FAQs

In Winter (November to February), sometimes there are cold spells that last around 5-7 days or more, and the temperature could drop to 8-18°C (47-65°F). When the temperature goes below 18°C (65°F), we will use a boat or raft, rather than swimming. From March to May, most of the time the weather is cool. It can be hot or cold on some days.

In Summer (June - August), the temperature is around 32-38°C (90-100°F), so you can enjoy swimming in the river, stream, and inside the caves. The temperature inside the cave usually keeps at 18-23°C (65-73°F) in Winter, and 22-25°C (71-77°F) in Summer.

Summers here are hot… very hot. Average temperatures range from 32 – 40 degrees Celsius. There is a high level of humidity as well so please be prepared ahead of time. Check weather conditions carefully via a weather website such as accuweather.com about 7 days in advance to get the best idea of what the weather will be like during your tour. Plan to drink lots of water before, during, and after your tour. Consider bringing rehydration tablets with you to help keep your salts balanced as you sweat; your tour guide will also carry some for emergency situations.

Finally, don’t forget to pack a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and long sleeves that can be helpful to protect your skin from the sun. We recommend wearing long sleeves and requiring long pants even in the summer. While it may seem counterintuitive, it can actually help to keep you cooler and pants especially are a necessity to protect against elements like sharp rocks, prickly plants, insects, etc.

Oxalis offer different types of tours. Although you will still get wet from river crossings, it is not necessary to swim for Hang En, Hang Tien 1 day, or Son Doong. You do need to have basic swimming skills for any Tu Lan, Hang Va and Hang Ba tour. Life jackets will be provided by Oxalis and are compulsory for swimming inside the caves. Your tour guide and safety assistant can assist you in the swimming portions.

You DO NOT need any prior experience in rappelling/abseiling. On the Tu Lan Expedition tour, we do have an underground abseil, but before you do the abseil you will have a short practice with the abseiling equipment and full instructions and support from our internationally qualified guide & safety team.

No – we will provide for you all the necessary caving equipment, including helmet, harness, and rope where necessary. We will also provide for you a high-powered head torch for caving throughout each day, but please bring a small head torch that would be appropriate for around the campsite each night if you have one. Please check the itinerary and packing list for your tour clearly, to know what to bring. Regarding helmets, please do not place any GoPro mounts on our helmets as they increase wear and tear and void the manufacturer’s warranty.

The cave floor is anything but flat, it is very uneven. There will be slopes, climbs, rocks and giant boulders in places. Please expect to be traveling on this kind of terrain.

In all of our tours, you will be provided with a tent (single or double choices are upon request), sleeping bag with mattresses & pillow.The porters will carry these items to camp and set them up for you.

No. You do not need a water pump or purification tablets; your guide will have a high-quality water pump on him at all times for filtering water for you. Please do not fill your water bottle directly from the river! Instead, inform your guide when you need more water. Filtered and boiled water is provided in all campsites.

There will be a wide variety of different types of food served on all of our tours, and plenty of it. We are able to accommodate those with most dietary restrictions or preferences, but please notify us ahead of time so that we are better able to make accommodations for you in advance. It is easy for us to prepare vegetarian food. However, if you are vegan or gluten-free, we are able to accommodate your eating restrictions at mealtimes (if you advise us in advance), but it is more difficult during snack breaks. Please bring some of your own snacks (trail mix, nuts, protein bars, etc.) to make sure that you have snack options on hand for extra energy when needed.

Solo travelers are most welcome and make up a large percentage of most groups.

You are unlikely to come across anything too dangerous. The guide will always go first and a guide assistant or porter will always go last, so they would be first to spot any possible dangers.

You may come across a snake, but it’s a very rare chance of you being the first to see it. If you do come across one, do not play with it or attack it. There are poisonous snakes in Vietnam so do not take any chances. Spiders are not known to be dangerous in these parts of Vietnam. Caterpillars and centipedes can be irritating and sometimes dangerous so please do not touch these intentionally, or any other animal or insect.

You are likely to encounter leeches. They are not dangerous, just irritating. We tuck our long pants into our socks and this stops the majority of leeches. If you are unlucky enough to have been bitten by one, you will bleed for a while and that’s all. They do not seem to carry any infections but we always use a precautionary antiseptic after it has stopped bleeding.

The following tours require swimming:

• Tu Lan Experience (TL1)
• Tu Lan Cave Encounter (TL2)
• Hang Tien Endeavor Tour (HT2)
• Hang Tien-Tu Lan Discovery (HTL)
• Wild Tu Lan Cave Explorer (TL3)
• Tu Lan Expedition (TL4)
• Hang Va Expedition (HV2)
• Hang Tien Exploration (HT3)

If you’re not comfortable with swimming, we provide rafts as an alternative. Please note that all Tu Lan tours will follow an amended itinerary when the weather is extremely cold, and swimming will be limited or omitted at the tour guide’s discretion if the temperature drops below 18 degrees Celsius.

It’s entirely dependent on which tour you take. Please refer to the Quick Facts or Adventure Level under each tour description to see the distance you will cover.

Swimming requirements and lengths depend on which tour you join. Please refer to detailed itineraries on each tour’s webpage for exact lengths of the swimming portions. If you cannot swim at all, we recommend booking a tour with no swimming involved such as Hang En (EC2), Hang Tien Cave Day Trek (HT1), or Son Doong (SD4).

If you have just basic swimming skills, your tour guide and porter team can assist you in the swim sections. All customers are required to wear a life-jacket while on tour, regardless of swimming abilities. As mentioned in the previous answer, we do provide rafts for guests that don’t wish to swim.

There is nowhere where you actually need to squeeze. There are some points where the cave can be quite narrow, or the roof a bit low, but you will easily be able to pass.

Regardless of rain, campsites will remain the same and there will be a tarp covering the sleeping site.

Afternoon and evening activities will differ slightly depending on which tour/campsite you are at, but camp activities mostly involve getting settled into camp, eating dinner, and simply hanging out with your fellow travelers, tour guide, and porter team. You can choose to take part in games around the campfire, like card games, etc. Please also feel free to bring any small games along with you.

The number of participants per Adventure tour is subject to change at management’s discretion. There is an average of:

• 12 pax for Tu Lan Experience
• 12 pax for the Hang Tien Cave Day Trek
• 10 pax for the Hang Tien Endeavor
• 10 pax for Tu Lan Cave Encounter
• 16 pax per Hang En Adventure Cave
• 10 pax for Wild Tu Lan Cave Explorer
• 10 pax for Hang Tien Exploration
• 10 pax for Hang Tien-Tu Lan Discovery Tour

The number of participants per Expedition tour is set strictly and cannot be amended, specifically:

• 8 pax for the Tu Lan Expedition
• 10 pax for the Hang Va Expedition
• 10 pax for the Son Doong Expedition

These numbers are applicable to private tours as well.

