Safety Management

Strong currents, submerged rocks, broken branches, and other underwater obstacles can cause injuries if you jump into the water from a height.

Forest and cave terrain can be challenging, with muddy paths, steep slopes, and sharp rocks along the routes. Wearing shoes you have used before and find comfortable is the most convenient option. Oxalis can provide basic jungle trekking boots in sizes 36–44. If you use Oxalis-provided boots, you should bring thick socks and two pairs of insoles to help prevent blisters. A cleaning fee of VND 50,000 also applies.

Electronic devices that you only need at the campsite should be handed to the porters, who will transport them directly to the campsite. You can carry cameras and mobile phones that you wish to use along the trail in your own backpack. Before swimming, your guide will collect these devices and place them in a waterproof container to protect them throughout the swimming sections.

Oxalis guides always carry satellite phones and can contact the outside world when necessary. Your guide can assist you in making a call in an emergency.

Along the trails, you may encounter thorny plants, irritating vegetation, sharp rocks, and hairy caterpillars. Some sections may also be slippery, increasing the risk of falls. Long-sleeved clothing and long trousers help protect you from scratches, cuts, and insect bites. Long sleeves also help prevent sunburn during summer.

Winter (October–December) and spring (January–March) can be cold and rainy at times, while summer (April–June) is hot and humid. We recommend checking the weather forecast a few days before your tour so you can prepare accordingly. Tours are generally affected only by extremely heavy rain or flooding. In such cases, the itinerary may need to be changed or the tour departure postponed.

To ensure that all members of a group have reasonably comparable fitness levels, Oxalis does not accept guests under 18 for the Son Doong Expedition, under 12 for the one-day Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park Discovery tour, or under 16 for other group tours. Children may join private tours with their parents if they meet the physical fitness requirements approved by Oxalis experts.

Oxalis offers several options suitable for families. Private tours are particularly suitable for children aged 12 and above. Children under 12 may also be considered if they meet the health and fitness requirements and have substantial experience in sports activities.

Oxalis offers tours that do not require swimming. If you wish to explore water caves but are not confident in your swimming abilities, you will still be required to wear a life jacket. Our safety assistants can provide additional support, or you may choose to travel by boat or raft where available.

Our guides and safety assistants are carefully selected and thoroughly trained in survival skills, safety procedures, and rescue techniques. They have extensive experience in wilderness environments and are responsible for leading the group along the correct routes and identifying potential hazards, such as snakes and irritating plants. They select routes that are as safe as possible for guests while minimizing the impact on the surrounding environment.

Swimming at night is not permitted because it involves additional safety risks. Nighttime wildlife observation is also prohibited, as it may disturb the natural behavior of nocturnal animals.

Caving helmets are specially designed to help protect your head from impacts with rocks, stalactites, branches, and unexpectedly falling stones while walking or in the event of a fall. The helmets also accommodate headlamps, allowing you to keep both hands free while exploring the caves.

When water levels rise above normal, we will help guests cross difficult sections using specialized ropes and river-crossing techniques or boats, depending on the water level and current at each crossing point. If conditions exceed the safe operating limits of these methods, the group will wait for the water to recede or follow an alternative route. Our guides and safety assistants are thoroughly trained to respond to sudden rises in water levels. You simply need to follow their instructions. During heavy rain, currents can become strong and unpredictable, potentially making boats unstable. Therefore, everyone must wear a life jacket, including when traveling by boat.

To help ensure guest safety, at least one safety assistant supervises the group whenever guests swim in the campsite area. Rescue equipment is kept readily available so assistance can be provided promptly if an incident occurs.

If you prefer not to swim during winter, you can book a tour that does not require swimming, such as the Hang Tien tour, Hang En tour, or one-day Phong Nha National Park tour. For tours involving swimming, such as Tu Lan, boat or raft transportation may be available when temperatures are below 18°C.

Our safety assistants are always ready to slow down and provide assistance whenever you need it. You will only be escorted back to the starting point if the guide or Safety Expert determines that you are unable to complete the route. However, this situation is very rare.

Yes. As long as you exercise regularly and have a good level of physical fitness, you can join an Oxalis tour. Many Oxalis guests have no previous caving or mountain trekking experience but still enjoy wonderful adventures with us. If you meet the required health and fitness conditions, you can prepare for your expedition with confidence.

Oxalis safety equipment is imported and quality-checked by experienced cave experts. The headlamps provided by Oxalis offer sufficient illumination to help guests move around safely while swimming and exploring caves. Our guides and safety assistants also carry more powerful lights to assist guests in navigating challenging terrain and taking photographs in low-light conditions.

You should bring essential personal items for the day, including a drinking water bottle, helmet, sunglasses, sunscreen, mobile phone, camera, and any personal medication you may need. For a more detailed checklist, please refer to the Preparation section on the relevant tour page of the Oxalis website.

