Tu Lan Experience Tour

Tu Lan Experience is a one day trekking tour. During this cave experience tour you will discover the unspoiled beauty of the Tu Lan Cave System - once the film set for the Hollywood blockbuster - Kong: Skull Island (2017). Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts once declared: "The world will see how beautiful Tu Lan is, they will come, experience and love Tu Lan as I did".

    The highlights include:

  • Trek through legendary valleys: Embark on an unforgettable journey through two vast, stunning valleys—Tan Hoa and Hung Ton. Traverse sweeping emerald fields encircled by dramatic limestone karsts, crowned with untouched, primeval jungle. This is the authentic heart of Vietnam's wild nature.
  • Discover a hidden underground kingdom: Plunge into a subterranean world as you explore two magnificent caves, Rat Cave and Hung Ton Cave. Marvel at unique, millennia-old formations—towering columns, delicate stalactites, immense stalagmites, and shimmering cave pearls. These chambers feel less like caves and more like natural, magnificent cathedrals.
  • The ultimate cave challenge: Prepare for the most unique part of the adventure—cave swimming through the cool, pitch-black underground river. Fully equipped with headlamps, you'll immerse yourself in a world untouched by natural light, fueled only by a sense of mystery and pure exploration. It's an experience that will ignite your inner adventurer.
  • Refreshing finale: Emerge from the darkness to the glorious sunlight and celebrate your journey with a refreshing dip. Take a leisurely swim in the cool, crystal-blue lake formed right at the exit of Hung Ton Cave, letting the gentle current carry you as you soak up the breathtaking, unspoiled beauty of the valley.
  • A journey that transforms lives: Beyond the natural splendor, your presence contributes to a powerful story of community resilience and growth. Sustainable tourism has played a key role in transforming Tan Hoa, driving the poverty rate down from 85.7% in 2010 to just 2% in 2024. This expedition supports vital initiatives, including the construction of floating houses and septic toilets to improve local living standards. Furthermore, Oxalis is committed to future generations, sponsoring free open swimming and safety training to over 300 children in Tan Hoa and along the Rao Nan River every year.

Itinerary

The Tu Lan Experience tour schedule may be adjusted according to the weather conditions. The trek can be quite muddy and slippery when it rains

Download the itinerary

Morning: Tan Hoa - Explore Rat Cave - Hung Ton Cave (dry branch)

You should be in Phong Nha before 07:00 AM on the tour day to ensure on-time departure. Oxalis provides dorm rooms with 6 comfortable beds available at Oxalis Home (Oxalis Office) for those who arrive in Phong Nha early in the morning of the tour and want to rest a bit before the tour (please inform us in advance if you want to use the free dorm room service).

Between 07:00 and 07:30 on the morning of departure, the guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Phong Nha town, and take the group to the Oxalis office in Tan Hoa Village, 70 km from Phong Nha. At the office, the guide will give you a short briefing about the trekking itinerary and safety regulations. You will sign the RELEASE FORM, and receive the necessary safety equipment.

After the briefing, the group will start walking through the flat corn and peanut fields toward the Rao Nan River. You will cross the river and go up a small slope to get to the entrance of Rat Cave. Here, you will be provided with helmets, headlamps, and safety equipment to explore Rat Cave for about 300m long. This cave has many beautiful stalactites and a soaring dome with a unique heart-shaped structure.

After exploring Rat Cave, the group returns to the cave entrance for a light snack to recharge. Following this, you will begin the journey to conquer "Baby Hill," which stands at an elevation of about 60m. Once over the hill, the group will continue trekking across Hung Ton Valley to reach the dry passage of Hung Ton Cave.

Afternoon: River Passage of Hung Ton Cave - To Mo Valley - Tan Hoa

Guides will assist guests in putting on safety harnesses to descend a 15-meter ladder inside Hung Ton Cave. Here, the group will continue exploring the cave passage and witness firsthand the fossils of marine species dating back millions of years.

The group will then move to the river passage, equip life jackets, and double-check personal belongings. You will experience swimming through the underground river to reach the cave's exit. Opening up before your eyes is the incredibly picturesque To Mo Valley. Here, the group will enjoy lunch and have free time to swim and relax in the emerald-green stream before starting the trek back.