Each tour also has a fixed number of tour guides and porters. In case a tour has more people or some special guests who need more support, we will arrange extra person(s) to ensure the safety of the group.

While climbing skills are a great asset, it is not necessary to have any technical climbing experience to join any of our tours.

Yes, there are bats in all of the caves. Please note however that the bats do not carry rabies or other infectious diseases, and they are harmless. We ask that you respect them (and all wildlife) by not touching them or disturbing them in any way.

While it varies how many sets you will want to bring depending on how long your tour is, we do recommend long sleeves and require long pants for the best protection in the jungle and caves. We absolutely recommend bringing extra warm clothes in winter (mid-November to mid-March). If you don’t have either, they are usually available for purchase at our Oxalis office.

Please refer to the packing list (“What We Will Provide/What You Need to Bring”) specific to the tour you have signed up for.

This is an extremely important consideration. The going underfoot is tough. Your footwear will get totally submerged many times a day on every tour (especially Tu Lan tours). There is a lot of scrambling over boulders so good grip and comfortable footwear is essential. It’s best to find a pair of trail running, shoes/boots with the softest and stickiest rubber possible, as this ensures the best grip. If you’d like to borrow a pair of our jungle boots, you are welcome to, but please note that they are minimalistic jungle army boots.

(Gore-Tex or waterproof boots are NOT recommended but, if you have a comfortable boot with a good grip and it happens to be Gore-Tex or waterproof, they are still acceptable.)

You cannot change your footwear for river crossings because wading takes place a lot during the trip. Please expect your feet to be wet for most of each day of your tour.

You will need a medium-sized backpack (25 liters) that contain your personal items: water, camera, sunscreen, bug spray, head torch that provided, etc. It’s also great if it can fit your helmet in (since you won’t need to wear it until reaching the cave). The porters will carry your change of clothes to camp for you. The rest of your luggage can be stored at our office and we also have a locker to store valuable items.

We will provide you with a semi-dry bag for all tours. This bag will contain all items you’d like with you during the day. A drybag is still a good consideration because you will never know when there could be surprise showers during your tour, regardless of the month of the year. It’s a good idea to have a dry bag for your backpack at least, due to the humid conditions in the jungle and cave, especially in the rainier months of February – early April.

Please do not place valuable items such as electronics or vital personal medication in the semi-dry bag, as Oxalis will not take responsibility for any leaks which may occur. A drybox will be provided for any electronic items at any swimming sections.

Please bring swimwear for Hang En, Hang Tien, and Tu Lan tours. We request that you do not wear your swimwear (especially bikinis) as you walk or lounge around camp, for the respect of our porter team. Swimwear can only be used for swimming pools at the campsites and not in the caves.

If you usually hike with trekking poles, please bring them with you, especially for Hang En. We do have a few sets available to borrow but cannot guarantee availability prior to your arrival.

You are welcome to leave behind extra luggage at our office. Anything you choose to leave behind will get tagged and placed securely in our locked storage room, however please note that Oxalis takes no responsibility for luggage or valuables left behind.

We will offer you the use of a 1L bottle at departure point. The water bottles will be refilled on tour with the use of our water filters.

Long-sleeved trekking shirts, short sleeve cotton shirts, trekking pants, Oxalis trekking sandal( Dép rọ) and bandanas can all be purchased at the Oxalis office (subject to availability). We don’t recommend relying solely on our merchandise in case we are out of your size or low on inventory. Some trekking equipment can now be purchased from a trekking gear and outdoors shop near the center of town. Otherwise, we only have a simple market here. Items you can find at our local market include things such as baby wipes, baby powder, socks, flip-flops, and hats. Please shop and pack accordingly prior to your arrival here.

Trekking shoes, specific personal medications, quality batteries, rechargers, and proper-sized backpacks all top the list of things that cannot be purchased here. Do not rely on buying anything here.

We require that you wear long pants and we recommend long sleeves in order to protect yourselves in many ways. You may encounter sharp rocks, thorny bushes, stinging plants, mosquitoes and more in the jungle; therefore, long pants and long sleeves provide added protection against these elements. Long pants must be worn inside the caves.

You are not allowed to go to the toilet inside any of the caves. We will provide a “composting” toilet at each campsite for you to go to the bathroom in (somewhat) comfort. The toilets are designed with a seat atop a steel box over a bucket, in an enclosed shelter for privacy. The composting toilets work with the aid of dried rice husks. After doing your business, you will scoop rice husks into the bucket, and the rice husks serve to compost everything and eliminate any smells. Please be generous with the rice husks and scoop enough to cover all waste (don’t put anything but toilet paper in the compost toilets!).

At meals and at the toilets in the camps, an alcohol hand gel will be available and you must use it to avoid getting sick! We also advise bringing your own antiseptic hand gel (preferably ethyl alcohol level of 70% or above, since this is not available to us here). Soap and water are also available outside all compost toilets.

Note: If you go to a bathroom and find that either the rice husks, toilet paper, hand gel, or soap and water are low or out, please notify your tour guide immediately.

If you cannot hold it until you reach a compost toilet, you may go to the toilet in an area of the jungle where no one can see you and far away from the river. Please do not leave behind any toilet paper that you use (we can provide you with sanitary bags at the start of your trek). Please place any other feminine hygiene products in these sanitary bags as well. The sanitary bags must be disposed of at the rubbish bins at the campsite.

Only the necessities please. These include toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, insect spray, and necessary medications. Ladies, please bring any feminine hygiene products that you may need on the tour with you from home. There are VERY limited options in the local market here and no options while on tour. Please pack accordingly for emergencies!

Please refer to our website online to see a list of the activities and places we recommend. Click here: Phong Nha Travel Tips.

If you need to change money in Phong Nha, you can try visiting AgriBank , located near the center of Phong Nha Town. Their hours are 8 – 11 am and 2 – 4:30 PM Monday-Friday (closed on weekend and all public holidays). They can only exchange USD, and the USD bills must be in perfect condition. In addition, you can visit the SacomBank or Vietinbank ATM in town. It is best to plan ahead and bring some VND with you prior to your arrival in Phong Nha.

It is most likely that you will need a visa to enter Vietnam. The Vietnam Visa exemption is granted to:

1. Citizens of Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos for visits of 30 days at the maximum.

2. Citizens of Philippines for visits of 21 days at the maximum.

3. Citizens of Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Finland, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belarus for visits of 45 days at the maximum.

4. Citizens of Brunei for visits of 14 days at the maximum.

5. Citizens of Chile, Panama holding valid diplomatic or official passports for visits of 90 days at the maximum.

6. APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Holders from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies for visits of 90 days at the maximum.

