Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour
On joining the 3 days 2 nights Tu Lan tour, visitors may experience firsthand the ecosystem of a tropical forest and admire the beauty of the Tu Lan Cave system, Quang Binh. You will swim in the underground river of a cave carved out millions of years ago, trek along forest trails, spend the night camping in the wild by the side of a waterfall, enjoy a local dinner, and spend the night at a Rural Homestay, the very first weather-adaptive homestay in Vietnam. These experiences will help you temporarily forget the hectic city life and immerse yourself in nature.
- Explore stunning caves: Journey through the remarkable Tu Lan cave system, exploring both dry and water caves like Ken, Tu Lan, Kim, and Hung Ton. Each cave offers a distinct world, revealing magical landscapes and a rare, pristine beauty hidden beneath the mountains.
- Immersive underground river swimming: Experience the most iconic and memorable part of the Tu Lan challenge: swimming through dark, underground caves. The valley is crisscrossed by hidden rivers, and as you swim through these subterranean passages, natural light disappears. All you'll hear is the sound of flowing water and see the sparkling reflections of your headlamp on the cliffs. This feeling of excitement and awe turns every stroke into an adventure into a mysterious, underground world. (Note: If you prefer not to swim, you can choose to hike over the mountains to enjoy the wild, majestic scenery.)
- Camp in a primeval forest oasis: Spend a night fully immersed in the wilderness at the Tu Lan camping site. Carefully selected for its beauty, the site is situated next to a waterfall and natural swimming pool. Surrounded by vast primeval forests, it offers a clear view of the sparkling Milky Way once night falls.
- Taste local culture and cuisine: Enjoy a cozy dinner featuring authentic local cuisine at a resident's home on the final night. This is an opportunity to savor the rustic, sincere flavor of Tan Hoa and hear the compelling story of how the village is harmoniously connecting people and nature. You can also cycle through the peaceful village to admire the countryside and soak up the rare, fresh atmosphere.
- Stay in a unique floating homestay: Experience a night in one of Vietnam's most unique, weather-adaptive floating house homestays. These unique homes offer all the facilities of a small hotel, complemented by the openness, enthusiasm, and warmth of your hosts. Share a cup of tea or listen to stories about local culture for an unforgettable, personal experience.
- Support a unique sharing economy model: By joining the Tu Lan Challenge tour, you are directly contributing to a unique sharing economy model. This initiative supports local livelihoods by partnering with 10 households to provide authentic dinner services and 10 households to offer overnight stays in their family's innovative, flood-adaptive floating houses. Your visit helps create jobs and income, ensuring that tourism benefits the Tan Hoa community.
- 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.
The highlights include:
Itinerary
The Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour schedule may be adjusted according to the weather conditions. The trek can be quite muddy and slippery when it rains.
Download the itineraryPhong Nha - Tan Hoa - Ken Cave - Tu Lan campsite
Your adventure begins between 07:30 – 08:00 AM with a pick-up in Phong Nha for the scenic 70km drive to Tan Hoa Village. Upon arrival at the adventure headquarters, you’ll receive a safety briefing, gear up, and prepare for the expedition ahead.
The trek starts gently, winding 2.5km through peanut and corn fields to the banks of the Rao Nan River. From here, the landscape shifts. You’ll cross the river and conquer a rocky 50m hill before descending into the flat, grassy expanse of Hung Ton Valley. Lunch is served at the impressive entrance of Hung Ton Cave, fueling you for the afternoon leg—a challenging climb over steep hills that leads to your home for the night: the Tu Lan Valley campsite, situated right next to a cascading waterfall.
Drop your gear and cool off with a swim before exploring Ken Cave, located just steps from camp. The day concludes with a chef-prepared dinner by the waterfall, where the sounds of the jungle and the rushing water promise a deep, peaceful sleep.
Our tour departs promptly in the morning! Please plan your travel to reach Phong Nha before 07:00 AM. If you are traveling by train to Dong Hoi, the SE3 (from the North) and SE8 (from the South) are the best options. Don't worry if you arrive very early – we offer free use of our dorm beds so you can rest and freshen up before the adventure starts.
Tu Lan cave - Kim Cave - Hung Ton Cave - Tan Hoa
The second day is dedicated to exploring the water caves of the system. You will trek and swim through Hang Tu Lan and Hang Kim, navigating underground rivers to reach the To Mo Valley. After a lunch break at the campsite, the journey continues into Hung Ton Cave.
This section includes a technical highlight: swimming into the cave entrance by the waterfall and ascending a 10m ladder with safety equipment. Emerging from the cave, you are rewarded with a stunning view of the Hung Ton Valley below. The trek concludes with a walk back to the Tan Hoa office, crossing the Rao Nan River and passing through local corn and peanut fields.
Upon return, check in to the Rural Homestay for a shower and rest. At 6:00 PM, the group will visit a local family for dinner. This cultural exchange allows you to taste traditional dishes and learn about the village's history and way of life, followed by a peaceful night at the homestay.