The 1-day Tu Lan expedition concludes with a journey across lush green valleys and fields. Upon returning to the Oxalis Tan Hoa office, guests can shower, relax, and enjoy some refreshing cold drinks. The car will then transfer the group back to Phong Nha between 18:30-19:30, officially ending a unique and impressive trekking adventure.

Suggested itinerary before and after the tour:
To ensure the best preparation before your journey or to unwind after the expedition, Oxalis suggests staying at Chay Lap Farmstay, featuring premium rooms, a swimming pool, spa, kayaking, cycling, and more. A special discounted rate for Oxalis customers is 1,000,000 VND/room for 2 people. Check availability here: chaylapfarmstay.com

During your time in Phong Nha, the Phong Nha Caves Exploration Museum (open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, free admission) is a must-visit destination. Here, you can experience the Son Doong 5D VR technology for 500,000 VND per ticket. All proceeds from this activity are contributed to the Oxalis Foundation to support local community projects, making your journey even more meaningful.

Weather and Climate in Tu Lan - Tan Hoa area

The Tu Lan - Tan Hoa area has 4 seasons in a year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter). Due to the weather and for conservation, Tu Lan Experience tours are only operated from November to mid September yearly. From December to March the weather will sometimes be cold interspersed with sunny days. April and May are spring months with cool air.

From June to August, are the warm months of summer. However, most of the time visitors trek under the forest canopy or inside the cave with a temperature of 22 to 25 degree Celsius. This is also a perfect time to enjoy swimming in the clear blue streams. The Tu Lan Experience is the ideal itinerary for your one day Quang Binh cave discovery tour.

Each season has its natural features to enjoy, and visitors can check the weather at Tan Hoa or Tu Lan via "Accuweather" before joining an Oxalis Adventures caving tour.

The weather & climate in Tan Hoa, Minh Hoa area

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Adventure level on tour

After many years of operating trekking adventures, Oxalis has created an adventure scale to help tourists visualize and choose the right cave experience for their fitness and health. This scale is not to be applied to other companies with different conditions and terrains. The easiest level anyone can join and the most difficult level 6 requires regular exercise and some trekking experience. The Tu Lan Experience Tour is easy (level 2) and suitable for reasonably active people who enjoy the outdoors.

Adventure Level 2 · Easy
Number of guests per tour: Maximum 12 guests; Age 16-70 years old.
Expect: Easy trails, some rocky sections & optional swim

  • Easy to moderate trekking
  • 9km trek through valleys forest and river crossing
  • 800m cave exploration; elevation gain 120m
  • 15m ladder climbing with a safety rope and harnesses, operated by the safety team.
  • 150m swimming in underground river with a life vest provided by Oxalis
  • Swimming and wading at the waterfall
Adventure Level

Terrains

The tour takes place in remote areas with complex terrains. Customers must be physically fit. Please carefully read the tour itinerary and honestly fill out the booking information yourself, especially your experience and health condition.

TL1 trekking graph

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Physical fitness requirements for Tu Lan Experience Tour

The basic physical fitness requirements for participating in the Tu Lan Experience Tour include:

  • Trekking experience requirements: Having experience in trekking and camping in the forest is an advantage.
  • Fitness Preparation: Regularly participating in physical activities (such as yoga, swimming, hiking, running, stair climbing, gym, and some other sports to maintain physical fitness). This ensures that they are able to:
    - Run continuously for 3 kilometres within 30 minutes.
    - Climb 5 floors continuously without experiencing shortness of breath or dizziness.

Guests aged 16 to 70 are permitted to join the Tu Lan Experience Tour, which demands good physical fitness and prior trekking experience. Those with experience in mountain trekking and good physical health, as well as those who engage in regular sports training, could easily complete this tour.

Some guests on the Tu Lan Experience Tour may find it not particularly challenging, while others may encounter difficulties and require assistance from many safety assistants to complete the tour. The tour regulations allow safety experts and/or guides to temporarily suspend the journey, and escort guests out of the forest if significant difficulties are encountered on the itinerary. Refunds or rescheduling are not applicable in such cases.

For more information on the necessary physical activities for a successful trip, please refer to: https://oxalisadventure.com/getting-ready-oxalis-tour/.