7. For those who travel to Phu Quoc Island – Vietnam : Foreigners and Vietnamese nationals bearing foreign passports who enter Vietnam through an international border gate and then travel to Phu Quoc Island and stay in Phu Quoc less than 15 days will also be granted Vietnam visa exemption. Passports must be valid for at least 45 days. After arriving in Phu Quoc Island, if visitors want to travel to other localities or stay in the island for more than 15 days, the immigration department will be responsible for issuing visas right on the spot.

If you have the time though, we highly recommend obtaining a 30 – 90 day visa so you have time to enjoy the beautiful country of Vietnam. There is so much to see and do!

Ultimately, please check with your embassy to see if Vietnam requires you to have a visa upon entrance to Vietnam. You will need to have the visa (or visa on arrival letter) ready to show to customs agents at both your departure and arrival airport.

We do not provide visas, invitation letters or visas on arrival (VOA), so please plan for this in advance independently. There are many online services available for a VOA. Please find official information about Vietnam Visa here: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.

Please note that the VOA only applies for those who enter Vietnam by AIR, you may have a long wait at the airport to pick up your visa, depending on how many other international flights land at the same time as yours.

If you are planning to enter Vietnam by other transportation, please contact the Vietnam Embassy Worldwide for visa assistance.

The busiest international airports in the country are Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh) and Noi Bai airport (Ha Noi). Both these airports have direct flights to Dong Hoi, Quang Binh (located 45 km from Oxalis office ).

Dong Hoi can be reached by plane with Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airlines, from either HaNoi or Ho Chi Minh City (other carriers are available on flights from HCMC).

You can also take an overnight train or bus from HaNoi which are both quite convenient, though it can be difficult or more expensive to arrange train tickets before arriving in Vietnam. You also have an option to take the train, bus or private car from Hue, Da Nang or Hoi An. When you arrive into Dong Hoi, please arrange a private transfer from Dong Hoi – Phong Nha for the price of 650,000 VND one way for a 7 seater car. You may refer to our Arrival & Departure Guide online for more information regarding travel to our region.

We highly recommend that you book your departing transportation prior to joining our tour, especially if you have a strict schedule to follow. It can be very difficult to book buses, trains or planes from within Phong Nha as travel agency businesses are transient here. Furthermore, many times of the year, transportation books out weeks in advance and we cannot book anything for you directly. Please have your departure booked ahead or plan on being very flexible about your onward travel plans.

Yes! Tet is the most significant holiday in Vietnam. Transportation will be shut down for about 5 days during Tet Holiday, and transportation for about a week on either side of the holiday is often booked out months in advance. If you are traveling at this time, please book your transportation as quickly as possible or you may get stuck with no way to reach us or no way to depart. Also, the market will be shut for up to one week around Tet Holiday so you will not be able to purchase anything whatsoever in Phong Nha. Please plan appropriately if you choose to join us for a Tet Holiday tour.

It is very important that you are an active person and that you are in good physical shape and health condition in order to join us for one of our tours. You should have recent experience trekking rough trails and camping in basic conditions. You can find the Physical Training Guide for Oxalis adventure tours here.

Please alert us in advance of any medical conditions you may have so that we can discuss with our resident Safety Experts if you will still be able to join one of our tours. Be advised that our tours take place deep in the wilderness, far from medical clinics or hospitals. The majority of medical conditions will not exclude you, so please be honest, we just want to keep you safe.

Malaria is extremely rare here; the only vaccinations that we would advise you obtain before your travels to our region would be typhoid and hepatitis A. However please consult a travel doctor in your area before joining us for final advice on appropriate medical preparation for your trip, especially if you are traveling to other areas in Vietnam.

The top concern is dehydration. Regarding dehydration, please make sure to drink enough water while on tour, especially when under the hot sun. Rehydration tablets are a great idea to keep your sodium and electrolyte levels stable. Foot rot, is a fungal foot infection, which rarely affects guests, but please take good care of your feet. It is important to dry your feet off when you get to camp and to apply anti-fungal or talcum powder if you have any. It’s best to wear flip flops or sandals around camp to let your feet dry. If you feel any blisters or sore spots developing on your feet, please ask for help before they spoil your tour.

We will be carrying a comprehensive first aid kit. The most commonly used item is Iodine for minor cuts and abrasions. We suggest that if you have any cuts, grazes or leech bites, that upon reaching camp you use the Iodine antiseptic on all the above to stop any chance of infection.

If you have any personal medication you must be responsible for it yourself but we would suggest giving us any spare in case yours is lost/damaged. If you carry an Epipen or any serious medication(s), please advise us in advance so that we can put you in touch with our Safety Expert Team prior to your tour. They will be able to further discuss health & safety measures with you.

Please bring any prescriptions or over-the-counter medications with you. Ours are just for use in emergency situations or if you run out. If you know that you need an anti-histamine or you regularly take an anti-inflammatory, please bring it with you. You should inform your guide team of any medications you are taking/carrying. If you are on any serious medications, please bring a set of spares and give one to a member of the cave expert team in the event that you lose or damage your first set during the tour. Also, please pack any vital medications with you in your check-on/handbag luggage when you travel, and keep your main set on you while on tour (instead of giving it to the porters to bring ahead to camp).

It is not advisable to drink the tap water here. In any restaurants, if you are served water, you will be served filtered water; ice will be made from filtered water as well. While out and about or in your hotel room, please only drink filtered or bottled water, and do not drink directly from the tap.

We actually won’t be sampling any foods or fruits directly from the jungle because we cannot predict if anyone may suffer from any allergies of wild jungle fruits and foods. We can assure you that plenty of delicious food will be provided at camp.

It is highly recommended that you purchase comprehensive medical and travel insurance to cover you for any unexpected accidents that may occur whilst on the tour, and this insurance should cover you for adventure sports including guided caving tours. Your insurance should also cover you flight delays or trip cancellations should you find that you cannot join us at the last minute, as we have a strict cancellation policy. We do not recommend any particular insurance provider but the following companies are ones which either customers in the past have purchased policies from or ones we have heard good things about:

World Nomads https://www.worldnomads.com/

Global Rescue https://globalrescue.com/

Regarding choosing a provider and a policy, you must research what best meets your individual travel needs. For foreign nationals aspiring to participate in the Son Doong Expedition, having medical insurance is compulsory.

Please declare any and all medical conditions to our team in advance, regardless of whether or not you may think it could affect you on tour. Our team needs to be adequately prepared for your safety, especially since our tours run so far from civilization. We will respect your privacy and keep your disclosures private (only necessary team members such as your tour guide will be advised).

Even if you are not an experienced photographer please bring a camera of some kind! For Tu Lan, you will receive a drybox to store your camera and electronics in to avoid getting wet while wading or swimming. If you have a large camera or long lens, please notify us in advance, as it may not fit into the drybox and you’ll need to make other arrangements for keeping it dry.

