Tu Lan Cave System In Quang Binh Vietnam

There are many stories and rumours related to the origin of the name and the history of the name Tu Lan. However, according to the elders of Tan Hoa village, the meaning behind the name Tu Lan Cave System comes from the Nguon language. “Lan” represents the Nan river that flows into Tu Lan Valley. After going underground, this branch of the river flows into the Tu Lan Cave, which looks from the outside like a tongue sticking out from the mouth of the cave. "Tu" may refer to the form of limestone mountain ranges encircling the valley, stretching far into the distance with magnificent parallel lines.

Most of the caves in this cave system are connected by the same river and this river disappears at the end of Tu Lan Cave therefore the meaning behind the name Tu Lan Cave System is based on this.

The caves in the Tu Lan System are divided into two types: wet caves (caves with an underground river) and dry caves. Wet caves normally also have dry passages where there are many distinctive cave formations next to the underground river and waterfalls inside the cave. Meanwhile, dry caves are located at higher elevations. Formed by rivers, these older caves have been raised following periods of uplift of the limestone mountains. Dry caves often have many beautiful and unique formations which build up as there is no active river flowing through the caves.

Waterfalls inside the caves: Each valley is connected by an underground river flowing through the cave. The height difference of the valleys is about 5 - 10m. There are many cascades of different sizes inside the caves. The exits of some river caves form a waterfall that pours into a large lake surrounded by an ancient jungle and limestone mountains.

Magnificent and unique cave formations: Most caves have numerous unique formations formed inside such as distinctive tower coral formations in Hang Song Oxalis (Misty Mountain Cave), Dry Ken; or gour pools terraces resembling the paddy fields in the North of Vietnam. Some cave entrances allow sunlight to shine in such as Kim Cave or Rat Cave. In particular, the photos taken by photographer Carsten Peter inside Ken Cave have won an award from National Geographic magazine.

Swimming in the cave system: There are many caves with underground rivers such as Hung Ton Cave, Kim Cave, Tu Lan Cave, Ken Cave. Swimming inside these caves provides a unique experience for guests, especially when the guide suggests turning off all the lights to try the feeling of complete darkness.

Primitive forest valleys: Tu Lan is formed from 8 valleys connected to each other, surrounded by chains of limestone mountain and primitive jungle. Most river caves end with a waterfall flowing into a jade-green lake with a sandy beach around. This is also where Oxalis sets up campsites for guests.

In common with most caves around the world, the Tu Lan caves are formed in limestone. Limestone is a sedimentary rock formed under the seabed many millions of years ago. Tectonic plate activity has raised the limestone above the sea level to form mountains. Caves are formed at the bottom of the limestone, by rivers dissolving and eroding the limestone. Further uplift of the mountains results in caves being lifted up above the river level, so that water no longer flows through them. These are dry caves nowadays. Therefore the youngest caves are always the river caves, located at the bottom of the limestone mountains.

In some caves there are dry passages, formed when the river cuts down through the limestone so that the river passage may be a few metres below the dry passages.

So the Tu Lan Cave System comprises many wet and dry caves and different elevations throughout the area. The dry caves usually contain the largest and most unique calcite formations.

The Tu Lan Cave System area was unknown to many people until adventure tours commenced in Tu Lan in 2011, organised by Oxalis, and officially operated from 2014. The main tourism activities are cave exploration and jungle trekking with small groups camping in the jungle. Tu Lan Cave tours from 1 day to 6 days include:

• Tu Lan Cave Expedition (TL4)
• Hang Tien Cave Exploration (HT3)
• Wild Tu Lan Cave Explorer (TL3)
• Hang Tien Cave Endeavor (HT2)
• Tu Lan Cave Encounter (TL2)
• Hang Tien Cave Discovery (HT1)
• Tu Lan Cave Experience (TL1)
• Tu Lan Family Experience (TF1)
• Tu Lan Family Adventure (TF2)

Tourism activities have created regular jobs for more than 120 Tan Hoa locals with an average income from 5 - 7 million VND/month. In addition, Oxalis has built a new Tu Lan Lodge serving customers joining Oxalis' exploration tours such as Hang Tien Cave Exploration (HT3), Wild Tu Lan Cave Explorer (TL3) and Tu Lan Cave Expedition (TL4). In addition, Oxalis also organises dinner at some local houses so that the guests will have further experiences on their trip. Tourism activities also indirectly create jobs and income for more than 100 local workers through homestay activities, dining at local homes, food supply and other supporting services.

The Tu Lan Cave area in Tan Hoa has 4 distinct seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each season Tu Lan will offer its own unique beauty for guests to enjoy and gives you many reasons to visit the Tu Lan Cave System. In spring, fresh green shoots and vibrant scenery; in summer, the opportunity to swim and explore the caves and camping areas; in winter, the cool, fresh climate and clear weather. Adventure tours here operate on a fixed schedule from November to September each year.