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Safety when joining the tour

This is always the top priority of Oxalis Adventure to ensure the safety of both visitors and Oxalis’ staff on any trip, including one day adventures. We only use high-quality equipment meeting international standards, mainly imported from France, the UK, and Switzerland. The tour guides must undergo professional training and be tested for skills regularly. Only qualified guides may lead an Oxalis tour. Visitors can learn about the "safety management" and " safety equipment" that Oxalis uses here.

Dangers, risks and how to avoid them on tour

Any adventure activities will always contain risks and these must be carefully managed. Oxalis tours take place in remote locations without easy access to medical care. Hence a lot of work goes into managing and reducing risks to the lowest level possible. Please always follow the instructions of the tour guide and safety assistants.

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Communication on tour

The Tu Lan Experience one day tour is an adventure tour in Quang Binh with an easy level but is still located in a quite remote area with no nearby external support such as medical assistance, hospitals etc.

The Tu Lan Experience Tour follows jungle trails, over hills and through caves, and no paths are suitable for vehicles. There are very weak phone signals, no wifi, and no charging facilities. In case of emergency the guide will use a basic phone (smartphones do not work), to contact the office. Guests can only use the internet and phone at the village before and after the Oxalis tour. During the tour, Oxalis staff will keep in touch by radio if required.

* Please note that tour communication is conducted in English and Vietnamese.

Emergency Response Process

Oxalis Adventure has an established "Emergency Response Protocol" that includes on-site first aid and rescue if an accident occurs during trekking or cave exploration. We organize many training courses for first aid, rescue, and evacuation, and have rescue teams for each tour operation area. The specialized equipment is imported from abroad and complies with European standards. Due to the remote location, rescue teams and medical assistants will take from 30 minutes to 2 hours to reach the location. Therefore, the safety of visitors is the top priority of Oxalis in any activities related to caving in Vietnam. For Experts and Sales consultants to give suitable advice, guests are required to fill in their fitness and health information in the Booking form honestly. They are also required to update the information to the Oxalis consultant 45 days before the tour departure.

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Items to bring on Tu Lan Experience tour

It is necessary to be well prepared for the trip because the Tu Lan Experience, although for one day, is still a hiking tour with a variety of terrain. Guests will be asked to wear appropriate clothing for safety reasons, good for moving in the jungle, river crossing, or exploring the cave as well as avoiding dangers and risks from sharp rocks, snakes, insects, or poison ivy. Long trousers and long sleeved shirts should be worn for trekking. Trekking shoes play a very important role in Oxalis Adventure tours in Vietnam, such as this. Visitors must choose a good and well fitting pair of shoes for rocky steep mountains. Please test your shoes before the trek. Besides, guests also need to prepare personal items for one day’s trekking in the jungle and caves.

You need to prepare

Essential clothing

  • Trekking clothes:
    - 1 quick-dry, bright, long-sleeved shirt
    - 1 pairs of - long trekking pants (quick-dry)
    - 1 waterproof jacket (winter months November to March)
  • 1 pair of good gripping trekking/approach closed shoes. Heavyweight trekking boots are not necessary
  • 1 pair of calf-length, thick socks
  • Clothes to change after the trek
  • Footwear to change after the tour (If you use your own trekking shoes)

Personal items

  • Mosquito repellent
  • Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen
  • Hand fan for summer (April to August)
  • Medium towel
  • Personal medication
  • Passport

Optional items

  • Arm cover if wearing short-sleeved T-shirts
  • Camera & Tripod
  • Bandana or headband
  • Swimwear
  • Rehydration tablets
  • Blister prevention tape

Oxalis provides

  • Caving and safety gears: helmet, headlight, gloves, …
  • Basic jungle boots (EU size 36–44); if using Oxalis shoes, bring thick, long socks and 2 insoles to ensure comfort.
  • Water bottle (1L)
  • Water purifier
  • Compost toilet, toilet paper, hand cleaner
  • 1 PVC backpack (25L) to carry helmet, dry box, water and things you need during the trek.
  • Shared dry box for electronic devices
  • First-aid kit and medical rescue equipment
  • Satellite phone

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Toilet on the tour

The Tu Lan Experience tour occurs in a remote jungle with no power or infrastructure and for conservation and hygiene, Oxalis has created environmentally friendly toilets, called "Oxalis Composting Toilets".

The toilet is inside a tent, and consists of a normal toilet seat on top of a box. Inside the box, is a bucket and waste bag to collect all waste and toilet paper which is provided. Nearby is a container of rice husks. After finishing, cover the waste with a generous scoop of rice husks. This ensures a dry composting process, which does not smell, and covers the waste from insects.