The best option to keep your camera charged is to bring extra batteries or battery packs, and make sure that they are fully charged before your tour departure. For many cell phones (particularly smartphones), there are external charger/battery packs/power banks that you can find quite easily online in order to recharge your phone while in the cave. Many people like to bring their smartphones (even though there is no signal!) so that they can upload a few photos straight to social media or send a few pics to their friends immediately upon their return.

No. you will be off the grid for the entire tour, so enjoy it! No emails to answer, Facebook notifications to check, or voicemails to return.

Please make sure you are familiar with any equipment you choose to bring, make sure that you have enough SD/memory cards for all the amazing photos and videos you’ll take, and make sure that you bring sufficient (fully-charged) battery packs for the duration of the trek.

We require customers to sign our Release Form to confirm they accept this is an adventure tour and they have to follow our guide’s instructions and safety rules. Customers also accept they have some responsibilities for their own safety.

Extra expenses that you are responsible for include international flights, domestic flights/travel to Dong Hoi, travel to Phong Nha, any trekking gear you need to purchase, extra hotels, medical/trip cancellation insurance, and any tips you may want to leave for our team.

Son Doong tour and the rest of Oxalis tours offer different cancellation policies. Also, join in tours and private tours offer different regulations. Please check the Booking conditions on website. If you booked, please view in your booking detail. This is the official term for your booking in case the term on the website changes by the time.

Environmental conservation and sustainable environmental practices are visible on every tour of Oxalis. Therefore, we organize small groups at a time and limit the total number of visitors allowed each year. We recommend booking your tour as far in advance as possible, as our tours fill up quickly.

You can view the availability for each tour on our website. There is a section Pricing & Availability at the bottom of each tour page. All available dates will be listed in bold. If you wish to depart for a tour on a date not listed on our schedule, you will contact us by email at: [email protected] for further explanation.

Your trip is made possible by a large team, including those you will see on tour such as guides, porters, cooks, and drivers, as well as behind the scenes crew including cleaning staff and stores people. Therefore, a tip would be very welcome. Some customers do not tip, some customers tip 10%, and some customers tip much more. We will collect any tips you’d like to leave on the return back to the office. The amount you tip should of course be based on the service and experience you receive. Tipping is not mandatory but highly appreciated.

The Son Doong Cave Expedition is considered difficult (highest level) and you must be physically active with regular trekking experience. Please check the Adventure Level section on the Son Doong Expedition page for more detailed information of what you have faced during the trip.

That picture (while breathtakingly beautiful) was arranged only for National Geographic, and it took several days to set up the shot. You will not abseil into the cave. Also, that photo was taken at one of the dolines, not the entrance to Son Doong. The entrance to Son Doong is a darker and more mysterious-looking place, but equally beautiful.

You will need to climb 90m in total to conquer the Great Wall of Vietnam.

There are three stages of climbing up the Great Wall of Vietnam. You will climb the first section using a fixed steel ladder then keep climbing using ropes for the next two sloping sections. By the time you reach the Wall of Vietnam, you will have had lots of practice with rope climbing. You will have a full briefing before climbing. You will be equipped with a full body harness during the climb and will be attached to a safety line controlled by our safety team. Members of the safety team will be at various points on the climb to help and encourage you. If you are at all nervous, please talk to our team. We are there to help you.

If you get tired, you can take a rest by sitting in your harness for a few minutes. Our safety team will approach you to help you out. We will arrange a break time between the climb (halfway up) for everyone to rest.

The entire trek is more than 30km but it’s impossible to answer exactly how much will be covered each day due to the many mountains and boulders that you must scramble over and around in the cave.

As with any adventure in the world, there are risks. However, safety is our top priority and there will be 6 safety team members looking after 10 guests. If you are nervous at any time, someone will always be with you. You will need to take extra care in certain places because although the path is wide, you will pass some big drops. This is why we expect people to have previous trekking experience and decent balance. We don’t recommend this tour for those with an extreme fear of heights or exposed routes. It’s critical that you always follow the instructions of your guide team so you are aware of the safest places to walk and also of any areas that are off-limits. Never wander from the group in the jungle or cave, especially without informing your guide team who will be able to assess any risks for you. This is a full adventure tour, but your well being comes first.

Anyone who is unable to comfortably complete any stage of the first day of trekking will be turned around to Phong Nha and will not be permitted to continue the expedition. If you, or a member of the cave expert/tour guide team decides you are physically unable to continue at this or any point, you will be escorted back to the trailhead at the top of the road and your tour will be considered concluded. Your accommodation on the last night and your transfer to Dong Hoi will still be provided for, but any costs of extra accommodation will be your responsibility. We also cannot provide an alternate tour free of charge should you need to return to Phong Nha earlier than scheduled, but we would be happy to give you recommendations for what to do in the area. We hope you understand, and we encourage you to be in your best physical condition to enjoy the entirety of the tour.

Because your feet are often wet, especially on the first and second days, which can cause a painful fungal infection on your foot. The use of anti–fungal foot powder can help prevent that.

Wet wipes are very important, especially at Campsite 1 (Day 3) and Campsite 2 (Day 4) in Son Doong cave where water supply is very limited and necessary for cooking and drinking. The wet wipes will help you clean yourself while bathing facilities are very limited at campsites.

The porters will carry your extra clothes, extra boots if you have them, and your toiletries. You should have this packed in time for the briefing, and our staff will deliver it to the porter team that night. The weight must not exceed 7kg.

You can store your luggage at our office. For any small valuables such as phones, laptops or wallets, please put them in another plastic bag with your name signed on the tape around, then we can secure them in our secure storage room. We will not be held responsible for items which are left inside your big bags. Also, do not bring with you anything of major value such as expensive jewelry.

Please bring with you a head torch to be used around camp. It does not need to be expensive or too bright, just bright enough to read in your tent and make your way around the campsite. The caving headlamps we supply you for the day must not be used around camp as they are far too bright and we have limited battery power. Please note that a handheld torch/flashlight does not take the place of a headtorch.

Please bring a signed copy of the Release Form, your backpack with the items the porters will carry for you, the footwear you plan on wearing on the tour, and any questions you may have for your guide team.

To ensure the safety and health of all guests participating in Oxalis Adventure tours, we require that guests not bring alcoholic beverages (such as wine, beer, and other types) or recreational drugs. If a guide, cave expert or safety assistant discovers that a guest has brought alcohol or recreational drugs, the guest will be required to end the tour without receiving a refund for the amount paid. Therefore, you should not bring any alcohol/beer on the tour.

We will provide 2 sleeping mattresses for you, but if you would like to bring your own mat such as a Therm-a-rest, feel free to do so. If you bring your own mat, it must fit in your plastic bag which the porters will carry for you. Your plastic bag may not exceed 7 kg.

