Tu Lan cave system is located in Tan Hoa village, Minh Hoa district, Quang Binh province. Tu Lan is about 70 km northwest of Phong Nha - Ke Bang center, in the core area of the National Park. Compared to other caves, Tu Lan was only discovered in 2009.
Tu Lan cave system includes 10 large and small caves, of which Hung Ton cave was discovered in 1992 and 9 other caves were discovered in the past few years. Tu Lan is becoming more and more known and becoming an ideal destination for those who love trekking and mountain climbing.
Majestic scenery inside Tu Lan cave (photo: Pham Van Vu Doan).
In 2016, a film crew from Hollywood chose Tu Lan valley to film some scenes for the blockbuster "Kong: Skull Island". In 2018, director Victor Vu also chose Tan Hoa as the setting for the movie "The Immortal". The fact that famous directors and film studios chose Tan Hoa as a filming location helps tourists know and visit this land more and more.
What's interesting in Tu Lan cave system?
Beautiful stalactite system
One of the masterpieces that Mother Nature has bestowed on Tu Lan is the system of stalactites and stalagmites. In the Tu Lan cave system, the place with the most beautiful stalactites is probably Son Cave. Coming here, visitors will be able to admire the stalagmites with many different shapes.
Stalactite masterpiece inside Son cave (photo: Pham Van Vu Doan).
A series of amazing experiences
The journey to visit the caves in the Tu Lan system interweaves different terrains: exploring caves, crossing forests, wading streams, swimming in caves and crossing forests and swimming in caves again.
The characteristic of Quang Binh caves is that there is always an underground river inside the cave, or an underground river leading into the cave (relying on the underground river is how explorers found Son Doong with modern equipment, besides the local person who found Son Doong in the 1990s, Mr. Ho Khanh).
Photo: Pham Van Vu Doan.
Throughout the trip, visitors will have to trek in the cave and must swim at least 2 km in the underground river. Fumbling while swimming, having to carry luggage on the shoulder in the middle of the water, swimming and avoiding the reefs, the feeling of something always waving below is extremely interesting. Sometimes in the middle of the cave, visitors can encounter low waterfalls formed by the uneven rocks, creating a lively, reverberating sound.
Low waterfalls inside the cave (photo: Pham Van Vu Doan).
There are caves that welcome visitors with archways filled with flowers and birds chirping, while others welcome visitors with layers of rocks, narrow gaps that are only wide enough for half a person to squeeze through, and vertical rock walls that require you to slowly climb down. At that time, with a large backpack on your shoulder, visitors have to maneuver skillfully to be able to squeeze through.
Photo: Pham Van Vu Doan.
Just past the cave is the forest, through the forest, to the cave again. The beautiful caves in the system surrounded by waterfalls and fallen tree trunks are as beautiful as a painting that visitors want to immerse themselves in the stream forever.
When should I go to EXPLORE Tu Lan cave?
The time to organize cave exploration tours in Phong Nha is from November to September every year, two months off to avoid floods, and also the time for the caves to "rest" before the new jungle trekking season begins.
Tu Lan tourism is most beautiful between February and May, but the rainy days at the end of the year seem to make this place even more beautiful.
The best time to explore Tu Lan cave is from February to May (photo: Pham Van Vu Doan).
How long should I explore Tu Lan cave?
According to the above level classification, exploring Tu Lan has many different options. For example: exploring Tu Lan at level 2 (moderate) is suitable for one day or two days and one night. Or if you want to conquer level 3 (more difficult), you should go for three days and two nights. Finally, at level 5 (difficult), it is suitable for four days and three nights.
However, to fully explore these wonderful destinations, you should go for 3 days and 2 nights. On the 3-day and 2-night journey to discover Tu Lan Cave, you will explore the most beautiful caves such as Chuot Cave, Kim Cave, Hung Ton Cave, Ken Cave, Song Oxalis Cave, Tien Cave 1, Tien Cave 2, Bi Mat Cave... as well as have many interesting experiences about the lives of the people here.
Should I go on a tour or on my own?
To be able to explore Tu Lan cave in Quang Binh, you will have to choose Oxalis tours to ensure safety throughout the journey, because this is a very wild cave, little known. In addition, to ensure that the geology of the caves is not affected, the local government does not allow you to go on your own.
Tu Lan Cave can only be explored on tours with a guide (photo: Pham Van Vu Doan).