When the buckets are full, the porters will change them and bury the waste in a designated location in the jungle. This will biodegrade and turn into fertilizer.

Visitors are required to use the composting toilets for both urination and defecation. Urination outside the toilet or inside the cave is not allowed because of the smell and impact on cave formations and the cave ecosystem.

Hand washing facilities are provided.

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Directions to Phong Nha - Tu Lan

Phong Nha is located 45 km from Dong Hoi City, the capital of Quang Tri Province (About 40 minutes by car). You can book a private car service from Oxalis to pick you up at the airport or train station, or you can hire a taxi. There are many ways to get to Dong Hoi such as a plane, train or sleeper bus.

Domestic routes:

  • Flight: Daily flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, to Dong Hoi.
  • Train: From Hanoi to and from Ho Chi Minh City, there are numerous SE trains that travel every day. Dong Hoi station is where Ho Chi Minh has a stop.
  • Bus: Buses from Hanoi to Phong Nha, Dong Hoi, or from Da Nang, Hue to Phong Nha run often during the day or at night.

International airports: There are 3 main international airports for international flights: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) and Da Nang International Airport (DAD). From Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Ha Noi, travellers can book domestic flights to Dong Hoi Airport (VDH). From Da Nang, travelers can catch a train or bus to Dong Hoi/Phong Nha.

You can check out the means of transportation to Phong Nha here. “How to get to Phong Nha?". All participants of Oxalis Adventure tours will be picked up at their designated hotel around Phong Nha town on the morning of the departure day.

Vietnam visa: Vietnam currently grants visa exemptions to citizens of 29 countries and has expanded its E-visa program to apply to nationals of all countries and territories.

Upon arrival and during their stay, travelers are required to present a valid passport together with a valid visa or other legal residence documents in Vietnam so that accommodation providers and tour operators can complete temporary residence registration as required by Vietnamese regulations.

For the latest details on travel policies, please verify the information here: Vietnam Travel Policy Updates

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Tour booking process

This is an adventure tour, and it requires a lot of logistical support. To avoid disappointment and complications, guests should choose the best tour for their fitness, abilities and interests. Reading the tour information carefully will help visitors make the right choice for their trips. The booking process includes the following steps:

Tour price and available dates for booking

  • Season: Tours operate from mid-November to mid-September every year.
  • Group Size: Limited to 12 guests per tour for safety and conservation.
  • Tour Types: Fixed departure dates for individuals; private tours available for special groups or film crews.
  • Exclusive Offer: Enjoy a 10% discount for UOB cardholders and Xiều Oxalis (returning guests).

Terms of tour cancellation

After completing the reservation, visitors will be required to pay 100% of the tour cost to confirm the booking. Guests can receive a full refund if the cancellation is 7 days before departure. Any cancellations less than 7 days before the departure date are non-refundable. Please see the cancellation terms here for more information.

The Tu Lan Experience tour price includes

The price of the Tu Lan Experience tour is 2,000,000 VND per person. The tour price includes VAT, entrance fee and forest environment service fee. The Tu Lan one day tour includes the following services:

  • Service team: Each tour with a maximum of 12 guests will have 1 guide, 2 safety assistants, 1 chef, 1 kitchen assistant. The number of team members may vary depending on the group's physical condition.
  • Food: Oxalis provides food, tea and coffee for visitors during the trek, (excluding any extra requests).
  • Safety equipment: Oxalis will provide safety equipment such as helmets, harnesses, headlights, gloves and other safety equipment.
  • Travel insurance: Oxalis buys travel insurance for all tourists participating in the tour with a maximum compensation of 10,000,000 VND. Visitors are advised to purchase their own comprehensive travel insurance prior to joining the tour.

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Carbon Footprint Index

At Oxalis Adventure, our commitment to Net Zero tourism is driving tangible results. Our 2024 greenhouse gas inventory reveals that the average carbon footprint for participants of the Tu Lan Experience Tour has dropped to 25.2 kgCO2e per person – a significant 20% reduction compared to 2023 figures. This comprehensive calculation accounts for all emission sources, including transportation, accommodation, and tour activities, underscoring our successful efforts to minimize environmental impact while maintaining high-quality adventure experiences.

FAQs

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