If you wear contacts or glasses, please plan on wearing whichever you are most comfortable in on the tour, and bring the other as backup. Glasses can fog up in the humidity of the jungle or cave so some people prefer contacts.

There will be places to take a wash on a number of days during the trek, but you will not always have the opportunity to wash at the campsites. Therefore, we recommend you bring a lot of wet wipes to clean yourself at camp (a lot = no more than 100). We require that you only use soap/shampoo which is biodegradable & environmentally friendly.

Yes. If you’re travelling from the US/Europe, you should spend at least 2-3 days getting acclimatized and overcoming your jetlag prior to your trek. This is especially true if you will be arriving in the summer months, as it takes some time to get used to the intense heat from May – August. We have seen in the past that those who arrive directly from an international flight are very tired, unaccustomed to the humidity, and quite slow for the first few days. To get the most out of your trip, please arrive into Vietnam several days early. This is also helpful in case of international flight delays, which have caused customers to have to cancel their tour last minute. There’s plenty to do in Phong Nha if you arrive early and would like to proceed directly here.

This has never occurred before but you must accept the possibility that it could happen. If extremely heavy rains cause the river to rise, you could get delayed in the cave up to 24 hours (don’t worry, we have emergency supplies). To prepare for that unlikely but possible event, we suggest at least a few days extra in Vietnam prior to an international flight in case the trek is extended/delayed due to adverse weather. Since domestic travel is generally less costly to cancel or rearrange, you can have your outgoing domestic travel scheduled for any time after the end of the tour (however we take no responsibility if you need to rearrange travel plans for any reason).

Customers are expected to make it to Son Doong entrance without assistance. Anyone who cannot do so will be turned around. We maintain the right to turn around any customers who cannot follow safety, conservation, or trekking rules, and anyone who refuses to follow the instructions of the guide team. Customers who are turned around will not receive a refund of any kind. In the event of removal from a tour, Oxalis Adventure will not be responsible for any additional expenses incurred by customers (transportation, accomodation, etc).

Most medical conditions will not exclude you: please be completely upfront about whatever condition(s) you have so we can be best prepared to accommodate you. Please, do not lie on your medical form. If you have a condition that’s possible to accommodate, we will do everything we can to do so. If you have a medical condition that might preclude you from our tour, then we need to know ahead of time so that we can make an informed decision as to whether or not we think you’d be able to complete the tour, before you arrive. We are days away from any hospital and need to know your accurate situation.

If your health status changes between when your booking is approved and when you join us here, it is your responsibility to advise us of that so we can review your booking if necessary. Be advised that this tour is not for those with limited outdoor/trekking experience, those in poor medical condition, nor is it for children or expectant mothers.

Everything we ask is for your own safety, not to exclude you from any tour. Our tours are run in remote locations where medical care is limited to basic first aid. So if you have any medical condition, we want you and our guides to be prepared for anything.

Everything you tell us will be kept in confidence and only those who need to know will be informed. In particular, we need to know about any allergies, especially to food, so we can avoid those things.

Yes, there are bats in all of the caves. Please note however that the bats do not carry rabies or other infectious diseases, and they are harmless. We ask that you respect them (and all wildlife) by not touching them or disturbing them in any way.

You shouldn’t find any leeches inside the caves but they are present in the jungle, mostly on tours into Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. This includes the Hang En Cave Adventure, Hang Va Expedition, Hang Ba Deep Jungle Expedition and the Son Doong Expedition. You are unlikely to encounter any leeches on a tour to the Tu Lan cave system. Also, leeches are harmless and at most will give you an irritating bite. If you get any leech bites, let your tour guide know and he/she will apply an antiseptic once the bleeding stops.

This is a group tour, and not everyone will want to focus on photography, so please be patient, and respect other members of the group. You will need to work as a team to get the best images.

You can see details at Booking Conditions.

Your trip is made possible by a large team, including those you will see on tour such as guides, porters, cooks, and drivers, as well as behind the scenes crew including cleaning staff and store workers. Therefore, a tip would be very welcome. Some customers do not tip, some customers tip 5 – 10%, and some customers tip much more. We will collect any tips you’d like to leave on the return back to the office. The amount you tip should of course be based on the service and experience you receive. Tipping is not mandatory but highly appreciated.

Wearing a life jacket is a mandatory condition for everyone, even if you are confident about your swimming skill. Since the water flow is quite strong, some places have a lot of underwater rocks and the water will be cool. In some cases, the swimming distance will be long so life jackets are the best solution to ensure your safety. Furthermore, when using a life jacket, you would fully enjoy the feeling of floating on the water surface. At the pool in the campsites, if you are not confident with your swimming ability, life jackets are always available for you.

Torrent, rocks, broken branches or other obstructions in the water can hurt you if you jump from a height into the water.

The terrain in the forest and cave is quite complex, covering paths with muddy, steep slopes, or sharp rocks. Wearing shoes that you've worn and feel comfortable with will be the most convenient. If not, you can borrow terrain trekking shoes (basic quality) provided by Oxalis. Sandals or other types of thongs easily make you stumble with sharp stones, twigs, thorns, etc.

Electronics which you only use at the campsite should be given to the porters to go directly to the campsite. You can carry a camera or cell phone with your backpack. Before swimming, tour guides will collect all and then put them into the waterproof box, these devices will be absolutely safe during swimming.

Oxalis guides always carry satellite phones to communicate when necessary. Tour guides can assist you in making an emergency call.

On the way, there will be thorny trees, poison ivy, sharp stones or caterpillars. Moreover, some slippery roads can make you slip. Long-sleeved clothes can help you avoid getting scratches, bites, or heat shock and sunburn.

In the winter (Oct-Dec) and spring (Jan-Mar), it can be cold and rainy at some times, while in the summer (Apr-Jun), it is hot and humid. You should check the weather a few days before you join the tour for the best preparation. Tours are usually only affected by heavy rain or flood. In this case, it may be necessary to change the schedule or postpone the tour departure date.

To ensure that all members of the tour are physically equal, Oxalis Adventure Tour does not accept guests under 16 years old or over 70 years old. For the Son Doong Expedition, Hang Ba Deep Jungle Expedition, and Tu Lan Expedition, Oxalis requires guests to be between 18 and 70 years old. Children from 6 years old can join the Tu Lan Family tours with their parents if they meet the physical requirements approved by Oxalis experts.

Oxalis offers 2 tours for families with children, which are the 1-day Tu Lan Family Experience (minimum age of 6) and the 2-day Tu Lan Family Adventure (minimum age of 8). For children aged 12 and above, Oxalis will assess their physical condition to offer them the private Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour. The itinerary will be adjusted according to their physical condition.

Oxalis has tours that do not require swimming. If you really want to explore the water caves but you are not confident with your swimming skills, please discuss with your tour guide. Either the safety assistants will support you, or you can go by boat or raft.