For Tu Lan tours, Oxalis provides backpacks because these itineraries involve extensive swimming. For other routes, such as the Son Doong and Hang En expeditions, swimming is not required, so guests must bring their own backpacks.

To protect the safety and health of guests participating in Oxalis Adventure tours, alcoholic beverages, including beer and spirits, and other stimulants are prohibited. If a guide, Safety Expert, or safety assistant discovers that a guest has brought alcohol or stimulants, the guest will be required to leave the tour without a refund. Guests are therefore advised not to bring alcoholic beverages for personal consumption or to share with others.

To provide guests with the best possible experience and make it easier to navigate challenging terrain, Oxalis arranges for porters to transport camping equipment and guests' personal belongings directly to the campsite ahead of the expedition group. They also set up the tents before the group arrives. Personal bags left at the Oxalis office are sealed, labelled, and stored securely. Throughout the trek, you only need to carry essential items, including your helmet, cave exploration headlamp, drinking water bottle, gloves, sunscreen, and personal medication.

On group tours, staying with the group is essential for everyone's safety and overall experience. Oxalis always allows sufficient time for guests to take photos and videos at the most scenic and safe locations. Our guides and safety assistants have extensive experience arranging photo opportunities and lighting, and they will be happy to help. We also ensure that every member of the group has enough time to capture memorable moments.

No. Adventure travel involves many specialized activities, and crossing rivers and streams is part of the experience. Since these crossings occur frequently, often throughout the route, changing shoes each time is unnecessary. In summer, wading through water can also help cool you down, make the trek more comfortable, and help you regain energy.

We do not recommend eating wild fruits. Our tours focus on exploring and conserving nature, so activities that may negatively affect the environment should be avoided. In addition, wild fruits may cause unexpected and potentially serious allergic reactions.

Oxalis tours generally finish with guests being dropped off at their hotels in the Phong Nha area between approximately 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, depending on weather conditions. If you wish to finish earlier, you must arrange for an additional safety assistant to escort you out of the forest and a private vehicle to transfer you from the tour's endpoint to the airport or railway station.

As we operate ecotourism tours, activities that may negatively affect the environment should be minimized. If you smoke, you should do so only in areas designated by the Safety Expert and guide. Oxalis has established designated smoking areas to avoid disturbing other members of the group.

For groups of eight guests, Oxalis assigns a guide to lead the group and a safety assistant to bring up the rear, helping ensure that everyone stays safe and follows the planned route. If you accidentally become separated from the group, remain where you are and call out loudly from time to time to signal your location. We conduct headcounts at regular intervals along the route, so we should identify your absence promptly and send someone to assist you as soon as possible.

Tour terrain varies considerably. Some sections involve climbing rugged limestone rocks, while others require walking through muddy trails, wading through streams, or swimming. The best footwear for forest trekking is therefore a pair of comfortable, well-fitting shoes with sturdy soles, good grip, and adequate drainage. If you do not have suitable footwear, you can use the military-style boots provided by Oxalis during the pre-tour briefing before departure. If you plan to use Oxalis-provided boots, please prepare insoles and socks in the appropriate size.

Yes. You do not need previous experience using cave exploration equipment. Our guides will explain in detail how to use each piece of equipment and will assist you and check the equipment before any adventure activities begin. All anchor points and fixed safety rope systems are also inspected regularly by experts.

Oxalis provides lights imported from the well-known European brands Petzl and Hope. Petzl lights offer some water resistance, making them suitable for water caves. Hope lights provide high brightness and are suitable for the large chambers inside Son Doong Cave. We also keep spare lights and backup batteries available for use when needed.

The most common health issues that may occur during a tour include dehydration, heat exhaustion, scratches, and blisters. These issues can generally be prevented or managed with proper preparation. We recommend wearing suitable shoes and socks, long trousers, and long-sleeved clothing, and bringing sunscreen and a hat during summer. You should also make sure to drink enough water throughout the tour.

Oxalis guides always carry a basic first aid kit. If you are allergic to any medication ingredients, please inform us when booking your tour. If you are receiving treatment for a medical condition or regularly take specific medication, you should also bring your own prescribed or regularly used medication as needed.

Oxalis provides each guest with a drinking water bottle before the tour begins. Our staff carry water filtration equipment that meets European standards and use it to replenish your drinking water along the route. At the campsites, boiled water is also available for making tea and coffee.

When temperatures are low, Oxalis recommends bringing thermal base layers to wear underneath your trekking clothes, along with a jacket for use at the campsite. Hot tea and coffee are available at the campsite, and exploring nature in cooler weather can be a unique experience. Some swimming sections may be replaced with boat or raft transportation.

Our tour consultants will provide weather updates when you make your booking. During the summer months, temperatures can range from approximately 35°C to 40°C. Most tours include swimming in caves or in rivers and streams near the campsites, offering a refreshing way to cool down. If you are joining a summer tour, please prepare sunscreen, a hat, and electrolyte supplements to help you stay comfortable throughout the expedition.