Son Doong Cave featured on CBS 60 Minutes - America’s flagship investigative news program

When stories of nature are told not only through breathtaking imagery but also through science, history, and human connection, Son Doong Cave continues to attract the world’s leading media projects. From January 14 to 17, 2026, the production team of CBS 60 Minutes selected Son Doong as the sole filming location for a large-scale, in-depth report dedicated entirely to the world’s largest cave - its discovery, exploration, and extraordinary values.

The filming trip was organized in close coordination with Oxalis Adventure and involved a nine-member team, including producers Nicole Young and Jonathan Partridge, correspondent Scott Pelley, CBS’s professional camera and lighting crew, and renowned photographer Ryan Deboodt. The report retraces the discovery of Son Doong Cave and the long-term exploration efforts led by the British Cave Research Association, from early surveys to advanced scientific research. This project offers a rare opportunity to present Son Doong in a comprehensive and authoritative manner to millions of viewers worldwide.

CBS 60 Minutes and its global influence

For more than 5 decades, CBS 60 Minutes has stood as one of the most influential long-form investigative journalism formats in global television. The program airs regularly at 7:00 PM ET on Sunday nights in the United States. The structure of each episode typically consists of three distinct segments covering hot-button global issues. In this broadcast, alongside the centerpiece "Wonder of the World" featuring Son Doong, viewers will also see "Inside the Tower"- an analysis of the pressure on U.S. air traffic control centers following recent aviation incidents - and "Unmanned," a report by Holly Williams on the drone warfare in Ukraine. The quality and journalistic standards of the program have been recognized with over 120 Emmy Awards and multiple prestigious Peabody Awards. 60 Minutes is regarded as the gold standard of high-end television journalism, where every story undergoes rigorous fact-checking and meticulous production.

Today, the program maintains a regular audience of more than 8 million viewers per episode, with additional reach across global digital platforms, particularly in North America. Every broadcast carries significant influence not only in media impact, but also in academic, scientific, and public awareness spheres.

Within this context, the decision to film at Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is expected to generate meaningful global attention, helping bring Hang Son Doong and Vietnam’s natural heritage into deeper international focus. The feature on Son Doong Cave has been completed and is scheduled to air at 7:00 PM on March 29, 2026 (local time), which corresponds to 6:00 AM on March 30, 2026 in Vietnam. Notably, the program’s presence in the U.S. market offers a rare opportunity to promote Vietnam through the lenses of science, history, and human stories—ensuring both high credibility and long-lasting impact.

What stories of Son Doong will be told to 8 million viewers?

The Son Doong Cave report is led by Scott Cameron Pelley, one of CBS News’ most respected and experienced correspondents. Known for his direct reporting style and thoughtful storytelling, Pelley has received numerous prestigious journalism awards, including Emmy, Peabody, and Edward R. Murrow honors.

In this special report, Pelley and the 60 Minutes team take viewers back to the cave’s extraordinary discovery, beginning with the chance encounter by Mr. Ho Khanh in the 1990s. While foraging in the forests of Phong Nha, he came across a massive cave entrance hidden deep within the jungle. That moment marked the beginning of a long journey connecting local communities with international explorers, leading to the first expeditions by the British Cave Research Association.

The documentary vividly portrays the immense challenges involved in accessing Son Doong, from treacherous terrain and extreme weather to the inherent risks of cave exploration. Alongside the human story runs a carefully constructed scientific narrative, explaining the cave’s geological significance, its formation over millions of years, and its vast underground river system within the limestone massif.

The report also captures Son Doong’s unique ecosystem, from its primeval jungle to its vast subterranean rivers. All of these exist within a distinct microclimate, largely isolated from the outside world.

At the heart of the story is Ho Khanh, the cave’s discoverer and the central figure linking local knowledge with international scientific exploration. He reflects on his lifelong connection to the forest and the discovery that changed his life. Alongside him are leading explorers and scientists, including Peter MacNab, the first to survey Son Doong; Darryl Granger, who provided the scientific framework for dating and understanding the cave’s formation; and Martin Holroyd, a cave diving specialist who explored Son Doong’s underground river system reaching depths of 70 meters.

Through the distinctive journalistic lens of 60 Minutes, the documentary does more than showcase a natural wonder. It tells a story of perseverance, collaboration, and knowledge, where humanity, science, and nature intersect in one of the most remarkable exploration narratives of the modern era.

Filming operations and Oxalis’ coordinating role

During the CBS 60 Minutes filming at Hang Son Doong Cave, Oxalis Adventure played a central role in coordination, technical support, and safety management throughout the production. The support team consisted of 49 porters, led directly by Ho Khanh, Head Porter of Son Doong, along with 6 safety assistants, 2 safety specialists, and 1 guide. Given Son Doong’s challenging terrain and sensitive natural environment, Oxalis managed all logistics, from movement and equipment transport to lighting support, scene setup, and personnel coordination, under strict operational protocols aligned with international safety standards.

In parallel, Oxalis worked closely with the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park Management Board and relevant authorities to ensure full compliance with heritage conservation regulations. Filming activities were tightly controlled to minimize environmental impact, protecting the cave’s primeval forest, underground rivers, and fragile microclimate.

This operation was built upon Oxalis’ extensive experience supporting scientific expeditions and large-scale international media productions. Previously, Oxalis assisted BBC’s Planet Earth III, filming across Son Doong, Hang En Cave, and Hang Va Cave for over 20 days with more than one ton of equipment. The company has also collaborated with Good Morning America (ABC News), National Geographic, CNN Travel, Alan Walker’s Alone Pt. II music video, the Hollywood film Pan: The Neverland, and most recently, the first Bollywood film ever shot inside Sơn Đoòng - SILAA.

These real-world experiences enable Oxalis to meet complex technical demands while maintaining a careful balance between international media production and heritage conservation.

Media value and long-term significance for Phong Nha - Ke Bang

CBS 60 Minutes’ decision to film at Hang Son Doong is widely regarded as a landmark media event for tourism in Phong Nha - Kẻ Bàng. With its global reach and millions of loyal viewers per episode, the documentary is expected to provide a strong boost to tourism promotion in 2026, while further reinforcing Son Doong’s status as a global icon of adventure and nature-based exploration.

Beyond destination marketing, the documentary holds long-term value as a high-quality media archive grounded in scientific depth and journalistic credibility. Through its disciplined storytelling approach, 60 Minutes contributes to raising international awareness of the geological, ecological, and conservation significance of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang World Natural Heritage Site, helping shape a global image aligned with responsible and sustainable tourism.

Oxalis sincerely thanks the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park Management Board, relevant authorities, and local government for their close cooperation and support in ensuring the project was conducted safely, responsibly, and in full compliance with regulations. We also extend our gratitude to the CBS 60 Minutes production team, international explorers, and scientists who accompanied us throughout the filming process at Son Doong Cave. This collaboration forms a vital foundation for sharing the natural, scientific, and human values of Son Doong and of Phong Nha - Ke Bang as a whole with the global community.

To support media coverage, Oxalis Adventure is pleased to provide a collection of images featuring the cave systems showcased in the report. Access the folder here: [Link folder]

The Oxalis Experience.