Our team of tour guides and safety assistants are professionally trained in safety, rescue skills and conservation. In order to be safe from risks such as stinging plants or sharp rocks, and to protect the jungle and caves, it is essential you follow their instructions.

You are not allowed to swim in the evening because of the potential risks. The observation of animals is also not allowed because it can affect the temperament of nocturnal animals.

The helmets are specially designed to ensure your safety when trekking or caving. Many serious accidents occur when people fall and hit their heads. Due to the uneven and sometimes slippery terrain, there is a reasonable risk of falling.

If the water exceeds the allowed level for swimming, the boats will be arranged by Oxalis to take visitors through difficult sections. Our tour guides and safety assistants are well-trained to deal with cases of high water, so you only need to follow their instructions. At all times there are underwater rocks and tree branches which present a hazard. In high water conditions, the current will also be very strong. Therefore, everyone is required to wear a life jacket even when sitting on a boat.

To ensure visitors are unharmed, a safety assistant will keep an eye on the team whilst swimming at the campsite. Should anyone get into difficulty they will immediately be available to help. For the same reason we have lifeguards at swimming pools and beaches.

If you do not want to swim in winter, you can book a tour without any swimming (e.g. Hang Tien tour, Hang En tours). If you join tours that have swimming sections like Tu Lan, you can use a boat or raft if the weather is below 18 degrees.

The safety assistant team will always be willing to slow down to assist you whenever you need. You will only be turned around when tour guides or safety experts decide that you are not able to complete the itinerary, or it would be dangerous for you to continue, but this is very rare.

As long as you practice sports regularly and have good physical health, absolutely, it's no problem. Some trekking experience is useful to help you enjoy the tour more. Even with no caving or climbing skills you can still have a great experience with Oxalis. Get ready to explore!

All of the safety equipment used on tour are imported and quality accredited by cave experienced experts. The headlights provided by Oxalis are bright enough for visitors to easily move safely when swimming and exploring caves. You should not turn off your light when inside the cave unless suggested by the guide, for photography etc.

Ensuring safety for guests and staff has always been a top priority at Oxalis. Wearing the helmet reduces the risk of a head injury if anyone falls over. It is also used to hold your headlight in place on your head. Shoes will protect your feet from any sharp obstacles under the water.

You need to carry essential items such as a water bottle, a helmet, sunglasses, sun cream, cellphone, camera, personal medicines...You can refer to the “Preparation” section of tours on the Oxalis’s website.

For Tu Lan tours, Oxalis will provide a backpack for visitors as there will be a lot of swimming on the tour. The remaining tours such as Hang Son Doong, Hang En, Hang Tien, do not require swimming, therefore, you must prepare your own backpack.

Oxalis tours often take place deep in the mountains, therefore, it is almost impossible to receive telephone signals. However, you can still use your cellphone to film and capture memorable pictures. There is no electrical outlet in the forest or campsites, so you should bring a power bank and cable, or spare battery.

To ensure the safety and health of all guests participating in Oxalis Adventure tours, we require that guests not bring alcoholic beverages (such as wine, beer, and other types) or recreational drugs. If a guide, cave expert or safety assistant discovers that a guest has brought alcohol or recreational drugs, the guest will be required to end the tour without receiving a refund for the amount paid. Therefore, you should not bring any alcohol/beer on the tour.

To guarantee that guests obtain the best experience as well as for easier hiking over rough terrain, Oxalis will arrange porters to transport camping equipment and personal belongings for visitors to the campsite. Individual items that you consign to Oxalis Office will be sealed, marked, and stored carefully. Things you need to bring along the way includes a helmet, a headlight, a water bottle, gloves, sunscreen, personal medicines.

If you join a tour, you will need to stay with the team to ensure general safety and have the full experience. Oxalis always allows a lot of time to film, and take pictures in the most beautiful and safe areas. Our tour guides and assistants are experienced in setting scenes and lighting. Therefore, they will support you as much as possible.

No. Adventure tours include many activities with technical elements and wading is part of that. As this process is almost continuous, changing shoes is not feasible. During the hot summer months, the cool water is very pleasant can can help you avoid overheating.

No. We are on a nature conservation and exploration trip. Therefore, activities that affect the environment should be limited. In addition, eating forest fruits may cause unexpected allergic reactions.

Oxalis tours usually finish at around 5 PM -7 PM depending on weather conditions. In case you want to finish the tour early, you must hire an additional safety assistant to accompany you, and a private car will pick you up and transfer you to the airport or train station.

We are on an eco-tour, so we need to limit the activities that affect the environment. If you have a smoking habit, you can only smoke in designated areas. These are clearly marked in the campsites. Smoking is not allowed in the caves.

Oxalis always arranges enough guides and safety assistants to guarantee your safety. You should not leave the path (for example to go to the toilet) at any time without telling your guide. If somehow you get separated from the group, please stay still and call out regularly. The safety team will never be more than a couple of minutes away, and will come back to find you.

Because the trekking terrain varies considerably, there are sections that require climbing, crossing muddy trials, wading, or swimming. Therefore, shoes with strong sole, good grip, good drainage, and comfortable to wear are best for trekking in the forest. If you do not have such shoes, you can use the basic jungle boots that Oxalis provides. Please remember that you need a pair of long and high-quality socks to avoid getting blisters when wearing our shoes for the first time.

If it is forecast to be cold, you will be informed by a consultant to prepare windbreakers, waterproof jackets or warm sweaters/fleeces. (you can buy some jackets at Oxalis office prior to departure, please inform staff to reserve). When camping in the jungle or cave, you will be provided with a tent underneath a waterproof shelter, and 2 sleeping bags. If you are not sure how best to use the sleeping bag please ask your guide. There will be a campfire and hot drinks in the campsite.

Under normal circumstances, each person needs 2 to 5 liters of water per day. When trekking, it will depend on the difficulty of the tour, your fitness and the weather conditions. You should drink small amounts regularly and always ask your guide if you run out of water.

You will be moved to a shady place and then you should drink water slowly with small sips. Additional electrolytes/rehydration tablets such as Oresol can be used. Then rest until recovered enough to continue. However, the tour guide will ensure there will be many resting spots in the shade (under the tree canopies or in the cave). The tour should be an experience, not a race, so take your time. we can take a break at any time to rest, cool down and drink water. If you follow your guides instructions you will be fine.

Oxalis campsites are located near rivers and streams, so the water is constantly flowing, which reduces mosquitos. Disinfection is conducted daily so there are very few mosquitoes. Malaria is also very rare in these areas. You should however wear long-sleeved clothing during the tour, to prevent any insect bites.

Leeches only occur on rainy or wet days. They are found in the jungle where the ground is damp, absolutely not in the water. Leech bies do not transmit disease and are not harmful to the body. If you have a leech on you, simply use a mosquito spray or use a stick or your fingers to remove it. If you don’t want to touch it one of the team will remove it for you. Any bites will be disinfected.

