Tu Lan Family Experience Tour

The 1-Day Tu Lan Family Experience Tour is a wonderful one day family trip to safely explore nature, and the beauty of the Tu Lan Cave system. Families are accompanied at all times by a team of Safety Assistants and a Tour Guide. Families will participate in activities such as: walking through the jungle, swimming in natural rivers, having a picnic lunch in the jungle, trekking and climbing to explore Hung Ton Cave, Secret Cave and playing some enjoyable games.

This is a tour for family members to bond together as well as for children to experience the outdoors and learn new skills. Joining this family adventure day, guests will experience the following unique features:

  • Explore stunning natural landscapes: Join the Tu Lan Family Experience tour and travel through 2 wide valleys, Tan Hoa Valley and Hung Ton Valley. These open grasslands are surrounded by limestone mountains and lush primary forests, creating a peaceful and impressive setting.
  • Discover Tu Lan caves with unique formations: The journey takes your family to Secret Cave, known for its diverse formations such as stalagmites, stalactites, cave corals, and cave pearls. This is a great experience for families to learn about caves that formed over millions of years. You will also visit Hung Ton Cave, one of the earliest discovered caves in Tu Lan, found in 1992. From the entrance, visitors can enjoy a wide view of the green Hung Ton Valley.
  • Enjoy swimming in fresh natural streams: In the middle of the valley, natural pools offer a perfect place to relax. During this one day trekking tour, you can swim in cool clear water, float along the stream, enjoy the wild nature, and join fun mini games with your group.
  • Have a picnic lunch by the stream: After swimming and relaxing, enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by local chefs. The highlight is their famous grilled meat, served fresh by the stream for a simple and enjoyable outdoor meal.
  • 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 Family Experience schedules can be changed due to weather conditions. The jungle trail can be quite muddy and slippery when raining. The Tu Lan Family Experience itinerary, booking process, fees and other information is detailed below.

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Briefing At Tan Hoa - Trekking to Explore Rao Nan Valley and River - Hung Ton Valley

From 07:00 to 07:30 am on the day of the tour, the bus will pick you up at your hotel in the Phong Nha area, then drive to Oxalis’ office in Tan Hoa Village, 70 km from Phong Nha. At the office, the guide will provide a safety briefing where you will hear about the rules and guidelines on trekking tours for children, and the tour schedule; sign the Release Form, pack your bag, and receive the safety equipment for the tour.

After the safety briefing, the family trip will start with a flat walk across green fields for about 2.5km to reach the Rao Nan Valley.

After taking in the valley views, the family trip becomes more adventurous as the group crosses the Rao Nan Stream and climbs over Baby Hill to reach Hung Ton Valley. Walking through the lush valley surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and the sounds of forest birds, you will arrive at Hung Ton Cave. Here, you can explore the dry passage and enjoy a spectacular view of the valley from the cave entrance.

Then, the family returns to the middle of the valley for lunch by the river. This is also a great time for families to enjoy beginner-friendly survival activities such as learning how to hang a hammock, making traditional Cheo salt, and playing some water games.

Note: Our tour departs promptly in the morning! Please plan your travel to reach Phong Nha before 06:30 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. Please book this in advance.

Explore Secret Cave

After having lunch at Hung Ton valley, the group continues the journey with an exciting climb over Baby Hill toward Secret Cave. Here, the guide and safety assistant will give instructions on how to use the helmets and headlights. All members are equipped with safety gear and ready to become real explorers.

With a length of about 100 meters, Secret Cave reveals a fascinating and untouched world filled with stunning formations. Reaching the exit of the cave, you will see the whole passage lit up by the sunlight, illuminating the mysterious space inside.

Leaving the cave, the group crosses the cool Rao Nan River, enjoying a refreshing moment before heading back. Return to Oxalis Tan Hoa office by the same way to finish the tour. At the office, the group can take a shower, relax and watch the sun go down in Tan Hoa with a cool drink.

The bus will take the group back to Phong Nha at around 17:00 - 17:30 pm, ending a great family adventure day.

