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Israel’s Channel 12 has just aired the latest episode of its popular adventure series “To the End: Danny Kushmaro Underground”. In this episode, Vietnam became the center of attention when veteran Israeli journalist Danny Kushmaro chose Son Doong Cave – the world’s largest natural cave – as the destination to test the limits of human physical strength, spirit and courage in the harshest and most isolated conditions. This event is not only a personal achievement but also a powerful praise of the surreal beauty and majestic scale of Vietnam’s natural wonders to an international audience.
Son Doong Cave, located deep in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Quang Binh, now Quang Tri), has long been famous worldwide for its surreal beauty and unimaginable scale. With a length of nearly 9km and a height of up to 200m in some places, the cave is large enough to accommodate a 40-storey building, creating a huge and overwhelming natural architectural space.
Son Doong is considered a surreal destination outside the planet.
Inside the cave is not just rocks and darkness, but a complete isolated ecosystem. It is a forgotten world with lush primeval forests growing right inside the cave, where light shines through giant “skylights”, shining on the ancient stalactites like crystals. The underground river winds at the foot of the steep rocky mountains, and the misty fog covers everything, all combining to create a scene that is both majestic and mysterious, making viewers feel like they are lost in another planet hidden deep underground.
This vast cave has enough space to house a 40-story building. Son Doong also has the world’s largest stalactites, which can reach up to 80 meters high.
Son Doong is not only an unparalleled natural wonder but also a symbol of challenge, requiring strong will and careful preparation from anyone who desires to explore.
This cave has a highest ceiling of about 200m, a width of 150m, a total length of more than 9km and a measured volume of 38.5 million cubic meters.
The journey to conquer Son Doong by Danny Kushmaro and his team was recorded with realistic and breathtaking footage. The trip was a constant physical challenge, forcing this veteran journalist to overcome many muddy roads, climb over sharp cliffs and grope in wet, slippery ravines – where every step posed serious risks.
The harshness of the natural environment was pushed to its extreme. There were moments when Kushmaro slipped and fell in the thick darkness, where communication signals were completely cut off from the outside world. The suffocating space, lack of oxygen and the constant cold made the journey extremely stressful. Kushmaro and his team not only had to face their physical limits but also had to fight fear, isolation and the fragile boundary between safety and danger.
Currently, visitors cannot visit this cave on their own but must join a tour with Oxalis Adventure, the only company licensed to operate it. The tour costs about 70 million VND and lasts four days and three nights.
Before the challenge in Vietnam, the program "To the End" had taken Danny Kushmaro to extremely cold regions such as the North Pole, where just a few minutes under the icy water can be life-threatening. However, the challenge at Son Doong brought a different experience, which is the strong contrast between overwhelming beauty and potential danger in every step.
Son Doong is the most magnificent natural cave in the world.
For Danny Kushmaro, this trip is not just a physical challenge or a journey to conquer space. It is also a journey deep into the mind, where people must face their primal fears and loneliness. It is in that deep underground that he feels most clearly the fragile but sacred relationship between humans and nature - the majesty of nature can bring surreal beauty, but can also take away life at any time if people are subjective.
The fact that Israeli television chose Son Doong Cave as the final destination in its adventure series is not only a tribute to Vietnam's natural wonders but also an attractive invitation to the adventure-loving community around the world.
