Where is Tu Lan Cave Quang Binh? Discover the pristine beauty in the heart of the vast forest

The Tu Lan Cave System is located in Tan Hoa commune, Minh Hoa district, Quang Binh province, about 112km from the center of Dong Hoi city. This is a pristine area outside the boundary of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, yet it boasts beauty that is by no means inferior, even somewhat wilder and more mysterious. The entire cave system spans over 650 hectares, nestled within primary forests and limestone mountain ranges, interconnected by 8 valleys and an intricate system of underground rivers.

The Tu Lan cave system was discovered by locals a long time ago and was officially explored by the British-Vietnamese Cave Expedition team in 1992. However, it was not until 2010 that this area underwent in-depth exploration through a series of continuous surveys.

In particular, in 2009, a local resident named Dinh Hong Nham discovered major caves such as Tu Lan Cave, Big To Mo Cave, and Small To Mo Cave while fishing. This discovery quickly attracted national media attention, helping Tu Lan become a prominent exploration destination in Quang Binh.

Tu Lan comprises over 20 large and small caves, featuring famous ones such as Tu Lan Cave, Tien Cave, Ruc Mon Cave, Ken Cave, Chuot Cave, and more. Each cave boasts a unique geological beauty with magical, magnificent stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years. A special feature of Tu Lan is the underground river system flowing through the caves, creating cool, clear blue lakes. Visitors have the opportunity to swim inside the caves, a truly unique and thrilling experience.

Some caves in Tu Lan also feature waterfalls cascading from above, creating a majestic landscape and vibrant sounds deep inside the mountain. To explore Tu Lan, visitors will traverse diverse trekking routes—ranging from jungle trekking, stream crossing, and steep climbing to swimming through caves—offering adventurous and memorable experiences. Tu Lan exploration tours often include overnight camping inside caves or on flat campsites in the forest, offering a chance to immerse oneself in untouched nature.

Currently, self-guided visits to Tu Lan Cave are not allowed in order to ensure safety and comply with environmental protection regulations.​ Therefore, to visit the Tu Lan Cave system, you are only permitted to do so through tours with professional tour guides and fully equipped safety gear. 

Transportation to the assembly point

• By plane: Dong Hoi Airport (VDH) is the nearest airport. From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you can fly to Dong Hoi. The tour will then provide transfer vehicles from Dong Hoi to the assembly point. 
• By train: Dong Hoi Railway Station is also an option. From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you can take a train to Dong Hoi. Afterwards, the tour provides a transfer vehicle to the assembly point.
• By sleeper bus: There are many high-quality sleeper bus companies going to Dong Hoi from major cities. However, travel time will be longer compared to plane and train. The tour will then provide a transfer to the assembly point.

Popular tour types

• 1-Day Tour: Suitable for those with limited time, focusing on exploring several main caves in the Tu Lan system.
• 2-Day 1-Night Tour: Allows you to explore deeper and sleep overnight in tents amid wild nature.
• 3-4 Day Tour: Designed for adventure seekers wanting to conquer challenging and lesser-known caves.

Things to prepare

• Clothing: Comfortable, quick-drying clothes, specialized trekking shoes, hat, sunglasses.
• Personal items: Sunscreen, insect repellent, swimwear (if any), flashlight (usually provided, but bringing an extra one is recommended), camera, power bank.
• Health: Ensure you are in good physical health to participate in trekking, climbing, and swimming activities.

The journey to explore Tu Lan Cave includes activities such as jungle trekking, stream wading, mountain climbing, and swimming in underground rivers. This requires participants to have good physical fitness and basic survival skills.​ 

Here are typical caves in the Tu Lan System, each possessing its own unique beauty and characteristics. 

Chuot Cave (Rat Cave): An impressive dry cave over 280m long, with corridors up to 30m wide and a fairly flat terrain. This place was once the filming location for several famous movies.

Bi Mat Cave (Secret Cave): Although less than 200m in length, the cave harbors unique stalactites, especially cave pearls with intricate structures.

Hung Ton Cave: The cave has a total length of nearly 500m; to traverse through it, visitors need to climb a 15m ladder and swim. Archaeologists suspect this was once an ancient human habitat due to discoveries of bones and shells.

Ken Cave: With a total length of over 3km, this is considered the longest and most beautiful wet cave in the Tu Lan system. The cave entrance is impressive, with passages up to 30m wide. Visitors can raft or swim inside the cave.

Tu Lan Cave: The main cave of the system, impressing visitors with stalactites and stalagmites of diverse shapes and colors, creating a mystical space.

Tien 1 & 2 Caves: Two caves with a total length of over 4.5km, featuring floors and ceilings up to 45m wide, and entrance heights up to 100m. The cave ceiling has a swirling structure resembling the Milky Way, numerous terraced field-shaped stalactites, and a clear blue circular lake suitable for swimming. This is the largest dry cave in the system and has the most beautiful campsite.

These caves create diversity and fascination for the Tu Lan System, offering different exploration experiences for visitors.

The Tu Lan Cave system, with its pristine, majestic beauty and unique exploration experiences, is truly a hidden gem in the heart of Quang Binh. From magnificent caves with magical stalactite formations, cool underground rivers to adventurous trekking trails and opportunities to camp amid breathtaking nature, Tu Lan offers an unforgettable adventure for exploration enthusiasts. It can be said that Quang Binh possesses a cave system that any adventure lover would want to conquer. Indeed, Quang Binh always thrills visitors with its grand beauty. And if you wish to experience other attractive tourist destinations, you can refer to the Quang Binh tour from Sovaba Travel. Contact hotline 0934.733.223 immediately for tour advice and the fastest support.