Thiên Đường Cave
Paradise Cave stretches 31 kilometres through limestone beneath Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, rivalling the world’s most spectacular subterranean systems with cathedral-like chambers and formations of extraordinary scale.
At a glance
Thiên Đường Cave (Paradise Cave) is a vast underground system within Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, located 60 kilometres northwest of Đồng Hới. At 31 kilometres long, it surpasses Phong Nha Cave as the park’s longest cavern. The main passages reach heights of 72 metres and widths of 150 metres, creating monumental voids studded with formations of rare grandeur.
History
A local discoverer first found the cave in 2005. The British Cave Research Association explored the first 5 kilometres that same year, then returned to chart the entire system. British speleologists named it Thiên Đường—Paradise—after witnessing the abundance of stalactites and stalagmites adorning its passages. In 2012, scientists identified a previously unknown troglobiontic scorpion species here: Vietbocap thienduongensis.
What you see
The cave’s limestone formations exceed those of neighbouring Phong Nha in scale and spectacle. Soaring chambers display curtains of stalactites and forests of stalagmites formed over millennia. Passages vary dramatically in profile; some narrow to crawlways, others open into vaulted halls. The elevation of 350 metres above sea level provides commanding views across the karst landscape.
Cultural significance
Paradise Cave represents a frontier of Vietnamese speleological discovery. Its immense size and pristine formations have earned recognition within one of Southeast Asia’s most biodiverse protected areas. The cave system contributes to our understanding of karst cave ecosystems and unique troglobiotic fauna adapted to perpetual darkness underground.
Key facts
- Country: Vietnam
- Location: Son Trach Commune, Bố Trạch District, Quảng Bình Province
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park
- Length: 31 kilometres
- Maximum height: 72 metres
- Maximum width: 150 metres
- Elevation: 350 metres above sea level
- Coordinates: 17.519592, 106.222839
- Discovery: 2005
- Discovered by: Local resident; explored by British Cave Research Association
Practical information & getting there
Thiên Đường Cave lies within Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park near the Ho Chi Minh Highway. Access from Đồng Hới city is 60 kilometres to the northwest. The cave is open to guided visits; precise opening hours and visitor conditions should be confirmed with the national park authorities before planning your visit.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
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