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 Tan Hoa - Tu Lan

The Tan Hoa - Tu Lan area has 4 seasons in a year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) like many northern provinces of Vietnam. Due to the weather and for conservation, Tu Lan Family Experience Tours are only operated from December to the middle of September. 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.

Each season offers something to enjoy on this 1 day family tour. In addition, visitors can check the weather in Tu Lan- Tan Hoa through Accuweather before joining the Vietnam caving tour.

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Adventure level on tour

After many years of operating adventure tours, Oxalis has created an adventure scale to help tourists visualize and choose the right trip. 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. A high level of fitness is not required for the Tu Lan Family Experience tour but guests should enjoy physical activity.

Adventure Level 1 · Introductory
The Tu Lan Family Experience Tour is rated as Easy (Level 1) 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 12 guests, age 6-70 years old (Children must be accompanied by a parent).
Expect: Easy trails, some rocky sections, optional swim

  • Easy trek, suitable for children
  • 6km trekking, 300m caving
  • Swims and river crossings
  • 110m elevation gain
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.

TF1 trekking graph

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Physical fitness requirements for Tu Lan Family Experience Tour

The basic physical fitness requirements for participating in the Tu Lan Family 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.

The physical requirements mentioned above are not mandatory for children. However, they are expected to engage in sports and maintain a healthy weight.

Guests aged 6 to 70 are permitted to join the Tu Lan Family 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 Family 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 all Oxalis Adventure tours to ensure the safety of both visitors and Oxalis’ staff on any trip. We only use high-quality equipment meeting international standards, mainly imported from France, the UK, and Switzerland. The guide team must undergo professional training and be tested for skills regularly. Only qualified Oxalis guides are allowed to lead Oxalis tours. Visitors can learn about the "safety management" and " safety equipment" that Oxalis uses here.

Risk prevention and management

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.

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Communication on tour

Tu Lan Family Experience Tour is an adventure tour with some difficulties, this tour is operated in a fairly remote location. There is no phone signal, no wifi, and no charging facilities. Some basic phones (but not smartphones) can pick up a signal, and staff would use these in the event of an emergency. The location of the family tour is not so remote, and evacuation to the road head would not be an issue.

* 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 may 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 tour

Tu Lan Family Experience Tour involves different terrains and weather conditions, so guests need to be well prepared. They will be asked to have 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 trekking tours with your family. Visitors must choose a good and well fitting pair of shoes for rocky paths. Please test your shoes before the trek. The Oxalis tour consultant will give you helpful advice before joining the Tu Lan Family Experience Tour.

You need to prepare

Essential clothing

  • 1 15L backpack (or a 20-30L Backpack for a family)
  • 1 quick-dry, bright long-sleeved T-shirts
  • 1 quick-dry and long trekking pants
  • 1 waterproof jacket (in winter from December to March)
  • 1 pair of good gripping trekking/approach closed shoes. Heavyweight trekking boots are not necessary
  • 1 pair of calf-length, densely-woven 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)
  • Personal medication
  • Passport

Oxalis provides

  • 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
  • First aid and medical rescue equipment

Optional items

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

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Bathing at the campsite

The lunch spot for Tu Lan Family Experience is located next to the river and pools so guests can swim here. All swimming activities are supervised by safety assistants. Soap and shampoo cannot be used in the rivers and pools.

The 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 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 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

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 Family Experience tour price includes

The price of the Tu Lan Family Experience Tour is 2,600,000 VND (US$96) per guest and includes VAT, sightseeing fee, and environmental service fee along with the following services:

  • Logistics: Each 12-guest tour will have 1 tour guide, 4 safety assistants, 1 chef, 1 porter.
  • Meals: Oxalis provides food, tea and coffee for visitors during the journey (excluding extra requests by guests). The dishes follow a fixed menu. There are vegetarian or vegan options available. Please request in advance.
  • 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.

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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 Family Experience Tour has dropped to 30.0 kgCO2e per person – a significant 5% 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

Tu Lan Family Experience Tour • TF1

Adventure Level: Introductory

Tour type: Join-in

Age 6-70 years old

Group size: 12 customers

Operation: mid-Nov to mid-Sep

USD 96 • VND 2,600,000/pax

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