The guide or safety assistant will always be in front and check for any bees. If you know you are allergic to stings, you should always wear long trousers and a long sleeved shirt to protect yourself. If you have had reactions before you should probably bring your own medication with you. For emergencies we carry antihistamine tablets and cream.

If your arm has fully healed and has normal function, that should not be any problem. If you have any difficulties with your arm you should discuss with the sales consultant to find the most suitable tour.

Son Doong tour is designed to enable most people to be able to join. You do not need to have caving or climbing experience, but you do need to be fit, have trekking experience and be able to handle rough and rocky terrain. There are 6 safety assistants, 1 cave expert, and 1 tour guide to support the group during the tour, however you are expected to be able to trek to Son Doong entrance without any assistance, and carrying your own backpack.

Oxalis has been running treks for over 10 years now, including team building with large groups. You should discuss your requirements with the sales consultant, who will advise you. For conservation and safety reasons, not all treks will be available, but we can design an itinerary to suit your needs.

Oxalis offers two tours for families with children: the 1-day Tu Lan Family Experience (minimum age of 6) and the 2-day Tu Lan Family Adventure (minimum age of 8). Please note that Oxalis Tours does not accept guests over 70 years old.

In addition to being the pioneer of adventure tours, Oxalis is also the first company to organize team building programs that combine cohesion and survival games, unique activities such as rowing, climbing, swimming in the darkness, cave exploration,...The maximum number of participants is 100 people with a program of 1 day, 2 days 1 night, and 3 days 2 nights. Please discuss your requirements with a sales consultant.

Oxalis Tours depart weekly, from November to September. Every season has its own beauty. If you enjoy the warm atmosphere by the fire, prefer trekking in cool weather and taking beautiful pictures of spring scenery, you should join the tour in the winter and spring (from November to March). If you enjoy the hot weather and summer conditions, you should join the summer and autumn tours (from April to September).

The average temperature in caves changes with the seasons, ranging from 22 to 28 degrees Celsius. When camping in caves, you are provided with 2 layers of the mattress, 1or 2 sleeping bags depending on the season, a tent with an outer windproof and waterproof shelter. However, you can still bring a windbreaker and a warm jacket if needed. Please check the weather forecast for your tour dates.

Our campsites are located near streams or pools and try to make the most of any breezes. Tents have front and back doors, so you can open both to allow the cool air to enter. If you find the heat really difficult, you can consider bringing a small battery operated fan for the nighttime.

Mosquitos are not common in the campsites, however if you are sensitive to bites please wear long sleeves and use insect repellent. The tent is designed with 2 doors with an inner mosquito net.

Oxalis will always monitor the weather forecasts closely through all seasons. The characteristics of the caves and rivers are well known when deciding on tour itineraries. Visitors will not be taken into any caves which have a risk of flooding if heavy rain is forecast. During the rainy season (from mid-September to the end of October), Oxalis will close tours to ensure safety. In case of any unexpected rise in water levels, all guides and safety assistants have received training in safe river crossing techniques. Safety items such as lifejackets, floating ropes and throw bags will be utilised. Rafts and boats are available in all areas.

Satellite phones can also be used to request further assistance from headquarters. If necessary more staff will go in to assist guests coming out. However Oxalis policy is to prevent any such incidents as much as possible.

The tours such as Tu Lan, Hang Tien, or Hang En and Son Doong go through the villages of ethnic minorities. When stopping here, you will be introduced to the cultural features and their life.

Oxalis is the first company to develop adventure tourism in Vietnam. With a team of English safety experts with over 30 years of caving and rescue experience, the staff are well-trained and now have over 10 years of experience. Equipment is purchased from Europe and meets European standards for caving and climbing equipment. Oxalis offers a wide range of tours with many different activities such as climbing, swimming in dark caves, exploring caves and wildlife, indigenous culture,etc. Oxalis is a reliable company focussing on safety and quality.

In addition to transport services for the tour, Oxalis provides shuttle services before and after the tour upon request.

Oxalis tours are often sold online up to a year before departure and many customers pre-book so you should book as soon as possible to ensure you get the tour you want.

You should be at the Oxalis office by 7.00 AM for 1-day tours, 7.30 AM for overnight tours. If you are staying in Phong Nha, Oxalis will pick up at your hotel or homestay.

According to Decree 36/2008 / ND-CP, flycam operations in the Vietnamese territory require a license from the Operations - The General Staff. Licensing procedures are prescribed in Article 9 of this Decree. Anyone without a license cannot fly a flycam. In addition we do not allow flycams on join in tours.

At Oxalis' briefing points, we also sell long-sleeved trekking clothes with lightweight, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying materials. 100% of the revenue from this will be transferred to the Oxalis Foundation to support the construction of floating houses, schools, scholarships for children, essential construction works such as toilets,etc for indigenous people. Please contact the sales consultant in advance to order clothing sizes.

There is nothing you really have to squeeze through, but some sections may be quite narrow. You will always have the support and encouragement of the guide and safety team.

The majority of wild animals are actually very shy and do their best to avoid contact with humans. We may encounter snakes, but a guide or safety assistant will always go in front to check for them. Please follow their instructions if you meet a snake.

We may also find centipedes, caterpillars, mosquitoes and bees, which can sting or irritate the skin, plus poison Ivy and sharp thorny plants. Leeches are often present in the jungle. They do not carry any disease so you should not worry about them. Long pants, long sleeves, and thick socks. will protect you.

In general, excessive rain during the dry season does not affect water levels too much. All guides are trained in river crossing techniques and river rescue with the assistance of safety equipment. Therefore, absolute safety will still be ensured. We always pay attention to local weather forecasts. Besides, campsites, tents, toilets, changing tents all have roofs.

If we are experiencing cold weather, we recommend that you prepare some extra warm clothes to wear during your trek and at the campsite. Also we may reduce swimming sections and use the boats and rafts.

The consultants will update you about the weather when you are booking the tour. In the summer months, the temperature will often be 35°C and sometimes nearly 40°C. You should always prepare suitable sun protection in the summer (hats, sun cream, sun glasses etc). Swimming is done on most tours, which makes it easy to cool down.

Son Doong is the tour with the highest adventure level - level 6 in Oxalis' tower of adventure levels. This tour has complex terrain, many areas require the use of specialized equipment such as ropes and harnesses. Therefore, cave experts always join the tour to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. Equipment is always checked before use.They also supervise other tours such as Tu Lan, Hang Va, Hang Tien, etc to regularly check the safety equipment as well as ensure that the guides and safety assistants perform safety techniques correctly.

In some vertical sections, it is imperative to install a ladder. In areas where ladders are more than 4m meters high or in hazardous areas, safety measures are in place to ensure that visitors are not in danger, in the event of a fall or slip. In those areas guests will be attached to a safety rope connected to a safety device (Grigri) which prevents them falling.