Visit local farms by bike - Tour ends
Morning in Tan Hoa is peaceful and rustic, with wide green valleys and limestone mountains fading in and out of the early mist. You can enjoy the sunrise from your homestay window or take a short walk around the village to feel the fresh, quiet atmosphere. After that, you can cycle to the Tu Lan Lodge restaurant for breakfast, served from 6:30 AM.
At 08:30 AM, our guide will lead you on a bicycle tour through the heart of Tan Hoa. You will cycle along quiet paths lined with cornfields and peanut gardens, observing the daily rhythm of rural life. Stops include visits to local farms to learn about the sustainable VAC farming model. Along the way, you’ll taste local specialties like boiled corn, roasted peanuts, and ginger honey tea.
The tour finishes around 11:00 AM, giving you time to pack and prepare for check-out at 12:00 noon. The shuttle from Tan Hoa to Phong Nha or Dong Hoi departs at 12:30 PM.
Please inform Oxalis Adventure travel consultant of your flight/train/bus schedule at least one day in advance. If you are leaving Quang Tri on the same day, ensure your departure is after 4:00 PM.
If you wish to stay longer or join additional activities in the Phong Nha–Ke Bang area, contact your Oxalis Adventure consultant or ask the hotel reception for assistance.
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.
Gallery
Weather and Climate in Tu Lan - Tan Hoa area
Tu Lan - Tan Hoa has 4 seasons in a year (spring, summer, autumn and winter) like many northern provinces of Vietnam. Due to the weather conditions, and because Oxalis Adventure wants to protect and conserve the Tu Lan Cave System. The Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour will only be available from mid November to mid September every year. Weather conditions in the Tu Lan – Tan Hoa area are different in each season.
- From January to March, there are some cold days, especially on rainy days but there are also many warm sunny days.
- April and May are the warmer months, and this is the time when wildflowers are blooming.
- From June to August are the hot summer months, but most of the time visitors are in the cave with the temperature from 22 to 25 degrees, or forest, so it should not feel too hot. In the summer months, visitors can comfortably swim in the streams and underground lakes inside Vietnam caves, so exploring Tu Lan is the ideal suggestion for you if you don't know where to go for 3 days and 2 nights.
Each season will have its own unique features for visitors to explore, and find out more about the uniqueness of nature. In addition, visitors can check the weather in Tu Lan - Tan Hoa through Accuweather before joining this caving adventure tour.
Adventure level on tour
After many years of adventure tourism activities, Oxalis Adventure has created a Level of Adventure scale to help guests participating in Oxalis tours to visualize and choose the adventure tour most suitable for their fitness and health. This scale is not to be applied to other companies or tours with different conditions and terrains. The easiest level (level 1) anyone can join, and the most difficult level - 6 requires regular exercise and some trekking experience. Those who play sports or do some exercise can complete this tour.
Adventure Level 2 · Easy
The Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour is rated as Easy (Level 2) on the Oxalis Adventure level system. The difficulty of the tour is based on the physical fitness and health of average active people, not runners, athletes, or intensely active individuals.
Number of guests per tour:Maximum of 10; Age 16-70 years old.
Expect: Easy trails, some rocky sections, short ladder climb and optional swim
- Easy to moderate trekking
- 14,5km of trekking including up to 2km of caving
- 300m elevation gain
- 1km swimming in the caves with a life vest provided by Oxalis
- Descend 15m ladder in cave with a safety rope and harnesses, operated by the safety team.
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.
Physical fitness requirements for Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour
The basic physical fitness requirements for participating in the Tu Lan Cave Encounter 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 Cave Encounter 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 Cave Encounter 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/.
Safety on 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 multi 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.
Communication on tour
The Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour is a unique adventure tour with some difficulty, located deep in the forest, far from outside support such as medical assistance, hospitals etc.
The trekking tour follows jungle trails, with hills up and down, and no paths are suitable for vehicles. There is no phone signal, no wifi, and no charging facilities. Each Oxalis caving adventure is equipped with 1 satellite phone for the guide to contact the office in case of emergency. Guests can only use the internet and phone at the hotel before and after the Oxalis tours. While trekking in the mountains and exploring the caves, the safety team will communicate with each other by walkie-talkie if necessary.
Oxalis Adventure has an established "Emergency Response Protocol" that includes on-site first aid and rescue if an accident occurs during trekking or caving tours. 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.
* Please note that tour communication is conducted in English and Vietnamese.
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.
You can learn more about "Adventure Safety Tips" here.
Items to bring on tour
All adventure tours in Vietnam will cross a variety of terrains and customers will be asked to prepare suitable clothing for safety and comfort. Clothing should be good for trekking in the jungle, river crossings, or exploring the cave as well as avoiding dangers and risks from sharp rocks, snakes, insects, or poison ivy. Visitors need to choose a good and well-fitting pair of shoes for steep rocky terrain.
