Thien Duong Cave was one of my stops when I joined the tour to survey some tourist attractions in Quang Binh province organized by the Hanoi Unesco Travel Club in the last days of May. Before this trip, I had heard the reputation of Thien Duong Cave was associated with many solemn praises and fancy titles.
The entrance to Thien Duong cave is quite small, making visitors even more curious.
Honestly, having experienced disappointments in many famous destinations, I often put little trust in reviews before "seeing it with my own eyes". However, Thien Duong Cave is worthy of its name as "paradise", when it presented before my eyes a magical beauty that is both wild and magnificent - even though I only had the chance to experience a very small part of this cave.
Right from the first stalactites encountered in the cave, visitors were so surprised that they did not want to leave, just wanted to linger to watch and take pictures continuously.
Thien Duong Cave is located in the Ecological Restoration Zone of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, with a length of 31.4 km, a width ranging from 30 - 100 m, and a height from the bottom of the cave to the ceiling of 60 - 80 m. The cave was first discovered by Mr. Ho Khanh - a local - in 2005, then explored by the British Royal Cave Association from 2005 - 2010 and is considered to be larger and more beautiful than Phong Nha Cave; at the same time, it is the longest dry cave in Asia.
The most wonderful feature of Thien Duong cave is the system of stalactites created by nature, extremely diverse and rich in shape. There are stalactites flowing like colorful curtains.
There are also stalactites shaped like umbrellas, symbolizing the rice civilization, or the shape of Champa towers, or the shape of extremely strange communal houses... Deeper in the cave, there are many stone strands that stretch out into steps, shaped like graceful ocean waves, long and step-wise like terraced fields...
Each stalactite has its own unique beauty, no two are alike, only similar in their mystical beauty that makes anyone who comes here can only admire and be stunned. This stalactite system is still being created by water drops falling from the cave ceiling.
The photos I took during my short time in the cave, although not complete and perfect, will somehow tell my readers about the beauty of Paradise Cave. And I believe that words of praise cannot fully describe the beauty of this magical cave, so if you have time for an upcoming trip, put Paradise Cave at the top of your list.
More information
- Thien Duong Cave has been put into tourism exploitation since 2010. Truong Thinh Company Limited has invested in building a 1.5 km long wooden staircase system leading deep from the cave entrance into the cave to help visitors easily move and enjoy the beauty of the cave. This staircase system is also a highlight that adds to the landscape of Thien Duong Cave. The end of the wooden staircase is also a milestone indicating the end of the visitor's tour. Entrance fee: 250,000 VND/adult; 125,000 VND/child; free for children under 1.1 m tall.
- Tourists who are passionate about adventure can register to join a tour to explore Thien Duong cave deeper with a 7 km journey illuminated only by personal flashlights. With this special journey, visitors can meet many living creatures in the darkness of Thien Duong cave such as fish, spiders, crickets... and hundreds of bats hanging on the cave ceiling in the first 3.5 km. Moreover, visitors will experience kayaking or conquering the skylight... Entrance fee: 2,200,000 VND/adult; 1,100,000 VND/child
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