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Israel's Channel 12 recently aired the latest episode of its popular adventure series "To the End: Danny Kushmaro Underground." In this episode, Vietnam became the focus of attention as veteran Israeli journalist Danny Kushmaro chose Son Doong Cave – the world's largest natural cave – as his destination to test the limits of human physical strength, mental fortitude, and courage in the most extreme and isolated conditions. This event was not only a personal triumph but also a powerful tribute to the surreal beauty and magnificent scale of Vietnam's natural wonder before an international audience.
Son Doong Cave, located deep within Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Quang Binh, now part of Quang Tri province), has long been world-renowned for its surreal beauty and unimaginable scale. With a length of nearly 9km and a height reaching up to 200m in some places, the cave is large enough to accommodate a 40-story building, creating a colossal and breathtaking natural architectural space.
Son Doong Cave is likened to a surreal, otherworldly destination.
Inside the cave is not just rock and darkness, but a complete, isolated ecosystem. It's a forgotten world with lush primeval forests growing right within the cave, where light filters through giant "skylights," illuminating ancient stalactites and stalagmites like crystal. A swirling underground river meanders beneath the towering rock formations, and a hazy mist envelops the area; all combine to create a scene that is both majestic and mysterious, making viewers feel as if they have wandered into another planet hidden deep beneath the earth.
This vast cave has enough space to house a 40-story building. Son Doong also boasts some of the world's largest stalactites, reaching heights of up to 80 meters.
Son Doong is not only an unparalleled natural wonder but also a symbol of challenge, demanding unwavering willpower and thorough preparation from anyone aspiring to explore it.
This cave has a ceiling height of approximately 200m, a width of 150m, a total length of over 9km, and a measured volume of 38.5 million cubic meters.
Danny Kushmaro and his team's journey to conquer Son Doong Cave was documented with authentic, breathtakingly tense footage. The trip was a constant physical challenge, forcing the veteran journalist to overcome muddy stretches, climb sharp cliffs, and navigate through damp, slippery crevices – where every step posed a serious risk.
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 constant bone-chilling cold made the journey incredibly stressful. Kushmaro and his team not only had to confront their physical limits but also battle fear, isolation, and the thin line between safety and danger.
Currently, tourists cannot visit this cave independently but need to join a tour organized by Oxalis Adventure, the only company licensed to operate it. The tour costs approximately 70 million VND and lasts four days and three nights.
Prior to the challenge in Vietnam, the "To the End" program had taken Danny Kushmaro to extremely cold regions like the Arctic, where just a few minutes under icy water could be life-threatening. However, the challenge in Son Doong Cave offered a different experience, a stark contrast between breathtaking beauty and the inherent danger at every step.
Son Doong is the most magnificent natural cave in the world.
For Danny Kushmaro, this journey was more than just a physical challenge or a space exploration. It was a journey into the mind, where humanity confronts primal fears and loneliness. It was in the depths of the earth that he most acutely felt the fragile yet sacred connection between humanity and nature – the majesty of nature can offer surreal beauty, but it can also take lives at any moment if humans are careless.
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 wonder but also an attractive invitation to the adventure-loving community worldwide.