You need to prepare
Essential clothing
- Trekking clothes:
- 2 quick-dry, bright, long-sleeved shirts
- 1-2 pairs of long trekking pants ( quick-dry)
- 1 waterproof jacket (winter months November to March) - Campsite clothing sets:
- Warm clothes for winter from November to March
- Shorts and T-shirts for summer from April to September - 1 pair of good gripping trekking/approach closed shoes. Heavyweight trekking boots are not necessary
- 2 pairs of calf-length, thick socks
- 1 pair of sandals/slides for campsite
- Swimwear using at the Campsites
Personal items
- Mosquito repellent
- Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen
- Hand fan for summer (April to September)
- 1-2 medium towels
- Underwear
- Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, nature-friendly shampoo & soap, …)
- Power banks
- Personal medication
- Antifungal foot powder
- Passport
Oxalis provides
- Camping equipment: tent, mattresses, pillow, sleeping bags
- Caving and safety gears: helmet, headlight, gloves, …
- 1 PVC backpack (25L) to carry helmet, dry box, water and things you need during the trek.
- 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 filter
- Compost toilet, toilet paper, hand cleaner
- Shared dry box and semi-dry bag (15L)
- First aid and medical rescue equipment
- Portable fan (in summer)
Optional items
- Arm cover if wearing short-sleeved T-shirts
- Camera & Tripod
- Ear plugs
- Bandana or headband
- Rehydration tablets
- Blister prevention tape
- Personal dry bag/box for electronic devices
Campsites in tour
The campsite for the Tu Lan Cave Encounter is located in the most beautiful camping spot of the Tu Lan area - Tu Lan Valley. The valley has a waterfall about 5m high pouring out from Ken Cave to form a large natural pool where you relax and enjoy the cool water. On the opposite side is a natural sandy beach where our campsite is located. Here deep in the valley of a primeval forest, you can hear the birds chirping, or watch the clouds hanging over the limestone cliffs above Ken Cave entrance.
The average temperature in winter is around 15 to 18 degrees, and in summer from 30 to 38 degrees Celsius. Customers are provided with warm sleeping bags in the winter or a battery-powered fan in the tent during summer months. More information about "The campsites at the Tu Lan Cave System ".
Bathing at the campsite
All campsites of Tu Lan Adventure tours are located close to a river, lake or waterfall. Customers are free to swim at the camps. Oxalis staff will carry out lifeguard duties to ensure the safety of customers. At the campsites, Oxalis has prepared a number of water tanks to store clean water in case the river water is brown due to heavy rain. To protect water resources, shampoo or conditioner are not allowed to be used in the river or pools, and must be discharged onto the sandy area of the campsite. Environmental friendly biological shampoo is required on tour.
Toilet at campsites
The Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour is situated in remote areas without electricity or modern infrastructure. To protect the environment and maintain hygiene at the campsites and throughout the tour, Oxalis has created an eco-friendly toilet 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.
Directions to Phong Nha
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
Tour booking process
This is an adventure tour in Vietnam and requires a lot of logistic 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 10 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
To confirm the booking, visitors will be asked to pay 100% of the tour price. Guests may cancel the trip 7 days prior to the departure date and receive a full refund. For cancellations after 7 days, no refund will be given. Please see more refund and cancellation terms here.
Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour price includes
The Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour price is 7,700,000 VND (US$292) per person, this tour price includes VAT, entrance fee and forest environment service fee. The tour includes the following services:
- Logistics: Each tour of 10 guests will have: 1 guide, 1 safety assistant, 1 cook, 2 kitchen assistants and 4 porters, cleaning and maintenance costs for the whole route. The number of team members may vary depending on the group's physical condition.
- Meals: Oxalis provides food, tea and coffee for visitors during the journey (excluding extra requests by guests). Dinner at the local household. The dishes follow a fixed menu. There are vegetarian or vegan options available. Please request in advance.
- Accommodation: Oxalis offers 1-night camping in the jungle and 1 night at Rural Homestay in Tan Hoa after the tour.
- Safety equipment: Oxalis will provide safety equipment such as helmets, harnesses, headlamps, gloves and other safety equipment.
- Travel insurance: Oxalis buys travel insurance for all guests 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.
Carbon Footprint Index
At Oxalis Adventure, we are dedicated to minimizing our environmental impact and promoting sustainable tourism practices. Since 2023, Oxalis has conducted annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories as an essential part of our journey toward Net Zero tourism.
According to the 2024 greenhouse gas inventory, participants of the Tu Lan Encounter Tour were associated with an average carbon footprint of 90.1 kgCO2e per person. This figure comprehensively accounts for all emission sources, including transportation, accommodation, and tour-related activities.
Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour • TL2
Adventure Level: Easy
Age 16-70 y.o
Tour type: Join-in
Group size: 10 customers
Operation: mid-Nov to mid-Sept
USD 292 • VND 7,700,000/pax
Book nowWhether you prefer long treks, camping in a cave, sleeping under the stars in the jungle, swimming underground in river caves, explore the huge dry caves or just taking an exploratory day trip, Oxalis Adventure Tours can provide the right amount of adventure just for you.
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