Best photos of Tu Lan Cave System from Oxalis Adventure

Best photos of Tu Lan Cave System

Tu Lan Cave, one of the major caves in the Tu Lan Cave System, has a massive entrance. All year round, the passage leading inside is flooded with emerald-colored water. This makes entry to Tu Lan Cave only possible by swimming. As you enter Tu Lan Cave, you’ll be overwhelmed by the hundreds of stalactites. These are columns of rock that hang from the ceiling. Keep swimming, explorer!

Can you hear that sound? Listen! It’s the sound of flowing water, echoing from wall to wall and getting louder as you approach. There it is! An active waterfall inside a cave. Emerald water cascades down from above. Thousands of tiny water drops float in the air. You’ll get excited at first. But then, you’ll feel humble towards the rumbling noise of nature that has been here for millions of years.

Not far from the first waterfall in Tu Lan Cave is another one. Although smaller, this second waterfall connects two pools of different heights. Try floating on the water while listening to the gentle sound of the waterfall. Lights out, close your eyes, and sink into peaceful darkness.

After traversing the wet part of Tu Lan Cave, you arrive at the dry chamber. Here, you see even more rock formations, including stalactites and stalagmites. Stalagmites grow from the cave floor as water drips from the stalactites above. Your dim headlamp illuminates these whimsical shapes. This creates a scene for everyone to marvel at.

This is another angle inside a dry chamber in Tu Lan Cave, where you can see its incredible formations. This chamber is 35 meters wide, and some stalagmites are up to 30 meters tall. Take your time to capture some moments you’ll never forget here.

This is a beautiful waterfall in Tu Lan Valley. It’s located in the center of three caves: Ken-Tu Lan-Kim Caves. Here, you can cool yourself down after hours of exploring Tu Lan Cave. Soak yourself up in the cold and flowing water of the waterfall.

This is a tornado-shaped dome in Hang Tien Cave, the largest cave belonging to the Tu Lan Cave System. With a length of over 2 kilometers in Hang Tien 1 and 2.5 kilometers in Hang Tien 2, the cave is full of jaw-dropping wonders. The dome near the entrance was formed due to the force of trapped water that once brimmed inside the cave.

From beneath the tornado-shaped dome, looking outside, you’ll see a massive entrance where natural light shines through. This allows for lush vegetation to grow deep inside Hang Tien Cave. But now isn’t the time to turn your head back. Keep moving, explorer! There’s a long way ahead with no shortage of wonders.

You need a lot of courage and determination to reach the exit of Hang Tien 1, the first section of Hang Tien Cave. Still, the cave has more to explore. From here, you’ll trek through a thick jungle for about half an hour to reach the other section, Hang Tien 2. And here you are! Another colossal chamber, so much so that you’ll feel in awe.

Behold some of the tallest stalagmites in Hang Tien 2. Standing tall and steadfast, these rock formations define timeless beauty. Such a testament to nature’s power!

Outside Hang Tien Cave, a well-equipped campsite serves as a checkpoint for explorers. A drone view above the campsite shows its location by the river bank. This strategic position is for water supply and easy access.

Here is another drone view from above the Hang Tien Campsite. Sleeping tents can be arranged near the river bank for a more immersive experience. There’s a pier leading from the riverbank out to the river. Feel free to soak your feet in the cool, flowing water while you’re here. Hang Tien Campsite is a part of Hang Tien tours.

The best part about Hang Tien Campsite is the “infinity pool” nearby. This natural lake is formed by an underground river inside a mountain. The lake’s name comes from its shape, which gives the impression that it merges into the river on the outside. The pool is 15 meters deep. So be cautious when swimming here. You must wear a life jacket.

Hang Tien Campsite at night is another definition of beauty. As the night is clear, the thousands of stars shimmer, and the tents lit up, the scene seems straight out of a tale. Stay the night here, get some rest, and you’ll wake up recharged the day after.

This is Kim Cave, an interesting cave discovered by chance by a traveler in 2012. It’s over 1.2 kilometers long and has a wet passage followed by a dry passage up to 25 meters wide. Kim Cave offers some of the most exciting activities in Tu Lan. This includes rock climbing and swimming in an underground river.

Swimming in an underground river is an exciting activity inside Kim Cave.

Exploring Kim Cave or any other cave in Tu Lan is more than just exhilarating. It can be an educational experience. Here, adventurers are getting explanations about the formation of a stalagmite with water dripping from above.

Be in awe of the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites in Ken Cave. This cave has a length of over 3 kilometers, an impressive entrance, and a 30-meter-wide passage. This chamber, in particular, features some of the best rock formations in Tu Lan. Some appear to be carved out to be pillars of a rock castle.