When climbing the wall, staff and guests will all use the same rope to climb up. The only difference is the way in which people are protected. Staff have great experience and extensive training in a system of self protection. They will attach themselves to the safety line with a device called an ASAP. Should they slip, this device will lock itself on the rope and stop them falling. Staff are trained to deal with this situation and continue climbing safely.

Guests do not have the experience or training to use this system, so the safety line will be attached to their harness, and controlled by members of the safety team. Should the guest have any difficulties the safety team can deal with any issues and get the guest safely and easily up the Wall. Also should anyone get tired, the safety line allows them to rest, and also allows staff to give them some assistance when climbing.

Since inception, Oxalis has developed an emergency response plan for many situations such as accidents, bites by insects, illnesses, and other situations. Oxalis has an agreement with local and provincial hospitals to coordinate an emergency response; this process is reviewed and updated regularly. Our tour guides, safety assistants, and porters are well-trained on how to use specialized equipment and rescue skills. Should a rescue be necessary, we will evaluate the scene to prepare personnel, necessary equipment and request support from headquarters. The campsites are always equipped with a stretcher and first aid kit. The ambulance and doctors will cooperate with Oxalis to activate an emergency response mechanism immediately when a situation occurs. Oxalis policy is always that ‘prevention is better than cure’ so we always try to avoid any dangerous situations and prevent accidents.

Should the injured person be unable to walk, safety teams will use a stretcher to move them out of the jungle or cave as quickly as possible. Doctors will be sent in to meet them along the way. An ambulance will wait at the pick-up location to transfer to the nearest hospital.

This depends on where an accident is and the location of the tour, usually the rescue process will take several hours. However, all our tours are risk assessed and the aim is to avoid any incident in the first place.

No, we will provide all the technical equipment necessary for all caving activities. All our equipment is imported from Europe and meets European Safety Standards. It is inspected every time before use, so you do not need to worry about the condition of the equipment.

Before you use any equipment you will receive full instructions from the guide or caving expert. All technical sections will be supervised, and the safety team will operate the life lining equipment.

We provide lights by Pezl and Hope, according to the tour. Petzl lights are waterproof and ideal for wet caves. Hope lights are very bright and excellent for the huge passages in Son Doong Cave. We always carry spare lights and batteries.

Everything we ask is for your own safety, not to exclude you from any tour. Our tours are run in remote locations where medical care is limited to basic first aid. So if you have any medical condition, we want you and our guides to be prepared for anything. Everything you tell us will be kept in confidence and only those who need to know will be informed. In particular, we need to know about any allergies, especially to food, so we can avoid those things.

Common problems are dehydration/heat stroke, sprains, scratches, grazes and blisters. Make sure you drink enough water, protect yourself from the sun and sharp rocks.

No, you do not need a first aid kit, we always carry one. However, if you need any particular medication, you should bring enough with you. Be aware that not all brands of medication are available in Vietnam. If you have a pre-existing problem, you should also bring enough dressings, supports etc. We will provide any necessary items for injuries sustained on tour.

Oxalis will provide filtered and boiled water in all the campsites. Each group will have a water filter with them in case you need more water during the day’s trek.

Oxalis staff always carries analgesics, bandages, antiseptics, medical scissors, and tweezers, etc so they can give first aid to customers when needed. Our tour guides, safety assistants, and porters are trained annually on first aid, and certified by domestic and international organizations.

In case you are sick or not strong enough to complete the tour, we will assist you out of the jungle and provide an interpreter if you need a doctor, but a refund will not be given because all costs were covered on the tour.

Information about health conditions and allergy of the customer is necessary so that we can advise guests on the appropriate tours and assist them with the best expeditions.

Diseases such as diarrhea, vomiting, or viruses often spread quickly through handling food with dirty hands. So it is necessary to wash your hands after the bathroom and before meals to avoid the spread of these diseases. Toilet and eating areas are always available with soap and water or alcohol hand wash to ensure everyone is safe.

Food is always purchased from reputable suppliers. Some items are purchased daily before the tours, others are supplied frozenFood will be resupplied daily according to the above rule for overnight tours. Staff such as chefs, assistant cooks are well trained and certified in food hygiene.

Oxalis disinfects the campsites regularly after each tour. Oxalis has started this work since 2014.

All camping equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, pillows, etc. are changed after each tour.

Oxalis uses the Watts Water Technologies water filtration system imported from the United States with a 4-core filter system and certified by Water Quality Association WQA according to NSF/ANSI 42 and NSF/ANSI 53. This system qualifies for direct drinking. Besides, at the campsites, boiling water is always available so guests can drink tea or coffee.

All toilets on the Oxalis tour are “compost” toilets. Waste and toilet paper will be put in plastic buckets, then covered with the rice husks to compost everything and eliminate any smells. This waste will be removed from the toilet to the composting pit outside in the forest and composted with probiotics. This process will turn waste into biofertilizer, which is good for trees.

Oxalis staff will have cleaned and inspected the tent before it is supplied for the tour. Staff who set up the tents will double check them before the guests arrive...

Currently, Oxalis offers a vegetarian, vegan and non-wheat menu. Please check the menu in the email for details. If necessary, you can bring some food for yourself.

Every footstep can affect the growth of stalactites or the habitat of cave creatures. Therefore, following the predetermined path will minimize the impact and damage.

No, you are not allowed to step on any calcite formations. In some places the path has to cross such an area, but this will be marked and you should not go outside the markers. Taking specimens from caves is not allowed and unacceptable because it impacts the formation and regeneration of cave stalactites. Oxalis operates sustainable tourism, so everything should be left untouched for future visitors. Please follow the instructions of the tour guides and safety assistants.

Most visitors prefer to enjoy the tranquility and natural sounds of the animals and wild mountains. Making loud noises in the cave or campsites can impact cave creatures. If this happens frequently, it will cause the animals to move away from their natural habitat or change their normal behaviour.

Oxalis tours are built on the core value of sustainability so the hunting of wild animals is strictly prohibited. As is the removal of plants, flowers, seeds or fruit.

On average, each tour of Oxalis has about 10 guests. We want to offer guests the best quality experience, ensure their safety and minimise the impact on the forest and caves.

Shampoos, anti-bacterial hand sanitizers etc are discouraged on Oxalis tours to minimize the impact on the natural environment. We do not want to pollute the streams and rivers. We offer biodegradable bags or reusable plastic bottles to limit waste.

Organic waste will be placed in composting pits before burying in the forest as fertilizer for the trees. Inorganic waste will be removed from the forest for environmental companies to handle.

This can help visitors easily identify the way that does not affect the surrounding area.

Overnight campfires or the use of firewood are strictly restricted as this can affect the ecosystem.