Tan Hoa is known as the centre of the Quang Binh floods. This is a mountainous village in Minh Hoa District, in which every year there are huge floods that used to fill the houses of the local people. The lives of the people used to depend on farming and natural resources in the Tu Lan forest, so their lives faced many difficulties. Since Oxalis began activities in 2011, many local people have participated in tourism activities so their lives have gradually improved. Through various activities, Oxalis has raised funds for the construction of 90 floating houses for local people. Additionally, Oxalis, along with other individuals and organisations, has funded the construction of more than 500 floating houses for all households in the flood zone. Nowadays, the people of Tan Hoa are living harmoniously with nature. On rainy days, people will move to their floating houses to stay and wait for the water to go down before returning to their normal lives.

Tan Hoa is a mountainous commune with approximately 3,000 people living in the area, mostly from the Nguon ethnic group. The people's lives are mainly based on agriculture, such as rice farming, corn, cassava and livestocks husbandry such as buffalo and cows. Even though the Nguon people have their own language, since they do not have a written language, they are not classified as a separate ethnic group. They are grouped with the majority Kinh ethnic group, one of the 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam.

The lives of the people of Tan Hoa are very difficult and the commune has always been on the list of the poorest districts in Quang Binh for many years. The area is often hit by heavy floods during the rainy season (September and October).

Since 2011, when Oxalis developed and operated tourism activities at the Tu Lan Cave System, the lives of the people of Tan Hoa have gradually improved. Over 100 local people have been employed by Oxalis to work as safety assistants, chefs, porters, tour guides, operations staff and many other positions. Many people who previously engaged in illegal logging have now become tourism employees and are able to live a more stable life. Furthermore, they are also volunteering to be the guardians of the jungle.

Tan Hoa is also gradually becoming a tourism community. Locals are being supported and trained by Oxalis to be able to participate in activities such as homestays, hotel services and dining for visitors. In the future, Tan Hoa will become a tourist village and become a tourism center of northwest Quang Binh Province attracting domestic and international tourists to visit and experience its charms.

“Kong: Skull Island” (Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts)

The director of one of the first Hollywood blockbusters to be filmed in Vietnam – “Kong: Skull Island” chose Tu Lan Caves as the filming site for some important scenes. Logistically, it was quite difficult to set up the “Kong: Skull Island” filming set in this mountainous area, however that is one of the achievements to create epic scenes here.

In addition to other scenic spots in Vietnam, the Tu Lan Cave area in Quang Binh was the set used for the scene of the helicopter crash with the characters played by Samuel L Jackson and John Goodman in “Kong: Skull Island”, These two characters wait at the riverbank before King Kong appears. After becoming known as a Hollywood film location, Vietnamese and international fans searched for some information about the Tu Lan Cave System and made their way to Quang Binh to admire the rare beauty of this natural wonder.

Oxalis is proud to be directly involved in arranging logistics and support for the production. Many porters from Tan Hoa village and some of our tour guides were even hired by the film crew to support the film crew during the shooting period in the area.

The Immortal (Directed by Victor Vu)

Tu Lan Cave System is also the place where director Victor Vu chose to shoot 70% of the scenes of his movie The Immortal (2018). The caves that were used include Hung Ton Cave, Rat Cave, To Mo Cave and some other scenes of waterfalls, cornfields, Rao Nan riverbank, for the main scenes in the film.

This movie is considered a Vietnam blockbuster movie with an attractive plot and spectacular film background, exalting the beauty of Quang Binh caves as well as other landscapes of Vietnam. “The Immortal” is considered a mystery movie, more about horror than love. The film was released in 2018 and resonated with the domestic and international audiences with the scenes in Quang Binh and specifically the Tu Lan Cave System. The beautiful scenery of Tu Lan was brought to the big screen by director Victor Vu in a realistic and beautiful way.

The Legend of Quan Tien (Directed by Dinh Tuan Vu)

"The Legend of Quan Tien" (directed by Dinh Tuan Vu) was filmed in April 2019. This film was set in many places in Quang Binh, such as Tra Ang river, Victory Road Number 20 (Bo Trach District) and Tu Lan Cave (Minh Hoa District), Ba Ren farm and some hills on the Western Ho Chi Minh Road.

The movie is about a stopover of three young volunteer girls. In the middle of the haunting beauty of the rainforest and mysterious river with no sign of existing humans, a rest-stop is located in a mysterious cave called Quan Tien (Rat Cave). Responsible for the management by three young and beautiful volunteers, this place is likened to a fairyland for soldiers who are exhausted from endless driving journeys. The movie is adapted from a short story written by Xuan Thieu. The film received the Silver Lotus Award at the XXI Vietnam Film Festival.