the 'wedding cake' stalactite formation, was absolutely amazing. We took the photos with a film camera, mimicking the movements of a pair of dolls as the wedding cake rotated."

Son Doong Cave has its own unique ecosystem, with forests, white sand, and rugged terrain, making the photography process very difficult. The tour company stated that Mr. Vu and Ms. Uyen Ly were the first couple to have their wedding photos taken at this location. To be as prepared as possible, they researched how to bring their wedding attire, camera tripod, and equipment along for the long journey. Mr. Vu and his wife have memorable photos taken on what he calls a "wedding cake" in Son Doong.

The Son Doong cave exploration tour lacked a professional photographer, so Vu had to figure out how to take photos in the dark, humid conditions just a month before departure and asked members of the group to help him. Due to his lack of experience, the camera lens got stuck in damp sand and broke at a crucial moment. Vu recounted: "Luckily, there was a friend in the group who also brought a DSLR camera, so I asked him to help. When taking photos, we had to set up a tripod at quite precarious points, and the photographer also had to follow safety rules, so the shooting conditions were quite difficult. At the 'wedding cake' spot, sometimes when there was beautiful sunlight for a photo, clouds and fog would roll in, and we had to readjust, which was quite difficult. Inside the cave, visitors always have to wear helmets and use flashlights. But when we went up to the 'wedding cake,' I asked the tour leader, a British cave expert, if I could take them off for a few minutes to take photos, but the helmet had to be placed right at my feet."

To have a memorable trip to Son Doong Cave, Mr. Vu and Ms. Ly spent nearly 60 million VND per person. Because they frequently enjoy mountain climbing and exploring, they didn't need to bring much extra equipment, only new shoes. Six days and five nights was the total time Mr. Vu and Ms. Ly spent exploring Son Doong Cave. Sharing about this unique experience, Mr. Vu enthusiastically said: "I can summarize it in two sentences: 'Seeing is believing' and 'Seeing is believing.' The feeling of immersing ourselves in the special atmosphere and environment of Son Doong is indescribable. The wedding photos were free, but the experience will stay with us for a lifetime."

My Tong