Ken Cave is the longest river cave in the Tu Lan Cave System. When cave experts surveyed it for the first time in 2010, no water flowed out of the entrance. However, in the following year, they saw a 5-meter-tall waterfall flowing out from inside.

As you swim towards the entrance of Ken Cave, the natural light shining through from outside starts to appear.

Everybody has to wear a life jacket when exploring Ken Cave when the water rises high. And don’t worry if you can’t swim. We have rafts and boats available on-site to assist those who may find swimming through this part of the cave difficult.

Tourists swim near the entrance to Ken Cave.

This is the waterfall that flows out from Ken Cave. The white noise of the waterfall echoes from deep inside the cave. Yet, it cascades down gracefully. Its beauty creates an iconic and unforgettable image of the Tu Lan Cave System.

This is Rat Cave, an early cave discovered in 1992. It may have the name due to its humble size: just over 280 meters long and an average height of 20 meters. To reach Rat Cave, you need to cross a river up to knee deep. Inside Rat Cave, some ancient artifacts were found. This indicates that Rat Cave was once used as a shelter.

This is Hang Song Cave. It’s over 600 meters long and on top of a hill in To Mo Valley. The interior of Hang Song Cave is diverse. The passage’s width ranges from 5 to 20 meters and height from 15 to 30 meters. Cave experts marked certain areas inside the cave to ensure conservation. Everyone must move along the designated path.

Climbing a ladder at the height of a 3-story building inside a cave can be one of the most exciting activities in Tu Lan. This is Hung Ton Cave, a 500-meter-long cave with 2 elevation levels. The entrance of Hung Ton leads you to the higher level. To reach the end part of the cave, you’ll need to climb down 15 meters of a ladder. You’ll be equipped with a specialized climbing harness.

To Mo Campsite is situated in the center of the To Mo Valley and is surrounded by limestone mountains. It's about 150 meters across a lake from the exit of Hung Ton Cave. On a sandy riverbank, the campsite stretches along the water. This creates a beautiful scene when looking out from inside the tents.

This is Tan Hoa Village, a beautiful hamlet located on the west outskirts of Tan Hoa Commune. It’s about 6 kilometers from Hung Ton Cave and Tu Lan Cave. This proximity makes the village a perfect resting place for those who return from Tu Lan. Tan Hoa creates a lovely, idyllic landscape. It stretches along a meandering river. Ranges of limestone mountains stretch endlessly in the distance.

Tan Hoa Village exudes serene beauty and tranquility. It offers a literal escape from the outside world, perfect for those seeking peace of mind.

It’s not difficult to spot buffaloes grazing on grass fields like this in Tan Hoa Village. Every day, when the sun rises and the mist above the mountain tops floats away, farmers send their livestock herds to the field. This creates a rustic scene to admire.

The river stretching along Tan Hoa Village is called Rao Nan. Its surface shimmers. Sunlight reflects from above as it shines through the gaps of the mountains from afar. This creates a spectacular view loved by locals and tourists alike.

If you have time to spare while in Tan Hoa, take your time to feel the pervasive sense of serenity here. Reach your eyes far and wide towards the mountains in the distance. Take a deep breath of fresh air. Listen to the pleasant noise of wind blowing cool breezes all over you. Your lips crinkle into a smile as you find inner peace.

How to take great photos of Tu Lan Cave System

To take great photos of the Tu Lan Cave System, you need suitable equipment and a lot of experience. Here are some of the best cave photography tips that Oxalis has for you:

• Time: The ideal time to explore Tu Lan is from November to September. The weather is relatively dry during this time. This makes it convenient to move around inside caves and choose better angles.
• Composition: Focus on the structures inside the cave instead of on the human subject. However, that doesn’t mean the photos don’t include human subjects. Positioning the cave’s features in relation to a human subject emphasizes how small a person is in comparison to the vastness of the cave.
• Shooting angle: Use a camera with a wide-angle lens to capture the majestic scenery of the Tu Lan Cave System. Capturing the entire vase space in the cave results in breathtaking photos.
• Lighting: Ensuring good lighting conditions in the dark environment inside a cave is important. Oxalis’ safety assistants always carry high-quality headlamps to ensure good lighting. You don’t need to bring your lighting equipment.
• Clothing: Tourists are advised to wear colorful trekking outfits to stand out better in photos.
• Equipment protection: The Tu Lan Cave System has many caves with an underground river. Therefore, protecting equipment from water is very important. Oxalis equips each visitor with a waterproof box to preserve equipment.

In addition to exploring the Tu Lan Cave System, Oxalis offers many other options for exploring the fantastic caves in Quang Binh, Vietnam. Check out all Oxalis tours, choose a journey that suits you best, and capture lifetime moments!

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