Weather In Son Doong Cave And Phong Nha Area

Climate and weather in Phong Nha

• Spring in central Vietnam starts from February and ends in April. In this season the weather in Phong Nha is getting warmer but is not too hot. When guests walk in the forest they may see many flowers blooming, especially in April and May. For some days in March, the climate of Son Doong Cave may get colder if there is a cold front moving down from the north. However, March is also the time when guests have a chance to observe the sunbeams shining deep into the cave.
• Summer usually from May until the end of August. These are the warm sunny months. Most of the tours will have sunny days and there will be days with outside temperatures above 36 to 37 degrees Celsius (96 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit). However, this temperature does not have much effect on the tour itinerary because two-thirds of the expedition journey is inside the cave, where the temperature is stable from 22 to 25 degrees Celsius (71 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Summer is the time guests often witness scenes of mist and clouds flying through the huge cave passage. During summer time, customers can enjoy swimming in the streams or underground lakes inside the cave.
• Autumn begins in September and ends in November. Phong Nha weather in this season has many tropical storms that can result in heavy rain which could lead to flooding for several days inside the forest or even inside Son Doong Cave. Son Doong is a river cave with a large underground river running through, therefore to ensure guests’ safety, Oxalis Adventure does not operate tours to Son Doong from September until the end of December every year. Though tours to some dry caves in the Tu Lan area and Hang Tien area, which are not flooded, may be available.
• Winter: starts from December and will end in late January of the following year. Phong Nha’s weather system in January will have some sunny days but also lots of cold rainy days. However, as guests will spend about two-thirds of the time exploring inside the cave, the weather will not be too cold, Oxalis also provides a winter sleeping bag to keep warm during the winter time. January and February are the best time to watch the sunbeams shine deep into the cave from the first doline. If you are lucky you may see the sunbeams shining continually for over an hour, and watch them cross the entire passage. During the winter months the air inside the cave is particularly clear and you can see the light of the doline from up to 1.5 kilometers away.

Weather inside Son Doong Cave

Son Doong Cave is well-known not only because it is the largest cave in the world but also for one other special feature. In spite of being affected by Phong Nha climate, Son Doong Cave has its own weather system and climate inside the cave. Son Doong Cave climate changes with the seasons and that can be seen when exploring Son Doong Cave.

From February until April, the view in Son Doong is usually clear, the sunbeams shining through the collapse creating magical pictures. Weather in Son Doong may be a little chilly but the sun shining brightens up the cave.

From June till August, Son Doong Cave clouds will appear (often seen looking towards the first campsite, Doline 1 and Doline 2). Due to the underground river inside the cave, the heat coming from the doline creates steam and mysterious clouds. During rainy days the weather inside will often be clear, however, there are some cracks and holes in the cave roof that allow water to enter Son Doong Cave and create magnificent waterfalls that are clearly seen at the campsites and dolines. The weather and temperature could change when crossing the dolines, but overall, the weather in Son Doong is quite cool even in summer.

In winter, you may experience cool winds blowing through the cave. Thanks to the special weather and climate, guests can appreciate the changing seasons inside the cave.

Depending on the departure date, Oxalis sales consultants will give our guests accurate information about the Son Doong Cave weather system so they can fully prepare with suitable clothing, to ensure everyone’s safety and the best of experiences.

The Oxalis Experience.

FAQs

• Does Son Doong Cave have its own weather system?

  Son Doong is the biggest Cave in the world, it has a very different weather compared to the weather outside. The weather inside the cave could change rapidly during the trip therefore you will feel different every step of your journey. So, it is safe to say that So Dong has its own weather system.

• Why does Son Doong Cave have its own weather and temperature system?

  In general caves are not affected so much by the outside weather conditions. However, Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world, creates its own weather and temperature system, due to the underground river, large passages and large dolines.

• Does Hang Son Doong Cave have its own climate?

  It is too soon to say wether Hang Son Doong has its own climate or not. It usually takes three-decade averages of weather observations. After 13 years of discovery and exploration of Hang Son Doong, there is some similar weather information in every seasons, which are different from the weather of Phong Nha area. In summer from June until the end of August, the average temperature inside the cave is stable from 22 to 25 degrees Celsius the atmosphere is clear (which means low level of humidity) so you can see from one doline to the other… in winter?...from December and will end in February of the following year.

• Does it rain in Son Doong Cave?

  There is no rain in Son Doong cave. You will spend most of the time inside the cave therefore you will only get caught in the rain when walking through the dolines when it is raining outside.

• How can a rainforest grow inside the Son Doong Cave?

  There are several reasons why a rainforest grows inside the cave. The collapse of the ceiling allows sunlight to shine into the cave, the Dolines are so big and the weather system of the own cave altogether creates a very ideal environment for the rainforest to grow inside Son Doong Cave. Additionally, the large quantities of ancient bat/swift guano as fertilizer is also one of the reasons why.

• How did dolines form in the Son Doong Cave?

  Dolines in the Son Doong Cave by river water eroding away the limestone underneath the mountain. Where the limestone was weak, the ceiling collapsed creating huge skylights (or dolines). The first doline has thinner beds of limestone hence the collapse. The second doline collapse is caused by the junction of two main faults, one from the main Son Doong passage and the other from the passage we call The Alcove.

• Does Son Doong Cave have its own clouds?

  Yes it does. Thanks to the weather system and the underground river that runs through the cave, clouds formed. You could see this amazing form of clouds very clearly at both of the Camps in Son Doong. These are the views that you cannot miss.

• Why are there clouds inside Son Doong Cave?

  The mist and clouds are created by warm and cold air meeting in highly humid conditions. The humidity is created by the underground river.

• When is the most beautiful season to go to Son Doong?

  Each season in Son Doong Cave has its own beauty. The Son Doong Expedition operates from January until the end of August every year. During this time, the weather in Quang Binh in general and Son Doong Expedition in particular goes through three seasons: end of winter, spring and summer. More than two-thirds of the tour itinerary is spent exploring inside the cave, where the weather condition is stable, and less affected by external factors. Therefore, each season all our guests can have an equal and amazing experience.